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Omaha cancer research network goes statewide

cancer-alliance-of-nebraskaOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha-based cancer research network that’s administered clinical trials at eastern Nebraska hospitals for the past 20 years is reorganizing as a statewide group.

The group previously known as the Missouri Valley Cancer Consortium is transitioning to the Cancer Alliance of Nebraska. The network has connected more than 8,000 patients with 725 national trials involving cancer treatment, prevention and symptom management.

Cancer Alliance President Dr. Gamini Soori says the mission of the new group is to bring National Cancer Institute trials “to every community in the state.”

The group has eight partner organizations from Nebraska Cancer Specialists in Omaha and Fremont to Regional West Cancer Center in Scottsbluff. The group’s organizers are preparing to contact other hospital systems and look for public support.

Both finalists for Omaha superintendent job withdraw

omaha-psOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The two remaining finalists for the Omaha superintendent job have withdrawn, forcing the school board to reopen the search it began last fall.

The school board was expected to pick either Sioux City, Iowa, Superintendent Paul Gausman or Reading, Pennsylvania, Superintendent Khalid Mumin at its meeting Monday night.

Instead, the board will have to come up with a new plan to replace retiring Mark Evans at the end of the school year.

Gausman and Mumin issued a joint statement Saturday saying they decided to withdraw because they believe neither had broad support from the board.

School board member Ben Perlman says the board felt that neither Gausman nor Mumin were a perfect fit for the district. So the board will have to keep looking.

Dairy Queen offers free ice cream cones Monday

dairy-queenOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Dairy Queen is offering free ice cream cones on Monday on the first day of spring.

Anyone who wants a treat can stop by participating locations outside of shopping malls Monday for a free small vanilla soft serve cone.

Dairy Queens will also be collecting donations for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals on Monday.

Over the past 32 years, Dairy Queen restaurants have raised more than $120 million for the hospitals.

Public encouraged to report whooping crane sightings

whoopingcraneLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska wildlife officials are asking the public to keep an eye out for rare whooping cranes over the next several weeks.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says the continent’s entire population of whooping cranes is expected to migrate through Nebraska over the next several weeks. Information on crane sightings is used for whooping crane conservation and recovery efforts.

The rare cranes have features that distinguish them from the more common Sandhill crane. Whooping cranes are approximately 5 feet tall and fly with their neck outstretched. Adults are all white with the exception of black wing tips and reddish-black facial pattern.

Whooping cranes were near extinction in the early to mid-20th century. Through conservation efforts, the birds’ numbers in the wild have increased slowly to an estimated 340.

Omaha zoo announced name of gorilla born in January

henry-doorly-zooOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium has announced the name of gorilla born in January.

The zoo says “Kgosi” (GO-zee) was the name picked by Henry Doorly keeper for the male western lowland gorilla born Jan. 18. The name, an African word meaning “king,” was submitted by 13-year-old Aven Cramer, of Omaha.

The name was selected from a total of 825 names submitted.

The parents of Kgosi are 21-year-old Timu and 22-year-old Tambo. The mother, Timu, came to the zoo from the Cincinnati Zoo in 1996. This is her fourth baby. The father, Tambo, arrived in 2001 from the Bronx Zoo. Kgosi is his first offspring.

Ex-Waverly councilman settles over sidewalk fight

lawsuit-settlementWAVERLY, Neb. (AP) — A former Waverly city councilman will receive $40,000 from the city to settle a two-year legal fight over wheelchair sidewalk access.

Waverly doesn’t admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement with Larry Nedrow.

Nedrow’s legal fight with the city began in June 2015 when he couldn’t get onto the sidewalk north of Waverly Intermediate School because his electronic wheelchair couldn’t navigate the curb. He says after a filing a second complaint and taking up the issue with school officials, nothing was done.

Nedrow then filed a federal lawsuit in March 2016 alleging discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires city sidewalks to be wheelchair-accessible.

City officials said the sidewalk was the school district’s responsibility.

Officials: About 100 hay bales burn in Nebraska field fire

fireWAYNE, Neb. (AP) — A large field fire in northeastern Nebraska has been extinguished with the help of seven different fire departments.

The fire Friday afternoon in Wayne County burned around 260 acres of field and 100 hay bales. The fire was in a rural area outside of Wayne.

Officials say winds and dry conditions helped spread the fire.

Norfolk, Winside, Wisner, Humphrey, Wayne, Hoskins and West Point fire departments all responded. No one was hurt.

Police: Teen killed in crash near Omaha pedestrian bridge

omaha-policeOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 14-year-old boy has been killed in a crash near the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian bridge in Omaha.

Police say the crash was reported around 2:25 a.m. Saturday, and first responders found a car that had been speeding, lost control and hit a utility pole.

Police say the 15-year-old driver and another front seat passenger were wearing seat belts and were not injured. But 14-year-old Kevin Ramirez-Cabrera in the back seat was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died of his injuries. Investigators say he was not wearing a seat belt.

Columbus woman killed in rollover crash near Richland

fatal-accidentRICHLAND, Neb. (AP) — A Columbus woman has been killed in a rollover crash along U.S. Highway 30 near Richland.

A Colfax County sheriff’s deputy spotted the crash around 2:15 a.m. on a county road just east of an exit to Richland.

The deputy says a man and a woman were thrown from the sport utility vehicle and taken by ambulance to a Columbus hospital, where the woman was pronounced dead.

Officials say the man’s injuries are serious, but that he is expected to live.

Authorities have not yet released the names of the man or woman pending notification of family members.

Authorities have not determined who was driving, but are investigating. Investigators say neither was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Nebraska GOP congressional delegation facing tough crowds

GOPOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Like their Republican colleagues across the country, Nebraska’s congressional delegation members are facing boisterous crowds at town hall meetings demanding answers on everything from health care to a slew of President Donald Trump’s actions since taking office in January.

U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse got a dose at constituent meetings in Omaha and Aurora on Friday. Despite the early hour of his first appearance at 8 a.m. in a west Omaha high school, about 500 people showed up to pepper him with questions and concerns. Most dealt with the GOP health care reform plan, but some people expressed outrage over Trump’s cabinet picks and habit of posting on social media.

A day earlier, U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer fielded similar crowds and questions in Holdrege and Kearney.

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