LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An opinion from the Nebraska attorney general’s office says a state telecommunications regulator’s part-time job for a telecommunications consulting firm doesn’t violate state law.

The decision released Monday also says Nebraska Public Service Commission executive director Jeff Pursley’s position with Parrish, Blessing and Associates doesn’t violate his oath of office.

The commission had sought the opinion — which doesn’t carry the force of law — after questions were raised about his moonlighting. Pursley has said the five elected commissioners were aware of his part-time work when they hired him two years ago. He says he kept the part-time post because it offers health insurance coverage vital to his family.

The commission regulates oil pipelines, telecommunications, natural gas utilities, grain dealers, taxis and manufactured homes and recreational vehicles.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Tribes representing tens of thousands of indigenous people on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border are signing a declaration against the planned Keystone XL pipeline.

Leaders of the Blackfoot Confederacy in Canada and the Great Sioux Nation and Ponca tribe in the U.S. plan a Wednesday ceremony in Calgary, Alberta, where pipeline developer TransCanada is based.

Ponca Councilwoman Casey Camp-Horinek says the document will highlight treaty rights and opposition to the proposed $8 billion pipeline to move Canadian crude through the U.S. central Plains. The event also could be a precursor to on-the-ground protests along the pipeline route.

Tribes fear environmental harm. TransCanada maintains the pipeline will be safe, create jobs and boost the economy. Spokeswoman Jacquelynn Benson says the company welcomes the views of indigenous communities.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 21-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder, accused of fatally shooting another Omaha resident inside a parked car.

Court records say a preliminary hearing is scheduled June 14 for Benjamin Guevara. He’s accused of killing 21-year-old Oziel Vasquez-Serrano. The shooting was reported around 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Police say he was pulled from the car and left to die.

A witness gave police the license plate number of the car as it sped away from the scene, and police say the plate number led investigators to Guevara.

He remained in custody Tuesday. Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker has proposed a study looking at the possible merger of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Sen. Merv Riepe says the proposal had been prompted by University of Nebraska System President Hank Bounds’ decision last month to put Jeff Gold in charge of both Omaha campuses. Gold has been UNMC’s chancellor since 2014 and is expected to be UNO’s interim chancellor for the next two years.

Riepe had proposed the study last week without notifying Bounds or the NU Board of Regents. In response, Bounds emailed faculty, staff and students on the two campuses Thursday saying the study wasn’t brought at the university’s request.

Riepe says any merger decision should ultimately be made by the Board of Regents.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Berkshire Hathaway will file an update its U.S. stock holdings on Monday, but CEO Warren Buffett already announced one of the biggest changes the company made in the first quarter.

Buffett said earlier this month that Berkshire had sold about 25 million of its 81 million IBM shares because the company hasn’t performed the way he expected.

The filing expected Monday afternoon will detail all of Berkshire’s U.S. stock holdings at the end of March, so other changes may be disclosed.

Many investors follow what Berkshire buys and sells because of Buffett’s remarkably successful record over more than five decades.

Berkshire holds major stakes in Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo, American Express and other companies.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would overturn most local gun restrictions stronger than Nebraska state law is unlikely to come back this year.

Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln pulled his bill Monday to work on amendments. He says he’s running out of time with the legislative session expected to end next week but will continue working on the measure over the summer.

The bill would have prohibited local governments from gun ownership, possession and transportation. Law enforcement groups and some urban senators say Omaha and Lincoln need different laws because of higher crime.

At least 43 other states have passed laws pre-empting local gun ordinances at the urging of groups including the National Rifle Association.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has vetoed $56.5 million in state spending during the next two years.

Ricketts said Monday the cuts are a thoughtful and measured approach to continued declines in revenue. He says the Legislature relied on gimmicks to balance the budget instead of making difficult cuts.

His changes will cut 0.5 percent from most state agencies. The Department of Correctional Services, K-12 education and the property tax credit relief fund would not be affected.

Ricketts also reduced the amount transferred from a highway fund to avoid increasing the state’s gas tax.

Senators need 30 votes to override a veto.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have adopted resolutions affirming the state’s support for refugees and young immigrants who qualify for Deferred Action for Child Arrivals.

Senators voted 24-1 Monday to oppose any federal action rescinding DACA and 21-7 to state the Legislature believes in protecting all refugees. Both resolutions required only a majority of those voting.

Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha says he sponsored the DACA resolution to help young immigrants in Nebraska receive the same opportunities his immigrant parents had. He says the state must protect DACA recipients, who were brought into the country illegally as children and face an uncertain future under the Trump administration.

Sen. Kate Bolz of Lincoln introduced the refugee resolution shortly after President Donald Trump issued his first travel ban.

A North Platte man is facing charges after items he allegedly stole from a home were posted on Facebook.

On May 13, at around 5:02 p.m., North Platte police responded to the report of a burglary at a residence in the 300 block of Glen Rose Avenue.

The owner reported to police that he had been away from his home and, when he returned, he discovered that the front door was open and a window had been broken out.

He also stated that numerous items were missing, including tools, clothing, fishing equipment, and electronic equipment.

Investigator John Deal says the victim did not have any potential suspects in mind but, later in the evening, some of the items were posted on a local “for sale” Facebook page.

Deal says officers were able to determine that the post had been made from a residence in the 2100 block of West 3rd Street.

On May 14, at around 11:56 a.m., officers served a search warrant on the residence.

Inside, Deal says officers located most of the stolen property inside the residence.

The residents, who were cooperative according to Deal, told police that they had been contacted by Elliott Fair who told them that he had acquired a foreclosed home on Glen Rose Avenue and invited them over to view property from the home. They stated that they purchased numerous items and left.

Officers determined that Fair lived at a different residence in the 300 block of Glen Rose Avenue and obtained a search warrant.

Deal says other stolen items were found in Fair’s home and investigators determined that the home he burglarized was not in foreclosure. Deal says investigators also determined that Fair had broken into the home.

Additionally, Deal says a toddler was present in Fair’s home and some “drug items” that will be tested further were also located.

In the end, Fair was charged with felony burglary and child abuse.

He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

 

 

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — As Nebraska lawmakers prepare to end their legislative session, many of the most high-profile bills have fallen by the wayside but are likely to emerge again next year.

Lawmakers whose bills stalled say they plan to work on their proposals after the session in hopes of trying again next session.

Measures that are likely to return include legislation to help the state collect online sales taxes, allow teachers to physically restrain students, require voter ID and hold a constitutional convention to impose fiscal restraint on the federal government.

Many of the measures were debated this year but stalled when it became clear they didn’t have enough support to pass.