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Man Died After Wrong-Way Driver Crash, Omaha Police Say

omaha-policeOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 60-year-old man has died after a collision with a wrong-way driver in eastern Omaha.

The accident occurred a little before 8 p.m. Sunday. Police say a fast-moving sport utility vehicle was heading east in the westbound lanes of L Street when it rammed into an oncoming car.

Police say the car driver died later at a hospital. He was identified as Carl Gauff, of Omaha. His 15-year-old grandson, Dontae Chavez, was hospitalized.

The 39-year-old SUV driver also was treated at a hospital. Police say charges against him are pending.

Trucker Killed in Sheridan County Crash, Patrol Says

fatal-accidentGORDON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a truck driver has died in a Sheridan County crash.

The accident occurred a little before 11:30 a.m. Friday, about six miles southeast of Gordon.

The Nebraska State Patrol says the southbound truck rolled onto one of its sides when the driver tried to turn east.

The patrol identified the driver as 62-year-old Mark Alexander, of Gordon.

Actor LeVar Burton to Host Nebraska Science Festival

LeVar Burton (Image Credit: commons.wikimedia.org)
LeVar Burton (Image Credit: commons.wikimedia.org)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Actor LeVar Burton will make a presentation next month during the Nebraska Science Festival in Omaha.

His presentation is titled “Technology & Storytelling: Making a Difference in the Digital Age.” He’ll be speaking at Joslyn Museum’s Witherspoon Concert Hall, starting at 7:30 p.m. on April 22.

The presentation is free but requires a ticket. They’ll be released online at noon March 22 at www.EventBrite.com. People will need to create logins and passwords and then search for “LeVar Burton NE SciFest Keynote Presentation.” People may reserve up to four tickets. Tickets won’t be available at the door.

Burton is known for his roles in the TV miniseries “Roots” and the science fiction show “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” He also was host and executive producer of the children’s series “Reading Rainbow.”

Grand Island School District Looking for Ways to Improve Efficiency

schoolGRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The Grand Island Northwest school district is looking for ways to get more efficient after local taxpayers complained about the district’s spending.

The school board will discuss approving a formal study of the district’s operations at its meeting on Monday.

A group of 44 patrons of the Northwest Public Schools is recommending that the district move forward with the study.

The district may look at closing one of its kindergarten-through-eighth-grade schools or creating a consolidated middle school.

Ex-Black Panther Convicted in Omaha Officer’s Death Dies in Prison

David Rice
David Rice

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — One of two former Black Panthers convicted in the 1970 bombing death of an Omaha police officer has died in prison.

Nebraska Department of Correctional Services spokesman Andrew Nystrom says David Rice died around midnight Saturday at the state penitentiary in Lincoln.

The 68-year-old Rice, who is now known as Mondo we Langa, was convicted along with fellow Black Panther Edward Poindexter in the death of officer Larry Minard. Authorities say they lured police to a house with a 911 call, then detonated a homemade bomb that killed Minard.

The pair maintained their innocence and argued they were targeted by an FBI program that undermined radical political groups.

Rice’s death will be investigated. Nystrom says the cause hasn’t been determined, but he was being treated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

African Elephants Arrive at Omaha Zoo from Swaziland

henry-doorly-zooOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Six African elephants have arrived at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium from drought-stricken Swaziland.

Spectators lined 10th Street in Omaha’s Old Market, waving and applauding as a semitrailer drove the crated African elephants toward the zoo.

The elephants were part of a group of 17 elephants imported from Big Game Parks in Swaziland. The plane made a stop in Senegal on its long trip, then dropped off five elephants in Fort Worth, Texas, and six in Wichita, Kansas, before landing in Omaha.

The move was not without its detractors. Earlier this month, a judge denied an animal rights group’s request to stop an import of the elephants from Africa to the three American zoos.

Nebraska Woman Pleads Guilty to 1 Count for Duct Taping Son’s Mouth

gavel-moreGRETNA, Neb. (AP) — A Sarpy County woman has pleaded guilty to a charge for duct-taping her child’s mouth.

Jamie Ellen Scott pleaded guilty to one count of felony intentional child abuse.

The case came to light last May, when Scott was arrested after allegedly quieting her son with the tape.

Gretna School staff spotted what they believed to be duct tape marks on the boy’s face and called authorities.

Scott is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9.

Nebraska Man Accused of Fleecing Aunt Out of Around $127,000

gavel-and-scaleLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 61-year-old Lincoln man has been accused of fleecing an ailing aunt out of around $127,000.

Online court records say Brian Nelson was charged Thursday with abuse of a vulnerable adult. Online jail records say Nelson remained in custody Friday. Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment on Nelson’s behalf.

A court document says Nelson told an investigator that he’d been caring for the woman and borrowing money from her. Nelson says he intends to pay her back. The investigator says in the court document that the 92-year-old woman was diagnosed last year with dementia.

Dismissal of Lawsuit Against Nebraska in Jenkins Cast Upheld

Nikko Jenkins
Nikko Jenkins

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has upheld the dismissal a lawsuit that faulted Nebraska prison officials for releasing an inmate who later shot and killed four Omaha residents.

The decision came in the case of Shamecka Holloway, who says she was shot by Nikko Jenkins on Aug. 24, 2013.

Jenkins has been convicted of four counts of first-degree murder for the shooting deaths of four people in the weeks before Holloway was shot. The shootings occurred after Jenkins was released from prison on July 30, 2014.

Holloway’s lawsuit said prison officials should have known Jenkins posed a danger to others if released.

But the high court Friday agreed with a judge who said state officials had discretion in determining when to release Jenkins and in choosing not to civilly commit him.

Elderly Woman’s Body Found in Freezer in Rapid City

police-lights-redRAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) – Law enforcement authorities in western South Dakota say the body of an elderly woman has been found in a freezer.

The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office says deputies found the body Thursday morning in a freezer at a Rapid City home. Deputies made the discovery while responding to a call about a possible missing person case related to an ongoing fraud investigation.

The sheriff’s office says authorities are trying to confirm the woman’s identity and the circumstances surrounding her death.

The sheriff’s office and the Rapid City Police Department are investigating the case. They say they believe the body may have been transported from outside the state to Rapid City.

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