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Ricketts Announces Naming of Young Wallaby at Lincoln Zoo

lincoln-childrens-zooLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts’ family has chosen the name “Penelope” for a young wallaby at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.

The governor announced the name Monday as part of a statewide naming contest that drew more than 140 submissions.

Tammar wallabies are native to South Australia. Penelope is one of 11 at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.

The winning name was selected by the governor’s family, including first lady Susanne Shore and their three children, Roscoe, Margot and Eleanor.

The governor’s office says the name was suggested by Beau Labedz of Omaha and Emma Brandt of Kearney.

Omaha Man Shot by Deputy Has Died

officer-involved-shootingOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says a man who was shot during a confrontation with deputies in west Omaha has died.

The Sheriff’s Office said in news release Monday that 32-year-old Taylor Culbertson died around 10:15 a.m. Sunday. He’d been hospitalized since being shot in a parking lot of convenience store on June 23.

Officials say Deputy Chad Miller ordered Culbertson out of his vehicle that morning after Miller was told by a store clerk that Culbertson seemed to be intoxicated. Officials say Culbertson pulled a gun, which went off as he and Miller struggled over it. Deputy Wade Grim, who had arrived to back up Miller, then shot Culbertson. Neither deputy was injured.

An autopsy on Culbertson’s body has been ordered.

Woman Dies in Crash South of Lincoln

lancaster-county-sheriffLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 59-year-old woman has been killed in a rollover crash just south of Lincoln.

The crash occurred around 10:25 a.m. Sunday on Saltillo Road. The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office says Michele Ferretti, of Crete, was driving east when her vehicle left the roadway and rolled, coming to rest on its top. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash cause is being investigated. Deputies say they don’t suspect Ferretti had been drinking alcohol or speeding.

Driver Killed in Dodge County Collision

dodge-county-sheriffNORTH BEND, Neb. (AP) — Dodge County authorities say a 19-year-old car driver has been killed in a collision with a pickup.

The accident was reported a little after 1:30 p.m. Sunday on U.S. Highway 30, about two miles west of North Bend. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Monday that the westbound car crossed into oncoming traffic and rammed into the eastbound pickup.

The car driver died at the scene. The Sheriff’s Office identified him as Miguel Manriquez, of Schuyler. The pickup driver was flown to an Omaha hospital for treatment and was identified as Laurel Rieck, of Omaha.

The Sheriff’s Office suspects Manriquez had been drinking alcohol.

Driver Dies at Hospital After Omaha Crash

ambulance-lightsOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 47-year-old Omaha resident has died in a hospital after a sport utility vehicle crashed.

The accident occurred a little before 8:30 p.m. Sunday in northeast Omaha. Witnesses told police the SUV made several lane changes before striking a curb and leaving the roadway. It struck a light pole and then rolled.

Police say the driver died soon after arriving at an Omaha hospital. The driver was identified as Kamila Wayne.

Diet Pepsi Gets Rid of Aspartame, But Will Customers Return?

diet-pepsiNEW YORK (AP) — A revamped Diet Pepsi without aspartame is popping up on store shelves. So will people start flocking back to the soda?

PepsiCo says its new Diet Pepsi should be available nationally this week. In response to customer feedback, the company said earlier this year that it would replace the aspartame in the drink with another artificial sweetener that has less baggage.

Now, the rollout of aspartame-free Diet Pepsi will test the theory that the sweetener is to blame for fleeing customers, or if other issues might be at play.

Other diet sodas that still have aspartame include Diet Coke, Diet Dr Pepper and Fanta Zero.

Nebraskan Arrested After Fatal Iowa Crash, Police Say

fatal-accidentSIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 29-year-old Nebraska man has been charged in connection with a fatal accident in northwest Iowa.

Sioux City police say the accident occurred around 3:15 p.m. Saturday, when a man and his wife stopped to check on a driver slumped behind the wheel of a pickup that was sitting in the roadway.

They awoke the driver, who started to speed away. But police say a trailer being pulled by the pickup ran over the man, fatally injuring him. The man’s name hasn’t been released.

The pickup driver was arrested later Saturday in Plymouth County. He was identified as Dustin Suppi, of South Sioux City, Nebraska. He’s charged with leaving the accident scene.

Court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could be contacted to comment on Suppi’s behalf.

2 Omaha Police Officers Injured in Collision

omaha-policeOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say two Omaha police officers have been taken to the hospital after a car crash.

According to police, a police cruiser was transporting multiple suspects to the Douglas County Department of Corrections Sunday night when it was struck on the driver’s side by a Pontiac Grand Prix. Authorities say the 24-year-old woman driving the vehicle ran a red light.

Officials say officers Scott Richter and Brian Korth and at least one suspect in the cruiser were treated at the Nebraska Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening and were released.

An investigation is pending.

South Dakota Father, Son Injured in Nebraska Plane Crash

plane-crashHARTINGTON, Neb. (AP) — A father and son from South Dakota were injured after their single-engine plane crashed in a northeast Nebraska farm field.

The Cedar County, Nebraska sheriff’s office says 56-year-old Ronald Feimer and 16-year-old Alan Feimer of Yankton, South Dakota, were taken to a Yankton hospital after the crash Saturday afternoon.

Authorities say Ronald Feimer was flying the Cessna 172G aircraft when it crashed near an intersection about three miles south of Yankton just before 5 p.m.

Their injuries were not disclosed, but a hospital official says they are no longer patients at the facility.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.

Omaha Police Identify Man Killed in Weekend Shooting

omaha-policeOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police have identified the victim of a deadly weekend shooting as a 19-year-old man who was shot once before.

Police say Garion X. Johnson was found just before 10 a.m. Saturday in north Omaha. Johnson was taken to CHI Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, where he died.

Police say they believe one or two suspects approached Johnson and opened fire. Johnson tried to drive away, but crashed into the garage of a nearby house.

Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers or the department’s homicide unit.

Johnson was also shot on March 21, 2012. He drove himself to the hospital, and told officers at the time that someone he didn’t know approached him and shot him in the thigh.

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