Nebraska

July 27, 2007, Lincoln, NE -- Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning today filed charges against Franklin Police Officer Matthew Bower, 25, for sexual abuse of an inmate, terroristic threats, bribery, trespassing and official misconduct.

“No one is above the law, especially not those who are supposed to enforce it,” Bruning said. “Mr. Bower abused his power by taking advantage of a woman who was in a vulnerable situation. Now he’ll answer for his actions in court.”    » read more »

Washington, 30 July 2007 (By Mary Morningstar) -- Auditions for the seventh season of American Idol will begin on July 30 in San Diego, California. Tryouts will also be held in Dallas, Texas (August 6); Omaha, Nebraska (August 10); Atlanta, Georgia (August 14); Charleston, South Carolina (August 18); Miami, Florida (August 22); and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (August 27).

American Idol hopefuls must be between the ages of 16 and 28 as of July 28.    » read more »

July 18, 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of two sailors who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died July 17 as a result of enemy action while conducting combat operations in Salah Ad Din Province, Iraq.

The two sailors were assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Eleven, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.

Killed were:

Chief Petty Officer Patrick L. Wade, 38, of Key West, Florida.

Petty Officer First Class Jeffrey L. Chaney, 35, of Omaha, Nebraska.

Source: DoD

July 12, 2007 -- (Lincoln, Neb.) Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning and the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance announced today that 2,403 Nebraska consumers are eligible for $1.88 million in restitution from Ameriquest Mortgage Company and its related companies. The payments result from a $325 million national predatory lending settlement reached in 2006.    » read more »

July 17, 2007 -- (Lincoln, Neb.) Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman announced the formation of a work group to explore concerns regarding hiring procedures in state government. The work group will review the state’s anti-nepotism laws and make recommendations to the Governor whether changes in procedure or state statute are needed.    » read more »

July 6, 2007-- (Lincoln, NE) -- Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman has authorized the communities of Ashland, Greenwood and Lincoln to fly state and U.S. flags at half-staff tomorrow, Saturday, July 7 in tribute to U.S. Army Cpl. Dustin Workman II of Greenwood.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow at the New Covenant Church in Lincoln, with burial following at the Ashland Cemetery. Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy will represent the state of Nebraska at the funeral.    » read more »

July 01, 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of five soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died June 28 of wounds sustained when their unit was attacked in Baghdad by insurgents using improvised explosive devices.

They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 2d Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Killed were:

Sgt. Shin W. Kim, 23, of Fullerton, California,

Sgt. Michael J. Martinez, 24, of Chula Vista, California,    » read more »

June 27, 2007 -- (Ogallala, NE) Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning today presented $75,000 to the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District (CNPPID) for invasive species removal at Lake McConaughy.

The money was made available through the Attorney General’s Environmental Court Ordered Settlement Fund, a fund generated from voluntary payments collected in court-approved settlements from entities that have violated state and federal environmental regulations.    » read more »

June 25, 2007 -- (Lincoln, NE) Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning today applauded a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that balances key state responsibilities under the Clean Water Act with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act.    » read more »

June 22, 2007 -- (Lincoln, NE) Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning today warned consumers about a new type of sweepstakes fraud that lists false sponsorships to deceive consumers into participating.

The sweepstakes notice contains the logo of Virgin Mobile USA, a cellular phone company in England. However, an inquiry by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division found Virgin Mobile is not involved in the sweepstakes.    » read more »

June 20, 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died June 14 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle.

They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Infantry Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Killed were:

Sgt. Derek T. Roberts, 24, of Gold River, California

Spc. Val J. Borm, 21, of Sidney, Nebraska

Spc. Farid Elazzouzi, of Paterson, New Jersey

Source: DoD

June 12, 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died June 10 in Karbala, Iraq, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device.

Killed were:

Cpl. Llythaniele Fender, 21, of Medical Lake, Washington. He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Cpl. Meresebang Ngiraked, 21, of Koror, Republic of Palau. He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash.    » read more »

June 14, 2007 -- (Lincoln, NE) Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman and Nebraska meat industry representatives today signed an agreement with members of a Taiwan agricultural trade delegation that will help frame negotiations in advance of the Governor’s upcoming trade mission in September.    » read more »

June 12, 2007 -- (Lincoln, NE) Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman today announced that $900,000 in emergency disaster grant funding from the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund will be distributed to regional organizations to assist residents in counties that were affected by May flooding.

“Residents in more than 30 counties were impacted by storms that dropped large amounts of rain in very little time,” Gov. Heineman said. “This funding is aimed at helping homeowners cover the unexpected costs of clean up and repairs.”    » read more »

June 6, 2007 -- (Lincoln, NE) Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman received word today from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials that President George W. Bush approved a request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for parts of Nebraska impacted by recent flooding.    » read more »