GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Grand Island’s Fire Station 1 and a former Nebraska National Guard armory are two of several locations under consideration for a new 911 center.

The City Council is scheduled to meet Tuesday to consider awarding a $20,500 contract to Omaha architects to study possible 911 center locations and estimated costs.

Local emergency management director Jon Roselund says the architects will try to find at least four options. Each suggested location will have two price options, one for use as an alternate 911 center and one for a full-scale facility.

Roselund said locations that are near the city’s fiber optic corridor and are already owned by the city or the county take priority.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln residents and property owners have asked the City Council for help and future protection against another backup of raw sewage into their homes.

Residents recounted on Monday how sewage spilled from toilets, shower drains and basement floor drains in homes and apartments last Thursday. Heavy rain runoff had overwhelmed the wastewater treatment plant on Theresa Street, as it had in October, forcing the release of raw sewage.

Stephanie Sullivan says sewer water in her home was knee deep last week and told the council that, “We should not have sewer coming into our homes.”

Council members acknowledged the residents’ frustration and said city staffers will look into what the city can do to help out now and to prevent future backups.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska woman has been ordered to pay nearly $57,000 in restitution and spend a dozen consecutive weekends behind bars for filing fraudulent federal tax returns.

Federal prosecutors also say Magalita Gelin on Monday was sentenced to five years of probation that includes eight months of home confinement.

The prosecutors say that between February 2009 and August 2010, Gelin and Joshua Miles filed bogus returns for several people who went to couple’s home in Bellevue. The tax returns claimed refunds totaling more than $111,000.

Miles also has been convicted and is awaiting sentencing on June 19.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty for a Nebraska man charged with killing his mother, throwing his 5-year-old half brother in a river and leaving his 11-month-old half brother in a dumpster.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Monday that several aggravating factors exist in the case against 25-year-old Roberto Martinez-Marinero.

Authorities say Martinez-Marinero surrendered to police Thursday and said he’d stabbed his mother, 45-year-old Jesus Ismenia Marinero.

The 25-year-old man also said he’d thrown Josue Ramirez-Marinero in the Elkhorn River and put Angel Ramirez-Marinero in the dumpster.

Authorities found a body Monday that investigators believe is Josue.

Angel was found bruised but alive Wednesday in the dumpster in La Vista. His mother’s body was found Wednesday night in a southeast Omaha ditch.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say they’ve found the body of a 5-year-old boy whose adult brother is charged in the killing of their mother and whose younger brother was found alive in a dumpster.

Douglas County Sheriff Tim Dunning said Monday that Josue Ramirez-Marinero’s body has been found, but he provided no details. Authorities have been searching the Elkhorn River on the west side of Omaha since last week.

Authorities say Josue’s brother Robert Martinez-Marinero surrendered to police Thursday and said he’d stabbed his mother, 45-year-old Jesus Ismenia Marinero.

The 25-year-old man also said he’d thrown Josue in the river and put 11-month-old Angel Ramirez-Marinero in the dumpster.

Angel was found bruised but alive Wednesday in the dumpster in La Vista. His mother’s body was found Wednesday night in a southeast Omaha ditch.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Creighton University has demolished five buildings near the campus, but officials say they have no immediate plans to build on the newly vacant land.

University spokeswoman Cindy Workman said the buildings were empty and at least one was badly deteriorated. They were torn down last week and had housed mostly industrial businesses.

The school has said before that it plans to build an $82 million dental clinic to replace its aging, smaller space next to the Creighton University Medical Center. It’s seeking $8 million from the Nebraska Legislature to help pay for the building.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a driver died after his car rammed a traffic signal pole in northeast Lincoln.

The accident occurred a little before 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Police Capt. Danny Reitan says the roadway was wet from rain, but it’s uncertain whether weather played a role in the crash.

The man was alone in his car. His name hasn’t been released, pending notification of relatives.

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska corrections officials believe other inmates likely killed two prisoners who died during a disturbance at a maximum security prison in southeast Nebraska.

State Corrections Director Scott Frakes didn’t provide many details about the deaths that were discovered Monday as officials regained control of the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. Frakes said the deaths are still being investigated.

Speaking at a news conference, Frakes said 100 to 200 of the roughly 1,000 inmates at the prison were involved in the disturbance that began Sunday afternoon in front of a housing unit at the prison about 60 miles southwest of Lincoln.

Two prison staffers were assaulted in the initial disturbance. Frakes says one inmate was shot in the leg by a tower guard, and another inmate was injured by a rubber projectile.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A warrant has been issued for a man being sought in the stabbing death of a 31-year-old Omaha resident.

Omaha police say 37-year-old Juan Manuel Martinez is charged in the warrant with second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony. No arrest has been reported.

Police say officers sent to a southeast Omaha residence about 1:30 a.m. Sunday found David Silva-Avalos, who died at the scene.

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prison officials say two staff members were assaulted and two inmates have been injured in an ongoing disturbance at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.

A press release from a Department of Correctional Services spokesman says the incident started Sunday afternoon. When staff members attempted to disperse a gathering of inmates in front of a housing unit, two workers were assaulted and one inmate was shot.

The statement says other incidents then took place in “multiple housing units,” resulting in small fires and property damage. A second inmate was injured.

The statement says the exterior of the facility is secured, and staff members are working to secure “all areas.” All workers are accounted for.

The statement gives no further details. Corrections department representatives couldn’t immediately be reached.

The Lincoln Journal-Star reports smoke rose from two housing units late Sunday.