OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A judge has denied bail for a man charged with first-degree murder in the death of an Arizona man whose burned body was found in an eastern Nebraska field.

34-year-old Joseph Fleming was denied bond Friday. He and 29-year-old John Meyers are charged in the death of Jose Quintero.

A prosecutor said in court Friday that Quintero died from head and neck trauma after being stabbed at Fleming’s house in Omaha on Sept. 24, 2012. A witness reported seeing Fleming and Meyers with Quintero the day before he was found dead.

Prosecutors say Fleming and Meyers killed Quintero, then drove out to a secluded field to dump his body.

Sarpy County farmers found Quintero’s burned body after noticing smoke between their fields.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has affirmed the life sentence of a woman who killed her boyfriend’s 68-year-old mother in 2013.

The high court on Friday rejected 42-year-old Shelley Casterline’s appeal argument that the sentencing judge did not follow state law in sentencing her to life for her conviction of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Virginia Barone.

Investigators say the women had been arguing before Barone’s death. An autopsy shows Barone was stabbed twice in the back and 20 times in the chest and torso.

Casterline’s 24-year-old son, Andrew Casterline, was convicted of first-degree murder and other crimes in Barone’s death and also sentenced to life in prison.

WATERLOO, Neb. (AP) — A teenage girl has been taken to a hospital after being injured at a state park near Waterloo in eastern Nebraska.

Waterloo Fire & Rescue took the 16-year-old to Methodist Women’s Hospital early Friday morning.

Waterloo Fire Chief Todd Harlow told the newspaper that the girl was camping with friends at Two Rivers State Recreation Area, near one of the lakes. A friend of the girl called 911 around 1:30 a.m., fearing that the girl had entered the river and needed help.

Harlow says the boats his department deployed weren’t needed because the girl was found on a shore.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court says the state’s Department of Health and Human Services was wrong to end Medicaid benefits that had helped a woman care for her profoundly disabled daughter at home for more than a decade.

In November 2012, the department ended the benefits that provided such services as nursing and respite care for a girl listed in the ruling only at Brayden O. The department reasoned that the girl no longer met the state’s qualifications to receive care in a nursing facility, which is necessary to receive the home-care benefits.

But on Friday, the Nebraska Supreme Court sided with the girl’s mother and lawyers, who said the department failed to follow its own policies in determining whether Brayden was disabled enough to go to a nursing facility.

The Nebraska State Fair is bringing back singer, comedian and celebrity impressionist Terry Fator onSaturday, September 5, in the Heartland Events Center Arena.  Tickets are available now for $20 plus gate and fees and are available at Etix.com or at the Heartland Events Center box office.

Events and entertainment director, Chelsey Jungck says, “We’re bringing him back after his sold-out performance in 2014. There is no question that Terry was such a crowd favorite last year, that we wanted to bring him back for everyone who wants to see him again, or for the very first time.”

Fator has inked one of the largest entertainment deals in Las Vegas history with “Terry Fator:  The VOICE of Entertainment” at the Mirage Hotel and Casino after finding success in 2007 by winning America’s Got Talent.

As a ventriloquist, Fator has a cast of characters including Duggie—the annoying neighbor, Julius—the soul singer, Kani—the brother-in-law and many others.

Jungck says, “Today he tours with over 16 different puppets and performs with 100 impersonations without ever moving his mouth.  You’ll  hear Etta James, Cher, Barbra Streisand, and the two Justin’s—Timberlake and Bieber, along with his cast of sidekicks sitting on his knee.”

“A show that is family friendly – a show that makes you feel good” Jungck said, “He’s a world class talent  and we’re thrilled to have him back at the Nebraska State Fair.”

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — A 79-year-old Norfolk man has been hospitalized after being rescued from beneath a tractor.

Longin Karel was pinned by the tractor after it was struck by a car around 8:30 a.m. Thursday on U.S. Highway 275, about nine miles east of Norfolk. Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger says the westbound tractor was pulling a mower when it was hit by the westbound car. The impact caused the tractor to tip over and trap Karel.

Once freed, Karel was flown to a hospital in Sioux City, Iowa. Unger says the car driver, 21-year-old Erica Pilger, was taken to Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk for treatment of minor injuries.

The accident is being investigated.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nine public swimming pools in Lincoln will open two days later than planned because recent rain and cool temperatures have made pool water too cold for safe swimming.

The Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department made the announcement Thursday. The pools are now scheduled to open Monday for swimming. They typically open days earlier.

Officials say while the facilities will not allow swimming until then, they’ll open Saturday for registrations, sales and other requests.

The pools will be available for use through August.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The police chief of Nebraska’s largest city says an Omaha police officer killed in the line of duty was shot just above the top of her protective vest.

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer gave more details Thursday of the shooting that killed 29-year-old Officer Kerrie Orozco on Wednesday. The chief said Orozco and another officer had responded to a call for backup from officers who came under fire from the heavily-armed suspect.

Schmaderer says 26-year-old Marcus Wheeler fired on police who tried to arrest him Wednesday afternoon. Orozco and another officer soon arrived and chased after Wheeler, who turned and fired on them, too.

Orozco was hit, and died at a local hospital. Wheeler was also shot and killed. Schmaderer says Orozco did not fire her gun.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert has ordered flags in city to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Officer Kerrie Orozco, who was killed Wednesday in the line of duty.

Stothert says flags should remain at half-staff until dusk Monday on Memorial Day.

Stothert said Thursday the move is a sign of respect for Orozco and her service to the city.

The city also plans to turn lights at the Heartland of America Fountain and on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge blue beginning Thursday night through Memorial Day.

Stothert is in Florida for her son’s wedding on Friday. She will return to Omaha on Sunday, ahead of schedule, to participate in services for Orozco.