OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A federal court has granted a motion to end special federal oversight of the Beatrice State Developmental Center.

The center for developmentally disabled people had been under federal scrutiny since 2006 because of its failure to meet care standards and following a U.S. Justice Department investigation that found about 200 cases of alleged neglect and abuse.

The state and federal government agreed in a 2008 settlement on a plan to fix the center’s problems.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf granted a joint motion by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to terminate the settlement and lift federal oversight of the center.

Nebraska DHHS CEO Courtney Phillips says she’s pleased federal officials recognize “the progress that has been made.”

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A lightning strike has forced officials to close the Columbus Aquatic Center for a day.

The building was hit around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. Aquatics manager Brook Tomka says the building wasn’t damaged, but the power surge caused problems with some of the equipment, including the pump system, lights and phone.

The pump system already is back up and running, but the center will remain closed for the day as other systems are checked thoroughly and repaired as needed.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man has surrendered without incident after a standoff with Omaha officers.

Officers were first sent to the north-central Omaha home around 1 a.m. Tuesday to check a call about domestic violence. A woman had run from the home to a neighbor’s house, leaving behind the man and a 2-year-old child.

A SWAT team was called in to handle the possible hostage situation, and officers used a bullhorn and cellphone in trying to persuade the man to come outside.

He was arrested after leaving the home. His name hasn’t been released.

No injuries to the woman or child have been reported.

INTERIOR, S.D. (AP) — Authorities have suspended the search for a Nebraska man missing for nearly a month in Badlands National Park in southwestern South Dakota.

Thirty-nine-year-old Joshua Jacobsen, of Laurel, Nebraska, is believed to have entered the park on July 12. His vehicle was found in a campground on July 17.

Dozens of officials from several agencies including the South Dakota National Guard have since searched for Jacobsen in a helicopter and on the ground, using dogs.

Chief Ranger Casey Osback says no signs of Jacobsen have been found. He says the search has been suspended but the investigation remains open.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 49-year-old man has been charged for the western Iowa crash death of a University of Nebraska assistant soccer coach.

Iowa online court records say Paul Marshall, of Modale, is charged with vehicular homicide while operating under the influence. Authorities say the fatal collision occurred on May 16, when Marshall drove west on a ramp and entered the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 in Cass County. Prosecutors say Marshall’s vehicle then struck one driven by Peter Underwood, who died at the scene.

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

The 31-year-old Underwood was on a recruiting trip near Atlantic, Iowa. Underwood was a native of London, England, and had coached at the University of Montana and at Marshall.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A competency evaluation has been ordered for a Lincoln man accused of forcing his girlfriend into a “slave contract.”

Judge Stephanie Stacy stopped a hearing on Monday at which 36-year-old Nicholas Talbot was expected to enter a plea in a deal with prosecutors. Talbot is charged with domestic assault. Court documents say Talbot forced his 32-year-old girlfriend to sign the contract, subjecting her to sexual acts and abuses that included making her drink his urine.

The woman told investigators that she signed the document on Jan. 15 and four days later told her pastor and another woman that Talbot hurt her.

Talbot told the judge that he had hallucinated Monday morning and that he is bipolar and suffers from severe depression.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 47-year-old woman has died after a rollover crash in north Omaha.

According to Omaha police, Penny Hunt-Deyo died Monday evening. Police say Hunt-Deyo was on Sorensen Parkway when her vehicle struck another vehicle, lost control and then hit a median. Hunt-Deyo’s car rolled onto its side and she was ejected from the vehicle.

The victim was transported to a local hospital, where she later died. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured.

Authorities said Hunt-Deyo was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the incident.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Lincoln City Council has banned flying lanterns from sale or use in the city.

The council voted unanimously for the ban at its meeting Monday.

The fire department has reported numerous fires over the past few years started by the flying lanterns, which are small paper air balloons powered by a flame. Public Safety Director Tom Casady has called them “flying bags of fire.”

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska woman’s six backyard chickens have ruffled her neighbors, who want a judge to force her to immediately get rid of the birds.

Stacy Williams has chicken coops, a compost pile and a fruit and vegetable garden in her backyard. Her Trendwood neighbors, Bradley A. and Lynn M. Perry, are suing her over the animals, and their attorney says they’re concerned about property values.

The Trendwood neighborhood has covenants that bar homeowners from raising livestock.

But in 1969, Trendwood was annexed by Omaha. The city’s ordinance allows backyard chickens so long as the prospective chicken owner gets a county permit.

Williams got her permit last year. She said she’ll fight for her chickens, largely because her son loves them.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — President Barack Obama’s effort to cut greenhouse gases from U.S. power plants is drawing praise from a leading Nebraska environmental group, but an Omaha-based think tank is urging state officials to fight the plan.

The group Bold Nebraska on Monday hailed the federal Clean Power Plan as a “flexible, common-sense rule” that will reduce carbon pollution. The group says it’s working to mobilize the public for hearings on Nebraska’s state plan to comply with the rule.

The Platte Institute for Economic Research argued in a report Monday that the plan would hurt the state economy without having much direct impact on global climate emissions. The group argues that Nebraska relies heavily on coal, and the state’s electric utilities have a legal mandate to provide low-cost and reliable public power.