Woman seeks pardon for role in string of killings in 1950s
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A woman who accompanied her older boyfriend during a string of killings in Nebraska and Wyoming more than 60 years ago is seeking an official pardon. Caril Anne Fugate was 14 years old at the time and says her then-19-year-old boyfriend, Charlie Starkweather, had threatened to kill her family if she didn’t obey. Fugate, who now goes by her married name of Caril Ann Clair and lives in Michigan, says the Nebraska Board of Pardons has a chance to right a historical wrong. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the board is scheduled to consider her request on Feb. 18. Starkweather was executed in 1959.
FATAL CRASH-LINCOLN
Man gets 2 years for crash death of marching band trumpeter
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man has been given two years in prison for the crash death of a member of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln marching band. A judge on Wednesday also suspended the driver’s license of Waltrivelish Watson, 30, for seven years. Watson had pleaded no contest to felony vehicular homicide. Prosecutors say Watson was driving a speeding car the night of Oct. 26, 2018, that collided with another vehicle. The crash killed Tyler Butterfield, a 20-year-old junior and trumpet player in the marching band.
SCHOOL CHOICE RALLY
Students, teachers rally at Capitol for school choice week
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Students and teachers from private schools have rallied at the Nebraska Capitol to recognize National School Choice Week, a campaign to promote alternatives to public schools. The gathering on Wednesday drew hundreds of students, administrators and advocacy groups who want to promote private schools, charter schools and homeschooling. Nebraska public school teachers celebrated with their own “I love Public Schools Day.” Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Republican who supports public school alternatives, proclaimed this week as National School Choice Week as part of the event. Lt. Gov. Mike Foley addressed the group at the Capitol.
AP-US-BERKSHIRE-LEE-NEWSPAPER-DEAL
Warren Buffett gets out of the newspaper business
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Billionaire Warren Buffett is giving up on the newspaper business. He’s selling all of Berkshire Hathaway’s publications to Lee Enterprises for $140 million. The deal announced Wednesday covers 31 daily newspapers in 10 states as well as 49 paid weekly publications with digital sites and 32 other print products. Buffett is a lifelong fan of newspapers but he has said for several years that he expects most of them to continue on their declining trajectory, save for a handful of national papers such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Lee has been managing the BH Media publications since July 2018. Berkshire Hathaway is providing about $576 million in long-term financing to Lee.
OMAHA STABBING DEATH
Man charged in Omaha stabbing death held without bail
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 24-year-old Omaha man has been ordered held without bail in the stabbing death last week of another man. Bail for Ahmed Ismaeil was denied by a judge on Wednesday. Ismaeil is charged with first-degree murder and a weapons count in the fatal stabbing Friday of 22-year-old LaZell Hampton. Police say officers were called to an area in northeast Omaha just after 10:30 p.m. Friday and found Hampton suffering from a stab wound. He later died at a hospital.
INTERSTATE ACCIDENTS
Authorities ID Lincoln couple as victims of I-80 crash
LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the names of a Lincoln man who was killed and his wife, who was injured, in a rollover accident along Interstate 80 in central Nebraska. The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as 33-year-old Brendan Troutman and his wife as 28-year-old Tiya Troutman. The crash occurred around 11:45 a.m. Sunday, about 3 miles east of Lexington. Authorities say the Troutmans’ westbound pickup truck ran into the median and then rolled in the westbound lanes. Two semitrailers collided as they slowed for the crash. Authorities say one of the drivers was taken to a hospital.
