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Grand Island Ceremony Honors Fallen Omaha Officer

Officer Kerrie Orozco
Officer Kerrie Orozco

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha police officer who was killed in the line of duty about a year ago has been honored for her devotion to protecting the public.

Officer Kerrie Orozco’s name was unveiled on the Nebraska Law Enforcement Memorial wall in Grand Island during a ceremony Monday. Four other officers’ names were also unveiled after investigations concluded that they died in the line of duty.

Orozco was killed May 20, 2015, as she and other members of the Omaha Police Department tried to arrest a suspect wanted in connection with a September 2014 shooting.

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said at the ceremony that Orozco was not only an exemplary officer but also a good person and member of society.

Council Bluffs to Allow City Employees to Live Outside Iowa

Google Maps
Google Maps

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Council Bluffs officials have passed an ordinance that will allow people from outside of Iowa to seek positions within the municipal government.

The City Council’s approval Monday will allow residents of the metropolitan area who live in Nebraska, or even farther in South Dakota or Missouri, to seek positions with the city, police or fire departments.

Republican state Rep. Mary Ann Hanusa of Council Bluffs co-wrote a law that passed this year allowing cities to seek employment from outside the state. Hanusa said Council Bluffs city workers had raised concerns about the same-state restriction.

Mayor Matt Walsh says Council Bluffs is limited in potential employees because it represents about 10 percent of the metro area’s entire population.

The ordinance goes into effect July 1.

Police: Woman Arrested After Child Eats Meth

METHPRAIRIEVILLE, La. (AP) — A Louisiana woman has been arrested after police say her 2-year-old child ate methamphetamine.

The Gonzales Police Department said in a news release that authorities arrested 21-year-old Tyler Dauzat on counts of negligent injuring and cruelty to juveniles Sunday.

Sgt. Steven Nethken says Dauzat took her 2-year-old to a hospital after the child was exhibiting erratic behavior. A blood screening of the child showed a significant presence of meth and doctors concluded that the child had eaten the drug.

Dauzat admitted to police that she had a powder form of crystal meth in her purse and her child had been left alone with a purse nearby.

Dauzat was arrested at the Ascension Parish jail. It’s unclear if she has an attorney.

Testimony Seeks Changes in Nebraska Segregation Rules Draft

prisonLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Those who have testified at a Nebraska Department of Correctional Services hearing on restrictive housing say there are changes needed in the proposed solitary confinement rules.

Former inmates, American Civil Liberties Union officials and state Ombudsman’s office representatives told a hearing officer there are concerns that the 19-page draft policy on segregation is too broad, continues the use of long-term segregation and doesn’t have a timeline or enough detail.

The department developed the rules and regulations after the state passed a law in 2015 requiring a long-term plan for use and reduction of restrictive housing.

Republican state Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus introduced the law. He says the proposed regulations have a lot of steps, no appeal process and no real mandate to change what’s going on now.

Boy, 11, Died After Being Struck by SUV, Fremont Police Say

fremont-policeFREMONT, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say an 11-year-old boy has died after being struck by a sport utility vehicle in Fremont.

The accident occurred around 3:35 p.m. Monday. Fremont police say a 16-year-old was headed east on Military Avenue when the SUV he was driving struck the boy. Police say there was no crosswalk where the accident occurred.

Police say the boy was taken to a Fremont hospital and then flown to an Omaha hospital, where he died.

The 11-year-old was identified as Andrew Perez-Martinez, of Fremont. The teenage driver’s name hasn’t been released.

Fremont police and the Nebraska State Patrol are investigating the accident.

Kearney Woman Killed, 4 Others Hurt in Dawson County Crash

fatal-crashLEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 49-year-old Kearney woman has been killed in a south-central Nebraska collision.

The accident occurred around 8:35 a.m. Monday on U.S. Highway 30, about five miles east of Lexington. The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office says a westbound sport utility vehicle crossed the center line and struck an oncoming pickup. The SUV then rolled and came to rest on the passenger side.

The Sheriff’s Office says the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. She was identified as Lisa Antillon. The pickup driver and three other people were taken to a Lexington hospital.

Warrant Issued for Burned Omaha Man Lists Murder Charge

omaha-policeOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An arrest warrant alleging murder and four counts of attempted murder has been issued for an Omaha man recovering from burns.

Police said Monday that 32-year-old Antone Page will be taken into custody after he leaves a hospital. Court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.

Page is accused of stabbing 48-year-old Steven Edwards on Friday and then touching off a fire after splashing gasoline around an apartment and onto Edwards and others there. An Omaha police officer responding to a 911 call fired four gunshots at the apartment door lock so he and other officers could get in. Another officer used a stun gun to subdue Page and pull him from the apartment.

Edwards died at a hospital a few hours later.

Official: No Indication of Ride Malfunction When Omaha Girl Hurt

Facebook: Virginia Cooksey
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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska official says investigators have found no indication that a spinning carnival ride was malfunctioning when an 11-year-old girl’s hair got caught in it, ripping her scalp.

Nebraska Labor Department spokeswoman Grace Johnson also said Monday that investigators have no reason to believe the person operating the ride wasn’t paying attention Saturday afternoon when the incident happened on the King’s Crown ride at a Cinco de Mayo festival in Omaha.

The girl was taken to Nebraska Medicine — Nebraska Medical Center where she underwent surgery to repair her scalp.

Johnson says investigators are looking at the restraints on the ride.

Mark A. Chasek

Mark A. Chasek, 42, of Mullen died Sunday, May 8, at his home
Memorial services will be held Monday, May 16, 2016 at 2 PM MDT at the Lariat Auditorium in Mullen, NE
Inurnment will be at a later date by family at Beaver Valley Cemetery in Chadron
Memorials are suggested to Education Fund for his daughters % 83300 S. Hwy. 97 or Sandhills Cancer Fund, 428 8th St., Ainsworth, NE

Colorado Prom Photo Captures Tornado…From a Safe Distance

Facebook Photo
Facebook Photo

WRAY, Colo. (AP) — Teens in the small Colorado plains community of Wray were getting ready to head to the prom when a powerful tornado clouded the picture.

The twister with winds up to 130 mph tore a path across the landscape about three miles away as seemingly everyone stopped to watch and take photos Saturday.

Clint Marintzer said his wife, Heidi, took pictures of their daughter Ali with her date Charlie Bator as the menacing tornado formed a backdrop, though a safe distance away. The image spread rapidly on social media.

The prom was briefly delayed to make sure everyone was safe.

It was the most powerful of four twisters that developed in the area about 100 miles east of Denver. There was some damage to three homes and two businesses outside of town.

The next day, Marintzer says residents pitched in to clean up tornado debris.

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