We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Omaha police arrest suspect in convenience store slaying

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have arrested a man suspected of fatally shooting someone at an east Omaha convenience store.

Omaha police said Tuesday that officers have arrested 37-year-old Antwan Lovejoy on charges of first-degree murder and two weapons crimes. Douglas County Court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.

Officers sent around 6 a.m. Sunday to investigate a report of shots fired found the wounded man between gas pumps at the store. Police say 27-year-old Andrew Peek died later at Nebraska Medical Center.

Lincoln diocese priest removed from ministry at Davey

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Another Roman Catholic priest in the Lincoln diocese has been removed from the ministry amid accusations of inappropriate relationships.

Lincoln Bishop James Conley announced over the past weekend that he had replaced the Rev. Patrick Barvick as pastor at St. Mary’s in Davey.

In a written statement, Conley says he had instructed Barvick “not to be alone with females. His behavior concerns me and the Diocesan Review Board.” Neither Conley nor a diocese spokesman, the Rev. Nicholas Kipper, would elaborate on the behavior Conley referenced. Kipper declined to say where Barvick has been moved.

Last week, Conley announced he had removed another priest, the Rev. Charles Townsend, as pastor of St. Peter’s Catholic Church for “an emotionally inappropriate, nonsexual” relationship with a 19-year-old man.

Nebraska court: County, not city, owes inmate medical bill

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Court of Appeals reversed Tuesday a lower court’s ruling that sided with Chase County over the city of Imperial in a fight over which was responsible for the hospital bill of a jail inmate.

The appeals court said the judge got it wrong when he ruled that the city owed a more than $400 hospital bill for a man who had been taken there at the request of Chase County Jail officials for evaluation after being arrested Christmas Eve 2016 by an Imperial police officer.

The man had been arrested on suspicion of disturbing the peace. Officials said that upon his arrival at the jail, he was intoxicated and uncooperative. A jail employee then asked the arresting officer to take the man to the hospital to be checked out.

After being evaluated at the hospital, the arrested man was medically cleared and taken back to the jail.

Later, the hospital presented both the county and city with a $436 bill for the evaluation and each entity denied payment, claiming the other was responsible. The southwestern Nebraska county filed a complaint with the Chase County District Court seeking a declaratory judgment as to who should pay the bill.

The city of Imperial appealed after the judge found it should pay.

The appeals court on Tuesday said Nebraska law makes clear that medical services necessitated by injuries suffered during an arrest are chargeable to the arresting agency. In all other cases, the agency housing the prisoner is responsible.

“It is undisputed that the arrestee in the present case did not require medical services because of an injury or wound suffered during the course of his arrest,” Judge Francie Riedmann wrote for the appeals court.

The appeals court also rejected the county’s argument that responsibility to pay medical costs comes only after the booking process into the jail has been completed.

“Application of the county’s argument would allow the County to circumvent payment for medical services for any person who is arrested, detained, or taken into custody by requiring medical services for that individual prior to completing the booking process,” the appeals ruling read.

Attorneys for the county and the city did not immediately return phone messages left Tuesday seeking comment.

Officials ID man killed in 3-vehicle crash near Papillion

PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say an Iowa man died after his car collided with two other vehicles at an intersection near an Omaha suburb.

The crash occurred about 4:30 p.m. Monday just south of Papillion.

The Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office says a car driven by 63-year-old Kevin Lingren, of Malvern, Iowa, was attempting to turn left when it was hit by a northbound sport utility vehicle. A third vehicle was also hit in the collision.

Lingren was pronounced dead at the scene. The two other drivers, both from Nebraska, were not injured.

Mountain lion killed north of Hay Springs 

File Image

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Game and Parks Commission officials have confirmed that a female mountain lion was killed by a landowner north of Hay Springs in Sheridan County for depredating poultry.

The landowner observed the mountain lion killing his chickens, shot and killed the 10- to 12-month-old mountain lion, and immediately reported to Game and Parks in accordance with state law.

Staff wildlife and law enforcement officials collected the carcass.

“State law allows livestock owners to kill a mountain lion immediately if it is in the process of stalking, killing, or consuming livestock on their property,” said Sam Wilson, carnivore program manager for the Commission.

This is the fifth confirmed case of livestock depredation in Nebraska by a mountain lion since the species’ confirmed presence in the state in 1991. In addition to the latest case, the confirmations consist of a calf in Blaine County in 2014, a calf in Sheridan County in 2017, two goats in Dawes County in 2017, and one goat in Dawes County last month.

In June, Game and Parks commissioners approved a hunting season for mountain lions in the Pine Ridge that aims to lower mountain lion densities – a response to public concerns and Commission research. The season is scheduled Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2019.

More information about mountain lions in Nebraska may be found at outdoornebraska.org/mountainlions.

Couple accused of keeping food from sons, sitting on them

EMERSON, Neb. (AP) – Parents of two teenage boys in northeast Nebraska have been accused of locking cupboards and a refrigerator to keep their sons from eating snacks and sitting on the boys as punishment.

Dakota County Court records say 41-year-old Blaine Busker and his 38-year-old wife, Donella Busker, are both charged with two misdemeanor counts of child abuse. Court records don’t list the names of attorneys who could comment for them. A phone listed for Blaine Busker in Emerson was not working Tuesday. A phone listed for Donella Busker rang busy during several calls from The Associated Press.

A court document says the boys were allowed to wash their clothes only once a week and allowed to shower only every other day. The parents padlocked the bathroom that had the home’s only shower.

Man dies after pickup-SUV collision in northeast Nebraska

MADISON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 74-year-old driver died at a hospital after his pickup truck collided with a sport utility vehicle in northeast Nebraska.

The accident occurred around 4:15 p.m. Sunday at a U.S. Highway 81 intersection, less than a mile northeast of Madison.

Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy Tim Kruid says Ron Schroeder was turning left onto the highway when the SUV hit his pickup on the driver’s side. The SUV was being driven by 75-year-old Loran Naber.

Schroeder, Naber and three people in Naber’s SUV were taken to a Norfolk hospital, where Schroeder was pronounced dead. He lived in Madison.

Construction worker dies after steel grate falls on him

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A construction worker has died after a steel grate fell on him in northeast Lincoln.

Police Officer Angela Sands says the worker died Monday morning around 11:30 after a steel grate that was being used to separate different materials tipped over.

The man’s name wasn’t immediately released Monday.

Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate the incident.

Police say man died at hospital after Omaha shooting

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man died at a hospital after being shot in east Omaha.

Officers sent around 6 a.m. Sunday to investigate a report of shots fired found the man between gas pumps at a convenience store.

Police say he was taken to Nebraska Medical Center, where he died. He’s been identified as 27-year-old Andrew Peek.

No arrests have been reported.

Bat found in Omaha neighborhood tests positive for rabies

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Health officials in Omaha say a bat found in the Dundee neighborhood has tested positive for rabies.

The Douglas County Health Department and Nebraska Humane Society say the bat was found earlier this week.

Officials say it’s approaching the time of year when bats begin to seek shelter in homes to keep warm at night.

Rabies is a viral disease transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal that affects people. It is almost always fatal if not treated before symptoms appear.

Symptoms in animals include general sickness, swallowing problems and excessive drooling, slow and unusual movement, no apparent fear of humans and aggression.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File