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Council Bluffs Woman Reports Stabbing Estranged Husband After Break-In

council-bluffs-policeCOUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A 39-year-old man is recovering from stab wounds that police say he received when he broke into a Council Bluffs home and attacked his estranged wife.

Council Bluffs police say the man was taken to an Omaha, Nebraska, hospital for treatment after a traffic stop. Officers had responded to a call around 5:45 p.m. Sunday by a woman reporting threats against her and another woman.

The officers say the man had left by the time they arrived at the home. The women reported that he’d broken in and tried to choke one of them, but she grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed him. Officers say her injuries were minor and that the other woman wasn’t hurt.

Police say charges are likely against the man, but he’s not yet been arrested.

Grand Island Unveils Deal for Outsourcing Ambulance Billing

grand-island-fire-departmentGRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Grand Island has removed a veil over its deal with a company contracted to handle ambulance billings.

The city said in a news release Friday that it will pay PST Services, a McKesson Corp., company, 4 percent of the net amount collected. That would be around $48,000 on the $1.2 million collected in a typical year.

The City Council approved the contract last week but wouldn’t say what the city will pay PST. City Attorney Bob Sivick said the cost was confidential because the company’s billing formula is considered a trade secret, which is protected under Nebraska’s public records law. The Grand Island Independent submitted an open records request.

The city’s news release said “it was determined releasing the information was in the best interest of the community.”

MPCC’s Lesiak Wins Bull Riding at Hastings College Rodeo

Ethan Lesiak of the Mid-Plains Community College rodeo team finished first in the bull riding event MPCC Rodeo Logoof the Hastings College rodeo with a score of 80 points.  In the team standings Mid-Plains finished in 10th position with 25 points.  In the steer wrestling competition, Kris Rasmussen finished in third place at 15.1 seconds.  Tyler Wriedt finished in seventh at 24.6 seconds.

For the season, Mid-Plains is in eighth position in the men’s team standing with 1,095 points.  The women’s team is in 10th place with 170 points in the Great Plains region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.  Individually on the year, Duell Puttergill is in sixth place in the saddle bronc riding with 260 points.  In bull riding Keali’I’aukai Kaai is in fourth place with 290 points; Colter Glendy is in fifth with 230 points; Tyler Viers is sixth with 190 points; Lesiak is ninth with 120 points; Tyler Wriedt is12th with 80 points and Dakota Rice is 13th with 70 points.  In steer wrestling Tyler Murray is tied for 12th with 200 points and Rasmussen is in 14th with 180 points.

Mid-Plains will participate in their final regular season rodeo at Dickinson State N.D. on May 8 – 9.

Family of Slain Yankton Woman Makes Push to Find Killer

Tammy Haas (Facebook)
Tammy Haas (Facebook)

YANKTON, S.D. (AP) — The family of a Yankton woman slain nearly a quarter century ago is making a renewed effort to find her killer.

The body of Tammy Haas was found 23 years ago in a ravine along a Nebraska highway just across the South Dakota border. Nineteen years ago, a jury found her boyfriend not guilty of manslaughter.

Haas’ family last month hired private detectives to work on the case, using $24,000 raised through social media. The Facebook page “Justice for Tammy Haas” has grown to more than 5,000 followers. Also in April, “Dateline NBC” listed the slaying in its “Cold Case Spotlight.”

Mother Nancy Haas says the family hopes someone with knowledge of the case will come forward with information.

Buffett Says Foodmakers Will Respond to Changing Tastes

Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Billionaire Warren Buffett says Coca-Cola, Heinz and other companies will respond to people’s desire for healthier food, but he predicted demand will remain strong for their traditional products.

Buffett appeared on CNBC Monday after spending the weekend answering questions at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting.

Buffett’s Berkshire is the biggest shareholder in Coca-Cola, owns half of Heinz and is in the process of acquiring Kraft Foods.

Buffett says big food companies will develop products for changing tastes and local markets.

But Buffett says one-quarter of the calories he consumes come from Coke or Cherry Coke, and he enjoys foods like ice cream and steak. He says don’t bother inviting him for dinner if you plan to serve broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

Nebraska Man Gets Probation Revoked, Gets Prison in Fatal Crash

jailCOLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — Probation has been revoked for a 32-year-old man convicted of vehicular homicide in the crash death of a Columbus woman.

Brian Browning was sentenced last week to two to three years in prison.

Judge Robert Steinke said in court that Browning, who now lives in Wolbach, began taking terms of his original sentence seriously only when prosecutors sought to revoke his four-year probation. In mid-March Brown admitted failing to report for drug testing, not participating in substance abuse counseling, not completing any community service and driving under suspension.

Authorities say Browning was speeding and driving recklessly on July 21, 2012, when he lost control of his pickup and it rolled, ejecting Browning, another passenger and 20-year-old Toni Krumland, who died days later.

Pentagon Accused of Hiding Sex Crimes Info

the-pentagon-2WASHINGTON (AP) — A senator leading a push to tighten policy on military sex assaults says the number of sex-related crimes in military communities is far greater than the Defense Department has publicly reported.

In a report released Monday, Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand (KEER’-sten JIHL’-uh-brand) says the spouses of service members and civilian women who live or work near military facilities are especially vulnerable to sexual assault.

The New York senator says they “remain in the shadows” because neither is counted in surveys conducted by the Defense Department to determine the prevalence of sexual assaults within the ranks.

The Defense Department says it is making progress against sexual assaults. It estimates sex crimes are decreasing and victims are more confident offenders will be held accountable.

Supreme Court Rejects Inmate’s Appeal for Sex-Change Surgery

supreme-courtWASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from a convicted murderer in Massachusetts who has been seeking taxpayer-funded sex-reassignment surgery in prison.

The justices did not comment Monday in letting stand a lower-court ruling against Michelle Kosilek. The prison inmate was born Robert Kosilek and is serving a life sentence for killing spouse Cheryl Kosilek in 1990.

The inmate has waged a lengthy fight for the surgery she says is necessary to relieve the mental anguish caused by gender-identity disorder.

Last year, a divided federal appeals court in Boston overturned a first-in-the-nation court order for the state to provide the sex-reassignment surgery. Courts around the country have found that prisons must evaluate transgender inmates to determine their health care needs, but most have ordered hormone treatments and psychotherapy, not surgery.

Ag Secretary Vilsack to Announce National Conservation Projects

USDABROOMFIELD, Colo. (AP) — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is traveling to Colorado to announce funding for conservation projects in all 50 states.

Vilsack is scheduled to release details about the projects at 2 p.m. Monday at the Colorado Department of Agriculture in Broomfield.

The Department of Agriculture says the projects concern water quality, soil health, wildlife habitat and agricultural viability. They will be funded by the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, which requires recipients to also contribute their own money and effort on projects.

Tornado, Hail Reported in Southeast Nebraska

severe-weatherBEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — Two tornado sightings have been reported in southeast Nebraska but remain unconfirmed.

The National Weather Service says a member of law enforcement reported a twister crossing U.S. Highway 77 north of Cortland around 8:25 p.m. Sunday. No injuries were reported.

A storm chaser reported a tornado about two miles northeast of Adams in Gage County 10 minutes later. It’s not clear whether the reports were about the same tornado. The weather service says the sightings have not been confirmed.

The service also says Sunday’s storms brought 2-inch hail to Lancaster, Gage and Johnson counties. Barn roofs were dented and fields of strawberries were damaged at Roca Berry Farm, southwest of Roca.

Forecasters say storms capable of producing large hail and damaging winds are expected to hit the area Monday evening.

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