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Omaha Students Sleep in Car to Learn About Homelessness

homelessOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A teacher at Marian High School in Omaha has challenged his senior sociology class to learn about homelessness by spending a night in a car.

Teacher Tom Baker’s assignment is part of the homelessness and poverty unit in his class. Baker says it was a way for students to experience the reality of being homeless on a regular basis in a simplistic way.

Baker’s students were allowed to sleep in cars in their garage or driveways and have their phones or car alarm in case of an emergency, as well as a pillow, blanket and water. They were urged not to turn on the heat or air conditioning. Students had a two-week window in October to compete the assignment.

Students had to write a reflection paper about their experience and there was a class discussion after the assignment.

Man Sought in Fatal Shootings at Northwest Omaha Apartments

Dontevious Loyd
Dontevious Loyd

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police have identified a suspect in the fatal shooting of a 2-year-old girl and a woman and the wounding of three other women at a northwest Omaha apartment.

Omaha police said Monday that 23-year-old Dontevous Loyd is being sought on a warrant that lists two counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and six weapons counts. No arrest has been reported. It’s unclear whether Loyd has an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

Police say the five people were shot around 11 p.m. Sunday. Authorities say 2-year-old Kenacia Amerson-Straughn and 22-year-old Destacia Straughn were pronounced dead at the scene. Eighteen-year-old Jamie Latner, 21-year-old Larrion Williams and 22-year-old Kachelle Roby were taken to Omaha hospitals for treatment.

2 Teens Arrested After Omaha Police Stop Carjacked Vehicle

handcuffsOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two teenagers have been arrested after Omaha police stopped a vehicle that had been carjacked.

A 42-year-old woman reported that her vehicle had been stolen from her at gunpoint around 10:40 p.m. Saturday. Police say the vehicle was spotted around 2:15 a.m. Sunday and pulled over.

Police say a 17-year-old ran from the vehicle but was soon captured. The 16-year-old at the wheel and a 16-year-old passenger did not try to flee.

Police say one the teens was arrested on a theft charge, one was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant and for obstruction of a police officer. The third teen was released.

 

 

2 New Cameras to Help Monitor Nebraska Highway Conditions

icy-ne-roadAURORA, Neb. (AP) — Construction is scheduled to begin this week on video camera towers near Aurora in south-central Nebraska.

The Roads Department says the cameras installed on each will be added to others on the system that monitors highway conditions throughout the state.

One tower will be situated along Interstate 80 at the O Road overpass. The other will be built where Nebraska Highway 14 crosses the interstate. Minor shoulder closures will occur during the project, which is expected to be finished this month.

Northwest Omaha Shooting Leaves 2 Dead, 3 Critically Wounded

crime-scene-police-shootOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police are investigating a shooting that killed a 2-year-old girl and 22-year-old woman and critically injured three other women in northwest Omaha.

Officer Michael Pecha says the victims were shot in an apartment complex around 11 p.m. Sunday.

The victims who were alive when firefighters arrived were taken to two local hospitals. The others were determined to be dead on the scene.

Police had not released the victims’ names Monday morning. The critically wounded women are 18-, 21- and 22-years-old.

Police did not announce an arrest early Monday.

This is Omaha’s sixth double homicide of the year. There has been one triple homicide.

Bellevue Police Investigating After Backpack Full of Ammo Found

bellevue-police-patchBELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Police in the Omaha suburb of Bellevue are investigating after an elementary school employee found a weathered backpack on school grounds full of ammunition.

Bellevue police called on the Omaha Police Department’s bomb squad for help, which X-rayed the bag.

Police say the backpack, which was found Thursday under brush by a fence at Bellaire Elementary School, contained 107 rounds of ammunition. The ammo included .38 caliber, .44 caliber and .308 caliber shotgun shells.

Police say the ammunition appeared to be weathered, and it was unclear how long the bag had been there.

Competency of Nebraska Man Charged in Stabbing Death in Question

Bayapa Lingala
Bayapa Lingala

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Doctors treating a man found incompetent last year to stand trial for the stabbing death of his son-in-law say the 78-year-old man is unlikely to become competent again.

Police say Bayapa Lingala stabbed 46-year-old Sujay Nooka on Aug. 5, 2014 at a birthday party for Nooka’s daughter.

Doctors treating Lingala this year initially found that he could understand the charges against him after he was given medication for a mental illness. But now, the doctors said Lingala suffers from dementia and significant memory impairment and is no longer competent to stand trial.

The doctors’ latest conclusion could lead to Lingala’s civil commitment or, potentially, his release.

Prosecutors have asked for a delay in Lingala’s upcoming competency to get another opinion.

Judge Throws Out Lawsuit Challenging Nebraska Pipeline Law

gavelOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A judge has thrown out a lawsuit challenging a Nebraska law that allowed a Canadian oil company to obtain the Nebraska governor’s approval for its Keystone XL pipeline route through the state.

Holt County District Judge Mark Kozisek tossed the lawsuit on Friday, agreeing with TransCanada’s argument that the issue was rendered moot by the company’s decision to abandon plans to move forward on the project.

That means the law will remain on Nebraska’s books, for now.

The landowners who filed the suit had urged the judge to allow them to proceed, suggesting that TransCanada or another company could try to use the law to get a governor’s approval for another pipeline at some point in the future.

Omaha Police Make Arrest in June Beating Death

Jail-Bars-and-Cuffs_mediumOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say a man already being held in jail on separate charges has been arrested on suspicion of the June beating death of a homeless man in Omaha.

Police say 42-year-old Kak Thoan was booked Friday on suspicion of homicide and a use of deadly weapon. Police believe Thoan bludgeoned 54-year-old Timothy Rasmussen, whose body was found on a street on June 20. Police have not said what they believe was used to beat Rasmussen.

Thoan has been held in the Douglas County jail since June 23 on separate charges of first-degree assault and robbery in the beating of another homeless man. Police say Thoan was also homeless at the time of his arrest.

A call to Thoan’s public defender seeking comment was not immediately returned Saturday.

Omaha Police Association to Hold ‘Shop with a Cop’ Event

omaha-policeOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha police union, retail giant and homeless shelter are partnering to offer a shopping spree that will give presents to children and their families this holiday season.

The Omaha Police Officers’ Association will partner with Walmart and the Open Door Mission to hold “Shop with a Cop” on Thursday.

The annual event pairs 50 children from the Open Door Mission with uniformed officers to go on a holiday shopping spree.

Children will arrive at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Omaha Police Officers’ Association Hall, where they will be paired with an officer. They will then shop at two Walmart stores in the Omaha-metro area.

After shopping, everyone will return to the hall for dinner and a party with Santa.

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