FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — A man accused of kidnapping a woman and leading police on a car chase that ended in west Omaha has been released from a hospital.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Terence Dean, of Omaha, is in custody. Additional information was not released.

Dean is accused of leading authorities on a high speed chase on Oct. 20 that began in Scribner, northwest of Omaha. Officers used spikes and eventually boxed in the car. Dean was sent to a hospital for minor injuries.

Dean faces several charges, including kidnapping, third-degree assault and flight to avoid arrest. He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 25. Online records do not list an attorney.

ASHLAND, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are trying to find out who left threatening notes on the doors of seven churches in the Ashland area in eastern Nebraska.

The messages quote a Spanish anarchist and say, “The only church that illuminates is a burning church.”

Ashland Police Chief Joe Baudler says the notes were posted sometime between Oct. 11 and 12. He declined to say more about how authorities were responding to the threats, citing an active investigation.

A pastor at Word of Hope Lutheran, one of the targeted churches, says church activity hasn’t declined. The Rev. Wilson Metz says he doesn’t know anyone who is overly concerned about the threat.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former Nebraska day care employee has pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child pornography.

Thirty-five-year-old James Klinkner took a deal with prosecutors on Monday. He pleaded guilty to two counts each of possession and distribution of child pornography. Twenty-nine other counts of possession were dismissed.

The former La Petite Academy worker was arrested after police in Bellevue received a tip from someone in Germany who said they received pornography from Klinkner.

Authorities say Klinkner had two child porn images on his computer and he had emailed them 31 times. They say the victims are not from Omaha.

Klinkner will be sentenced in January.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP)–Creighton University will soon begin offering health benefits to legally married same-sex spouses of its employees despite the objections of the local Catholic archbishop.

Creighton President Rev. Timothy Lannon announced the change Monday. He said 21 of the 28 Jesuit universities already offer similar benefits.

The Omaha World-Herald first reported the policy change Monday morning.

Lannon says Creighton continues to support the Catholic Church’s teaching about marriage.

But Lannon says the university is taking this step to meet the needs of its employees and remain competitive with other universities that already offer similar benefits.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — One of Warren Buffett’s key assistants is taking on a new role at Berkshire Hathaway as CEO of the conglomerate’s Pampered Chef subsidiary.

Berkshire said Monday 30-year-old Tracy Britt Cool will become Pampered Chef’s chief executive next month and work with Doris Christopher, who founded the Addison, Illinois, company that sells kitchen gear through direct sales.

Buffett said Cool is an ideal candidate for the job because of her work with other Berkshire subsidiaries over the past five years. Cool serves as chairwoman of four Berkshire subsidiaries.

Cool has already been working since last December as an adviser to Christopher, who will remain Pampered Chef’s chairwoman.

Berkshire is based in Omaha, Nebraska, and owns more than 80 subsidiaries in a variety of industries, including insurance, utilities, railroads, retail and manufacturing.

 

FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — A Fremont man has been sentenced to five years in prison for trying to distribute methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Gilg says 27-year-old Rodrigo Delacruz was sentenced Monday on possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. He faces four years of supervised release when he completes his prison term.

Delacruz was found in May with more than 10 grams of methamphetamine when he made contact with Fremont police at a gas station. Police say he also had a scale, drug paraphernalia and more than $1,700 in his coat.

Delacruz later told police he used and sold methamphetamine in the past.

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A new approach has flipped the conventional schoolwork structure in some Columbus Middle School classes.

Students watch lectures at home online and do their homework in class. The setup was started last school year by a teacher who used to teach sixth-grade math. This year Joni Ebel and fellow math instructor Shantelle Suiter are trying the concept.

Principal Amy Haynes says the flipped classroom model has been growing in use in districts around the nation. She says “it gets kids engaged.”

The teachers make videos of 10-15 minutes, explaining the latest lessons. Students download an app to watch the videos outside of classes and take notes and copy down problems that are explained to them. In class they do homework under the teacher’s supervision.