LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say a Nebraska party goer who passed out in a limousine bus’ bathroom later drove the 40-foot-long vehicle home, but left his wallet behind – in a pair of jeans. Lincoln police say the $80,000 bus was found a few blocks from Steven Hunter’s home Saturday afternoon. Capt. David Biggs says the 30-year-old doesn’t remember driving the bus. He’s charged with criminal mischief and unauthorized vehicle use. Police say Hunter was likely asleep when the bus was taken back to Leisure Limousine Service around 3:30 a.m. Investigators believe that when he woke up, he realized the doors were locked, saw the keys and drove home. The jeans were found in the bathroom. A phone number for Hunter’s address couldn’t be found Monday. Online court records didn’t list an attorney.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska Medicaid has refunded nearly $169,000 to the federal government after an audit found improper billing for personal care services.  A federal audit released last month found the state agency
improperly claimed an estimated $275,000 in Medicaid reimbursement for personal care services over a two-and-a-half year period. Nebraska’s program is administered by the state Department of Health and Human Services. Local social service workers in more than 100 offices throughout the state approve personal care
services, such as bathing and meal-making, for disabled and low-income beneficiaries. State officials say they are correcting the errors with new filing rules and a more user-friendly, automated billing system. Department spokeswoman Kathie Osterman says the money owed was taken out of the federal government’s quarterly Medicaid payment to the state.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Heavy rain has flooded some streets and basements in far western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. Standing water blocked streets early Monday morning in Council Bluffs and across the Missouri River in Omaha, Neb. An Iowa National Guard transport truck had to be deployed to rescue around 30 children from their stranded school bus in Council Bluffs. Station KETV says the bus stalled in about 4 feet of water south of downtown Council Bluffs. The children were loaded into the truck and taken to safety. In Omaha, some streets just north of downtown were closed. No injuries or deaths have been reported.

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) – A Columbus woman has filed a $650,000 claim against Columbus Public Schools over an alleged attack on her son.   The claim sited by the Columbus Telegram says a school employee provided lax supervision as her now-16- year-old son was physically attacked while attending a wrestling camp in Denver in 2009. The claim says the teen’s head was dunked into a toilet filled with feces, among other things. Rumors of hazing after the trip contributed to the resignation of wrestling coach Tracy Dodson and the suspension of four wrestlers. Superintendent Troy Loeffeholz says the claim was forward to the district’s insurance carrier, which will decide whether to pay the
woman. If no payment is authorized, she can sue the district.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A 2-year-old girl taken from her foster home has been found in New Mexico. Lincoln police told the Journal Star that the girl was taken Friday by her biological mother during a supervised visit. She was found Saturday in Las Cruces, New Mexico and placed in protective custody until her foster parents can pick her up. Police say the 24-year-old mother was arrested at a home of a family member in Las Cruces. She’s being held Sunday in the Dona Ana County jail. A hearing is set for Friday to determine whether the girl’s biological parents should still have parental rights.

LOUISVILLE, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say no foul play is suspected in the death of a man whose charred remains were found in a burned pickup on Vencil’s Island. Sarpy County sheriff’s deputies discovered the body Saturday morning in the truck found stuck in the sand near the Platte River. The vehicle had been badly burned. Authorities believe they know the victim’s name but are awaiting an autopsy to confirm his identity.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) – An employee at the Goodwill Store in Scottsbluff is getting some good will in return. KDUH-TV in Scottsbluff says the employee was sorting donated clothes last weekend and discovered $2,000 in a jacket. Store Manager Stephanie Quick says the employee rushed into Quick’s office and turned in the money. Quick says it was added to the daily sales, which goes back to the community to help the disabled with housing and job training. Quick says the employee, who doesn’t want to be identified, will be honored for her integrity. KDUH-TV says it’s one of the largest cash-finds for Goodwill Stores in the region. The largest so far was $4,000 hidden in a donated shoe.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say the driver of a minivan died in a fiery collision with semitrailer that closed a highway for several hours near Grand Island. The accident happened early Thursday on U.S. Highway 30 just east of Alda. The Hall County sheriff’s’ office says the eastbound minivan, driven by 30-year-old James Lual of Wood River, collided with the westbound truck, which burst into flames, around 4:40 a.m. Authorities say minutes before the crash, a motorist called 911 and reported the minivan was traveling on the wrong side of the road. A deputy who was in the area discovered the accident. Lual died the scene. The truck driver wasn’t injured. The accident closed the highway for about 6 hours.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The Air Force is discharging a Nebraska man who refused to report to duty in Germany  earlier this month because he doubts President Barack Obama’s citizenship.
Staff Sgt. Daryn Moran became a hero of the so-called birther movement by sharing his views on websites of groups that believe Obama is not eligible to serve as president. However, other things contributed to the 41-year-old Moran’s discharge, including comments he made about Obama’s decision to allow gays to serve openly in the military. Moran says he’s receiving an honorable discharge, but the Air Force on Wednesday
would confirm only that he’s being discharged. Obama released a copy of his detailed birth certificate from Hawaii in April. But many birthers contend the document must be a fake.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Funeral services are scheduled for a Nebraska Army National Guard soldier who died aboard a downed helicopter in Afghanistan.
Thirty-year-old Sgt. Patrick Hamburger was among 30 Americans and eight Afghans who died Aug. 6 when a rocket-propelled grenade fired by a Taliban insurgent downed their Chinook helicopter enroute to a combat mission. Wyuka Funeral Home and Cemetery in Lincoln says Hamburger’s funeral will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Christ’s Place Church in Lincoln. Burial will be at Wyuka Cemetery. Hamburger was a flight engineer with the National Guard’s Company B, 2nd Battalion, 135th General Support Aviation unit based in Grand Island. He grew up in Lincoln and had been a member of the National Guard since 1998. He was in Afghanistan less than two weeks before his death.