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Police say toddler hurt in Omaha shooting but should recover

crime-scene-police-shootOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 17-month-old boy was injured in an Omaha shooting on Sunday, but police say he is expected to survive the incident.

Omaha Police say the shooting was reported around 4:39 a.m. Sunday in northeast Omaha.

Police say the boy was being placed into a car by his father when a suspect in another vehicle driving by opened fire.

The boy’s injuries were likely caused by broken glass or shrapnel. Police are looking for a Jeep Liberty SUV that may have been involved.

The incident was one of several shootings reported in Omaha.

Four other women were also injured in two separate overnight shootings in Omaha. None of those injuries are believed to be life threatening.

Feds predict record corn, soybean yield; lower prices likely

soybeansDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farm field surveys reflecting excellent spring planting conditions and favorable summer weather have prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to boost harvest expectations for corn and soybeans to record highs.

Ten states are expected to set new bushels-per-acre corn yields, including top U.S. producers Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska.

The USDA’s report Friday says overall, farmers are expected to harvest 15.2 billion bushels of corn — a billion more than 2014’s record 14.2 billion.

A record soybean crop of 4.06 billion bushels also is expected, beating 3.9 billion bushels last year.

But with a huge harvest comes a big problem: There’ll be the most grain in nearly 30 years to store.

That’s likely to push prices lower, which will make it harder for farmers who rent land to make a profit. It’ll also make for cheaper livestock feed.

Firefighters: Person hurt jumping from burning Lincoln home

lincoln-fire-departmentLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Lincoln fire officials say a person has been hurt jumping from an upstairs window of a burning home.

Firefighters responded to reports of the fire in north Lincoln before 1 p.m. Friday. Officials say the fire was in one of the home’s bedrooms and was under control within 15 minutes.

When firefighters arrived, they found a person on the home’s lawn. That person was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Lincoln seeking applications for AmeriCorps members

americorps-nebraskaLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln’s Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting applications for 27 part-time Youth on the Move AmeriCorps members to help students in kindergarten through 12th grade in Lincoln Public Schools.

Members will provide academic support in literacy, science, technology, engineering, art, math and physical fitness. They will also help lead educational field trips and provide service learning opportunities, both during and outside of regular school hours.

Half-time AmeriCorps members must be 19 years or older and have a high school diploma or GED. They are required to complete 900 hours during a 10-month contract. Members receive a $300 living allowance every two weeks and an education award of $2,865 upon successful completion.

Those interested in apply may contact Program Coordinator Deb Buckman at dbuckman@lincoln.ne.gov or 402-441-4907.

Large catfish stocked in some urban Nebraska lakes and parks

fort-kearnyLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says a number of large channel catfish have been stocked in certain urban lakes and state parks. The catfish are all at least five pounds.

Daryl Bauer with the commission’s fisheries outreach program says the catfish should provide a good test for young anglers who can then release the fish for others to catch.

About 60 of the large channel catfish were placed in Lake Halleck in Papillion, and another 60 went in Bowling Lake in Lincoln. Another 30 catfish were placed in Fort Kearny State Recreation Area’s Lake No. 6.

Bauer says lakes that provide easy fishing opportunities for kids were selected for the catfish.

Authorities: Inmate punched Lincoln prison caseworker

prisonLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a caseworker is recovering after being attacked by an inmate at the Lincoln Correctional Center.

A news release from the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says an inmate punched the caseworker Friday afternoon in the head and upper body with closed fists. Staff at the prison used pepper spray to subdue the inmate.

The caseworker was taken to a medical facility for treatment. Prisons officials declined to name either the inmate or the caseworker.

Officials say the prisons department will investigate and forward the results of the investigation to the Lancaster County Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether to file any criminal charges.

At least six prison employees have been assaulted by inmates this month, including three staffers at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln on Tuesday.

Nebraska inmate dies following medical emergency at prison

Rolland Jones (NE Dept. of Corrections Photo)
Rolland Jones (NE Dept. of Corrections Photo)

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say an inmate at Nebraska State Penitentiary has died following a medical emergency at the prison.

60-year-old Rolland Jones died Friday after experiencing a medical emergency and being taken by ambulance to Bryan East Medical Center in Lincoln, where he died overnight.

Jones had been incarcerated since Feb. 6, 2004, and was serving a 27- to 40-year sentence for first-degree assault and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. Authorities say the cause of his death has not yet been determined.

As required by state law anytime someone dies in custody, a grand jury will investigate the death.

Omaha police warn of telephone scammers threatening arrest

omaha-policeOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say a number of telephone scams in which people are threatened with arrest have been reported recently in the city.

The calls are generated from an area code outside of Nebraska.

Police say the callers identify themselves as a special agent from the Internal Revenue Service, and even sometimes give a badge number. The callers will claim that the IRS has issued an arrest warrant for the person and the matter can be settled with a wire transfer payment of thousands of dollars.

Police say local, state and federal agencies will always interact in person, not just over the phone. Residents are urged to never give out their bank information over the phone or wire money to an unknown account.

Nebraska inmates nearly finished building Beatrice house

ne-department-of-correctionsBEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — The first home in Beatrice built by Nebraska inmates is in its final stages.

Nine inmates at the Community Corrections Center in Lincoln have been working on the home since March. The energy efficient and low maintenance home is expected to be finished by November.

The project is the result of a partnership between Prairie Gold Homes and the Nebraska Department of Corrections, and its goal is two-fold: Teach inmates vocational skills and provide affordable housing in communities that need it.

Construction-related experience isn’t required in order to be accepted into the program, but it helps. The inmates listed facets of construction they’re experienced in, including flooring, framing, and roofing.

Only the electricity, plumbing, and heating and air conditioning will be contracted out.

Omaha mayor revives city’s Citizen Complaint Review Board

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert
Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert has revived the city’s Citizen Complaint Review Board, appointing new members after all its previous members quit in April.

Those board members had cited a lack of support from the mayor’s office.

On Thursday, Stothert said she had adopted a few suggestions from the outgoing members. That includes setting up a post office box for complaints to go directly to the board. She also set up quarterly, rather than monthly, meetings of the board. The board will also be allowed to hold community forums and other outreach programs to educate residents on how to file a complaint.

Stothert established the Citizen Complaint Review Board in 2014 to review complaints against police when an internal investigation has found no wrongdoing.

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