OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A northeast Nebraska man who already has paid nearly $202,000 in restitution has been given six months of home confinement for cheating on his federal income taxes.

68-year-old Robert Morris, of Laurel, also was sentenced on Friday to a day in custody and 100 hours of community and fined $40,000.

Prosecutors say that from 2007 through 2012, Morris underreported a total of more than $1 million in income on his federal tax returns, resulting in avoidance of federal income taxes totaling nearly $202,000.

U.S. District Judge John Gerrard cited Morris’ poor health for not sending him to prison.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 54-year-old Iowa man has been killed in a three-vehicle collision in south Omaha.

The accident occurred a little before 11 a.m. Sunday. Omaha police say a northbound sedan struck the northbound motorcycle and then both struck the rear of another northbound vehicle.

Police say the motorcyclist died at the scene. He was identified as Gregory Balcom, of Council Bluffs, Iowa. The sedan driver was hospitalized. He was identified as 55-year-old Timothy Harden, of Bellevue. The remaining driver was identified as 33-year-old Angela Hjorth, of Plattsmouth. She and her 18-month-old child were not injured.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State regulators are concerned that a new digital phone and Internet provider won’t be able to provide reliable 911 service during a disaster.

The Nebraska Public Service Commission is concerned about Rise Broadband’s service that’s being offered near Columbus and St. Libory, Nebraska.

The company uses a fixed wireless service that antennae to beam signals between locations.

The commission’s Gene Hand says that approach makes the service potentially vulnerable to power outages, Internet congestion or even radio interference.

But Damon Estep, senior vice president for technology at the company that owns Rise, says its service is just as reliable as normal landline phone service.

Rise is receiving $16.9 million in federal funding to expand broadband and voice service in rural areas of five states.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The family of a Peru State College student who disappeared nearly five years ago is still struggling to accept her presumed death and the lack of prosecution in the case.

La Tanya Thomas said she’s frustrated that authorities have never filed charges against anyone in the disappearance of her 19-year-old daughter, Tyler Thomas.

The family is also pursuing a lawsuit against the college in state court for ignoring warnings that fellow student Joshua Keadle was a possible threat to women at the college.

Keadle is now serving a prison sentence for a 2008 rape.

Nemaha County Sheriff Brent Lottman says he considers this an open case, and investigators follow up on any new leads that come up.

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A software company’s new $32.2 million seven-story headquarters being planned in Lincoln will receive $6.6 million in public money.

Most of the public support for Hudl’s project announced earlier this year will come in the form of tax increment financing.

Hudl makes video-editing software for sports teams and has nearly 300 employees. Hudl will occupy the top four floors while Nelnet, which holds a major stake in Hudl, will have some offices on the second floor.

The public money will help pay for a plaza outside the office building in the Haymarket and a skywalk connecting to an existing parking garage.

Hudl has pledged to hire 300 new employees within three years, and it predicts those jobs will pay an average of $60,000 annually.

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — A northeast Nebraska hospital has parted ways with two of its top doctors who voiced concerns about the facility.

Dr. Chris Price and Dr. Joe Metcalf are no longer associated with Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk. Price resigned and Metcalf was fired.

Both doctors say they believe they lost their positions because they spoke out about patient care and hospital governance.

Hospital officials declined to comment on the personnel changes.

Price had been chief of the medical staff and anesthesiology medical director at the hospital. He had been at the Norfolk hospital since 2003.

Metcalf was medical director of the hospital’s child advocacy center, director of palliative care and director of best practices. He had worked at Faith Regional since 1996.

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — A fire destroyed a building in Hastings, a firefighter was hurt while working to extinguish the blaze.

The Friday afternoon fire destroyed a metal building that stored items for Korky Lightner Auction.

Hastings Fire Chief Kent Gilbert says the injured firefighter suffered a heat-related illness but is expected to recover.

Firefighters arrived less than five minutes after the fire was reported, but the metal building was already starting to collapse when they arrived.

The value of the building was estimated at $67,000 and its contents were worth roughly $45,000.

Two neighboring businesses also suffered some exterior damage, but the fire didn’t reach the inside of either T&M Used Appliances or T&M Self Storage.

DEWITT, Neb. (AP) — After flooding forced evacuations this spring, DeWitt has purchased a system to be able to notify residents about future threats.

The notification system should give residents more time to evacuate the time. The system will also be used by Tri-County Public Schools.

DeWitt Village Clerk Lynne Parde says officials had a hard time contacting residents during the May flooding. The new system should help.

Residents can learn more about the system Sunday at a community appreciation event that features a free lunch, CPR classes and advice about emergency preparedness.

Parde says most of the storm damage has been repaired in DeWitt, but roughly 25 homes still have significant basement damage.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Among those collecting a diploma from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this weekend will be 87-year-old Jean Kops.

She’s has been waiting for that diploma for a while, having started her college career in 1945 at Nebraska’s Teacher’s College as Jean Mavie. She got two years under her belt before leaving to marry Lyle Kops in her hometown of Bassett.

There, they raised five daughters. Both talked about going back to college and finishing their degrees. When Lyle died in 2011, Jean began to seriously contemplate finishing her studies, and her family was supportive. After getting As in a couple of online classes, Jean moved to Lincoln to get her degree.

On Saturday she’ll walk across the stage at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln and receive her bachelor’s degree.