LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Death penalty supporters in Nebraska are looking to challenge the Legislature’s landmark repeal vote in court and on the ballot.
The Nebraska attorney general’s office said Thursday that it plans to challenge part of the law that changed the sentences of the 10 current death row prisoners to life in prison.
Attorneys plan to argue that the law violates the state constitution, which gives the Board of Pardons exclusive power to change final sentences.
Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha announced the formation Wednesday of a new group, Nebraskans for Justice, which will look into a citizen-led ballot initiative to reinstate capital punishment.
McCoy says the group may push to suspend the new law before it takes effect or could seek a constitutional amendment.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police in Kansas City, Kansas, are investigating the death of a 34-year-old local man after an officer shocked him with a stun gun.
Police said officers were summoned Wednesday after someone reported a man behaving strangely in the parking lot of a Family Dollar store. They say the man turned combative when paramedics tried to treat him and that an officer shocked him with a stun gun to subdue him.
The man later died at a hospital. Police identified him Thursday as Randall C. Torrence.
The police department’s major case unit is investigating. An autopsy and toxicology tests are being conducted to determine what caused Torrence to die.
KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm and Viaero Event Center have announced that President Greg Shea will resign to accept another business opportunity in Kearney. This move will be effective June 18.
Shea has been the President for the hockey team and the event center since 2009, helping to grow the business presence of both in many areas.
“I’ve had the great pleasure and pride to represent the Storm and the Viaero Event Center as the President for the past six years,” Shea said. “I’ve made a professional decision to move on in my career, one that’s very difficult and took a lot of time. It’s especially difficult when you work with great people, great ownership, and represent two amazing brands.
“With the Storm and VEC moving in the right direction, I’m excited to take another step in my career and the best part is I get to do it right here in Kearney, a place I love and a place I look forward to continue to work and raise my family.”
Previously, Shea was with the Storm from 1999 to 2008, serving as the Vice President of Operations. He left to take a position as President of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, but returned when Kirk Brooks took over ownership of the team in 2009.
“Greg has not only been a model employee, but a good friend,” said Kirk Brooks, Owner of both the Storm and VEC. “When I purchased the team, I knew it was going to be vital for our survival and success to get Greg on board, and we were able to accomplish that. He’s done a terrific job ever since. He’s done his job not only with dedication and passion, but most of all with integrity.”
During the past six years, Shea has led the charge to grow the team’s attendance. Before Brooks purchased the team, Tri-City’s average attendance was 2,093 fans per game. That number has grown in each of the last six seasons, and was at 2,704 during the 2014-15 campaign.
In addition, the team’s season ticket holder base has grown to over 900 individuals, and will now include Shea himself. With the announcement, Shea has already placed his deposit to become the newest season ticket holder for the Storm during the 2015-16 season.
“I’ve always known Greg to be courteous, helpful and respectful not only to the fans, but of all the other employees at the Viaero Event Center,” Brooks said. “I feel a loss for the Storm family but at the same time, I’m very happy for Greg and his family. While I hate to lose him, I’m not one to hold players and employees back.”
Shea initially started his career in sports management with the Omaha Racers semipro basketball team from 1989-1995. He then got his start in hockey with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers, holding positions as the Director of Player Relations, Merchandising Manager and Assistant General Manager. Working with owner Ted Baer, Shea was instrumental in bringing the Storm to Kearney.
The Storm are now preparing for the team’s annual tryout camp, which will be held in Las Vegas June 15-21. The 2015-16 season will be the 16th year of hockey in the heartland. For more information, visit stormhockey.com.
LINCOLN, Neb. (May 28, 2015) — The 2015 State Games of America (SGA 2015) in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska is just two months away and event officials are encouraging competitors to sign up now. Entry fees for most individual sports will increase $5 after June 1. Team sports fees will go up $3 per team member. Registration will remain open through July 1 for the event which runs July 28–August 2.
SGA 2015 replaces the Cornhusker State Games for this year, so all Nebraskans are eligible to enter. Of 5,000 total entries received, nearly 2,800 are from Nebraska, and 185 communities are represented so far. The Nebraska Sports Council (NSC) is organizing SGA 2015, and NSC Executive Director Dave Mlnarik says he’s confident that host-state athletes will make a strong showing in the event.
“Nebraskans are great competitors, but we’re also counting on our Nebraska athletes to be great hosts for the out-of-state participants,” said Mlnarik. “This is an opportunity to show people from across the nation what Nebraska is all about.”
Jeff Hageman from Omaha competed in the 2009 State Games of America in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The 50-year-old sprinter says he’s looking forward to SGA 2015.
“It’s great to line up against champions from other states,” said Hageman. “I enjoyed meeting new people who have the same passion for my sport.”
SGA 2015 includes more than 60 sports, with competitors grouped according to age and ability. Mlnarik expects some high-level competition, but recreational athletes shouldn’t be intimidated.
“For some, this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in a national event close to home,” said Mlnarik. “There’s a place for everyone who wants to participate and have a great time.”
Overall, competitors from 45 states and the District of Columbia have entered so far and SGA 2015 is expected to be the largest State Games of America event ever. Details regarding events, eligibility, hotel accommodations and the host city of Lincoln are available at SGA2015.com. Follow State Games of America on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates.
The State Games of America is a program of the National Congress of State Games and the Nebraska Sports Council. Platinum partners include the Nebraska National Guard, CHI Health St. Elizabeth, the Omaha World-Herald, Black Hills Energy, the Nebraska Tourism Commission and the Downtown Optimist Club of Lincoln.
Chris Tamas (Photo Courtesy Cal Poly Athletic Communications)
Lincoln – University of Nebraska volleyball head coach John Cook announced Thursday the hiring of Chris Tamas as an assistant coach, with his wife, Jennifer (Joines) Tamas, joining the Huskers as a volunteer assistant. Chris Tamas was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Cal Poly the past two seasons, while Jen served as a volunteer assistant there.
Cook said Tamas, a former U.S. Men’s National Team captain who also spent two years as an assistant at Minnesota, brings tremendous playing and coaching experience, as well as recruiting ability to the Huskers. He will primarily oversee Nebraska’s middle blockers, coordinate blocking defense and scouting reports, while assisting in recruiting. Tamas replaces Dan Meske, who took the head coach position at Augustana (S.D.).
“Going through the search process, we were really impressed with the quality of candidates interested in Nebraska volleyball,” Cook said. “Chris really stood out to us because of his playing experience with the U.S. National Team and that he’s played under some great coaches. He has been in the Big Ten, so he’s familiar with the conference and what it takes to compete at this level. He’s also been at two programs in rebuilding modes in UC Riverside and Cal Poly, and that’s when you really learn how to coach. I admire the fact that he helped rebuild a program basically from scratch, a program that is ready to take off after the players he brought in last year.”
In Tamas’ first season at Cal Poly in 2013, the Mustangs posted an eight-win improvement over 2012. Tamas’ seven-player recruiting class in 2014 was ranked 23rd nationally by PrepVolleyball.com, and the Mustangs’ top hitter, setter and blocker in 2014 were all freshmen, including Big West Conference All-Freshman Team member Raeann Greisen (3.55 kills per set). The Mustangs regularly started five of the seven freshmen Tamas helped bring in.
“I have been fortunate enough to travel the world through my playing and coaching career – from the collegiate to the national and professional levels – and what the University of Nebraska does for the sport of volleyball is unrivaled,” Tamas said. “From the passionate and knowledgeable fans to the dedicated and hardworking staff, we couldn’t be more excited to join this program. We’re looking forward to working with Coach Cook, developing our student-athletes, and together achieving world-class results.”
As an assistant coach at Minnesota from 2011-12, he helped lead the Golden Gophers to an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance in 2011 and an Elite Eight showing in 2012. In addition to scouting, Tamas was tasked with training Minnesota’s setters, and the Golden Gophers finished the 2012 season with the Big Ten Conference’s top offense and ranked eighth nationally in kills per set. With Minnesota, Tamas worked under Hugh McCutcheon, who directed the United States Men’s National Team to a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics and the U.S. women’s team to a silver medal in 2012. Prior to his time with Minnesota, Tamas spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons at UC Riverside under 2008 Olympic assistant coach Ron Larsen.
Tamas’ wife, Jennifer (Joines) Tamas, was a four-time All-American middle blocker at Pacific (2000-03) and silver medalist with the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She played professionally for eight years in Japan, Italy, Russia, Azerbaijan and Puerto Rico and was the U.S. Women’s National Team captain for four years.
“I coached Jen on two USA teams previously, and she’s very good friends with Jordan Larson-Burbach and Nancy Metcalf (Meendering),” Cook said. “She’s interested in coaching now that she’s retired from playing professionally. Jen and Chris together are going to make a very big impact on our program.”
Jen Tamas added: “I look forward to joining my husband and bringing our family into the Lincoln Community. There is no better place in the country to play volleyball and raise a family. We are honored to join such a storied program. As a former Olympian and captain of our women’s national team, I understand the unique combination of leadership skills, dedication to training, and commitment to the team that is needed at the highest level. We look forward to helping develop these traits in our young women here at Nebraska.”
Both Chris and Jen Tamas bring with them accomplished collegiate and professional playing careers.
Chris Tamas was a 2003 graduate of Pacific with a degree in sports sciences. He was a four-year starter for the Tigers and a unanimous AVCA All-America first team selection and team Most Valuable Player during his 2003 senior season, Tamas remains first in program history in assists (5,086), third in assists per set (13.46), fourth in service aces (84), 10th in digs (498) and 14th in total bocks (221). In four years with the United States Men’s National Team (1999, 2003, 2005-06), Tamas made 34 appearances and in 1999 helped the squad to a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in Havana. As national team captain in 2003, Tamas helped lead the United States to a bronze medal at the World University Games in Daegu, South Korea.
A training camp invitee for the United States squad that eventually captured the 2008 Olympic gold medal, Tamas also helped U.S. sides to silver at the 2005 World Grand Champions Cup in Japan and, as a setter, to a gold at the 2006 NORCECA Championships in Mexicali, Mexico.
As a professional, Tamas competed for six years overseas with clubs Protect Eye Orion (Netherlands), Antigos Alunos (Portugal), Real Grupo (Spain), Erdemir (Turkey), Dionysos (Cyprus) and Isku (Finland). In Finland and Cyprus, Tamas helped his clubs to national cup championships.
As a middle blocker with the United States Women’s National Team, Jen Tamas made more than 60 appearances in eight years while serving as captain for four years. Aside from assisting the U.S. to silver at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Tamas helped lift the country to gold at the 2012 Pan-American Cup.
She was the 2003 Big West Conference Player of the Year and 2000 Big West Freshman of the Year at Pacific, where she led the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament each year. Tamas earned communications and business degrees at Pacific.
Anna May Peters, age 92 of North Platte, passed away Wednesday May 27, 2015.
Anna was born on November 8, 1922 in North Platte, NE to Leo Lester and Nora Mae (Andrew) Dale. She grew up in the area and graduated from North Platte High School in 1940. After high school she graduated from college in Bakersfield, CA. She worked at a school for awhile in Bakersfield before joining Kern County, CA Crime Lab, where she worked for many years. On May 27, 1942 she married Lawrence Peters in Pomona, CA. Lawrence passed away February 6, 1998. Anna will be remembered as an excellent cook and wonderful person who was always positive towards others.
Anna is survived by her sisters Lela (Grant) Remus of North Platte and Marlene Piernicki of Holdrege; sisters-in-law Polly Dale of Loveland, CO and Toni Dale of North Platte; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Lawrence; brothers Lester, Harold and Richard; and sister Ruth Stout.
Memorials are suggested to the Centennial Park Nursing Home and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday May 30, 2015 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home. Burial will follow at North Platte Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until 9:00 p.m. Friday May 29, 2015 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — Prosecutors are methodically building a case that James Holmes knew right from wrong when he planned and carried out the deadly Colorado theater shootings. After a month of testimony from victims and investigators, prosecutors this week shifted to Holmes’ mental state. They hope to convince jurors he should be convicted and executed, not sent to a mental hospital.
Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the 2012 attack, which killed 12 people and injured 70.
On Thursday, prosecutors plan to question a state-appointed psychiatrist who examined Holmes. District Attorney George Brauchler has already told jurors the doctor concluded Holmes was legally sane.
Earlier this week, prosecutors showed jurors a notebook Holmes kept that included a map estimating how long it would take police to respond to an attack.
Jack McVeigh (Photo Courtesy Scott Bruhn/NU Media Relations)
Nebraska incoming freshman Jack McVeigh will represent Australia next month at the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Greece. McVeigh was one of the 12 players announced Thursday by Basketball Australia.
The tournament runs from June 27 to July 5, and Australia will face Canada (June 27), Tunisia (June 28) and Italy (June 30) in pool play. The team will leave Australia on June 10 and play tune-up games in Spain and Croatia before heading to Greece. Australia is seeking its first medal in the event since 2003, when Andrew Bogut led Australia to a gold medal, while featuring former Husker great Aleks Maric.
McVeigh, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound guard/forward from Gold Coast, Queensland, signed with the Huskers earlier this spring. He has extensive experience in the national team pipeline, as McVeigh was chosen to captain the Under-19 National Team in 2014, but was unable to play because of illness. McVeigh, who has played with the Senior National Team at the 2014 Sino-Australia Challenge, also played for the Australian Select Team in 2014 and at the Adidas Nations event in 2013.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Nebraska man has been identified as a BNSF Railway employee killed in a rail yard accident in Minneapolis.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s office identified the man Wednesday as 29-year-old Tyrell Anderson of Gering, Nebraska. According to the office, Anderson died of “multiple blunt force injuries” sustained while unloading track material Monday morning.
BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth has said a locomotive passing on another track hit the material, causing it to fall on top of the worker. Deputy Fire Chief Todd White said he was part of an eight-person crew working in the area.
The medical examiner’s office says the accident is being investigated by BNSF, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Railroad Administration.
Today: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. South southeast wind 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west southwest 8 to 13 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. North wind 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. North wind 9 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. North northeast wind around 8 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon. Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
