BLAIR, Neb. (AP) – A small fire disrupted the cooling system at
an eastern Nebraska nuclear power plant, but regulators say there
was no danger of radiation release because the plant has been shut
down for refueling.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the fire in a switchgear
room was reported Tuesday morning and extinguished by automated
systems within less than an hour.
The Omaha Public Power District plant briefly lost its main
cooling system for the spent fuel pool, but the temperature of the
pool remained at safe levels. Regulators say OPPD regained cooling
ability and didn’t have to use any of its backup cooling systems.
The plant has been shut down since April.
Fort Calhoun sits about 19 miles north of Omaha near the
Missouri River.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A former Omaha middle school teacher accused
of molesting students will stand trial on three counts of sexual
assault of a child.
A Douglas County judge ruled Tuesday that prosecutors have
enough evidence to try 34-year-old Shad Knutson.
In his preliminary hearing, a police detective testified that at
least three 13-year-old girls complained to school officials from
2008 through 2010 about Knutson. The girls later told police that
Knutson had fondled them and exposed himself to them.
Knutson declined to comment after the hearing.
Omaha Public Schools has come under fire for not reporting the
complaints to police, who only learned of the allegations when one
of the parents called authorities last year. On Monday, the
district’s school board voted not to make changes to its child
abuse reporting policy.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say two passengers in a car
were killed when the car collided with a delivery truck near
Raymond in Lancaster County in eastern Nebraska.
The Nebraska State Patrol says 66-year-old Gary Bornemeier, of
Lincoln, and 69-year-old Richard Bornemeier, also of Lincoln, died
in the crash on Tuesday at an intersection on state Highway 79.
The patrol says the driver of the car, 64-year-old Pamela
Bornemeier, was taken to Lincoln hospital for treatment of non-life
threatening injuries.
Troopers say the accident happened about 11:30 a.m. when the
car, which was traveling north on Highway 79, was hit broadside on
the passenger side by the westbound truck. The truck driver, Steven
Smyth, of La Vista, was not injured.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.

LA VISTA, Neb. (AP) – Several people were treated for smoke
inhalation from a fire that damaged at least a dozen apartments at
a complex in the Omaha suburb of La Vista.
Several departments were called to help La Vista crews fight the
flames that were first reported about 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The cause of the fire at the Shadow Ridge Apartments is being
investigated.
After the 911 call about the fire, La Vista police officers also
responded. Two officers helped a resident from a third-floor unit.
One of the officers was treated later for smoke inhalation.
The Red Cross is helping more than four dozen people who were
displaced by the flames, smoke and water damage.