FALLS CITY, Neb. (AP) — A judge has rejected the latest challenge by a Nebraska death row inmate whose case inspired the 1999 movie “Boys Don’t Cry.”
John Lotter’s attorneys had argued it would be unconstitutional to execute him because he functions intellectually as a child. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Richardson County District Judge Vicky Johnson said Thursday that Lotter’s claim was raised too late.
Lotter was sentenced to death for his role in the 1993 killings of Brandon Teena, a 21-year-old transgender man, and two witnesses, Lisa Lambert and Philip DeVine, at a farmhouse in Humboldt, about 75 miles south of Omaha.
Lotter’s motion said IQ testing shows the 47-year-old inmate has an IQ of 67. Nebraska law says an IQ of 70 or below is presumptive evidence of an intellectual disability.
But the judge said the state’s post-conviction act is limited to constitutional, not statutory, claims that could void a sentence.
Lotter is expected to appeal.
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Information from: Lincoln Journal Star, https://www.journalstar.com

CHADRON, Neb. (AP) — Two state parks in the Nebraska Panhandle will be offering special opportunities to view bighorn sheep this month.

Hikes will be held July 13 at Fort Robinson State Park west of Crawford and on July 14 at the Wildcat Hills Nature Center south of Gering.

Participants will gather at the parks and caravan to the sheep’s present range with the help of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission wildlife technicians. The Fort Robinson group will set off from a shelter at the entrance of the Soldier Creek campground. The Wildcat Hills excursion will start at the Nature Center. Participants are asked to prepare for up to three miles of hiking with appropriate footwear, sunscreen and water.

The tours are free, but a Nebraska park entry permit is required for vehicles.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — The district court judge for Buffalo and Hall counties has announced he will retire this year.

Ninth District Judge William Wright is retiring effective Sept. 30, after 11 years on the bench.

Wright received his law degree in 1977 from University of Nebraska College of Law. He served in private practice in Kearney until being appointed to the 9th District Court bench in 2007.

Wright says drug court, which caters specifically to non-violent, first-time offenders, has by far been “the most proactive and successful program in which I have been involved.”

The first step in replacing Wright will be for the Judicial Resources Commission to call a meeting to determine whether, based on judicial workload statistics, his retirement creates a judicial vacancy.

BAYARD, Neb. (AP) — A western Nebraska tourist attraction has made several improvements that are drawing rave reviews from visitors.

Chimney Rock National Historic Site has added interactive history displays. Areas include a small mechanical pony children can ride, a rock area where visitors can carve their names, a display of jars filled with water from the North Platte and a spotting scope.

Visitors are spending more time in the museum interacting with the exhibits, said Vicki Cobb, an employee at the museum. Many visitors have reacted positively to the new additions, she said.

“They come in and say, ‘Oh, we’re only here for a few minutes,'” Cobb said. “Then they will still be here an hour to an hour and a half later.”

The museum is continuing to add more upgrades as its renovation progresses. Sandra Reddish, the historic site’s coordinator for History Nebraska, said she hopes to get an educational cart that features items that visitors can pick up and hold.

Museum officials also plan to redo a popular wagon and supply exhibit, Reddish said. Visitors are tasked with packing the wagon while staying within the weight constraints. The exhibit can currently function fine, but needs upgrades, such as new paint.

“It’s fascinating watching kids do this,” Reddish said. “It’s giving them a challenge and they’ll work and work at it trying to get it right.”

RAVENNA, Neb. (AP) – An early morning fire has destroyed a building at a central Nebraska vineyard.

The Kearney Hub reports that fire crews responded to the Cedar Hills Vineyard near Ravenna at 5:40 a.m. Thursday. Ravenna Fire Chief DeWayne Thomsen says the building was “completely burned up” when crews arrived.

Thomsen says he believes the structure was a utility shed where the owners Clay and Heidi Schutz produce their wine.

The Schutzes said in a Facebook post that their winery/production building and guest house were affected by the fire. They say the tasting room was not harmed.

Thomsen says the Nebraska State Fire Marshal is investigating the fire’s cause.