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Neb. party goer accused of driving limo bus home

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say a Nebraska party goer who passed out in a limousine bus’ bathroom later drove the 40-foot-long vehicle home, but left his wallet behind – in a pair of jeans. Lincoln police say the $80,000 bus was found a few blocks from Steven Hunter’s home Saturday afternoon. Capt. David Biggs says the 30-year-old doesn’t remember driving the bus. He’s charged with criminal mischief and unauthorized vehicle use. Police say Hunter was likely asleep when the bus was taken back to Leisure Limousine Service around 3:30 a.m. Investigators believe that when he woke up, he realized the doors were locked, saw the keys and drove home. The jeans were found in the bathroom. A phone number for Hunter’s address couldn’t be found Monday. Online court records didn’t list an attorney.

Nebraska Medicaid refunded $169,000 to feds

DHHS

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska Medicaid has refunded nearly $169,000 to the federal government after an audit found improper billing for personal care services.  A federal audit released last month found the state agency
improperly claimed an estimated $275,000 in Medicaid reimbursement for personal care services over a two-and-a-half year period. Nebraska’s program is administered by the state Department of Health and Human Services. Local social service workers in more than 100 offices throughout the state approve personal care
services, such as bathing and meal-making, for disabled and low-income beneficiaries. State officials say they are correcting the errors with new filing rules and a more user-friendly, automated billing system. Department spokeswoman Kathie Osterman says the money owed was taken out of the federal government’s quarterly Medicaid payment to the state.

Southwestern Neb. Lions Club cancels rendezvous

Great Royal Buffalo Hunt painting (1894) of event for Grand Duke Alexis by Louis Maurer at Buffalo Bill Historical Center Cody, WY

HAYES CENTER, Neb. (AP) – A lack of volunteer help has led the Hayes Center Lions Club to cancel this year’s “Grand Duke Alexis Rendezvous,” an event the group has hosted for 10 years. Rendezvous coordinator Doris Vlasin tells the McCook Daily Gazette that several club members have moved away in recent years and a number of others are simply no longer involved in events. The event offered a historical experience that recreated the 1872 visit by Russia’s Grand Duke Alexis for a buffalo hunt led by Buffalo Bill Cody, General George Custer and General Phil Sheridan. Those attending Hayes Center’s rendezvous could participate in everything from throwing tomahawks to shooting black powder rifles, as well as having tea on the prairie and listening to tales of the Old West.

Iowa Guard rescues children from stranded bus

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Heavy rain has flooded some streets and basements in far western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. Standing water blocked streets early Monday morning in Council Bluffs and across the Missouri River in Omaha, Neb. An Iowa National Guard transport truck had to be deployed to rescue around 30 children from their stranded school bus in Council Bluffs. Station KETV says the bus stalled in about 4 feet of water south of downtown Council Bluffs. The children were loaded into the truck and taken to safety. In Omaha, some streets just north of downtown were closed. No injuries or deaths have been reported.

Woman files $650,000 claim against Columbus Public Schools

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) – A Columbus woman has filed a $650,000 claim against Columbus Public Schools over an alleged attack on her son.   The claim sited by the Columbus Telegram says a school employee provided lax supervision as her now-16- year-old son was physically attacked while attending a wrestling camp in Denver in 2009. The claim says the teen’s head was dunked into a toilet filled with feces, among other things. Rumors of hazing after the trip contributed to the resignation of wrestling coach Tracy Dodson and the suspension of four wrestlers. Superintendent Troy Loeffeholz says the claim was forward to the district’s insurance carrier, which will decide whether to pay the
woman. If no payment is authorized, she can sue the district.

Missing Lincoln girl found with mom in New Mexico

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A 2-year-old girl taken from her foster home has been found in New Mexico. Lincoln police told the Journal Star that the girl was taken Friday by her biological mother during a supervised visit. She was found Saturday in Las Cruces, New Mexico and placed in protective custody until her foster parents can pick her up. Police say the 24-year-old mother was arrested at a home of a family member in Las Cruces. She’s being held Sunday in the Dona Ana County jail. A hearing is set for Friday to determine whether the girl’s biological parents should still have parental rights.

No foul play suspected in burned body in Neb.

LOUISVILLE, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say no foul play is suspected in the death of a man whose charred remains were found in a burned pickup on Vencil’s Island. Sarpy County sheriff’s deputies discovered the body Saturday morning in the truck found stuck in the sand near the Platte River. The vehicle had been badly burned. Authorities believe they know the victim’s name but are awaiting an autopsy to confirm his identity.

Report of cougar sighting at Neb. golf course

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) – A cougar has been sighted in Kearney but authorities have been unable to locate the animal. The Kearney Hub reports a golfer at Meadowlark Golf Course told police he spotted a cougar running across the course near the clubhouse about 1 p.m. Saturday. Nick Fryda with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says the ground in the area was dry, so he couldn’t find the animal’s tracks. There have been several reports in recent weeks of cougar sightings in nearby York and Hall counties. Cougars, which also are called mountain lions or pumas, have turned up as far east in Nebraska as Omaha.

Water at Neb.’s Johnson Lake to be lowered

Johnson Lake near Lexington

LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) – The water level at Johnson County lake south of Lexington will be lowered for a maintenance project.  KNOP-TV reports that the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District needs to lower the water after Labor Day weekend to replace a circuit breaker and related measures at the hydroelectric plant at the lake. The district says the water level will begin to drop Sept. 6 and should be down about 3 feet by Sept. 26. This allows water to be diverted around the plant. Water levels will return to normal after the project is complete.

Warmer weather returns to Western Nebraska

Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. South southeast wind between 6 and 13 mph.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 9 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south southwest around 6 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 89.

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