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Survey shows slight decline in Midwest economic conditions

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Results from a monthly survey of business supply managers suggest a slight decline in the economic conditions for nine Midwest and Plains states.

The Mid-America Business Conditions Index report released Thursday says the overall regional economic index dropped to 55.5 in May from 61.4 in April.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the index figures over the past six months point to healthy growth for regional manufacturing and nonmanufacturing through the third quarter of this year.

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor. A score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Leftover school milk donated to Omaha homeless shelter

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Thousands of cartons of milk unused by Omaha public school students have been donated to a homeless shelter.

Trucks from the Open Door Mission went from school to school Wednesday, picking up milk and hauling it to the shelter. It will be used as part of the mission’s Kids to Kamp program, which provides meals and snacks to homeless children.

The donated milk that isn’t served before its expiration date will be frozen for use in future meals.

Hiland Dairy saleswoman Sharon Schaefer told the newspaper that it’s impossible for schools to order the exact amount of milk. She says that, for health reasons, Hiland can’t resell the milk, but the district gets credit on future purchases for the milk that’s donated.

Officials announce funding plan for beltway south of Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln and Lancaster County leaders have announced funding plans for the local share of a $300 million beltway project south of the capital city.

The plan announced Wednesday commits local governments to prepay their $50 million contribution over the next 16 months, saving them $10 million of what would have been $60 million — 20 percent of the total cost. Officials say the prepayment lets the state immediately move forward, avoiding construction cost inflation.

The so-called South Beltway would relieve traffic congestion and improve safety by connecting U.S. Highway 77 southwest of Lincoln to Nebraska Highway 2 southeast of the city.

The state Roads Department is planning a public meeting on beltway plans in late summer or early fall. The project construction is slated to begin in 2020.

2 Coloradans busted with pot in Lincoln County

2 Colorado men are in the Lincoln County Detention Center after deputies found nearly three pounds of marijuana in their car.

On May 31, at around 7:00 a.m., a deputy in an unmarked vehicle observed a vehicle driving on the shoulder and in the passing lane on Interstate 80.

The deputy radioed for assistance and a marked patrol car initiated a traffic stop at North Platte.

When deputies approached the vehicle, they reportedly smelled the odor of burnt marijuana and were given consent to search the vehicle.

Inside the vehicle, Chief Deputy Roland Kramer says the deputies located three pounds of marijuana.

The driver of the vehicle, 56-year-old Anthony Huff, of Denver, Colorado, and the passenger, 37-year-old Hyrum James, of Aurora, Colorado, were both placed under arrest.

Huff and James were transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed on charges of possession of marijuana-more than one pound and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

 

Police: New charges brought in case of Iowa teen’s death

PERRY, Iowa (AP) — Police say three more people have been charged in the death of a 16-year-old central Iowa girl who weighed only 56 pounds at her death.

Sabrina Ray’s body was found May 12 in the Perry home she shared with her adoptive parents, who were charged May 17.

Police said Wednesday that the girl was unable to walk, talk or eat after being “drop-kicked” by her 21-year-old adoptive brother down basement stairs weeks before her death. The brother, Justin Dale Ray, is charged with two counts of willful injury and two counts of child endangerment.

A cousin, 20-year-old Josie Raye Bousman, is charged with abetting the abuse.

The teen’s grandmother, 62-year-old Carla Bousman, faces several charges, including aiding and abetting kidnapping, child abuse resulting in death and obstruction.

No attorney is listed for the three in online court records.

Police say Lincoln man arrested on suspicion of 6th DUI

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of a sixth drunken driving offense after police say he was found passed out near a riding lawn mower on a Lincoln street.

A 911 last Thursday night reported an intoxicated man lying near a lawn mower in the intersection at 10th and Peach streets.

Police say they found Ryan O’Toole asleep in that spot and say he smelled strongly of alcohol. Police say O’Toole was arrested on suspicion of DUI. If convicted, officials say, it would be his sixth.

A publicly listed phone number for O’Toole could not be found Wednesday.

Father of Omaha toddler shot in face appears in court

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The father of an 18-month-old girl shot in the face at an Omaha apartment has appeared in court to face charges in the case.

Marquell Buie was in Douglas County Court on Wednesday morning. He’s charged with child abuse.

Prosecutors say Buie was smoking marijuana at his apartment in April when he placed his loaded gun on a counter, which led to another toddler grabbing the weapon and shooting Buie’s daughter.

Buie’s next court date is June 26.

The girl’s mother, Ragome Moore, says she doesn’t blame Buie and called the shooting an accident. Moore says the girl is out of the hospital and had her first day of rehabilitation Wednesday.

North Platte awarded Class D boys state golf championship tournament 2018-2020

The Nebraska School Activities Association has awarded the community of North Platte the Class D Boys State Golf Championship for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020. North Platte has previously hosted the tournament in 2016 and 2017.

Visitors Bureau staff Courtney Fegter submitted the bid online to the NSAA Board of Directors. According to Fegter, Sports Tourism Specialist with the North Platte / Lincoln County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Championships will be played at Lake Maloney Golf Course.

“The community of North Platte and host course Lake Maloney Golf Club received high accolades from coaches and competitors in the past two tournaments we hosted,” says Fegter. “The enthusiasm and professionalism of our volunteers, and the well-run golf course all helped to convince the NSAA to award the tournament to North Platte for the next three years.”

Just under 100 competitors participated in the championship tournaments in 2016 and 2017. Class D, which is comprised of the smallest schools with boys’ golf programs, many located in out-state Nebraska, traditionally travels very well. Many fans, friends and family make the trip to North Platte to watch the competition. Based on a formula provided by the National Association of Sports Commissions, the participants and their followers account for an estimated $40,000 in direct travel spending in North Platte each year.

Lisa Burke, Executive Director of the Visitors Bureau said, “This tournament kicks off at the perfect time of year, when the peak summer travel season is just beginning. Attracting hundreds of additional visitors to our community, for two or three days in May, benefits our retail shops, service stations, restaurants and lodging. The money the visitors spend is respent a number of times throughout North Platte, benefiting the entire community.”

In addition to the award of the Class D championship to North Platte, the NSAA awarded Class A to Norfolk and Class B to Columbus, and Class C to Kearney. North Platte had previously been awarded the Class C Girls State Golf Championships for the years 2017 – 2019, after having hosted the October tournament in 2015 and 2016.

Woman who drowned puppy admits probation violation

Cynthia Anderson

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A Florida woman who drowned a puppy in a central Nebraska airport toilet has admitted violating probation by possessing a dog.

Court records say Cynthia Anderson made the admission during a Tuesday hearing in Hall County District Court. Her sentencing is scheduled Aug. 4.

Police in Edgewater, Florida, say Anderson had a dog with her when she was arrested there in October on an unrelated theft allegation. As part of Anderson’s two-year Nebraska probation sentence rendered in July 2015, she was barred from possessing animals for five years.

Officials wouldn’t let Anderson board a January 2015 flight in Grand Island because the puppy with her was so young and inadequately contained. She then was seen entering a restroom. Another woman soon reported finding the Doberman puppy dead in a toilet.

Nebraska authorities await return of suspect from Denver

Antoine Johsnon

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska authorities are awaiting the return of an Omaha homicide suspect from Colorado.

Authorities say 31-year-old Antoine Johnson was taken into custody Monday in Denver. An Omaha police spokesman, Officer Michael Pecha, said Wednesday that Johnson’s not expected to be back in Omaha until next week, following extradition procedures.

Johnson is charged in an arrest warrant with second-degree murder and a weapons count. He’s suspected of shooting 29-year-old Trent Stutheit on April 16 in an apartment complex parking lot.

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