MARCH 30, 2017 (OGALLALA, NEB.) — A man wanted in connection with a Nebraska homicide is in custody. Amedeus L. Leroux (DOB 9/8/01) turned himself in to Colorado authorities in Denver this afternoon, Thursday, Mar. 30, 2017.

Leroux, who was wanted on outstanding Nebraska and Colorado warrants, will be charged with second-degree murder in the Tuesday, March 28 stabbing death of John Fratis, 25, of Ogallala.

The Keith County Attorney’s Office is beginning the extradition process to have Leroux returned to Nebraska.

Lt. Tim Arnold of the Nebraska State Patrol expressed thanks to Nebraska and Colorado media and the public for their help. “The media spreading the word, and tips from the public helped greatly in this investigation.”

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — University of Nebraska-Lincoln officials say the Lied Center for Performing Arts has received a significant gift to support classical music performances.

The donation comes from 77-year-old Anabeth Hormel Cox, of Lincoln. At her request, the amount was not disclosed.

Lied Center officials announced the gift Thursday at a news conference. Following the announcement, the performing arts center revealed its classical music schedule for the 2017-18 season. Performances include the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Andre Watts on Oct. 12, the 2017 Van Cliburn Gold Medalist on Oct. 24 and the Berlin Philharmonic Piano Quartet on Feb. 21.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska could provide immunity from drug charges for people who seek medical help for opioid overdoses under a bill that has won first-round approval from the Legislature.

Senators voted 35-4 Thursday to advance a measure that would protect people who cooperate with medical professionals from drug or drug paraphernalia charges. Thirty-four other states and the District of Columbia have similar laws.

Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln says he sponsored the bill to make sure people who overdose receive needed medical help. It’s similar to a law he sponsored two years ago that provided legal immunity for underage drinkers who sought help for alcohol poisoning.

The bill also would allow patients to use a non-psychoactive compound found in marijuana if the Food and Drug Administration approves a drug containing it.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska Public Service commissioner says she fears that tens of thousands of emails sent to the elected state board about the Keystone XL pipeline are being treated as spam, rather than as communications sent by people expressing their views.

Commission spokeswoman Deb Collins says the Public Service Commission has received tens of thousands of nearly identical messages sent from the same domain. Collins says the commission is working with the state’s Office of the Chief Information Officer to manage the emails, because the commission can’t determine whether the emails are being sent by the public or are generated by a computer program.

The commission is in charge of reviewing and approving the path where TransCanada wants to construct an $8 million underground pipeline.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new report says special interests spent a record-high $16.7 million last year on lobbyists, gifts, travel and other efforts to influence elected Nebraska officials.

The report issued Thursday by the group Common Cause Nebraska says the number of paid, registered lobbyists has increased as well, from 351 in 2015 to 364 last year. Spending on lobbyists has risen consistently over each of the last five years.

The biggest spenders over the last five years are the League of Nebraska Municipalities, representing Nebraska cities; Altria Client Services, the corporate parent of tobacco company Philip Morris; and the group Renewable Fuels Nebraska.

Jack Gould of Common Cause Nebraska says lobbyists give special interests an advantage over average citizens because they can drop large amounts of money on entertainment and other perks.