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Ex-Doctor Seeks 2 Separate Trials for 2008, 2013 Omaha Killings

Anthony Garcia
Anthony Garcia

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former doctor charged with killing four people with ties to an Omaha medical school in separate attacks in 2008 and 2013 is seeking separate trials for the killings.

Attorneys for Anthony Garcia will ask a Douglas County District judge on Monday to order separate trials in the March 2008 slayings of Dr. William Hunter’s 11-year-old son and the family’s housekeeper and the May 2013 killings of Dr. Roger Brumback and his wife, Mary.

Defense attorneys Bob and Alison Motta of Chicago argue that trying the cases together could unfairly sway jurors.

But a major piece of prosecutors’ case is that Garcia was motivated by revenge for being fired from Creighton’s pathology department in 2001 by Roger Brumback and William Hunter.

Abdullah Selected in Second Round of NFL Draft

Ameer Abdullah
Ameer Abdullah

Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft Friday evening. Abdullah was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 54th overall pick in the Draft. Abdullah was the fourth running back selected in the 2015 NFL Draft.

The Homewood, Ala., native left Nebraska as one of the top playmakers in school history. Abdullah finished second in Nebraska history in rushing yards with 4,588 career yards. He also became the first player in Nebraska history with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons, including a pair of seasons topping 1,500 yards.

The 5-9, 200-pound Abdullah shattered the Nebraska school record for all-purpose yards. Abdullah finished his career with 7,186 all-purpose yards, the second-most in Big Ten history. He is one of just 11 players in NCAA FBS history to surpass 7,000 career all-purpose yards.

Abdullah was honored for his play in 2014. One of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, Abdullah was also a finalist for the Hornung Award, Wuerffel Trophy, Senior CLASS Award and the Pop Warner College Football Award.

Abdullah earned second-team All-America honors from the Associated Press, Walter Camp Football Foundation, CBS Sports.com, Scout.com and Athlon. Abdullah also earned All-Big Ten honors for the third straight season, being named to the second-team by both the Coaches and Media, while earning first-team all-league honors from several outlets.

A standout off the field, Abdullah was named to the academic All-Big Ten team for the second straight season. He earned his degree in history in December, completing his undergraduate studies in just 3 1/2 years.

Abdullah’s selection with the No. 54 overall pick marks the highest selection for a Nebraska skill position player since 1996. Abdullah became the first Nebraska running back taken in the first two rounds since Brandon Jackson was selected with the 63rd overall pick in the 2007 Draft.

Nebraska has had a running back selected in three of the past five drafts, with Abdullah joining Roy Helu Jr. (4thround, 2011) and Rex Burkhead (6th round, 2013).

The second and third rounds will take place tonight while the draft concludes Saturday with the fourth through seventh rounds.

Huskers Take Series Opener, Roeder Sets Career Saves Record

husker baseballEvanston, Ill. – The Nebraska baseball team (32-16,  7-9 Big Ten) picked up its first conference road win of the year on Friday afternoon with a 4-2 win over the Northwestern Wildcats ( 14-30, 4-12) at Rocky Miller Park.

After tying Brett Jensen’s Nebraska career record on Tuesday night at Creighton with his 31st career save, senior closer Josh Roeder took sole possession of the record with a perfect ninth inning on Friday for his 32nd career save. Roeder now has 14 saves on the season and needs two more saves to match Jensen’s single season saves record.

The Huskers struggled to score runs with two outs last weekend at Iowa and the Huskers flipped the script on Friday with all four of their runs crossing the plate with two runs. Tanner Lubach, Austin Darby and Ben Miller all delivered with two outs, including a go-ahead two-RBI single from Darby in the fifth with the bases loaded.

Chance Sinclair went 7.0 innings in his 12th start of the season and evened his record on the year to 6-6. The senior gave up two unearned runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out three. Sinclair allowed three of his six hits in the fourth and retired the Wildcats in order three times on the afternoon.

Northwestern senior Brandon Magallones went 8.0 innings and threw 130 pitchers. The right-handed struck out eight Huskers, but allowed three runs on 10 hits and two walks.

Nebraska first four hitters all record two hits, as they went a combined 8-for-19 on the day with three RBIs. The Huskers totaled 12 hits on the afternoon and improved to 19-0 this season when nothing double-digit hits.

The Huskers got Sinclair the lead early with a run on three hits in the top of the first. Headley got the offense going with his 18th double of the season and Miller followed with a single to put runners on the corners with one out. Magallones struck out Darby and looked to get out of the inning without any damage, but Lubach delivered a two-out RBI single to right field that gave Nebraska a 1-0 lead.

Sinclair kept the Wildcats off the board through the first three innings, but couldn’t keep the shutout through four. After retiring the leadoff hitter, Sinclair gave up back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases. With Cody Stevens at the plate, a pitch got away from Lubach and he tossed the ball to Sinclair in plenty of time to cut down Jack Mitchell at the plate, but Sinclair dropped the ball, allowing an unearned run to score on the error. With the game tied, 1-1, the Wildcats tried to bunt a run home, but Sinclair fielded and tossed to Lubach in time to retire Joe Hoscheit at the plate. RJ Watters put the Wildcats in front with a two-out single and the Wildcats held a 2-1 lead through four.

Magallones retired his ninth straight Husker with a strikeout of Christian Cox to start the fifth, but couldn’t run the streak to 10 straight, as he gave up a walk to Wes Edrington. Ryan Boldt and Headley each followed with singles and the Huskers had the bases loaded for Miller. The Husker designated hitter tried to tie the game with a sacrifice fly, but a shallow fly out to left field kept Edrington at third. Darby stepped in with two outs and came through with a two-RBI single to right field that put the Huskers back in front, 3-2.

Working with a lead again, Sinclair retired the Wildcats in order in the sixth and seventh innings. He retired the first two Wildcat batters in the seventh, but couldn’t retire his 10th straight batter, as Connor Lind reached on a single. Sinclair went right back to work and got a fly out, keeping the Huskers ahead 3-2 through seven innings.

Jeff Chesnut took the mound in the eighth and sat down the first two Wildcats he faced before giving up two-straight two-out singles. With the tying run at second base, the Huskers brought in Colton Howell and he struck out Joe Hopfner looking to end the threat.

The Huskers added an insurance run in the top of the ninth on two hits, with Boldt scoring on a RBI single by Miller. With a 4-2 lead, Roeder didn’t need the insurance in the ninth, as he made quick work of the bottom third of Northwestern’s lineup.

The Huskers and Wildcats will meet at 1 p.m. tomorrow for game two of this weekend’s three-game series. Lane Grindle and Ben McLaughlin will have the call on the Husker Sports Network and the game will be streamed live on BTN Plus.

Gregory Selected in Second Round of NFL Draft

Randy Gregory
Randy Gregory

Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft Friday evening, being selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 60th overall pick.

The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Gregory was a two-time All-Big Ten selection for Nebraska in 2013 and 2014, establishing himself as one of the nation’s top pass rushers. Gregory racked up 17.5 sacks and 29 tackles for loss in two seasons with the Huskers, including 10.5 sacks as a junior in 2013. Gregory’s career sack total ranks ninth in Nebraska history and is the highest among players with two seasons in the Husker program.

In addition to earning all-conference honors each of his two seasons in Lincoln, Gregory was a second-team All-American by the Football Writers of America in 2014 and a third-team choice by the Associated Press. In 2013, Gregory was the National Sophomore Defensive Player of the Year by College Football News.

Gregory continues a long tradition of NFL Draft success for Husker defensive linemen. Nebraska has had 17 defensive linemen selected in the past 20 NFL Drafts, including nine in the first or second round in that span. The Huskers have had seven defensive ends taken in the first two rounds since 1997.

Overall, Gregory’s selection marks the fifth time in the last six years Nebraska has had a Blackshirt taken in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft.

Gregory becomes the second Husker taken in the second round, joining Ameer Abdullah, who was a second-round selection (No. 54 overall) by the Detroit Lions.  The 2015 Draft marks the first time since 2007 the Huskers have had a pair of players taken in the first two rounds of the draft. Nebraska has now had multiple players selected in the NFL Draft for 51 consecutive seasons.

The NFL Draft continues in Chicago with the second and third round taking place tonight. The draft concludes with rounds four through seven on Saturday.

Omaha Man Shot in Leg in Fort Dodge, Iowa

fort-dodge-iowaFORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Police in central Iowa are investigating the shooting of a Nebraska man in the leg.

29-year-old Alex Clayton, of Omaha, Nebraska, suffered injuries not expected to be life-threatening in the Friday morning shooting.

Police Chief Kevin Doty says officers were called to Trinity Regional Medical Center around 12:30 a.m. Friday for a man being treated for a gunshot wound in the emergency room.

Doty says officers tried to speak with Clayton and witnesses and are tracking down leads in the case. No arrests have yet been reported.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Fort Dodge Police Department or Webster County Crime Stoppers.

Scottsbluff Man Sentenced to Prison for Beating 3-Year-Old

 Cody Olbricht
Cody Olbricht

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — A 25-year-old Scottsbluff man has been sentence to up to 30 years in prison for severely beating his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter.

Cody Olbricht was sentenced Friday to 18 to 30 years in prison.

Olbricht was found guilty in March of intentional child abuse resulting in serious injury.

Prosecutors say the girl was taken to a hospital in September by her grandmother. Doctors determined the girl had several injuries, including a lacerated liver, brain bleeding, a broken rib and bruises covering her body. Scottsbluff police say there was little food in the home, and the girl’s clothes and bedding were stained with urine.

The girl’s mother, 25-year-old Cassandra Miller, is awaiting trial on a charge of negligent child abuse.

Omaha Public School Teachers, District Strike Pay Deal

omaha-psOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha Public Schools and its teachers union have struck a deal for a new contract that would give teachers raises over the next three years and increase the starting salary for new teachers.

But, the deal would also require employees to pay more toward health care.

Megan Neiles-Brasch, the district’s attorney and chief negotiator, says the Omaha Education Association voted Friday to ratify the three-year contract. The union covers about 4,100 teachers.

Teachers will receive a 5.2 percent pay raise next year, a 2.7 percent raise for the 2016-17 school year and a 5.7 percent raise in 2017-18.

In return, employees will contribute 3 percent more toward health insurance for the first two years and 4 percent more in the contract’s third year.

NU President, Ag Leader to Address NCTA Graduates May 7

Curtis, Neb. – A Nebraska cattle producer will join University of Nebraska administrators including President Hank M. Bounds in saluting Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture graduates on May 7 at commencement in Curtis.

Bill Rishel, founder of RIshel Angus of North Platte, has mentored dozens of NCTA students over the past decades for internships and ranch employment. He will present the keynote address at the 1:30 p.m. ceremony at the Curtis Memorial Community Center, announced NCTA Dean Ron Rosati.

Rishel and his wife, Barb, have been instrumental as advisors to the ag production and livestock management programs at NCTA. They recently helped launch the new Heifer Link program, which provides a bred heifer to Nebraska students graduating from the 100 Cow Ownership Advantage.

Returning to campus three weeks after his first visit to NCTA’s campus is President Bounds, to be joined by Regent Bob Phares of North Platte and Vice President Ronnie Green of Lincoln. Each will deliver remarks.

“The NCTA community enjoyed becoming acquainted with President Bounds when he spoke with us in mid-April,” said Rosati. “We are looking forward to welcoming him again to NCTA along with families and guests.”

Students and faculty receiving awards, scholarships, graduation recognitions and other honors will be featured at the 2015 Awards Night the preceding evening. The public is invited to attend the 7 p.m. event at NCTA’s Nebraska Agricultural Industry Education Center.

“We are very proud of all our students, and look forward to announcing the salutatorian and valedictorian, as well as honor graduates on May 6,” Rosati said.  Also, at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Phi Theta Kappa two-year college scholastic honorary will host initiation of new members.

Graduates from NCTA include two-year students receiving an Associates of Science degree or Associates of Applied Science in majors of agronomy or horticulture, animal science and ag education, agribusiness management or veterinary technology systems.

Certificates will be conferred for the first time for the new irrigation technician program which trains employees for the mechanized irrigation industry, and is hosted in partnership with Reinke Manufacturing of Deshler, Neb.

Additional information about NCTA’s graduation activities on May 6 and May 7 can be gained from Dean Rosati’s office at (308) 367-5200.  Also, the NCTA web site at https://ncta.unledu outlines all academic programs and other details about the college.

UNL to Open Student Veterans Resource Center in Fall

UNLLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s student military veteran population will soon have a center dedicated to supporting them with all aspects of university life.

UNL’s new Student Veterans Resource Center will open in the fall and be located in the Nebraska Union. Its mission will be to support student veterans’ transition to academic life and provide services related to them.

The center will provide academic and transition coaching and peer mentors to help student veterans in and out of the classroom. Darrell Everhart, a retired U.S. Navy captain, will be the center’s founding director. Everhart is an academic success coach at UNL and the adviser for the university’s Veteran Student Organization.

Last fall, UNL had more than 500 veterans or dependents enrolled who received Montgomery GI or Post-9/11 educational benefits.

NP’s Krzyzanowski Wins Cornhusker Trapshoot

Nebraska_game_and_parksDONIPHAN, Neb. – Zack Krzyzanowski of North Platte repeated as the 16-yard champion in the senior high division at the 46th Annual Cornhusker Trapshoot. He broke all 75 clay targets, and then later broke all 100 in a shoot-off.

While Krzyzanowski, a junior in high school, was perfect, several others were close behind. Ten other shooters shot 75s, 30 shot 74s and 68 shot 73s.

Saturday’s scores in the 75 handicap targets will be combined with Friday’s scores to determine the overall champion, the Cornhusker Cup winner.

“We’ve had great weather and shooters have taken advantage with some outstanding scores,” said Terry Brentzel, shoot director.

Sarah Villarreal of Omaha Marian shot 74 of 75 for the top girls score. Adams County 4-H had the top 4-H team, breaking 362 of 375 targets. Omaha Creighton Prep Blue had the top high school team at 363, and Omaha Marian Blue scored a 358 to win the girls’ high school team title.

On Thursday, 947 shooters competed in the junior high division; 1,585 shooters competed in the senior high division Friday.

“The meet is running well and generally ahead of schedule,” Brentzel said. “It just gets better every year. We couldn’t do this without the tremendous assistance of different divisions of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.”

Friday’s results in the 16-yard competition are:

Top 20 Individuals – 1. Zack Krzyzanowski, North Platte, 75 of 75 (won shoot-off); 2. Shane Hayek, Wilber 5 Clovers 4-H, 75; 3. Nathan Schmidt, Omaha Skutt, 75; 4. Dean Rodgers, Papillion-LaVista, 75; 5. Dylan Hermann, Millard West, 75; 6. Samuel Gustin, Papillion-LaVista, 75; 7. Dustin Hartwell, Elkhorn Mount Michael, 75; 8. Gus Dunbar, Karp & Krow 4-H, 75; 9. Billy Miller, Blair, 75; 10. Riley Christensen, Loup Valley 4-H, 75; 11. Ryan Chab, Falls City, 75; 12. Darren Armstrong, North Platte, 74; 13. Braydn Snell, Gibbon, 74; 14. Scott Chrastil, Blue River 4-H, 74; 15. Noah Kaustka, Lincoln Pius X, 74; 16. Jared Crause, Dundy County, 74; 17. Ryan Winkler, Blue River 4-H, 74; 18. Adam Florian, Adams County 4-H, 74; 19. Cameron Rakes, Omaha Creighton Prep, 74; 20. Jacob Frerichs, Young Guns 4-H, 74.

Top Six Girls – 1. Sarah Villarreal, Omaha Marian, 74 of 75 (won shoot-off); 2. Anna Vasko, Omaha Marian, 74; 3. Mandy Kennick, Papillion-LaVista, 74; 4. Bailey Gasseling, Lincoln Southwest, 73; 5. Katie Petersen, Omaha Marian, 73; 6. Dakotah Koch, Lincoln Southwest, 73.

Top Three 4-H Teams – 1. Adams County 4-H (Adam Florian, Andrew Rutt, Austin Craig, Cody Zeckser, Marcus Long), 362 of 375; 2. Oak Creek 4-H, 359; 3. Wilber 5 Clovers 4-H, 358.

Top Three Girls Teams – 1. Omaha Marian Blue (Emily Worth, Katie Petersen, Anna Vasko, Molly LaFave, Sarah Villarreal), 358 of 375; 2. Lincoln Southwest Pink, 351; 3. Papillion-LaVista, 346.

Top Six High School Teams – 1. Omaha Creighton Prep Blue (Brandon Kreikemeyer, Adam Misek, Noah Walz, Andrew Emodi, Isaac Shields) 363 of 375; 2. Lincoln Southwest Gold, 361; 3. Waverly Gold, 359; 4. Lincoln Southeast, 358; 5. North Platte Blue, 358; 6. Millard West A, 357.

Jim Carlisle Memorial Second Generation Individual (traveling trophy) – Spencer Ellwanger, Sidney Sharpshooters 4-H, 73.

Ducks Unlimited Green Wings (top score on middle 50) – Boys: 1. Dylan Hermann, Millard West, 50; 2. Caden Boesiger, Lincoln Southwest, 50; 3. Austin Reynolds, Scotts Bluff County 4-H, 50; Girls: 1. Alexis Philson, Lincoln Southwest, 49; 2. Autumn Schmale, Beatrice, 49; 3. Elizabeth Budin, Omaha Mercy, 49

National Rifle Association Scholarship Team – Andrew Rutt, Hastings, 4.0 GPA; John Ford, Omaha Creighton Prep, 3.988; Mackenzie Jung, Papillion-LaVista, 3.98; Matt Bellford, Omaha Creighton Prep, 3.96; Megan Mueting, Lincoln Southwest, 3.85

For more information, visit cornhusker-trap.com.

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