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Omaha man convicted of killing 4 to learn fate May 30

Nikko Jenkins
Nikko Jenkins

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A three-judge panel will announce later this month the fate of a man convicted of killing four people in and around Omaha in 2013.

The panel will announce on May 30 whether Nikko Jenkins will get the death penalty or life in prison.

Jenkins was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder for the August 2013 shooting deaths in and around Omaha of Juan Uribe-Pena, Jorge Cajiga-Ruiz, Curtis Bradford and Andrea Kruger in three separate attacks.

Kruger was his final victim. Prosecutors say Jenkins pulled Kruger from her car, shot her four times in the street and then stole her vehicle.

Jenkins pleaded no contest in 2014, but his sentencing has been delayed for years because of concerns about his mental competency.

Authorities ID Nebraska motorcyclist killed in South Dakota

ambulance-lightsYANKTON, S.D. (AP) — Authorities have identified a Nebraska man who died in a motorcycle crash in southeastern South Dakota’s Yankton County.

The Highway Patrol says 60-year-old Joseph Pinkelman, of Crofton, Nebraska, tried to pass a vehicle and collided with an oncoming car on U.S. Highway 81. The crash happened mid-day Saturday north of the city of Yankton.

Pinkelman was thrown from his motorcycle and died at the scene. The driver of the car wasn’t hurt.

Man takes plea deal in child abuse death of toddler

child-abusePAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — A 25-year-old Bellevue man accused of child abuse in the death of his girlfriend’s toddler has made a plea deal.

Court records say Armond Floyd pleaded guilty Monday in Sarpy County District Court to intentional child abuse causing injury. Prosecutors had lowered the charge from intentional child abuse causing death. His sentencing is scheduled for June 12.

Prosecutors say Floyd put his hand over Imani Edwards’ mouth and nose for about 30 seconds on Nov. 13 because the child was crying. Court documents say Floyd told police he grabbed the almost-2-year-old by an arm and swung her into a wall.

He said he put her in a bathtub and left her unattended for about 10 minutes. She was face-down when he returned. She died in a hospital two days later.

Motorcyclist died at hospital after collision, police say

fatal-motorcycle-crashOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say a motorcyclist died at a hospital after a collision with a car in south-central Omaha.

The accident occurred around 10:35 a.m. Tuesday. Police say the westbound car was trying to turn south when it was hit by the northbound motorcycle.

Police say the motorcyclist died later at Nebraska Medical Center. He’s been identified as 45-year-old Jason Foreman, who lived in Omaha. The car driver was not injured. She’s been identified as 63-year-old Bonnie Petersen, of Bennington.

The collision is being investigated.

Lawmaker panel advances Nebraska prison oversight proposal

jail-cellLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers are one step closer to creating a new oversight committee to monitor the state’s prison system.

Members of the Executive Board voted 6-3 on Wednesday to send the measure to the full Legislature for debate.

The proposal by Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha would create a seven-member committee to examine problems in the state prisons and other agencies that work with criminal offenders. Lawmakers have created similar committees in the past.

The original proposal would have given the committee subpoena power to compel witness testimony, but that provision was stripped out through an amendment.

Sen. Laura Ebke of Crete, the chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee, is expected to lead the committee.

FBI, Omaha-area law enforcement team to solve bank robberies

FBIOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The FBI and law enforcement agencies around Omaha have teamed over a rash of bank robberies officials believe have street gang ties.

Officials held a news conference Tuesday at the FBI field office in Omaha to announce the task force. Randall Thysse, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Omaha office, says officials are particularly concerned about the violent nature of recent bank robberies around Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa. Thysse says of the 42 armed bank robberies in the last 17 months, 33 were similar enough that investigators believe they are related.

Thysse says the robbers storm banks with guns drawn, their faces covered and yelling demands. In at least one case, a teller was bound.

Omaha Crime Stoppers has doubled its reward for information on the bank robberies to $20,000.

Senator: Panel needed to continue Nebraska prison oversight

prisonLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s prison system could face renewed scrutiny from lawmakers in the wake of a revolt that left two inmates dead and the murder of another by his cellmate.

Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha urged his colleagues Tuesday to create a new investigative committee to look into a recent spate of problems in the Department of Correctional Services.

Authorities say 39-year-old Patrick Schroeder killed his cellmate, 22-year-old Terry Berry, at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in April. An autopsy says Berry was strangled.

The southeastern Nebraska prison has a history of deadly violence, including an inmate uprising in March that left eft two inmates dead. Two others killed in a May 2015 riot at the prison.

Corrections director Scott Frakes says lawmakers already have multiple oversight tools available.

Nebraska man’s trial in Iowa death of wife set for June

Rogelio Pablo-Morales
Rogelio Pablo-Morales

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Nebraska man will stand trial next month for the death in northwestern Iowa of his estranged wife.

29-year-old Rogelio Morales, of Hubbard, Nebraska, has been ordered to stand trial on June 6 in Woodbury County District Court. The case has been delayed several times as defense attorneys have repeatedly withdrawn from representing Morales.

Morales has pleaded not guilty to killing 21-year-old Margarita Morales on April 19, 2015, in his car near a Sioux City residence.

Court documents say Morales told investigators a fight broke out when his wife told him she no longer wanted to be in a relationship and that she was seeing another man.

Ricketts touts Nebraska, Mexico relationship through NAFTA

Gov. Pete Ricketts
Gov. Pete Ricketts

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts is touting Nebraska’s trade relationship with Mexico as the Trump administration prepares for new talks with Mexico and Canada over the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Ricketts said Tuesday that NAFTA plays a crucial role for Nebraska’s corn producers and helps support an estimated 34,000 jobs in the state.

He made the comments during a news conference at the Capitol with a Mexican trade delegation and representatives of the U.S. Grains Council and the National Corn Growers Association.

Mexico is Nebraska’s largest export market for corn, providing $287 million in added value to the state economy. Ricketts says bilateral trade with the country has helped grow agriculture.

Firefighters pull 2 people from burning Omaha home

OMAHA-FIRE-AND-RESCUE-BADGEOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Firefighters are being credited with saving two people from a house fire in northeast Omaha.

An emergency call to report the fire was made early Tuesday morning. When firefighters arrived, flames were coming from the home.

Firefighters forced entry into the home and pulled two occupants to safety.

Officials say the fire was quickly extinguished, despite having spread to a neighboring house before fire crews arrived.

Both homes suffered heavy damage to their exteriors. The cause of the fire is still under investigation

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