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Developers delay demolition of 3 old buildings in Lincoln

city-of-lincolnLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The demolition of three century-old buildings in Lincoln has been delayed by a few months to avoid the impacts of frigid weather.

Contractors had expected to tear down the buildings on O Street by the end of the year to make way for a $65 million hotel and housing project. Shane Dostal, a senior engineering specialist for the city, says officials have decided the buildings can be taken down in the spring, closer to the start of construction.

Dostal said developers determined there was no sense in leveling the buildings until the frost on the ground was gone.

The buildings used to house a popular music club, a tattoo shop, and bars. The new project, which will include two hotels and upscale housing, is expected to be Lincoln’s third tallest building.

Lincoln man accused of leaving boot print on woman’s face

lincoln-policeLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man has been accused of beating a woman and leaving a print of his boot on her face.

42-year-old Curtis L. Bush was arrested early Friday and charged with third-degree domestic assault. Additional records were not available. A public telephone number for Curtis was not in service Saturday.

Lincoln police say they responded to a report after 1 a.m. Friday from a woman who says she fled Bush’s nearby apartment following an assault. The woman claims Bush punched her several times and pinned her to the floor. Bush is accused of stepping on the woman with a boot.

The newspaper reports an officer at the scene said the woman had marks on her face that were consistent with the report.

Nebraska man faces charges in connection to fatal crash

handcuffsPAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — A 20-year-old man from eastern Nebraska faces a homicide charge in connection to a crash in October that killed a 19-year-old woman.

Elijah Helms, of Gretna, was taken into custody Friday in Sarpy County after a felony charge of motor vehicle homicide was filed in Dawson County. He also faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and driving under suspension.

Public records do not list a telephone number for Helms, who has been released from a Papillion jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges in January.

Helms was the driver of a vehicle that crashed with another car on Oct. 29 on Interstate 80 near Lexington. Lexa Douglas, of Omaha, was a passenger in Helms’ vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities say Helms’ vehicle crossed the median and hit oncoming traffic. The crash injured four others, including Helms.

Cattle roam free on Nebraska Interstate following crash

state-patrol-logoOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities in Omaha say a dozen cattle roamed an Interstate after the semitractor-trailer that was transporting them turned over.

The cargo of cattle went free Thursday night near a lane that connects two major highways in central Omaha. The incident caused traffic delays that weren’t completely cleared up until early Friday.

The driver of the semi tractor-trailer, which was carrying more than 30 cows and bulls, says his vehicle tipped over after he tried to avoid another car that swerved. While some cattle never left the trailer, others took to the streets and halted traffic.

The Nebraska State Patrol and other officials helped block roadways to corral the cattle. A patrol sergeant says four of the animals were killed for public safety concerns. Five others were killed in the crash.

Man killed in pickup crash identified as Norfolk resident

fatal-accidentNORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a man killed in the crash of a pickup he was driving in Norfolk.

Norfolk police identified the man as 47-year-old Jason Hoffman, who lived in the northeast Nebraska city.

The accident occurred a little before 6:20 p.m. Wednesday. Police say the pickup ran off the roadway and onto a terrace, where it struck a tree. Police say Hoffman died later at a Norfolk hospital. An autopsy has been ordered.

Authorities ID man killed, woman injured in Gage County collision

gage-county-sheriffBLUE SPRINGS, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the names of a driver killed and another driver injured in a southeast Nebraska collision.

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office said Friday that 41-year-old Harry Hart III, of Lincoln, was killed Thursday afternoon when his car collided with an oncoming vehicle on U.S. Highway 77 just west of Blue Springs.

The driver of the other vehicle was identified as 63-year-old Lora Lee Stohs, of Marysville, Kansas. She was flown to a Lincoln hospital for treatment. A 12-year-old grandson with her was taken by ambulance to a Lincoln hospital, and another grandson was taken to a Beatrice hospital.

Omaha city attorney: Fire chief was hired appropriately

OMAHA-FIRE-AND-RESCUE-BADGEOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha city attorney says Mayor Jean Stothert correctly followed city code and policy in selecting Dan Olsen as fire chief.

Firefighters’ union president Steve LeClair and mayoral candidate Heath Mello have criticized Stothert’s handling of the process. They accused Stothert of evading city ordinance in order to hire Olsen, whom she had appointed as interim chief in April.

Omaha City Attorney Paul Kratz says Stothert asked him Thursday to review the process that resulted in Olsen’s hiring, which was announced Wednesday.

Kratz says he looked at the city code, the firefighters’ union contract and Human Resources personnel policies. He also discussed the process with the Omaha human resources director and deputy city attorney.

Kratz concluded that the mayor followed appropriate procedures in hiring Olsen.

Man resentenced for 1990 slaying loses high court appeal

Christopher Garza (NE Dept. of Corrections Photo)
Christopher Garza (NE Dept. of Corrections Photo)

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by a man who’d been resentenced this year for a 1990 Omaha slaying when he was 16.

The court released its ruling Friday in the case of Christopher Garza, who originally was convicted of first-degree murder and given an automatic life sentence without parole for the slaying of Christina O’Day.

In February Garza was resentenced because the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled judges must have the option of sentencing juveniles to something other than automatic life terms. He argued in his appeal that his new sentence of 90 years was excessive.

The Nebraska high court ruled that the district judge considered all relevant sentencing factors and then imposed a new sentence within the statutory limits and supported by the record.

Judge dismisses charge against man in sister’s death

gavel-and-scaleYUTAN, Neb. (AP) — A judge has dismissed a manslaughter charge that was filed against a Yutan man following the death of his sister more than two years after she was beaten.

Judge Patrick McDermott ruled last week that there wasn’t enough evidence to try Randall McDuffee.

Authorities say Michelle McDuffee was visiting her brother in December 2013. He told officers that he and his sister had been drinking the night of Dec. 7 and that he found her the next morning on the kitchen floor. She was hospitalized but never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead on March 3 this year.

An autopsy showed she died of complications from a blunt force head injury.

Saunders County Attorney Steven Twohig says he’ll confer with the county sheriff’s office and decide whether to refile charges.

Pickup driver killed in Norfolk crash, police say

norfolk-policeNORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man has been killed in the crash of a pickup he was driving in Norfolk.

The accident occurred a little before 6:20 p.m. Wednesday. Police say the pickup ran off the roadway and onto a terrace, where is struck a tree.

Police say the driver died later at a Norfolk hospital. His name hasn’t been released.

The crash is being investigated.

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