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Omaha school board adds gender identity to anti-bias policy

schoolOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha school board has updated the district’s anti-discrimination policy to include gender identity or gender expression.

The board voted 6-0 Wednesday night after comments from students and community residents who favored the proposal and from others who opposed it.

The district’s policy was written in 2014 and bans discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, disability and age. The proposal adds gender identity and expression, along with pregnancy, military service and political affiliation, to the protected groups.

The newly revised policy does not contain guidance on restrooms and locker rooms. The board has discussed crafting a policy to address those issues but so far hasn’t.

Charges filed in break-in at home of Sam Foltz’s brother

Scott Davis
Scott Davis

GREELEY, Neb. (AP) — Charges have been filed against a man suspected of burglarizing the home of the brother of Nebraska punter Sam Foltz, who died in a car crash this summer.

Court records say 38-year-old Scott Davis, of Lennox, South Dakota, is charged with two felony counts of theft, receipt of stolen property; one count of driving while his license was revoked; and one count of driving under the influence, third offense. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call Thursday from The Associated Press.

Authorities say Davis was stopped Sunday on Interstate 80 in York County for driving under the influence. Authorities say Davis had with him items stolen Saturday from the Greeley County residence of Jordan Foltz.

Jordan Foltz and other family members were at Saturday’s Husker game in Lincoln.

Missing 5-year-old found in bus, Omaha authorities say

school-busOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha authorities say a missing 5-year-old boy has been found locked in a school bus.

Samuel Van Tha Bik was found about 9 p.m. Wednesday, five hours after his scheduled release from classes at Field Club Elementary School.

He was reported missing around 6 p.m., and authorities used a helicopter as part of their search. The boy’s father told authorities he thought a substitute driver was operating the bus.

Police say officers talked to the bus driver, who said he’d dropped off the boy at home. Officers then went to where the school buses and vans were parked and found the boy sitting in one. The driver was cited for child neglect.

School officials intend to discuss the situation Thursday with the bus service contractor.

School: Stolen backpack from deaf student wasn’t bullying

omaha-psOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials at an Omaha high school acknowledge a deaf student had his backpack stolen and vandalized, but say the student wasn’t the target of bullies.

Alex Hernandez has seen an outpouring of support since his backpack was taken last week from Burke High’s lunchroom. A computer tablet inside was stolen and the rest of its contents were dumped in a school toilet. Hernandez told several news outlets that he believed he was targeted because of his disability. Among things ruined was a battery for his cochlear implant, which allows him to hear his teachers.

School administrators have determined the students who stole the backpack didn’t know it belonged to a deaf student.

The school says the tablet has been returned and the students disciplined.

Omaha police ID deputies who fatally shot suspect

douglas-county-sheriffOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police have identified the Douglas County sheriff’s deputies who fatally shot a suspect in southeast Omaha and released more details of the shooting.

Police say the shooting happened Tuesday afternoon when deputies trying to serve an arrest warrant on 25-year-old David Anderson approached him as he was in a parked pickup. Police say witnesses reported that Anderson twice rammed a sheriff’s vehicle as he was approached, and two deputies fired at least nine shots.

Police say Anderson fled and soon crashed. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. An autopsy shows he was shot eight times.

A 19-year-old woman with Anderson also was treated for minor injuries, but was not shot.

Police say the deputies, now on paid leave, are 37-year-old Michael Jones, a 13-year veteran, and 33-year-old Scott Kuzminski, a nine-year veteran.

Missouri jail inmate charged with raping woman in her cell

jailKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A male inmate at a Missouri jail has been charged with raping a female inmate after another inmate freed him using a key that a guard left in a door.

The Jackson County prosecutor’s office said Wednesday that 29-year-old Dontae Jefferson of Kansas City is also charged with burglary and sexual abuse in the incident at the Jackson County Regional Correctional Center.

It’s unclear how Jefferson got inside the woman’s cell.

Online court records don’t list Jefferson’s attorney. Bond is set at $1 million.

Another female inmate last month alleged she was assaulted in her cell, prompting an investigation into reports that three inmates were wandering freely in the jail. That investigation continues. An independent audit also was ordered.

Authorities subsequently removed nearly two dozen female inmates from the facility.

Man arrested on murder charge in Omaha slaying

rolander-brownOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police have arrested a 26-year-old man suspected in the slaying of an Omaha resident.

Omaha police say 26-year-old Rolander Brown was taken into custody Wednesday. He’s charged with murder and other crimes in the May 28 shooting death of 40-year-old Carlos Alonzo.

Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could be contacted to comment on Brown’s behalf.

In July police arrested 47-year-old Doloma Curtis in connection with the case. Curtis has been charged with being an accessory to a felony. Curtis’ attorney didn’t immediately return a call Wednesday from The Associated Press.

Omaha residents upset over community meeting space’s closure

Google-missouri-river-flooding-omaha-ne-12OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha residents have raised concerns about the closure of a community meeting space owned by the city.

Brook Bench, the city’s parks, recreation and public property director, says city building code inspectors ordered the space closed because of significant violations, including safety and health threats.

City records show the building has plumbing and roof leaks, deteriorated and missing flooring, a broken water heater, and inoperable bathroom water faucets. Bench says the building also has mold.

Ella Willis, president of the Neighborhood Action and Facts Association, says the closure is disappointing and unfair because residents have worked hard to improve the north Omaha neighborhood.

Bench says the problems have been ongoing for years and that the Neighborhood Action and Facts Association was aware of them and responsible for making repairs.

Horse race in South Sioux City to keep casino hopes alive

File Image
File Image

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) — A new track in South Sioux City is planning to host a brief three-horse race in order for the Winnebago Tribe’s economic development corporation to maintain its racing license.

Alexcia Boggs, development director for Ho-Chunk Inc., says state officials will allow the company to race only three horses Saturday since it’s a new course.

Ho-Chunk bought the former Atokad Downs in 2012 with the hope of developing a $30 million to $40 million casino at the site. A proposed constitutional amendment to legalize casino wagering at Atokad and other Nebraska horse tracks has been stalled.

In the meantime, the track must hold at least one live race in 2016 to maintain the racing license Ho-Chunk received from Nebraska earlier this year.

Gage County loses appeal of Beatrice Six verdict

judgeshipLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gage County has lost its appeal of a jury verdict awarding more than $28 million to six people who were wrongfully convicted in the 1985 slaying of a southeast Nebraska woman.

The appeal filed last month in U.S. District Court in Lincoln said there wasn’t enough evidence to find against the county and said the award was excessive.

Judge Richard Kopf said Tuesday that there was plenty of evidence to find against the defendants and said it was “laughable to suggest that the jury verdict was excessive.”

James Dean, Kathleen Gonzalez, Debra Shelden, Ada JoAnn Taylor, Thomas Winslow and Joseph White served a combined 77 years in prison before DNA testing cleared them in 2008. Joseph White died in 2011.

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