(AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld the dismissal of appeal by an Omaha man convicted of wire fraud.

David Musk was sentenced last year to four years for a scheme to collect money for background checks. Prosecutors say Musk charged customers $600 to do what he called “Interpol” and “FBI” background checks.

Musk testified at his trial that he using public search engines for the background. When pressed during cross-examination on other matters, Musk tried to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, but the judge determined he waived that right by testifying.

On Tuesday, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the lower court that Musk had no right to invoke his Fifth Amendment right once he took the stand.

(AP) — Animal health company Zoetis is planning to expand its Lincoln plant, so it can take over production of a drug currently made by another company.

The expansion should add up to 30 jobs in Lincoln once the 19,000-square-foot addition is done in 2014.

Zoetis was spun off from Pfizer Inc. earlier this year. The company already employs more than 500 at its Lincoln plant.

Zoetis spokesman Bill Price says this project will allow the Lincoln plant to take over production of Synovex. That product is a growth hormone for beef cattle.

The Madison, N.J., based Zoetis is the world’s biggest maker of medicines for pets and farm animals.

(AP) — Authorities are investigating a two-vehicle crash just northwest of Omaha that killed a 17-year-old girl.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s office says the girl from Bennington was died in the Tuesday evening crash.

A 2006 Ford F-350 pickup truck struck the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse the girl was driving. Officials say the girl failed to stop completely at a stop sign.

The girl’s name was not immediately released because her family was still being notified.

The truck’s driver was not hurt.

(AP) — Police have arrested a Southern California high school teacher two weeks after she allegedly gave birth to a student’s baby.

Redlands police spokesman Carl Baker says 28-year-old Laura Elizabeth Whitehurst was arrested Monday night for allegedly having unlawful sex with a 16-year-old.

Officials at Citrus Valley High School in Redlands contacted police on Monday, acting on a tip from the boy’s mother.

Police say the sexual relationship began last summer and continued for nearly a year. The boy is now 17.

Whitehurst gave birth to a child June 18.

 

(AP) — A Lincoln man accused of making a bomb and keeping it in a bag at his mother’s home has been given jail time.

32-year-old Aaron Finnell was sentenced Tuesday to 300 days in jail. He will serve about two weeks because of credit for good time and time he’s already served since his February arrest.

Authorities say Finnell told his mother in February that he wanted to kill himself and anyone that came near him. His mother contacted police, and authorities confiscated a bag at the home that belonged to Finnell. It had a homemade bomb that an explosives technician had to render safe.

Finnell pleaded no contest to possession of a destructive device. His attorney says his client made the bomb for fun.

(AP) — An Omaha woman has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for taking money from her employer.

U.S. Attorney Deb Gilg announced Tuesday that 54-year-old Toni Walker was sentenced her conviction for bank fraud and was also ordered to pay more than $765,000 in restitution.

Prosecutors say Walker was the business manager for Royal Forwarding Inc. when she forged and deposited into her own bank account a total of 169 company checks from 2005 to 2012. Prosecutors say the checks ranged in amounts from about $2,000 to about $9,000.

The Nebraska State Patrol, with the assistance from the Grand Island Police Department, conducted surprise commercial vehicle inspections today in Grand Island.  The surprise inspections target commercial vehicles that might not travel outside the city or pass through weigh stations as part of their regular routes.

During the special enforcement effort, the Metropolitan Aggressive and Prevention Selective (MAPS) Teams conducted 91 inspections, discovered 326 violations, and took 36 vehicles out of service (not allowed to continue on the road).  Vehicles are placed out of service for a variety of reasons relating to bad brakes or tires, or other problems that pose immediate safety risks. In addition, three drivers were taken out of service (not allowed to continue driving) for No Logbook (1), No Commercial Driver’s License (1), and Unable to Communicate in English (1). Officers issued a total of $4,275 in fines.

“The MAPS Team ensures truck operators who rarely leave the city limits are maintaining their vehicles and abiding by safety regulations,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “While most truck owners and operators share our concern for safety, we know some think they can ignore safety standards as long as they avoid the weigh stations. The MAPS Team extends our reach into cities and towns across the state.”

This was the 2^nd MAPS Team event of 2013. Inspections have also been conducted in Sarpy County, this year.  More surprise inspections are planned throughout the spring and summer in cities and towns across Nebraska.

The MAPS Team is funded largely by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Troopers check for compliance with federal safety regulations and enforce laws pertaining to weight, size, registration, dyed fuels, and permits associated with commercial vehicles. The MAPS Team was implemented in 1998 and consists of 36 troopers from the Nebraska State Patrol Carrier Enforcement Division. On average, 20-24 troopers work each MAPS event.

(AP) — Authorities have determined an improperly discarded cigarette caused an extensive apartment fire last week in southwest Omaha.

Assistant Fire Chief Dan Stolinski says a cigarette stubbed out in potting soil on a second-floor balcony deck reignited Friday at the Applewood Point apartment complex. The fire forced about 80 people to evacuate and took more than three hours to be extinguished.

The blaze caused the roof and portions of third- and second-floor ceilings to cave in. Batallion Chief Robb Gottsch says he doubts the structure can be saved.

(AP) — Omaha police have identified the woman whose gun discharged inside an ambulance on Monday.

Police said Tuesday that 24-year-old Justine Dubois was the patient when she apparently pulled a handgun and fired it.

Both Dubois and a paramedic were injured when the gun went off Monday afternoon. The paramedic was treated and released.

Dubois was being treated for a seizure before the shooting, but police said her injuries were not considered life threatening and they believe she may have been faking the seizure.

Police are still investigating the circumstances of the shooting, and the paramedic’s name has not been released.

(AP) — Groups that represent retirees and union workers are planning to encircle the Federal Building in Lincoln to protest possible Social Security benefit cuts.

Group members will form a “human chain” around the Robert Denney Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The gathering is organized by the Nebraska Alliance for Retired Americans and the Nebraska State AFL-CIO.

The coalition is protesting a change that would result in smaller annual increases for Social Security recipients. The increases are designed to protect against inflation.

Supporters say the current formula is outdated and doesn’t reflect actual cost-of-living increases. Group members argue that a new proposed measure, the chained Consumer Price Index, fails to account for large health care costs for seniors and people with disabilities.