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Gretna school’s refusal to sponsor pro-life club challenged

gretna-neGRETNA, Neb. (AP) — A Gretna High School student is questioning the school’s unwillingness to sponsor her club dedicated to fighting abortion and educating mothers on other options.

The Thomas More Society wrote a letter to district administrators Monday, saying the school’s decision is discrimination and violates the First Amendment and the Equal Access Act.

The society describes itself as a national nonprofit law firm “dedicated to restoring respect in law for life, family and religious liberty.” It’s representing high school junior Bridget Christensen, who is a co-president of Dragons for Life, a chapter of the Students for Life of America.

School administrators say the club was denied sponsorship because its topic is a controversial one that’s political and religious.

The club currently is permitted to meet at the school, but not during school hours.

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Second fire in same day damages Lincoln church

fireLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say several hours after Lincoln firefighters extinguished a fire at a church a second fire was started.

Lincoln Fire Battalion Chief Jeremy Gregg says the second fire in the sanctuary of Belmont Baptist Church wasn’t just the original fire rekindling.

Gregg says that arson is suspected in both fires that burned in the church on Monday. The second fire Monday night was extinguished quickly.

The fires caused roughly $350,000 to $400,000 in damage.

Pastor Mike Kidder says the church hopes to be able to use the fellowship hall once it is cleaned up, but he’s not sure yet what the congregation will do.

Arson suspected in fire that damages Lincoln church

arsonLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police say arson is suspected in an early morning three-alarm fire that caused significant damage to a church in Lincoln.

The fire was reported about 2 a.m. Monday at Belmont Baptist Church.

Lincoln Battalion Chief Jeremy Gegg says it took crews about 45 minutes to control the fire. He says the fire caused significant damage and part of the roof collapsed, but a fire door inside the building kept flames contained to one area.

There were no injuries.

On Monday afternoon, police said arson is suspected and that fire investigators were being helped in the investigation by the Omaha fire department’s arson dog and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Fire causes significant damage to Lincoln church

lincoln-fire-departmentLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Officials say an early morning three-alarm fire caused significant damage to a church in Lincoln.

The fire was reported about 2 a.m. Monday at Belmont Baptist Church.

Lincoln Battalion Chief Jeremy Gegg says it took crews about 45 minutes to control the fire. He says the fire caused significant damage and part of the roof collapsed, but a fire door inside the building kept flames contained to one area.

There were no injuries.

Truck driver dies after losing control of semi on I-80

fatal-accidentWACO, Neb. (AP) — The driver of a semitrailer truck died Sunday after losing control of the truck on Interstate 80.

Eastbound lanes of the interstate were shut down for several hours Sunday after the fiery crash.

Nebraska State Patrol spokeswoman Deb Collins says the truck caught fire after it crashed into a ditch just east of the Waco exit around 4 p.m. Sunday.

Authorities did not immediately release the name of the truck driver.

Supreme Court rejects challenge to military death penalty

supreme-courtWASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court won’t hear a challenge to the death penalty for members of the military.

The justices on Monday rejected an appeal from the former soldier who was sentenced to death for killing two fellow soldiers and injuring 14 others in an attack in Kuwait in 2003.

The appeal from Hasan Akbar focused on whether the way in which the armed forces impose a death sentence complies with recent Supreme Court rulings.

Akbar is being held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was convicted of killing Army Capt. Christopher S. Seifert and Air Force Maj. Gregory L. Stone in Kuwait during the early days of the Iraq war.

The military hasn’t carried out an execution since 1961.

Carbon monoxide detector policy hard to enforce in Lincoln

carbon-monoxideLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln officials say many landlords aren’t aware of a carbon monoxide detector requirement the city adopted a year ago.

The policy makes carbon monoxide detectors mandatory in any building with three of more units and an attached garage, fireplace or gas stove.

Eighty-year-old Dale Moyer died last month after accidentally leaving his car running in the garage of his building. Fire Inspector Mike Wright says Moyer’s death isn’t an isolated incident.

Wright is the only inspector responsible for all apartments in the city. He says enforcing the code is difficult since there are thousands of units and only eight fire inspectors.

Wright says buildings are only inspected if the city gets a complaint or the building is sold to a new owner.

Prosecutors say former doctor killed to avenge firing

Anthony Garcia
Anthony Garcia

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Prosecutors opened the first-degree murder trial against a former doctor by arguing he committed four Omaha killings to avenge his firing from Creighton University Medical Center.

The prosecutors outlined their case Monday against Anthony Garcia, who is charged with stabbing to death the 11-year-old son of two medical doctors and the family’s housekeeper in 2008 and then killing another Omaha doctor and his wife in 2013. They say the killings were motivated by Garcia’s long-simmering rage from being fired from the medical school’s residency program in 2001.

Deputy County Attorney Brenda Beadle argued, “”This is a case about revenge.”

Garcia’s attorney responded that prosecutors lack witnesses or physical evidence and that their case would fall apart when all the evidence is presented.

Friends help Nebraska woman celebrate her 110th birthday

good-newsOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Friends and neighbors help the woman who may be Nebraska’s oldest resident celebrate her 110th birthday.

Thelma Sutcliffe was born in Omaha in 1906 when Teddy Roosevelt was president.

The secret to her longevity is a combination of good luck in surviving breast cancer twice, good genes and smart choices like never smoking.

Sutcliffe has outlived her husband by 45 years and never had children. Her closest relatives, a nephew and his wife ages 89 and 92, attended Saturday’s party.

E.A. Kral with the Nebraska Health Care Association Sutcliff is likely the oldest Nebraskan.

90-year-old driver killed trying to make U-turn on I-80

fatal-accidentLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A fatal crash involving a semitrailer and car has left an elderly driver dead.

The crash happened around 1:30 p.m. Friday on Interstate 80 between Omaha and Lincoln, killing 90-year-old Lloyd Mickle of Lincoln.

The Nebraska State Patrol says Mickle was driving the car and attempted to make a U-turn in the crossover from the center lane. The patrol says Mickle’s car was then was struck by the semi driving in the left lane.

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