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Nebraska legislative committee picks panned as partisan

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ne-legislature-13LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers approved new committee assignments Friday that could make it easier for conservatives to advance major tax-cutting legislation but could also create deep divides over education policy.

The vote on came as some senators warned that the Legislature is becoming overtly partisan after shunning formal party labels for 80 years.

The officially nonpartisan Legislature is now comprised of 32 registered Republicans, 15 Democrats, one Libertarian and one independent. But some committees are stacked with Republicans, including the tax-focused Revenue Committee and the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee.

One exception is the Education Committee, which has four Democrats, three Republicans and a Libertarian.

On Wednesday, conservative Republicans swept nearly all of the Legislature’s committee chairmanships. Some of those seats had been sought by Democrats and moderate Republicans with more seniority.

Assault trial set for former Shelton school superintendent

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Brian Redinger
Brian Redinger

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A trial is scheduled to begin April 19 for a former Shelton school superintendent accused of attacking his wife.

A Hall County district judge set the date Thursday for 46-year-old Brian Redinger. He’s pleaded not guilty to charges of terroristic threats, strangulation, domestic assault and criminal attempt at assault.

Sheriff’s investigators say that on April 10, Redinger attacked his wife, hitting her head on a car dashboard and later driving at her before she escaped to safety at a Hall County truck stop.

He resigned his position as superintendent of Shelton Public Schools some weeks after his arrest.

Ex-employee sentenced for punching Beatrice center resident

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Shawn Ebeling
Shawn Ebeling

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — A 37-year-old Diller man has been given two years’ probation for punching a resident at the Beatrice facility for developmentally disabled people.

Court records say Shawn Ebeling also was sentenced Thursday to 180 days in jail in 30-day increments. Ebeling’s probation officer can waive the jail time if Ebeling abides by his probation terms.

Ebeling pleaded no contest to attempted abuse of a vulnerable adult. Prosecutors had lowered the charge from a felony in return for Ebeling’s plea.

Another employee of the Beatrice State Developmental Center reported that Ebeling punched a patient Aug. 24, and then manhandled the patient until the patient’s face struck the handle of a fuse box. Ebeling told investigators he got upset when the resident tried to bite him.

Ebeling no longer works at the center.

Report: Ride services haven’t hurt Nebraska taxi businesses

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Lyft ridesharingLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new state report says ride services haven’t hurt taxi businesses across Nebraska.

An estimated 500 people drove for either Uber or Lyft last year, with most operating in Omaha or Lincoln.

The Nebraska Public Service Commission issued the report as part of its regulation of ride-hailing and cab companies. Commission Executive Director Jeff Pursley says statewide data from cab companies shows the total number of rides given has been trending up over the past five years.

The report also notes that Lincoln has seen a decline in the number of cabs and cab drivers employed. Pursley says it’s not clear what’s causing the decline but also says the reduction in numbers occurred before the ride services began operating in Nebraska.

Omaha man sentenced for poisoning 4 city trees

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David Grenawalt
Donald Grenawalt

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man was sentenced to a day in jail for poisoning four cottonwood trees on city property.

Court records say 44-year-old Donald Grenawalt was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to criminal mischief. He was credited with a day he’d already served. Grenawalt also must pay $10,000 in restitution.

Officials say they found four or five holes had been drilled into each tree trunk. Court records say Grenawalt told a city employee who knew him that he’d poisoned the trees because they were messy and he was sick of them. The documents say investigators found drills and bits at Grenawalt’s home and chemicals that could have been poured into the trees.

The dead trees were cut down Thursday.

Lincoln County Marriage Licenses (Week of January 2, 2017)

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marriage-licenses

  • Travis Lynn Theiler, 33, Paxton NE and Elizabeth Ann McCrone, 34, North Platte

 

  • Joshua David Smith, 32, Hershey and Lauressa Marene Swedberg, 33, Hershey

 

  • Juan Carlos Martinez, 38, Ogallala NE and Amanda Lynn Clouse, 34, Ogallala NE

 

  • Jeremy Jay Meyer, 28, Elsie NE and Cari Sue Sorensen, 39, Elsie NE

Joseph Sheldon Mecomber

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joe-mecomber-obit

Joseph Sheldon Mecomber, age 62 of North Platte, passed away Friday January 6, 2017 at Park Place Nursing Home in Grand Island.

Joe was born on December 7, 1954 in North Platte to James E. and Jeane E. (O’Rourke) Mecomber.  He graduated from North Platte High School in 1973 and attended college at NP Junior College and then Kearney State College.  He married Jane C. Pinkerton on December 19, 1977.  The couple lived in North Platte where Joe worked for the State of Nebraska Roads Department for 20 years.  He then worked at Cabelas as a product specialist for 10 years.  He was a soldier in the National Guard, receiving the Outstanding Soldier award.  At age 17 he was pinned between a truck and a house and lived to tell about it!  He loved the mountain man lifestyle, was Santa Claus at holiday gatherings since he was college age, and he enjoyed his cats through the years.  His family was the center of his life and he was very proud of them and would do anything for them.  He was always willing to help anyone and everyone.

Joe is survived by his wife Jane of North Platte; daughter Jana (Sam) Sickler of Kearney; mother Jeane (Dale) Cook of North Platte; siblings Judy (Randy) Nichelson of North Platte, John (Krystal) Mecomber of Hastings, Jeff (LeAnn) Mecomber of Pueblo, CO, Jacquie (Bryan) Yenni of North Platte; Janet (Mike) Gaudreault of Lincoln; brother-in-law Dwight (Norma) Pinkerton of North Platte; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his father James E. Mecomber; and grandparents Mary O’Rourke Firebaugh, and Henrietta and Sheldon Mecomber.

Memorials are suggested to the Salvation Army or St. Jude Children’s Hospital and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday January 11, 2017 at Harvest Christian Fellowship church with Pastor Job Vigil officiating.  Burial will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens.  Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Monday January 9th and Tuesday January 10th, with family receiving friends Tuesday from 6:00 until 8:00 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Lexington resident charged with murder in man’s slaying

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Jose Regalado-Mendez
Jose Regalado-Mendez

LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — A Lexington resident has been accused of killing a man whose remains were found last month near a farmhouse north of the Dawson County community.

Online court records say 40-year-old Jose Regalado-Mendez is charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him. He’s being held without bail.

The records say the remains of 37-year-old Jose Hernandez were found Dec. 12. Investigators say in a court document that they think Regalado-Mendez shot Hernandez in early October. The document doesn’t include information about possible motives.

Regalado-Mendez’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 26.

State high court rejects appeal in Gering girl’s 2008 death

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Dustin Chauncey
Dustin Chauncey

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has refused to overturn the conviction of a man found guilty of fatally beating his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter in 2008.

Dustin Chauncey was convicted in February 2015 of child abuse resulting in the death of Juliette Geurts.

Chauncey and Juliette’s mother, Charyse Geurts, were living together when the girl was found dead in her crib. Autopsy results revealed she died from internal organ damage caused by blunt force trauma.

Chauncey said in his appeal that there wasn’t enough probable cause for a grand jury to indict him and that a prosecutor’s trial statements regarding DNA testing should have merited the mistrial Chauncey’s lawyer requested then.

The court rejected both points in the ruling it released Friday.

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