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Sheriff’s deputies shoot 1 person to end Omaha confrontation

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies shot and wounded one person after the suspect fired at them.

The deputies were responding to a possible hostage situation on the southwest edge of Omaha before 5 a.m. Sunday when the shooting happened.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Capt. Steve Glandt says when deputies arrived, the suspect was outside a home with a shotgun.

Glandt says the suspect fired at deputies. One of their vehicles and a sheriff’s deputy were struck by shotgun pellets.

The deputies returned fire and wounded the suspect, who is in stable condition at an Omaha hospital. The injured sheriff’s deputy received only minor injuries.

The suspect wasn’t immediately identified Sunday.

Officials identify man killed in Nebraska farm accident

HOWELLS, Neb. (AP) — Officials in northeastern Nebraska have released the name of a 76-year-old Stanton County man killed in a farm accident.

The Stanton County Sheriff’s Office tells the Norfolk Daily News that John “Henry” Balzer, of rural Howells, died Thursday. Officials say Howells was working with a tractor and a piece of farm machinery when the machinery collapsed on him, causing fatal injuries.

The accident occurred in a farm field about six miles southeast of Pilger. Pilger Fire and Rescue also responded to the scene.

New trial ordered in suit that saw $1M award for ex-student

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has ordered a new trial in a former nursing student’s lawsuit against Clarkson College in which a jury awarded her $1 million.

The award was issued last year after Kelly Armstrong sued the Omaha college, saying the school wrongly kicked her out of its nurse anesthetist program.

Armstrong was initially placed on probation after an incident during a 2013 nursing conference in Washington, D.C., in which she made a crude joke on a bus about pubic hair. Others on the bus, including officials from the college, said her behavior was lewd and violated school rules.

She sued after she was kicked out without being given a hearing to defend herself.

On Friday, the state’s high court said the trial judge erred when he failed to instruct jurors, at the college’s request, that Armstrong had not used the college’s grievance procedure before filing her lawsuit.

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Authorities say man died after farm machinery fell on him

PILGER, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man has died after a farm accident in northeast Nebraska’s Stanton County.

Medics and officers were dispatched around 9:25 p.m. Thursday to a farm about 6 miles (10 kilometers) southeast of Pilger (PIHL’-gur). Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger says the 76-year-old man was working with a tractor and a piece of farm machinery when the machinery collapsed on him.

The man’s name hasn’t been released, pending notification of family members.

Hastings couple imprisoned for injuries to baby girl

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — A Hastings man and woman have been imprisoned for injuring a baby girl.

Court records say 32-year-old John Brown and 24-year-old Brittany Hatch were sentenced Thursday in Adams County District Court.

Police say officers found the baby unresponsive after a call in November. A doctor later found that the baby had methamphetamine in her system and bruises, cuts and burns on her body.

Court records say Hatch was given 19 to 20 years in prison. She’d pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of attempted intentional child abuse resulting in injury to her daughter.

The records say Brown was given 30 to 35 years. He’d pleaded no contest to intentional child abuse resulting in injury.

Authorities say Brown was Hatch’s fiance but not the baby’s biological father.

Authorities say 18-year-old died in Dodge County collision

FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say an 18-year-old driver has died in the collision of two pickup trucks on a rural road in Dodge County.

Deputies were dispatched a little before 6:40 p.m. Wednesday to the scene about 3½ miles (6 kilometers) east of Fremont. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office says dust raised from traffic contributed to the collision of the northbound and southbound pickups.

The Sheriff’s Office says Jason Bechtel died at the scene. He lived in Fremont. The other driver was taken to a Fremont hospital. She’s been identified as a Fremont resident, 59-year-old Becky Crone.

Suburban fire district seeks to end contract with Omaha

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A suburban fire district in Omaha is moving forward with plans to start its own fire department to serve residents and businesses outside the city’s western boundaries.

City officials announced Wednesday that the Elkhorn Suburban Fire District wants to create its own department and end its contract with the city for fire, rescue and medical services.

Mayor Jean Stothert disputes that the new Elkhorn Fire and Rescue Department won’t be able to serve the area at the same level as the Omaha Fire Department, which has more than 650 members.

Stothert says the city remains open to negotiate the contract, which expires at the end of 2018.

Fire District Chief Travis Harlow says staffing levels will stay the same and public safety won’t be at risk.

Tribal council members dispute feds’ prosecution authority

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Former and current members of the Omaha Tribal Council charged with misusing federal money are challenging federal authority in the matter.

Court documents say the nine defendants paid themselves nearly $389,000 from contract funds with the Indian Health Service that was supposed to be used to provide health care for members of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska.

Officials have said bonuses were paid for work council and other officials did on a contract dispute with the Indian Health Service.

The defendants’ say in a motion to dismiss filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Omaha that the money was received as part of the legal settlement. They argue that the disbursement is an internal tribal matter that falls outside of federal government oversight.

Police: Man’s leg severed in Lincoln road rage incident

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln police say they’re seeking a suspect in a road rage incident that severed the leg a 39-year-old Lincoln man.

Police say the incident happened Thursday when two drivers crashed into each other in a road rage dispute.

Police say both men got out of their vehicles, then the driver of a Dodge Charger got back into his car and intentionally hit the other driver, severing the man’s leg.

Police found the Charger abandoned a few blocks away. Police were still seeking the driver of that car Friday.

Officials are crediting a passerby with saving the injured man’s life. Police say the Good Samaritan fashioned a tourniquet out of bungee cords to slow the bleeding.

Lancaster County lake enters 4th week of health alerts

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State officials say a health alert remains in effect for a fourth straight week at Bluestem Lake in Lancaster County.

The latest alert notice comes after testing this week detected toxin levels produced by blue-green algal blooms.

Officials say visitors to the lake should avoid full body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing and jet skiing. Non-contact activities such as boating, fishing and camping should be safe. People also are urged to keep pets out of the water and not allow them to drink lake water.

Skin exposed to the toxin can develop rashes and blisters. Ingesting the toxin can cause headaches, nausea and muscular pain.

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