LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman has vetoed a bill that would allow machine bets on previously run horse races, saying it would create to a new form of gambling.
The Republican governor said Monday that the measure contradicts the spirit of live horse racing that has been approved by Nebraska voters.
Heineman says in his veto message that the bill would expand gambling beyond what the state constitution currently allows. He says that a horse racing exception in the constitution has always been construed to apply only to live races.
The bill’s sponsor, Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh, has said the measure would save jobs in the struggling horse racing industry.
Lawmakers approved the bill 26-18 – four votes short of the support needed to override Heineman’s veto.

 

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (North Platte Post) – A North Platte woman has been arrested for stealing and using a debit card.
19 year old Ashley Carpenter allegedly stole the victim’s debit card from their vehicle on March 28th. An investigation revealed that the card was used twice at Wal-Mart and again at a local Timesaver store. Video footage led to Carpenter’s arrest for the crimes. She has been charged with Theft by Deception and Unauthorized Use of a Transaction Device.
Carpenter is free on bond.

 

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (North Platte Post) – Threats and gunfire prove to be an unwise combination for a North Platte man.
58 year old Dan Koch has been charged with two counts of Terroristic Threats, Use of a Weapon to Commit a Felony, Carrying a Concealed Weapon and two counts of Disturbing the Peace for allegedly firing a gun 3-4 times early Sunday morning.
Police responded to a complaint on the 700 block of North Maple where two victims claimed that Koch had fired the gun and threatened to “come back and kill them” if they called the cops. Police located Koch at his residence and found two firearms and spent casings in his vehicle.
Koch remains in custody at the Lincoln County Jail. No bond is listed.

 

 

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (North Platte Post) – Two North Platte residents have been arrested after an alleged weekend attack.
Police responded to a report of an assault around 4:15 a.m. Saturday in the 700 block of North Jeffers. Police found signs of an altercation in the parking lot of the Dollar General store including a tooth, as well as a blood trail which led to the parking lot of the American Veteran Affiliates Club where the victim of the assault was found. An investigation at the club led to the arrest of 29 year old Adam Sheesley and 33 year old Tori Chrisman, both of North Platte.
Sheesley was charged with 1st Degree Assault, as was Chrisman, who was also charged with Strangulation. Both Sheesley and Chrisman are free on bond.

 

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) – Five teenagers have been hurt in a single-car crash on Interstate 80.
Nebraska State Patrol spokeswoman Deb Collins said that 18-year-old Nyamal Gatlauk, of Grand Island, fell asleep at the wheel, causing the car to crash into the median, hit a guardrail and spin. The crash happened between 8 and 8:30 a.m. Saturday just east of Greenwood.
Collins says four 15-year-old girls were passengers in the car, and all five teens were taken to hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Gatluak was cited for driving without a license, reckless driving and for seat belt violations. No number was listed for Gatlauk.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska’s college savings plan is making some changes designed to reduce costs and expand the investment options.
Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg says the changes will help make Nebraska’s plan more competitive.
First National Bank of Omaha says portfolio expenses will be reduced in the plan. And some of the investment funds will now offer investors more diverse choices.
The changes will take effect in July after investors are formally notified in May.
Investors in so-called 529 plans offered by states across the country get tax benefits while saving for college. More than 52,000 families in Nebraska, and more than 189,000 nationwide, are saving through the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust, a 529 college savings plan.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Thousands of Nebraskans are expected to participate in this year’s “National Walk at Lunch” event later this month.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska event is slated for April 25.
To date, 7,500 people and 65 organizations across the state have committed to this year’s walk. Nebraskans can register themselves, their friends or their businesses and learn more by visiting www.nebraskablue.com.
Businesses and schools organize their own walks, choosing a time and place that is most convenient, while individuals walk at their leisure. So far, 35 Nebraska cities, from Omaha to Scottsbluff, have organizations or individuals signed up to walk.
The event is designed to encourage healthy living habits for a lifetime.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – The state Department of Health and Human Services is warning Nebraskans about a scam that promises public assistance grants.
Thomas Pristow, director of DHHS’ Children and Family Services, says some recipients of public assistance reported receiving fraudulent phone calls last week that promised up to $7,000 in grants in exchange for a deposit fee. Pristow says the state doesn’t require deposits or pre-payments in order to receive assistance.
Pristow says Nebraskans who receive such calls should contact their local police department and DHHS’ investigations unit at 402-471-9407 in Lincoln and greater Nebraska or 402-595-3789 in Omaha.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A western Nebraska man has been arrested in a child pornography case involving children who prosecutors say appear to be as young as 3 years old.

Attorney General Jon Bruning says 58-year-old Andrew Wennberg, of Imperial, was arrested on Thursday on four counts of distribution of child pornography.

Officials say the arrest stems from a two-month investigation by a cybercrime unit into Wennberg’s sharing of online child pornography. Bruning says the images displayed the victimization of very young children. Additional charges are possible as the investigation proceeds.

Wennberg was being held in the Chase County jail.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – A 39-year-old Hershey woman whose child-abuse case was dropped in November has been charged with sexual assault of a child. The three new counts against Deanna Fischer, of Hershey, are based on two incidents that prosecutors say occurred in February 2006 and one that prosecutors say occurred in February 2005. In November a child-abuse charge against Fischer was dropped. She’d been accused of not stopping her husband from sexually assaulting children. Authorities say Daniel Fischer committed suicide after he was charged. Deanna Fischer remained in Lincoln County Jail on Friday, pending $50,000 bail. Her attorney in the earlier case says he isn’t representing her in the new one.