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Month: September 2013

Ex-Worker in Nebraska Abuse Case Wants Change of Venue

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ne-supreme-court(AP) — A former worker at a Nebraska center for developmentally disabled adults is asking for a change of venue and for a new judge.

Matthew Pangborn’s attorney filed motions Wednesday seeking to move the abuse trial to another county and asking Gage County District Judge Paul Korslund to recuse himself.

Pangborn was convicted last year of nine counts related to the alleged abuse of residents and sentenced to 15 to 23 years in prison. But in July, the Nebraska Supreme Court ordered a new trial for Pangborn, saying prosecutor should not have been allowed to submit a chart of Pangborn’s alleged abuses for the jury to use during deliberations.

Gage County Attorney Roger Harris is opposing the motions.

Nebraska Pipeline Backers, Opponents Heading to D.C.

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keystone(AP) — Supporters and opponents of the Keystone XL pipeline in Nebraska are traveling to Washington to testify before a House subcommittee.

Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Dennis Houston is scheduled to appear Thursday before the House Commerce Subcommittee, as is Ron Kaminski, the business manager for the Laborers Local 1140 in Omaha.

Jane Kleeb, executive director of Bold Nebraska, which opposes the pipeline, will argue that the project poses an unnecessary risk to Nebraska landowners.

Opponents are urging President Barack Obama to deny a federal permit for the proposed Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline, saying it doesn’t serve U.S. energy interests and would contribute to global warming. Supporters say the pipeline is by far the safest way to transport the oil from Canadian tar-sands deposits.

Columbus Man to Stand Trial on Child Porn Charges

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gavel-and-scale(AP) — A 39-year-old Columbus man will stand trial on two counts of distributing child pornography.

Edward Johnson waived his right to a preliminary hearing and his case bound over Wednesday for trial. Johnson’s arraignment in Platte County District Court has been set for Sept. 27.

Police arrested Johnson earlier this month after received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that led to a five-month investigation.

Police say Internet records show that an online account belonging to Johnson was used to post photos of child pornography.

Johnson continues to be held at the Platte County jail on $150,000 bond.

Price Tag on Omaha Arena Jumps to Nearly $12 Million

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uno-arena(AP) — The price tag for the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s new arena has gone up nearly $12 million, and officials are blaming rising construction costs and design revisions.

The cost of the arena being built at 67th and Center Streets has jumped to $87.9 million. It had been $76.3 million.

Erin Owen, director of university communications, says UNO intends to pay for the $11.6 million in additional costs with $4 million more in bonds, $4 million more in private donations and $3.6 million in university funds.

UNO planned to ask the University of Nebraska Board of Regents to approve the revised cost and a financing plan that asks permission to issue up to $73 million in bonds.

South Platte Still Rising in Western Nebraska

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floodzone(AP) — Flooding along the South Platte River in western Nebraska had initially caused little damage, but the river continues to rise as Colorado floodwaters arrive.

The flooding began near the Colorado-Nebraska border on Wednesday and forced the closure of the Interstate 80 exit into Big Springs and a truck stop.

A breach in the river bank also developed west of Brule. Keith County Emergency Manager Pete Peterson says the water encroached on the Farmers Cooperative Association grain elevator outside of town but didn’t threaten Brule.

Officials said the South Platte was extremely full at Ogallala Thursday morning, but hadn’t yet overflowed.

The National Weather Service predicts flooding will continue along the South Platte and later the Platte River over the next several days as the surge of water moves east.

Robert Lovell’s Week 3 College Football Power Rankings

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Ranking School Record LW Next Game
1 Alabama 2-0 1 September 21 vs. Colorado State
2 Oregon 3-0 4 September 28 vs. California
3 Ohio State 3-0 2 September 21 vs. Florida A&M
4 Louisville 3-0 5 September 21 vs. Florida International
5 LSU 3-0 6 September 21 vs. Auburn
6 Clemson 2-0 7 September 19 @ NC State
7 Oklahoma State 3-0 8 September 28 @ West Virginia
8 Florida State 2-0 10 September 21 vs. Bethune-Cookman
9 Georgia 1-1 9 September 21 vs. North Texas
10 Ole Miss 3-0 15 September 28 @ 1 Alabama
11 Texas A&M 2-1 3 September 21 vs. SMU
12 Michigan 3-0 11 September 21 @ Connecticut
13 Notre Dame 2-1 12 September 21 vs. Michigan State
14 Miami 2-0 13 September 21 vs. Savannah State
15 Oklahoma 3-0 17 September 28 @ 13 Notre Dame
16 Stanford 2-0 16 September 21 vs. 24 Arizona State
17 South Carolina 2-1 18 September 28 @ U. Central Florida
18 Florida 1-1 20 September 21 vs. Tennessee
19 Washington 2-0 21 September 21 vs. Idaho State
20 Northwestern 3-0 23 September 21 vs. Maine
21 Baylor 2-0 24 September 21 vs. Louisiana-Monroe
22 UCLA 2-0 NR September 21 vs. New Mexico State
23 Oregon State 2-1 25 September 21 @ San Diego State
24 Arizona State 2-0 NR September 21 @ 16 Stanford
25 Arizona 3-0 NR September 28 @ 19 Washington
Next Five: Virginia Tech, Nebraska, Texas Tech, TCU, BYU

 

NP Man Arrested for Sexually Assaulting 14 YO Girl

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Douglas Thompson
Douglas Thompson

A 68-year-old man North Platte man has been arrested on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.

Police arrested Doug Thompson at a home on Sunday.

Police say the girl told investigators that Thompson approached her while she was trying on a dress in her bedroom and touched her in a sexual manner.

A person who called 911 to report the assault told police Thompson was threatening to harm himself, but he was calm when police arrived and was arrested without incident.

Thompson was being held Thursday in the Lincoln County jail on $50,000 bond and could not be reached for comment.

Nebraska Woman Sentenced in Child’s Death Files Appeal

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Laura Rinehart
Laura Rinehart

(AP) — A Nebraska woman sentenced to up to 22 years in prison for her role in the death of her 2-year-old son has filed an appeal.

Last month, 25-year-old Laura Rinehart, was sentenced after pleading no contest to attempted child abuse in the April 2012 death of Joseph Rinehart Jr.

Authorities say she did nothing to stop the abuse of Joseph by her father, 48-year-old Peter Draper, at the home they all shared in Naponee.

Draper was found guilty of two child abuse charges and is set to be sentenced on Oct. 10.

Rinehart says in her appeal that her sentence was excessive.

North Platte Weather September 19th

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forecast-graphic-september-19

  • Today: Isolated thunderstorms before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. North wind 9 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
  • Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light.
  • Friday: Sunny, with a high near 74. Light and variable wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon.
  • Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 46. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the evening.
...THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING RIVERS IN
NEBRASKA...
  SOUTH PLATTE RIVER NEAR ROSCOE AFFECTING DEUEL AND KEITH COUNTIES.

...THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING RIVERS IN
NEBRASKA...
  SOUTH PLATTE RIVER AT NORTH PLATTE AFFECTING LINCOLN COUNTY.

  PLATTE RIVER AT BRADY NORTH CHANNEL AFFECTING LINCOLN COUNTY.

.THE LEVEL ON THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER HAS BEGUN TO RISE AND WILL
REACH FLOOD STAGE BY 5 AM MDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SAFETY MESSAGE...DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER
COVERS THE ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR
CAR TO CROSS SAFELY AND THE ROAD BENEATH MAY NOT BE INTACT. VEHICLES
CAUGHT IN RISING WATERS SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY.

SAFETY MESSAGE...STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS BY LISTENING TO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO...RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS OR ONLINE AT
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/NORTHPLATTE.
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