OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – First Alert 6 has the headlines you need to know to get your Thursday started.
Council Bluffs murder suspect to be sentenced in court Thursday
On Thursday, a Council Bluffs man will be sentenced in court in connection to the death of a 28-year-old woman.
Justin Sickler, 45, is facing charges of first degree murder, abuse of a corpse, and theft in the 3rd degree in court Thursday.
He was arrested last October in connection to the death of Brianne McIntosh, also of Council Bluffs.
A female body, later identified as McIntosh, was found in Fremont County, Iowa last February with severe facial injuries.
McIntosh was reported as a missing person in Omaha in December 2023.
Bodies recovered from Missouri River confirmed to be missing girls
Two bodies pulled from the Missouri River have been confirmed as the last girls who went missing on April 15.
“As of yesterday, all three girls have been recovered,” Omaha Fire Department said in Facebook post, sharing condolences to the families and friends of 18-year-old Lah Tray Moo, 18-year-old Laiana Green, and 11-year-old Eh Cress Moo.
Lah Tray Moo’s body was found Saturday night; Green and Eh Cress Moo were found Tuesday morning.
Authorities say four girls were fishing when a witness says they saw them struggling to get out of the water. After one of the girls slipped into the river, the others went into the water trying to rescue her. Only one of them got out.
A GoFundMe has been set up to assist the families with funeral expenses. There is work being done to place more warning signs along the river, and to make sure that people fishing along the water wear lifejackets.
Governor to announce new head of Nebraska State Patrol Thursday
Gov. Jim Pillen is set to announce the next superintendent for the Nebraska State Patrol on Thursday.
About two months ago, Pillen shared Col. John Bolduc’s plan to retire on May 4, as he reaches NSP’s mandatory retirement age of 60. Bolduc has served as the NSP superintendent since 2017.
We will have the news conference streamed in our apps, and on our Facebook and YouTube pages at 1 p.m. Thursday.
Pillen’s office took applications for his replacement through April 1.
State budget shortfall bills pass in Nebraska Unicameral
Nebraska lawmakers are working to eliminate a large budget shortfall, which was reported as $-289 million just weeks ago.
Two bills aiming to address the state’s budget shortfall passed the final round of voting in the Unicameral on Wednesday.
LB 645 adjusts the state’s contribution to teacher pension plans, while LB 650 is set to roll back incentives for food donations, film and TV productions, biodiesel, and more.
Officials report the bills are estimated to generate about $133 million over the next couple of years. They are now heading to Gov. Pillen’s desk.
Council Bluffs’ Ameristar Casino building inland gaming space
The last remaining riverboat casino in Iowa — the Ameristar Riverboat — will soon be a thing of the past.
First Alert 6’s Roger Hamer reports that in 1995, casinos were only allowed where an established dog or horse racing track existed — or on the water.
In 2007 a state law changed and allowed for land-based casino gambling. Now, Ameristar plans to undergo a $180-200 million renovation to its facility to move on land.
“…Coming to the landside really allows us to have a better experience for guests and team members,” Ameristar General Manager Paul Czak said. “No elevators, no escalators, the same amount of gaming, just spread out on one level.”
After the transition, which is expected to take a few years, Ameristar will be renamed to Hollywood Casino.
Habitat for Humanity project brings mixed-income housing to Elkhorn
Officials with Habitat for Humanity said affordable housing isn’t easy to find in Elkhorn, so they have created their own.
Habitat for Humanity teamed up with Metonic Real Estate Solutions to create Capriana — a mixed-income neighborhood with 149 market-rate, townhome-like units and 11 affordable habitat homes.
First Alert 6 is told the $43 million project is the first of its kind in Nebraska. A family of four making $80,000 or less qualifies for a Habitat house.
—
Get a first alert to breaking news delivered to your inbox. Sign up for First Alert 6 email alerts.
Copyright 2025 WOWT. All rights reserved.
Discover more from PressNewsAgency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.