February 28, 2018

Police investigate possible shots fired at Santa Fe High School

SANTA FE -- Santa Fe High School was on lock-down Wednesday afternoon as police searched the campus for evidence of a reported shooting.

No one was injured and authorities were investigating to confirm whether shots had indeed been fired, Capt. Douglas Hudson of the Galveston County Sheriff's Office said. The sheriff's office was assisting Santa Fe police with the search, he said.

The high school, 16000 state Highway 6, in the afternoon was under a lock-down, meaning no one was allowed to enter or exit except police, he said.

"No one is injured," Hudson said. "It was reported that a teacher thought they might have heard gun shots so they're clearing the school and seeing if there's any evidence or anything true to that statement."

Read more: http://www.galvnews.com/news/free/article_fb464c8d-4ffc-51c9-997b-43fa04fecd9c.html

February 28, 2018

North Dakota Supreme Court splits 3-2 on first DAPL appeal

Kevin Decker's probation ended one month before the North Dakota Supreme Court upheld his trial and misdemeanor conviction related to a Dakota Access Pipeline protest.

One of the first defendants arrested and charged from the monthslong demonstrations, Decker was convicted at trial a year ago of disorderly conduct. He appealed, alleging insufficient evidence and a "closed" courtroom as one man was denied entry during jury selection. Justices heard arguments in November and issued differing opinions on Thursday.

The high court's ruling comes one month after Decker's unsupervised probation ended as part of his deferred imposition of sentence — meaning if he fulfilled his probation with no criminal violations and paid his fees, the conviction will be taken off his record after a review to be completed in late March.

In the majority affirmative opinion, Justice Daniel Crothers wrote that excluding one member of the public from trial was "too trivial" to violate the Sixth Amendment right to a public trial, while evidence was sufficient to convict Decker.

Read more: http://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/nd-supreme-court-splits---on-first-dapl-appeal/article_6add3656-94ce-56c3-9e84-e69a8d0e9655.html

February 28, 2018

Watford City woman charged for further embezzlement

Further investigation into a Watford City woman's alleged embezzlement has led to additional charges.

Hannah Lloyd, 38, is charged with three felony counts each of theft and forgery. She was previously accused of funneling more than $57,000 from the Watford City Park District and is now alleged to have stolen about $50,000 from the Watford City Golf Course and about $56,600 from Rink Construction — totaling about $164,000 allegedly stolen over two years.

An amended complaint against Lloyd was filed Monday. She has been held at the McKenzie County Correctional Facility since early January, pending $100,000 cash bond.

Lloyd was reportedly a former accounting firm employee who had account access to the Watford City Park District, golf course and Rink Construction.

Read more: http://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/watford-city-woman-charged-for-further-embezzlement/article_b2d0a407-7f2b-56bd-9440-c3598c792321.html

February 28, 2018

Bill to end university collective bargaining fails in Senate

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A bill that would have ended collective bargaining at South Dakota's public universities has failed in the state Senate.

The chamber voted 18-16 Tuesday against the plan. It narrowly passed through the House and had Gov. Dennis Daugaard's support.

House Speaker Mark Mickelson, the bill's sponsor, has said that it would save money and make the institutions more efficient.

But critics argued the measure would have made it harder for universities to recruit and keep faculty.

Read more: http://www.thepublicopinion.com/news/associated_press/south_dakota/bill-to-end-university-collective-bargaining-fails-in-senate/article_881470cf-44e1-53f5-b8cb-69c6f555e7fb.html

February 28, 2018

Lawmaker says Capitol should be safe workplace

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The Latest on a confrontation last week between two South Dakota lawmakers on the House floor (all times local):

6:45 p.m.

A South Dakota representative who feared for her safety in a recent confrontation with a colleague at the Capitol says she hopes Republican legislative leadership will take a "more serious look" at such allegations in the future.

GOP Rep. Lynne DiSanto said Tuesday the Capitol is her workplace, and everybody should be able to come to work there and feel safe.

The confrontation occurred last week on the House floor. Representatives started an investigation into Republican Rep. David Johnson's conduct toward DiSanto, but later voted to end it with her support.

DiSanto said she accepted an apology from Johnson.

Read more: http://www.thepublicopinion.com/news/associated_press/south_dakota/the-latest-lawmaker-says-capitol-should-be-safe-workplace/article_50e5a432-3d75-5d85-964a-616beb2b1689.html

February 28, 2018

Bjorkman Proposes Uniform Background Checks, Bump Stock Ban, "Red Flag" Laws

Judge turned Democratic candidate for U.S. House Tim Bjorkman wants to talk gun policy. Noting that gun violence since 1970 has killed more Americans than war since 1775, Bjorkman offers these seven policies as “first steps” toward reducing gun violence:

1) A law mandating uniform background checks on all gun sales, with free service at sheriffs’ offices for private transfers and estate transfer exemptions; and improved sharing of information among reporting sources;
2) Prohibiting any device, such as bump stocks, that converts a semi-automatic into an automatic weapon;
3) Prohibiting individuals on the government’s terrorist watch list from buying firearms;
4) Encouraging states to adopt red flag laws that allow a court to temporarily remove guns from a person who poses a danger to himself or others, with mandatory database reporting and removal upon clearance by a medical specialist;
5) Promoting interventions like the Sandy Hook Promise that identify and reach out to at-risk individuals, including restorative justice and anti-bullying programs;
6) Committing our nation to a War on Mental Illness and to ensuring every American has affordable health coverage to treat it; and
7) Importantly, removing the ban on the CDC studying firearm violence [Tim Bjorkman, “Common Sense Gun Law Reforms,” campaign website, 2018.02.26].

A Republican nominee wanting to keep crying that Obama is coming to get your guns will only be able to apply that tired cry to one of Bjorkman’s seven planks… and even that plank only takes your guns temporarily, if you go off your nut, and gives your guns back with a measly doctor’s note.

http://dakotafreepress.com/2018/02/26/bjorkman-proposes-uniform-background-checks-bump-stock-ban-red-flag-laws/

February 28, 2018

Oklahoma man indicted for alleged string of frauds involving banks, credit unions in Nebraska, Kansa

Oklahoma man indicted for alleged string of frauds involving banks, credit unions in Nebraska, Kansas

A grand jury has federally indicted an Oklahoma man for an alleged fraud involving a prepaid debit card scam that hit a half-dozen credit unions and a bank in Nebraska and Kansas.

Sherman L. Clemons, 35, of Oklahoma City, got away with $25,000 in the three-month spree and tried, but failed, to take $22,000 more before he was arrested and charged in state court in Seward County, according to the indictment filed late last week.

Now, Clemons faces seven federal charges, too, including conspiracy to commit fraud, bank fraud and four counts of credit union fraud.

In the indictment, Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell Mayer said between Sept. 1 and Dec. 11, Clemons used false names, entered various financial institutions and presented insufficiently funded Green Dot Visa prepaid debit cards and counterfeit driver's licenses or ID cards to credit union and bank employees.

Read more: http://columbustelegram.com/news/local/911/oklahoma-man-indicted-for-alleged-string-of-frauds-involving-banks/article_b1bda48a-aaf8-5f1b-b2e0-7330e52f61bc.html

February 28, 2018

Nebraska gubernatorial hopeful Krist can appear on Democratic ballot

Nebraska's secretary of state says he will allow Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bob Krist to appear on the party's primary ballot, despite a challenge.

Secretary of State John Gale rejected arguments Tuesday from Democratic hopeful Tyler Davis. Davis said Krist didn't follow a law that requires candidates to change party affiliation before the first Friday in December of the previous year. The Nebraska Republican Party raised the same question.

Krist had been a Republican but switched to nonpartisan in September. He took initial steps to create a "United Nebraska" party, but never finished the process. Earlier this month, he registered as a Democrat.

Gale says changing from nonpartisan to Democrat is considered a declaration of party, not switching parties.

Read more: http://journalstar.com/legislature/nebraska-gubernatorial-hopeful-krist-can-appear-on-democratic-ballot/article_40f5f71e-1c7e-5949-aaa8-55a35f81a6e2.html

February 27, 2018

Bail set at $100,000 for Bellevue teen accused of threatening students

A Bellevue West High School student accused of threatening other students has been charged with making terroristic threats and possessing an explosive device.

Nicholas J. Scott, 18, is set to appear in court Tuesday for a bail hearing.

On Monday, Sarpy County Judge PaTricia Freeman ordered Scott to be held on $100,000 bail on the threat charge. He is accused of telling other students that he was going to shoot anyone who would leave the school during a student walkout for a stand against gun violence.

The Sarpy County Attorney’s Office added the possession charge Monday afternoon.

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/news/crime/bail-set-at-for-bellevue-teen-accused-of-threatening-students/article_5c8c55e9-85e3-5be7-a924-3d91862dd100.html

February 27, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidates make their case

Democratic gubernatorial candidates Rep. Jim Ward, Sen. Laura Kelly, Joshua Svaty, Carl Brewer and Arden Andersen discussed gun safety, education and moving Kansas forward during the Lyon County Democratic Town Hall held at Emporia State University’s Preston Family Room in the Memorial Union Saturday.

Wichita teenager Jack Bergeson was also scheduled to take part in the event but was unable to attend.

After each candidate gave opening statements, Lyon County Democratic Party Chair and Moderator Jeremy Adkison opened the floor for questions from the public. Each candidate had two minutes to respond to questions and give potential voters reasons why they would be the best candidate against presumptive Republican nominee and Secretary of State, Kris Kobach.

Gun reform

The first question, directed at Kelly, asked the senator to clarify her position on her past support of the National Rifle Association and the gun lobby.

Read more: http://www.emporiagazette.com/area_news/article_6052608e-129e-5a99-8532-85e3bd93a7cc.html