OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Chuck Hassebrook, Democrats’ newly minted candidate for U.S. Senate, is taking an extended leave of absence from his job as executive director of the Center for Rural Affairs as he runs his campaign.
The center is a grassroots nonprofit that advocates for rural communities, and Hassebrook has served as its director for nearly 35 years. On Monday, the center’s board granted Hassebrook a 10-month leave to run for public office. The board named its assistant director, Brian Depew, as acting executive director.
Asked why he was taking the leave, Hassebrook said running for Senate “is a full time job. I am all in.”
Hassebrook is seeking the seat currently held by Democrat Ben Nelson, who is not seeking a third term.

CRAWFORD, Neb. (AP) – A Crawford woman wants Nebraska’s Gov. Dave Heineman to order the lowering of flags statewide whenever a Nebraskan dies while on military duty.
Eagle Radio station KQSK says Lory Storm is encouraging Nebraskans to contact the governor’s office and push for changes in the flag policy so that flags are lowered statewide, not just in the soldier’s hometown.
Storm says the death of Marine Sgt. Jeremiah Callahan, of Chadron, who died in a California traffic accident on Feb. 14, should be honored statewide even if he didn’t die in combat overseas.
A funeral for Callahan is scheduled for Saturday in Chadron.
Spokeswomen for the governor didn’t immediately return phone messages or emails from The Associated Press on Thursday.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Insurance companies that cover cancer would have to treat chemotherapy pills the same as medication administered through an IV, under a bill set for a vote in the Nebraska Legislature.
The measure (LB882) by Omaha Sen. Jeremy Nordquist would require insurance companies to treat oral chemotherapy drugs the same as intravenous chemotherapy.
Nordquist says the problem for patients stems from how companies classify the treatments. Insurance policies usually cover the cost of IV chemotherapy as a medical benefit, while oral medications are viewed as prescription drug benefits with much larger copayments.
The bill has drawn support from the American Cancer Society and other health advocates, but insurance industry officials say such proposals would combine over time to increase costs for small businesses and the self-employed.

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) – A Platte County man charged with attacking his boss over a paycheck dispute is going to prison.
Twenty-eight-year-old Michael Dennis was accused of threatening to shoot his boss, Joshua Slonecker, with a shotgun and then using the gun to hit in the face and open bloody gashes on his eye last September.
Dennis pleaded no contest to attempted second-degree assault and terrorist threats in January.
Dennis was sentenced to 20 months to 4 years in prison.
During last week’s sentencing in Platte County District Court, Dennis told the judge he didn’t cut his boss’ eye with a shotgun, he used his fist.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Omaha police say a medical technician has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting three women as they were undergoing ultrasound testing.
Police reports indicate three women – ages 27, 55 and 64 – reported being sexually assaulted by a technician at Omaha facilities in September, October and December. The women told police the assaults happened as they were having ultrasounds performed on their chest, abdomen and legs.
Police say 27-year-old Kevin Ryan, of Ralston, was arrested Wednesday morning with his attorney present. He faces three counts of first-degree sexual assault.
Police did not name Ryan’s attorney, and Ryan’s case had not been listed among online court records by Wednesday afternoon.
A public phone listing for Ryan could not be found.