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Nebraska town wants to turn old school into museum

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NELIGH, Neb. (AP) — Some residents in a northeast Nebraska area want to move an aging school building to town so it can be used to tell the story of a time that’s gone but not totally forgotten.

Former students of Clearwater have mounted a campaign to raise the money needed to turn the century-old building into a museum in downtown Neligh (NEE’-lee).

Preliminary estimates are around $120,000 to move the building and make it functional. It will be located in Neligh’s museum complex next to the pioneer church along Highway 275, and close to the Pierson Wildlife Museum Learning Center.

The residents have been approved for a grant to help restore the facade and replace the roof, which has to be done by late summer next year.

Nebraska authorities arrest 2 after chase with shots fired

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska authorities have arrested two men accused of fleeing from an attempted traffic stop and firing several shots at sheriff’s deputies.

The Nebraska State Patrol says 38-year-old Douglas Burke of Clarks and 25-year-old Derek Hobbs of Omaha were apprehended over the weekend after a chase in Polk County.

Authorities say they drove away when a Polk County sheriff’s deputy tried to stop them Saturday night because their license plates did not match their vehicle. They say the vehicle’s passenger fired several rounds at deputies and struck a patrol car.

Authorities say the vehicle went into a ditch, and two people fled on food. Burke, the driver, surrendered to authorities shortly thereafter, and Hobbs was found in a cornfield early Sunday morning.

Authorities say they’re determining which charges to file.

Number stricken in Nebraska salmonella outbreak rises to 22

WEST POINT, Neb. (AP) — Health officials say the number of people stricken in a northeastern Nebraska salmonella outbreak has risen to 22.

The Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department says there have been 22 confirmed cases and six probable cases. The confirmed cases are up from 20 on Thursday.

The source of the outbreak hasn’t been confirmed, but the department says investigators have found that all of the people stricken ate at Red Door Coffee in West Point. The department says the Red Door’s owners and staffers are cooperating with investigators.

Medical experts say salmonella is caused by bacteria that live in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals. It usually is spread by eating contaminated food. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea and stomach cramps.

City leaders to look at Lincoln’s transportation future

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Community and business leaders are looking at Lincoln’s long-range transportation plan to find new ideas to address street needs.

The Citizens’ Transportation Coalition announced Thursday that the group of 25 leaders will make recommendations in January to Mayor Chris Beutler on Lincoln’s future transportation system and how it should be funded.

The coalition will look at the current and future street system. It’ll focus on five specific issues: preservation and expansion, maintenance, quality of life, investment costs and funding methods.

Burns & McDonnell consultant Danny Rotert says the coalition will have to balance maintenance needs in older parts of town with the need for growth on the edges of town.

The monthly coalition meetings and information available to coalition members will be open to the public.

Nebraska high court affirms Omaha man’s murder conviction

Anthony Burries

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court says a lower court erred in the way it admitted evidence in the first-degree murder trial of a man who bludgeoned a woman to death, but says the error was harmless.

The Friday ruling upheld the 2015 conviction of 45-year-old Anthony Burries, who is serving life in prison for the 2014 death of 38-year-old Tina Hoult.

In his appeal, Burries argued — among other things — that the trial judge wrongly admitted into evidence a threatening letter he sent to a woman set to testify for the prosecution in his trial.

The state’s high court agreed that the letter could be allowed as evidence, but said the judge failed to instruct the jury to consider only whether it showed Burries’ consciousness of guilt.

Toxic algae blooms put lake near Lincoln under health alert

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State officials have issued a health alert for Pawnee Lake just west of Lincoln.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said Friday that testing of the lake earlier this week detected toxin levels produced by blue-green algal blooms.

Visitors to the lake should avoid full body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing and jet skiing. Non-contact activities such as boating, fishing and camping should be safe. People are urged to keep pets out of the water and not allow them to drink lake water.

Skin exposed to the toxin can develop rashes and blisters. Ingesting the toxin can cause headaches, nausea and muscular pain.

Swan Creek Lake in Saline County also remains under a health alert.

Health officials investigating Nebraska salmonella outbreak

WEST POINT, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are investigating an outbreak of salmonella in northeast Nebraska.

Officials say 15 cases in West Point have been confirmed. Six more are suspected.

The source of the outbreak hasn’t been confirmed. Medical experts say salmonella is caused by bacteria that live in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals. It is usually spread by eating contaminated food, including beef, poultry, milk, eggs and vegetables. Thorough cooking kills salmonella.

Symptoms include fever, diarrhea and stomach cramps.

Lincoln officer unhurt as concrete chunk strikes windshield

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police say someone tossed a chunk of concrete at a police cruiser on patrol in Lincoln, cracking its windshield.

Police spokeswoman Angela Sands says the marked cruiser was struck by several objects around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, but the lone officer inside wasn’t injured. The officer pulled over and took cover until another officer arrived to help.

They soon found a baseball-size chunk of concrete but not the person who tossed it.

It’s not clear whether the cruiser was specifically targeted. Sands says the attack is similar to three other incidents in the area in June.

Tribe warning Winnebago Hospital patients of infection risk

WINNEBAGO, Neb. (AP) — The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska is warning patients about possible exposure to serious infections when they were treated at the podiatry clinic at the Winnebago Hospital in Winnebago.

A tribe news release says that, between April 17 and June 2, a podiatry instrument may not have been properly sterilized between patients. That may have raised their risk of exposure to HIV and hepatitis B and C. Indian Health Service officials are not aware of any infected patients.

The release says that, so far, 35 patients have been recommended for testing. Tribal Chairman Frank White says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reviewing the situation.

Man gets probation for trying to rob bank from drive-thru

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man has been given four years of probation for trying to rob a bank branch from a drive-thru lane.

58-year-old James Fitzsimmons was sentenced Wednesday. Court records say he also was fined $2,500. He’d pleaded no contest to a bomb threat, terroristic threats and attempted theft.

Authorities say Fitzsimmons passed a note to a drive-thru teller at a U.S. Bank branch in Lincoln on July 29, 2016. The note said there were gunmen inside the bank as well as bombs that could be remotely detonated.

He left without getting any money. No bomb or gunmen was found in the building.

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