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Facebook to build wind farm for Omaha data center

WAKEFIELD, Neb. (AP) — Facebook is partnering with a developer to build a wind power farm in northeast Nebraska that will supply energy for the company’s planned data center.

The social media giant announced last week that it has partnered with Trade Winds Energy to build the Rattlesnake Creek Wind Project in rural Dixon County.

Facebook plans to use energy from the wind farm to power its upcoming data center in Papillion, a suburb of Omaha. Of the 320 megawatts of power the wind farm will create, 200 of them will be allocated to the data center while the remaining will be available for other buyers.

Neither Facebook nor Trade Winds provided a timeline or cost for the wind farm.

Man gets jail time, $1,000 fine for passenger’s crash death

STANTON, Neb. (AP) — A 19-year-old Albion man has been given 30 days in jail and fined $1,000 for the crash death of a passenger in his vehicle.

Court records say Blake Baldwin was sentenced Tuesday in Stanton County Court. He’d pleaded to misdemeanor vehicular homicide and being a minor in possession of alcohol.

Police say Baldwin was driving a sport utility vehicle April 29 when he lost control, causing the SUV to roll. Baldwin and two passengers were thrown from the vehicle. Nineteen-year-old Beau Kellogg, of Norfolk, was pronounced dead at a hospital.

2 killed, 1 injured when truck tips onto car in La Vista

LA VISTA, Neb. (AP) — Two people have died after the car they were in was crushed by a concrete truck that tipped over onto their vehicle while turning in La Vista.

The crash was reported just after noon on Wednesday, and crews didn’t get the truck turned upright until around 1:50 p.m.

La Vista Police Chief Bob Lausten says crews at the scene could see through a sunroof that the driver and front-seat passenger had been killed. He says they had not been able to tell whether anyone was in the backseat.

Lausten says the truck driver was taken to a Papillion hospital with minor injuries. He says the truck was fully loaded at the time.

Woman accused of stealing from charity must pay back money

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Kearney woman accused of stealing from a local charity has been sentenced to 10 days in jail.

44-year-old Bobbi Jo Tavenner also was ordered Friday to pay nearly $23,000 in restitution and serve four years of probation. She’d pleaded no contest to an attempted felony. In exchange, a charge of theft of more than $5,000 was dropped.

Prosecutors say Tavenner was the staff accountant at Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska when discrepancies in money received from rental properties were discovered.

Woman gets more prison time for pandering of another teen

Jacqueline Stebbins

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln woman already in prison for the pandering of a minor has been given more time behind bars.

Court records say 34-year-old Jacqueline Stebbins was sentenced Monday to 10 to 15 years — the same sentence she got at her sentencing July 31 for the pandering of a different teenage girl. Stebbins pleaded guilty in both cases.

The girl in the most recent case told authorities that she’d run away from home and was initially helped by Stebbins in February 2016. But then Stebbins made her repay the debt by having paid sex with men.

Chief says officer accused of sex assault has left force

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police say a Lincoln officer accused of sexual assault has left the force.

Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister (BLEYE’-meye-stur) announced Monday that the officer left the force Friday after being placed on administrative leave Wednesday. The chief says the officer didn’t resign but declines to say whether the officer had retired.

The chief has not released the officer’s name or provided other details on the allegation, other than to say the officer met the accuser while on duty.

The police internal affairs office and the Nebraska State Patrol are investigating.

Columbus police say man hit by train died

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man has died after being struck by a train in Columbus.

Police were sent to the scene a little after noon Saturday.

The man’s name hasn’t been released. An autopsy was scheduled.

Lincoln garage explosion injures 2 men

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say two men have been injured in a Lincoln garage explosion.

The blast occurred just after 8 p.m. Saturday. The men were up and walking when police arrived but were soon taken to a hospital. Their names haven’t been released.

They had been working on a vehicle in a garage at a duplex, which also suffered some damage.

The cause of the explosion is being investigated.

Salvation Army in Omaha seeks volunteers for holiday season

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Salvation Army in Omaha is ramping up its holiday programs and is seeking volunteers to help.

One of the programs helps families who are most in need of assistance this holiday season. Those in need are encouraged to apply in person.

Volunteers will help register clients to receive help on Nov. 2-4 at the Salvation Army’s Citadel Corps, Kroc Center and North Corps in Omaha.

Lunch will be provided for volunteers staying all day.

For more information, call 402-898-6000 or contact Kay Weinstein at Kay_Weinstein@usc.salvationarmy.org.

The Salvation Army Christmas programs are supported by donations to the Tree of Lights Campaign and collections at the familiar red kettles around the city, which begins Nov. 10.

Omaha nonprofit works to create addiction treatment center

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha nonprofit providing substance abuse treatment and other services is working with real estate developers to build apartments and turn a vacant building into an expanded center.

The Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition and Arch Icon Development propose to create a new campus for the coalition at the former home of the South Omaha Eagles Club.

Developers would erect a building with more than 40 apartments on what are currently parking lots. Then they would renovate the vacant club and its banquet hall, making space for social services including residential addiction treatment, plus offices and cultural events.

The apartments are expected to cost about $7.8 million. The club renovation would require donations.

An Arch official says nothing will likely be built before 2019.

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