Omaha news stories on Newser

Warren Buffett Buys Hometown Newspaper

Mark Russell — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:57:30 CST

Warren Buffett makes news for his multi-billion-dollar investments, not a piddly $200 million—but Buffett surprised many people when he announced yesterday he was spending that to buy his hometown newspaper, the Omaha World-Herald , reports Bloomberg . The billionaire slammed the newspaper industry two years ago, saying it had the "potential...

Student Gunman Kills Vice Principal

Rob Quinn — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:12:46 CST

The 17-year-old son of an Omaha police detective opened fire at his high school yesterday, shooting the principal and assistant principal, who later died of her injuries. The principal is in serious but stable condition, AP reports. The student, identified as Robert Butler Jr., fled the school and fatally shot...

Guy Pepper-Sprays Westboro Group at Funeral

Emily Rauhala — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 08:13:41 CDT

Those appalled by the tactics of the Westboro Baptist Church have a new folk hero: An Omaha man yesterday drove by as the group protested the funeral of a Marine killed in Afghanistan, reached out his window and pepper-sprayed them. George Vogel, 62, faces 16 charges of misdemeanor assault, one...

Pet Boa Constrictor Kills Owner

Mary Papenfuss — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 01:43:43 CDT

A suburban Omaha man was strangled by his pet boa constrictor in his home as he was showing off the snake to a friend. Cory Byrne, 34, died in a local hospital just hours after cops and paramedics pried the 9-foot snake from his neck. The snake is being held...

Successor Continues Tiller's Battle

Nick McMaster — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:44:16 CST

It's not easy being the leading provider of late-term abortions. Since Leroy Carhart decided to take up the work of slain colleague and friend George Tiller, he's become the target of intense opposition from anti-abortion groups. Carhart has adapted his Omaha-area clinic to his dangerous new line of work, adding...

Omaha Man Swipes Virgin Mary Painting for Abortion

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:07:00 CDT

An Omaha man stole a painting of the Virgin Mary to pay for the abortion of his teenage rape victim, the Omaha World-Herald reports. Aurelio Vallecillo-Sanchez, 39, described by his attorney as "remorseful and ashamed," pleaded no contest yesterday to charges of theft and sexual assault and faces up to...

Buffett Has Worst Year Ever

Harry Kimball — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:11:57 CST

Not even legendary investors can escape this mess. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway posted its worst year ever in 2008, the Wall Street Journal reports. A key indicator, book value per share, fell 9.6%, only the second loss since Buffett took control of the company in 1965. Berkshire reported fourth-quarter...

Electoral College Needs Rehab

Nick McMaster — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:32:46 CST

The 538 electors chosen to represent the will of the people cast their ballots for president today, officially ending the contest between Barack Obama and John McCain, writes Randall Lane for the New York Times . The otherwise-predictable ritual included a twist: a Nebraska elector voting for the candidate who won...

Obama Eyes Omaha to Split Neb. Votes

Jason Farago — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:09:00 CDT

Forty-eight of 50 states award electoral votes on a winner-take-all basis, but Nebraska, divvies up electoral votes by congressional district—and the Obama campaign sees an opening, reports the Washington Post . By concentrating just on the Omaha area, the Democrats are trying to pick up a single electoral vote in...