Author: Post Staff
Police: Omaha’s first 2017 homicide victim killed by truck
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police have disclosed that Omaha’s first homicide victim of 2017 was killed when he was intentionally run over by a pickup.
Police said Thursday that investigators are searching for a white Ford pickup caught on surveillance video outside the convenience store where 40-year-old Seth Hansen was run over and killed early Jan. 7. Hansen worked at the Speedee Mart just north of 138th Street and West Maple Road.
Police said Thursday that its not known whether Hansen knew the driver of the truck that hit him.
Authorities are asking for the public’s help and are offering a $25,000 reward for any tip that leads to an arrest and conviction.
Omaha could be sued for pub fire
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The city of Omaha could potentially face lawsuits from Old Market property and business owners after a fire broke out in one of the businesses housed in the building.
The city was notified this month by the property and business owners that they suffered losses in the fire that broke out January 2016 at the historic M’s Pub. Records with the City Clerk’s Office say 11 notices have been filed with the city, with proposed claims totaling more than $11.5 million.
The dispute that could decide if the city gets sued centers on whether or not a car was parked in a metered spot over a utility cover outside the pub, delaying emergency response to the blaze.
Old Market property and business owners must now wait a maximum of six months before receiving a response from the city.
CVS puts out generic competitor to EpiPen at a 6th the price
CVS is now selling a rival generic version of Mylan’s EpiPen at about a sixth of its price, just months after the maker of the emergency allergy treatment was eviscerated before Congress because of its soaring cost to consumers.
The drugstore chain says it will charge $109.99 for a two-pack of the authorized generic version of Adrenaclick, a lesser-known treatment compared to EpiPen, which can cost more than $600.
CVS Health Corp., the nation’s second-largest drugstore chain, says it cut the price of the generic version of Adrenaclick nearly in half.
The treatments are used in emergencies to stop anaphylaxis, the potentially fatal allergic reactions to insect bites and stings and foods like nuts and eggs.
Ricketts seeks tax cuts, agency mergers amid $900M shortfall

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is calling on lawmakers to pass a property tax overhaul, merge state agencies and approve incremental income tax cuts that would begin in 2020.
The Republican governor also used his third annual State of the State address to call for lighter job-licensing regulations in a variety of professions.
The plan would lower the state’s top income tax bracket in increments anytime state revenue grows by more than 3.5 percent. It also would change the way property taxes are calculated, using a landowner’s potential income rather than a land parcel’s market value.
Ricketts’ speech came in the midst of a projected $900 million budget shortfall. His plan calls for budget cuts at the University of Nebraska and state agencies, but increases funding for K-12 public schools.
Arby’s to sell venison sandwiches in Nebraska next week
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Fans of venison in Nebraska can go from the end of deer hunting season this weekend to sandwich hunting season next week.
Arby’s says it will sell its venison sandwiches at two Nebraska stores next week because people in the state clamored for the creation after an initial offering elsewhere last fall.
Arby’s says the venison steak sandwiches will be offered at a restaurant in Lincoln near 55 and O streets starting on Wednesday, and a day later, an Omaha restaurant near 136th Street and Maple Road will start selling the item.
The restaurant chain says Nebraskans called, e-mailed and spoke out online most about wanting venison sandwiches after they were briefly sold at 17 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Georgia during the fall.
Leon Tyan Death Notice
Leon Tyan, age 78, formerly of North Platte, passed away Thursday January 12, 2017 at the Broken Bow Care Center. Services are pending at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home.
Woman dies after rollover accident in southeast Nebraska
VESTA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a woman has died after a rollover accident in southeast Nebraska.
The accident occurred sometime before 1:55 p.m. Tuesday on a county road south of Vesta. Johnson County Attorney Rick Smith says the vehicle ran off the roadway and rolled several times. Johnson County Sheriff Scott Walton suspects the woman was speeding.
Smith says she was pronounced dead later at Johnson County Hospital in Tecumseh.
He identified the woman as 46-year-old Cheri Speckmann, who lived in Lewiston.
Nebraska woman accused of stabbing brother takes plea deal
COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A Columbus woman accused of stabbing her brother is scheduled to be sentenced Friday.
Online court records show 21-year-old Alicia Martinez has taken a plea deal and pleaded no contest to attempted assault. Prosecutors dropped a charge of attempted murder and weapons, drugs and traffic charges in exchange for her plea.
The court records say prosecutors will recommend Martinez be sentenced to no more than 364 days in jail. The records also say the judge is not bound by the recommendation.
Court documents say Rogelio Barrios told officers that when he awoke in his bedroom during the stabbing July 11, he found his sister standing by his bed, holding an 8-inch boning knife. The documents say he was stabbed six times, suffering wounds in his chest, arms and a hand.
Ford adds 816,000 vehicles to Takata air bag recall
DETROIT (AP) — Ford is adding more than 816,000 vehicles in North America to the growing Takata air bag inflator recall.
The company says the latest callback covers the 2005-2009 and 2012 Mustang and the 2006-2009 and 2012 Ford Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr and Lincoln MKZ. Also included are the 2007-2009 Ford Ranger and Edge, the 2007-2009 Lincoln MKX, the 2006-2009 Mercury Milan and the 2005 and 2006 Ford GT.
All have front passenger air bag inflators made by Takata that can explode with too much force and spew metal shrapnel. At least 16 people have died worldwide from the problem and more than 180 have been hurt.
The recall is among the latest round of Takata recalls covering 5.7 million vehicles involving 17 automakers in the U.S. About 100 million inflators have been recalled worldwide.