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4 of 6 stolen puppies have been found but 2 still missing

lincoln-policeLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police are still looking for two puppies stolen from Crete earlier this month, but four stolen puppies have been recovered.

The puppies were taken when they were 5-weeks-old from their kennel near Luis Cuevas’ workshop on Dec. 5.

Police found three of the dogs when they arrested a 29-year-old woman on an outstanding warrant.

A fourth puppy was found after a Lincoln man, who paid $200 for the dog, realized it might be one of the stolen dogs.

Cuevas says he had initially planned to keep all the puppies, but now he plans to return the dog to the Lincoln man when its older because of his honesty.

Majority of Platte County criminal cases end in plea deals

gavel-moreCOLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — The Platte County attorney’s office says nearly every criminal case in the county ends in a plea agreement, and that only a small percentage of the roughly 1,200 criminal cases the office handles each year go to trial.

One percent to two percent of those cases make it to trial. Platte County attorney Carl Hart says that amounts to about two dozen cases combined in county and districts courts.

County public defender Tim Matas says he advises his clients on the nature of their charges, but he doesn’t direct them to a plea agreement.

Matas also says the local court system doesn’t have the time or resources to stage a trial every week.

Hunters find man’s body under bridge in southwest Iowa

body-foundFREMONT COUNTY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating after deer hunters discovered a man’s body underneath a highway bridge in southwest Iowa over the weekend.

The hunters found the body under a U.S. Highway 2 bridge in Fremont County’s Waubonsie Access Wildlife Management Area.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s office says the death appears suspicion and an autopsy is planned.

The identity of the dead man wasn’t immediately clear.

I-80 crash kills 2 children, 1 adult and hurts 8 people in Iowa

iowa-state-patrolANITA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities believe snow contributed to a crash that killed three people and injured eight in a multiple-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 in western Iowa.

A westbound semitrailer truck crossed into oncoming traffic about three miles west of the Anita, Iowa, exit on Saturday morning in snowy conditions.

Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Nathan Ludwig says the semi crashed into a minivan and continued into the ditch, but the truck’s trailer remained on I-80 and an SUV smashed into it.

The collisions killed 41-year-old Rodney Sanborn of Gretna, Nebraska, and 14-year-old Jameson Steckler and 11-year-old Gavin Steckler. The Stecklers from Audubon, Iowa, were in the minivan. Sanborn was in the SUV.

Ludwig says the 31-year-old driver of the semi was driving too fast. He wasn’t hurt.

Man dies after being shot by York officer

officer-involved-shooting

YORK, Neb. (AP) — A 53-year-old man has died after being shot during a confrontation with York police officers at that Nebraska city’s hospital.

The incident happened early Sunday at York General Hospital.

York Police Chief Don Klug said police were called because Timothy Case was threatening hospital staff with a knife.

Klug says he doesn’t know why Case was at the hospital.

Klug says the officers that responded ordered Case to drop the knife. Then they tried a stun gun and pepper spray, but Case refused to drop the knife.

Klug says one of the two officers shot Case at that point.

The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on leave while the incident is investigated. A grand jury will review what happened.

Woman pleads not guilty in Hastings pedestrian’s death

car-pedestrian-accidentHASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — A 75-year-old Hastings woman has pleaded not guilty to motor vehicle homicide in the September death of a woman who was hit in a city crosswalk.

Marylin Gish filed a written plea of not guilty earlier this week in Adams County Court. The plea was accepted by the court Thursday, and a pretrial hearing has been set for Feb. 21.

If convicted of the misdemeanor county, Gish faces up to a year in jail.

Police say Gish was driving a pickup that turned onto the street 72-year-old Joyce Schiffler was crossing when Schiffler was hit Sept. 7. Gish told police she didn’t see Schiffler, who was flown to a Lincoln hospital, where she died.

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Rare metals company seeks 2017 construction on Nebraska mine

NioCorp DevelopmentsLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The CEO of a company that wants to mine rare metals in southeast Nebraska has told shareholders he remains hopeful the company can start construction before the end of 2017.

NioCorp Development CEO Mark Smith made the statements Friday at the company’s annual shareholder meeting in Denver.

NioCorp wants to build a mine and processing facilities on land near Elk Creek to extract and process niobium, scandium and titanium — rare metals used in a host of manufacturing and other industries. Elk Creek is about 70 miles southeast of Lincoln.

The company has estimated the mine would produce pre-tax cash flow of $438 million a year, employ 300 people and have a lifespan of more than 30 years.

Ground broken on Omaha Children’s Hospital expansion

childrens-hospital-omahaOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Children’s Hospital and Medical Center has broken ground on a $450 million, 10-story clinical facility in the heart of Omaha.

Officials broke ground Thursday on the front lawn of the existing hospital at 82nd Street and West Dodge Road — one of the city’s busiest intersections.

The new Hubbard Center for Children — named for the lead gift donated by the Theodore F. and Claire M. Hubbard Family Foundation — will add about 500,000 square feet to the hospital. The current hospital measures 225,000 square feet, not counting attached specialty clinics.

The center will include more than 70 inpatient beds, with space for more as needed. Construction is expected to start in the spring and be completed in early 2021.

Omaha man charged, accused of trying to meet girl for sex

Jail-Bars-and-Cuffs_mediumLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 29-year-old Omaha man has been charged with a felony count after prosecutors say he drove to Lincoln to have sex with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

Jonathan Lemon has been charged with enticement by electronic communication device. He appeared in court Thursday and was released from jail on $5,000 bond.

Officials say that on Nov. 22, an undercover Nebraska State Patrol investigator responded to a Craigslist posting by a man seeking to have sex with a virgin. Officials say the investigator pretended to be a 14-year-old girl and arranged to meet Lemon in Lincoln. He was arrested Tuesday when he arrived for the meeting.

Lemon could not be reached Friday at a home number listed for him.

University suspends frat house, citing behavior problems

UNLLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has suspended its Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, citing concerns about alcohol use and other problems.

The university said Thursday that frat members likely were involved in problematic alcohol use at the chapter house and at off-campus parties. The university also cited concerns about members’ treatment of pledges and damage to another frat house.

Officials say the investigation is not yet complete.

Officials say that because of the suspension, the 20 or so freshmen living there must move out before the next semester begins in January.

The fraternity’s national director of standards, James D’Imperio, says the national organization is working with the university and will do what it can to support the investigation.

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