February 2015 – Page 76 – North Platte Post Archive

Michigan Fighting Claims of Sexual Abuse by Teens in Prison

Posted on February 1, 2015

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s prison system is defending against a major lawsuit that claims guards and other employees failed to prevent the sexual assault of male inmates under 18 who were housed with adults.

After more than a year of litigation, the young inmates have made some important victories. Washtenaw County Judge Carol Kuhnke has agreed to make the case a class-action and also declared that state civil rights protections apply.

The lawsuit says teens were forced to engage in sex acts with adult prisoners and staff. The attorney general’s office says it doesn’t believe there was “rampant” abuse as alleged.

Males under 18 now are housed away from adults. In 2009, the state agreed to a $100 million settlement with female prisoners who said they were assaulted by male staff.

Boyfriend Arrested in Rape, Brutal Attack of California Girl

Posted on February 1, 2015

HANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Police in Central California have arrested a man accused of raping his 16-year-old girlfriend and beating her with a tire iron over the course of five days.

Hanford police say 19-year-old Eddie Perez was taken into custody on Saturday night.

Sgt. Justin Vallin says the girl’s family reported that she had run away about two weeks ago from Avenal. Investigators believe she was with Perez, but the relationship turned violent when he accused her of cheating on him several days ago.

Vallin says Perez held the girl in his car, and she was able to signal a passerby for help on Friday afternoon while he was away.

She was in stable condition at a hospital on Sunday. Vallin did not know whether Perez had an attorney.

Planned Federal Prisoner Facility in Kearney May Never Open

Posted on February 1, 2015

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — The future of a planned halfway house for federal prisoners under construction in Kearney remains uncertain because a similar facility in Hastings objected.

The federal Bureau of Prisons is evaluating which of the two facilities to contract with going forward.

The Bristol Station re-entry facility for federal prisoners has been operated in Hastings by Western Alternative Corrections in Hastings.

After Dismas Charities, which is based in Louisville, Kentucky, publicized its plans for a new halfway house in Kearney, the operators of the Hastings facility objected. Then the federal government rescinded its contract award to Dismas and began re-evaluating the plan.

Dismas operates residential re-entry centers in 13 U.S. states.

Both companies are waiting to hear federal officials’ decision.

At Least 2 People Die on Snowy Nebraska Roads Sunday

Posted on February 1, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — At least two people died on snowy roads in Nebraska on Sunday, and authorities are urging people not to drive unless necessary.

On Interstate 80 in Lincoln, a 30-year-old truck driver from Illinois died after his semitrailer collided with another semitrailer truck around 8:15 a.m.

Lincoln Police Capt. Danny Reitan says the driver who wasn’t identified died at a Lincoln hospital.

Saunders County officials say a 62-year-old woman was killed in a head-on collision that also injured three people around noon Sunday. That crash happened on Highway 92 between Wahoo and Yutan.

By Sunday afternoon, the Iowa Department of Transportation was recommending that people stay off the roads if possible because of snow and ice on the roads. Travel was especially dangerous in eastern Iowa.

Lincoln Nightclub Heavily Damaged by Fire

Posted on February 1, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Investigators are working to determine what caused a fire that heavily damaged a Lincoln bar and knocked out power in the surrounding area.

The fire started at the Karma Nightclub and Cabaret around 7:15 p.m. Saturday. Everyone was evacuated safely, but it took several hours to control the fire.

The club’s owner Kyle Baun says he was heartbroken when he arrived to see his business in flames.

The roof collapsed during the fire. Lincoln Fire Battalion Chief Leo Benes said the business is a total loss.

Karma had been open just over a year. Previously the club was called The Q.

Bryan Ruhs, who worked as a DJ, says it was hard to watch the fire because the club was the first gay bar he ever went to.

Storm Forces Some Flight Cancellations in Nebraska, Iowa

Posted on February 1, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The winter storm has forced airlines to cancel some flights in Nebraska and Iowa, but the airports are operating normally despite the snow.

The main problem area Sunday for airports in Omaha, Lincoln and Des Moines was flights headed to and from Chicago. Most of the cancellations involved one of Chicago’s two major airports.

Eppley Airfield spokesman Tim Schmitt says about 20 flights to and from Omaha were cancelled because of the storm. But the airport had two runways clear and planes were landing without problems.

Lincoln airport officials said there had only been a couple cancellations Sunday.

Des Moines International Airport spokesman Andrew Wall says a few flights were cancelled Sunday, but those were mostly the ones that go back and forth to Chicago all day.

Toddler Wounds Both Parents with 1 Shot from Handgun

Posted on February 1, 2015

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a 3-year-old boy got ahold of a handgun from his mother’s purse and fired just one shot that wounded both his parents.

Albuquerque police say the toddler apparently reached for an iPod but found the loaded weapon.

The bullet first struck his father in the buttock and then hit the shoulder of his mother, who is eight months pregnant. His 2-year-old sister was present but unhurt.

Local media reports say police believe Saturday’s shooting was accidental.

Police said in a statement that the father was treated and released, while the mother was hospitalized in stable condition. They will be investigated for possible negligence charges.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that the family was living in the motel room where the shooting occurred.

Police say child care officials are taking care of the children.

Air Force Sending Students to UNO for Leadership Development

Posted on February 1, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new program will allow some of the top security specialists working for U.S. Strategic Command to study leadership at the University of Nebraska at Omaha this semester.

The group of 10 that begins their 13 weeks of study at UNO this weekend includes some of the top civilian security specialists.

The students in the program were chosen by leaders at Strategic Command, which is based at Offutt Air Force Base.

In addition to graduate-level leadership coursework, the students will have the chance to learn from business leaders from Union Pacific and First National Bank.

Minimum Wage Debate Not Yet Over in Nebraska Legislature

Posted on February 1, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Despite resounding voter support last year to increase the minimum wage, Nebraska lawmakers could find themselves debating the issue yet again.

A legislative committee on Monday will review two new minimum wage bills. One would boost the wage for restaurant workers who rely on tips, while the other would let employers pay the state’s old $7.25-an-hour wage to high school students in entry-level jobs.

The debate follows last year’s campaign victory for the statewide ballot measure that boosted Nebraska’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $8 this year. The wage will increase again to $9 in 2016.

Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha, a leader in last year’s ballot campaign, says the election shows clear public support for such measures, which lawmakers should heed.