We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Colo. Theater Shooting Victims Denied Access to Evidence

Holmes(AP) — The Colorado Supreme Court has refused to allow some victims of the deadly Aurora theater shooting to obtain copies of evidence from the criminal case to use in a civil suit against the theater owner.

The court order was made public Tuesday. It contained no explanation.

James Holmes is charged with killing 12 people and injuring 70 in the 2012 attack. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. His trial has been postponed indefinitely while pretrial motions are argued.

Fourteen victims who sued Century Theatres wanted copies of evidence that was displayed in open court. The trial judge refused, saying the publicity could jeopardize Holmes’ right to a fair trial.

The victims allege Century should have taken steps to prevent the attack. The company has said it couldn’t have foreseen it.

KC Mother Pleads Guilty to Keeping Girl in Closet

gavel(AP) — A Kansas City woman has pleaded guilty to abusing her 10-year-old daughter who was found in a locked closet in 2012.

The woman entered the plea Tuesday to felony child abuse, child endangerment and assault charges. The Associated Press is not naming her to protect the child’s identity. The woman will be sentenced April 25 and prosecutors have agreed to seek a prison sentence of no more than 20 years.

The girl weighed just 32 pounds when she was found in a urine-soaked closet. She told authorities that she hadn’t been allowed to eat for days and hadn’t attended school since kindergarten.

The woman told a judge Monday she was pleading guilty because she believes the state’s case is strong enough to convict her.

Neb. Teen Denies Vehicular Homicide Charge

ne-supreme-court-gavelPAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — A 16-year-old Nebraska girl has denied a misdemeanor motor vehicle homicide charge in the death of another teenager.

The girl entered a plea of denial Monday in Sarpy County juvenile court. It’s similar to entering a not guilty plea in adult court.

The teen also faces charges of failure to yield and violation of a provisional operator’s permit. The Associated Press generally does not name juveniles charged with crimes.

Authorities say the girl was driving a Jeep on Oct. 11 when she failed to yield to a pickup and collided with it. Both cars ended up in a ditch.

Fifteen-year-old Nathaniel LaFave, a passenger in the Jeep, was killed. The girl and another passenger were critically injured. The pickup driver was not hurt.

Interstate Ramp Closures Set in Douglas Co.

interstate-680OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Construction work in Omaha will require several ramp closures around Interstates 80 and 680 in Omaha.

The Pacific Street entrance ramp to northbound Interstate 680 will close from Monday at 9 a.m. until late April. The Department of Roads says the closure is needed for a bridge-widening project at the Papio Creek.

Closures are set for Wednesday through Thursday, from 2 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. The closures include westbound Interstate 80 at the intersection of I-480 and US-75. The southbound Interstate 480 ramp will close in that time period, as will the northbound US-75 ramp. Crews will be removing signs.

2.9 Quake Rattles Part of Southeast Nebraska

us-geological-survey(AP) — A minor earthquake has rattled a portion of southeast Nebraska.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake occurred at 11:56 p.m. Sunday about three miles beneath the earth’s surface, 6½ miles southeast of Wymore. It measured 2.9 on the Richter scale. Wymore sits 51 miles south of Lincoln in Gage County, about eight miles from Kansas.

Gage County emergency management coordinator Mark Meints (meyentz) told Beatrice station KWBE that he and one of his children felt his house shake for a few seconds. Dee Fritsch at the Beatrice Communications Center says the center received about 30 calls from people reporting the temblor. No damage has been reported.

USGS geophysicist Paul Caruso says an earthquake generally must hit 5 or 5.5 on the scale to cause injuries and significant structural damage.

Authorities Identify 34-Year-Old Neb. Crash Victim

fatal-crashWAHOO, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have identified a man killed in an eastern Nebraska car crash as 34-year-old Adrian L. Wood.

The Saunders County Sheriff’s office says Wood ran a stop sign at Highway 66 on Friday while driving northbound on County Road 17, about two miles south of Wahoo. His Toyota Camry collided with an eastbound semi driven by 50-year-old Melody Bole of Casey, Iowa.

The Camry was dragged several hundred feet east before the vehicles came to a stop. Wood was pronounced dead at the scene. Both drivers were wearing seat belts, and authorities say alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Saunders County Chief Deputy Bob Thorson says Wood was moving to Wahoo from Lincoln. The crash was witnessed by his brother, who was in a car behind him.

Union Pacific Reports Midwest Weather Delays

Union-PacificOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific Railroad says the extreme cold, drifting snow and gusting winds are affecting its Midwest network.

The Omaha-based railroad said Monday that main line and switching operations are being slowed.

The railroad says customers can expect delays of as long as 48 hours for traffic moving through Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Suit Against Omaha Police Claims Excessive Force

aclu-nebOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union says a lawsuit has been filed against Omaha police over excessive force.

The ACLU of Nebraska said the lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Omaha on behalf of Octavius Johnson and four members of his family. The lawsuit alleges illegal search and seizure and says the family was never compensated for property damage or medical expenses.

Police spokesman Aaron Thompson says he couldn’t immediately comment on the lawsuit.

The case stems from the March 21 arrest of three brothers, including Johnson. A recording by a neighbor shows Johnson being thrown to the ground and punched several times by Omaha officer Bradley Canterbury.

Canterbury and three officers involved were fired, and two were charged with criminal violations. Canterbury was not charged.

Fire Destroys Historic Church in Syracuse

fire-graphic(AP) — Firefighters from several cities and towns have responded to a call from Syracuse to help battle a blaze at an old church.

The fire was reported a little after 6:30 p.m. Sunday, when some Boy Scouts entered the United Methodist Church for a meeting. Fire Chief Bruce Neemann says no one was injured.

The flames consumed a large section of the roof, and at least one church wall had collapsed. The fire cause is being investigated.

Syracuse is a city of more than 1,900 people that sits about 25 miles southeast of Lincoln.

Cold Weather Prompts Widespread School Closings

cold-weather(AP) — Many school districts in Iowa and Nebraska will remain closed Monday because of the dangerously cold weather.

Wind chills as cold as 55 degrees below zero are expected in parts of Iowa Monday morning, and Nebraska could see wind chills of 40 degrees below zero.

Many school officials decided that would be too cold to have students standing outside waiting for buses, so they cancelled.

The list of closings includes Des Moines, Iowa, schools, and most districts in Lincoln and Omaha, Neb.

Des Moines school spokesman Phil Roeder says the last time the district cancelled classes for cold temperatures alone was in January 2009.

Lincoln superintendent Steve Joel says student safety had to come first. He says temperatures this cold are rare in Lincoln.

Stay up to date on area school closings and cancellations here.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File