OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The Nebraska Supreme Court has again upheld the conviction and sentence of a man serving 45 years-to-life for murdering his girlfriend in their Overton home in 2000.
Timmy Timmens argued in his latest appeal that his trial lawyer was ineffective because he failed to raise the defense that Timmens was too drunk to make a decision to kill 35-year-old Tracy Giugler.
Timmens also claimed his appellate attorney was ineffective for failing to argue that the trial attorney should have raised the issue of intoxication.
The Nebraska Supreme Court rejected Timmens’ arguments on Friday.
The high court also upheld Timmens’ conviction in 2002. In that appeal, Timmens had argued a lower court erred by allowing testimony about how Timmens did not show up for a meeting with police investigating the killing.

AUBURN, Neb. (AP) – Charges against a man accused of raping a Peru State College student and suspected in the disappearance of another have been dropped.
Eight Nemaha County charges, including sexual assault and weapon use, against Joshua Keadle were dropped Wednesday following a hearing on new evidence in the case. Keadle’s trial was to have begun Monday.
The hearing centered on 38 pages of Facebook messages from the alleged rape victim to Keadle. County Attorney Louie Ligouri argued he should be able to see Keadle’s replies and asked for the trial to be postponed. Following a recess, Ligouri’s request to dismiss the charges was granted.
Neither Ligouri nor Keadle’s defense attorney could immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.
Keadle still faces rape charges in Dodge County.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A new state audit shows Department of Revenue employees received free meals, movie tickets and admission to a golf tournament from vendors and other groups that work with the Nebraska Lottery.
State Auditor Mike Foley said Tuesday that the expenses deserve legislative attention. He says the charity golf tournament in May was problematic because employees played during normal work hours in Nebraska City, a two-hour round trip from Lincoln.
Nebraska Tax Commissioner Doug Ewald says the expenses were all legal, and blown out of proportion in the audit.
Ewald says the audit found no improprieties. He says such meal costs have declined consistently over the last five years, and the golf outing was part of a fundraiser the Lottery had advertised to fight problem gambling.

GERING, Neb. (AP) – Officials say a Gering family fled unharmed from a fire that destroyed their home.
The fire was reported just before 3:15 a.m. Monday.
Gering Fire Chief Jay Templar says Chris Tarr, his wife and their four children got out of the house safely. Templar says the fire was under control within 10 minutes of the firetrucks’ arrival.
The fire cause is being investigated. Templar says the blaze began on the back porch of the house. A vehicle parked near the porch also was destroyed.
The damage total is estimated at between $75,000 and $100,000.

MINDEN, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say a Minden woman escaped unharmed after finding her basement in flames when she returned home from taking her three children to school.
Minden firefighters were called to the home by Rose Ormelas Gomez around 8:10 a.m. Monday.
She told authorities that she smelled smoke when she returned from the school.
Minden firefighters contained the fire to the basement, but smoke and heat damaged the house and the family’s possessions.
The cause is considered accidental but remains under investigation.