OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Patrol says about 1,000 illegally-held anti-anxiety pills have been seized from an Omaha home.
The patrol says the Xanax pills were found Thursday after investigators served a search warrant at the southwestern Omaha home.
A 21-year-old resident was arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
Xanax is a prescription drug that is addictive and often abused.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A passenger plane slid off an icy runway at Omaha’s airport on Friday as freezing drizzle coated thoroughfares across much of the state ahead of expected snow and high winds.
Eppley Airfield officials said via Twitter that no one was injured when the Southwest Airlines plane from Las Vegas went off the end of the runway after landing just after 2 p.m. Friday. The incident led authorities to close the airport Friday afternoon and suspend all flights.
“Airport fire crews are working with Southwest to deplane the passengers and take them to the terminal,” the airport’s Twitter account read.
Freezing drizzle and mist cut visibility and slicked roads and sidewalks in much of the eastern half of Nebraska on Friday as residents prepared for a second straight weekend of harsh winter weather.
The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for much of the state, with snow expected by Friday evening into Saturday. The service had expected snowfall of more than 7 inches (18 centimeters) in some areas, but adjusted that downward by Friday afternoon to 1-to-3 inches (2.5-to-7.5 centimeters).
Of more concern were high winds of up to 30 mph (50 kph) expected late Friday and into Saturday that could whip up snow, cutting visibility and pushing high-profile vehicles off slick roads. Artic air is expected to move into the state behind the storm, sending wind chills to as low as 20 below zero on Saturday and Sunday.
Schools in the Omaha area canceled or cut classes short Friday in anticipation of the storm.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man who still works for BNSF Railway has been awarded nearly $3.5 million for injuries he suffered at a Lincoln rail yard nearly five years ago.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the Lancaster County District Court jury returned a verdict Wednesday of more than $7.1 million against BNSF and in favor of Jimmy Rohr Jr. But it was reduced by 51 percent, the percentage for which the jury deemed Rohr responsible.
The railroad maintained that Rohr was fully responsible. He said the railroad was.
Rohr’s attorney Jeff Chod says a rail car rolled over Rohr’s left foot on Feb. 22, 2014. Eventually his left leg was amputated below the knee.
Chod says Rohr returned to work in October 2015 and plans on staying at BNSF as long as he’s physically able to do the work.
INCOLN, Neb. (AP) – The Nebraska Labor Department says the state’s unemployment rate remained 2.8 percent in December – the fifth month in a row at the figure.
The department said in a news release Friday that the rate is down a tenth of a point from the December 2017 rate of 2.9 percent.
Last month’s Nebraska rate was well below the national preliminary December figure of 3.9 percent – a rise of two-tenths of a point from November.
Nonfarm employment in December was nearly 1.04 million – up nearly 12,600 over the year but down more than 3,700 over the month.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A fired Omaha bar manager has been given 30 days in jail for harassing, grabbing and kissing female employees.
The Omaha World-Herald reports that 57-year-old John Thompson was sentenced Thursday in Douglas County Court after pleading guilty to four counts of third-degree assault. He had been charged with six counts of third-degree sexual assault and six counts of disturbing the peace.
In addition to the jail time, Thompson received two years of probation and was ordered to write letters of apology to each of six women he’s accused of harassing.
The women say Thompson touched their backs, buttocks and thighs and yelled insults and obscenities at them. One woman said he forcibly kissed her. The women received settlements of $10,000 to $40,000, but were required to sign nondisclosure agreements.
HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) – A Hastings city official accused of assaulting an Uber driver in Lincoln has taken a plea deal.
Lancaster County Court records say 37-year-old Steven Kostner pleaded no contest Thursday to misdemeanor assault. Prosecutors had lowered the charge from felony terroristic threats in exchange for Kostner’s plea. His sentencing is scheduled for March 14.
Lincoln police arrested Kostner on March 18. The Uber driver told police Kostner had grabbed the driver’s seat belt and pulled it across the driver’s neck and also menaced him with a pocketknife. Kostner told officers the driver had flirted with Kostner’s wife, who was with Kostner that morning.
Hastings’ web page lists Kostner as street superintendent.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska commission will consider approving a race track’s request to allow wagering on historical horse races, even as the state attorney general challenges its legality.
The Nebraska Racing Commission this week revisited a request from Fonner Park in Grand Island to allow historical horse racing, which allows gamblers to bet on previously run races, though the identities of horses and riders are changed.
The five-member commission originally approved the request in October, but it rescinded that decision Wednesday following concerns from Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson.
Peterson said the commission’s original decision was made during a meeting that violated open-meeting rules. He said the commission also doesn’t have the legal authority to approve the betting machines because it’s a new form of gambling.
In 2012, then-Gov. Dave Heineman vetoed a bill that would’ve allowed betting on historical horse races. Another move to put the issue before voters in 2014 was blocked by the state Supreme Court.
“As much as the commission wants to approve historic horse racing, it cannot,” said Assistant Attorney General Laura Nigro. “That must be decided by the Legislature or the people of Nebraska.”
Nigro said the attorney general’s office won’t defend the commission if it approves the betting and runs into legal issues.
The commission also heard testimony on the issue this week. Fonner Park officials and horse racing advocates said offering historical horse racing is a way for the industry to adapt, draw more interest and promote horse racing tracks.
Commission Chairman Dennis Lee said the board will take public comments on the issue until Feb. 1. The commission’s decision will be announced in the next few months.
TRENTON, Neb. (AP) — Another person has been charged in the fatal beating of a southwestern Nebraska man.
Hitchcock County Court records say 33-year-old Samantha Bell, also known as Samantha Strohm, is charged with first-degree murder and with conspiracy to commit robbery. She remained in custody Thursday at the Hitchcock County Jail in Trenton.
The records say she and 42-year-old Darin Mason are suspected of fatally beating 49-year-old Todd Miller on Aug. 16, 2017, during a drug robbery at his home in Culbertson. Mason was arrested last month.
The records don’t list the names of attorneys who could comment for them.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Demand is growing for special courts that serve drug offenders, veterans and people with mental illnesses, but Nebraska’s top judge says state officials don’t have the resources needed to address it.
Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican touted the benefits of so-called problem-solving courts Thursday in his State of the Judiciary address to lawmakers.
Heavican says Nebraska’s problem-solving courts served 1,397 people in 2018, a 247 percent increase over the last decade. He says many people treated in those courts would otherwise be in prison, at a much greater cost to taxpayers.
Heavican says the judicial branch recently exhausted its resources allocated for problem-solving courts. He says counties want to establish mental health courts, but the courts can’t help because they don’t have enough money and judges available.
DUNCAN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say one person has died in a collision between a semitrailer and a pickup truck just east of Duncan in eastern Nebraska.
Columbus Fire Chief Dan Miller says the man was pronounced dead at the scene Wednesday. The collision occurred a little after 5 p.m. on U.S. Highway 30.
Platte County authorities haven’t released his name or other details about the crash.
