NEWS Bellevue explores sex offender limits
The Bellevue City Council will hold a first reading on an ordinance restricting where registered sex offenders can live at its weekly meeting Dec. 13. The ordinance, proposed by Council president Carol Blood, would prohibit sex offenders from living within 500 feet of schools or child care facilities. State law limits the restriction to 500 feet and contains a grandfather clause for people...
entered on 12/13/10 at 08:59 AM | read more »
Two members left off foster care review board for 2011
Gov. Dave Heineman told two members of the state's Foster Care Review Board that they will not be reappointed next year. Alfredo Ramirez, current chairman of the board, and Ron Albin will see their terms expire on Jan. 1. Heineman's spokesperson said the governor routinely makes changes to board appointments to involve more people. Last year Nebraska began to privatize its child welfare system,...
entered on 12/13/10 at 08:41 AM | read more »
Teacher arrested for sexual assault
An Omaha Public Schools teacher was arrested on sexual assault charges after turning himself in on Dec. 10. Nicholas McKeone, 26, a teacher at Ashland Park-Robbins Elementary, has been on paid leave since Nov. 19 when allegations emerged that he inappropriately touched an 11-year-old student on numerous occasions since May 1. The investigation is ongoing.
entered on 12/13/10 at 08:05 AM | read more »
Two killed, one arrested in South Omaha crash
Victor Rodriguez, 27, was apprehended after fleeing the scene of a two-car accident that killed two passengers and wounded five others near 42nd and H St. on Dec. 12. Rodriguez lost control of his Nissan Pathfinder Sunday night and collided head-on with a GMC Yukon carrying five people. Manuel Santos-Gomez, 24, a passenger in Rodriguez' vehicle, and Danny Alcantara, 22, a passenger in the Yukon,...
entered on 12/13/10 at 07:33 AM | read more »
Omaha officer reinstated in planted evidence case
Omaha police officer Steve Kult is back on the job nearly seven months after reporting two fellow officers for a suspected plan to plant evidence. In May, Kult alleged he overheard a telephone conversation between his partner, Frank Platt, and Kara Hindman — fellow gang unit officer and Platt's girlfriend — describing a plan to plant marijuana in the trash of a suspect. Platt has since...
entered on 12/10/10 at 10:16 AM | read more »
Report: Nebraska has third-highest drunk driving rate
A new study released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Dec. 9 shows that one in five Nebraskans has driven while under the influence of alcohol in the past year — the third highest rate in the country. At 21.5 percent, Nebraska trails only Wisconsin (23.7 percent) and North Dakota (22.4 percent) nationally. The national average is 13 percent.
entered on 12/10/10 at 09:52 AM | read more »
Nebraska senators support Obama tax deal
Sen. Mike Johanns says he will likely support the bipartisan tax cut extension negotiated by President Barack Obama. Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson, too, plans to back the deal despite his party's opposition to extending tax breaks to the rich, a controversial condition of the compromise. Johanns, also playing his Republican party line, told KHAS that while he didn't support extending unemployment...
entered on 12/10/10 at 09:34 AM | read more »
Nelson angered over ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ filibuster
Ben Nelson was ready to debate the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy banning gays from openly serving in the military. Senate Republicans were not. The GOP blocked the repeal Dec. 9 in a move that could leave a decision on the policy up to the courts. Nelson took to his Senate website to express his displeasure at the "Washington gamesmanship" that led to the filibuster. "Obstruction...
entered on 12/10/10 at 09:16 AM | read more »
Public Hearing this Thursday on Election Commissioner Changes
Senator Sara Howard's LB 235 will have its public hearing this Thursday, February 14th at 1:30 in the Government, Military, ... more »
Calculations for the cost of extending Medicaid in Nebraska as a critical piece of the Affordable Care Act have been ... more »
As federal deficits were the rage in the recent presidential election and both major political parties jockey for ... more »
With 1,457 members according to its website, Voice Omaha is blazing a path for civic participation outside the normal ... more »
First, a primer on how to pronounce “Schmaderer,” the new police chief’s last name: “SHMA’ der.” Rhymes with water. “Some ... more »
As winter takes hold the number of homeless moving into shelters is on the rise. Winter is the toughest time of the year ... more »
Alberto Gonzales didn’t enter the meeting room at the South Omaha Library on March 15 so much as the room opened up and ... more »
Police reviewing gun policy following school shooting
The Omaha Police Department is reviewing its gun policy for off-duty officers after Robert Butler Jr. used his father's ... more »
