All posts tagged: Nebraska

Nebraska Republican wants to censure Ilhan Omar

Nebraska Republican wants to censure Ilhan Omar

Published by skeptic

Rep. Don Bacon is seen here leaving a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 7. House Republicans have raised concerns over what they call a rise of antisemitism amid the Pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses across the United States. Kent Nishimura/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Kent Nishimura/Getty Images Rep. Don Bacon is seen here leaving a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 7. House Republicans have raised concerns over what they call a rise of antisemitism amid the Pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses across the United States. Kent Nishimura/Getty Images Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., has introduced a resolution to censure Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar for referring to some Jewish university students as “pro-genocide.” This comes after Omar was asked by Fox 5 New York during her April visit to a student encampment at Columbia University about allegations of rising antisemitism at the protests. “We should not have to tolerate antisemitism or bigotry for all Jewish students, whether they are pro-genocide or anti-genocide,” …

Warren Buffett’s Company Rejects Proposals, but It Faces Lawsuit Over How It Handled One Last Year

Warren Buffett’s Company Rejects Proposals, but It Faces Lawsuit Over How It Handled One Last Year

Published by skeptic

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Shareholder proposals are usually uneventful at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting. But Warren Buffett and the company are now facing a lawsuit over the way one presenter was treated last year. Peter Flaherty with the National Legal and Policy Center came back with another proposal this year on a different subject even after he was cut off in the middle of his presentation last year and arrested for trespassing. The charges were later dropped, but Flaherty decided to sue because of the way he was treated to stand up for any shareholder who wants to bring a proposal. He said he had never had trouble at dozens of meetings he has presented at since 2005, including Berkshire’s 2022 meeting. “I’ve never been interrupted while making a shareholder presentation. I’ve never had my mic cut, and I’ve never been removed from a meeting room. And I’ve certainly never been arrested,” Flaherty said, “Those things were unprecedented for me.” The issue last year was that Flaherty questioned the character of one of Buffett’s best …

Berkshire’s Profit Plunges 64% on Portfolio Holdings as Buffett Sells Apple

Berkshire’s Profit Plunges 64% on Portfolio Holdings as Buffett Sells Apple

Published by skeptic

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Berkshire Hathaway’s first quarter profits plummeted along with the paper value of its investments, but the company said Saturday that most of the businesses it owns outright performed well. The company reported reported a $12.7 billion profit, or $8.825 per Class A share, in the quarter. That’s roughly one-third of last year’s $35.5 billion, or $24,377 per A share. The figures were heavily influenced by a large drop in the paper value of Berkshire’s investments. Buffett encourages investors to pay more attention to the conglomerate’s operating earnings that exclude the investment figures. Operating earnings jumped 39% to $11.222 billion from last year’s $8.065 billion as its insurance companies showed strong results. On a per share basis, this year’s first quarter operating figure amounts to $7,796.47 per Class A share, beating three analysts’ estimates by FactSet Research, who predicted $6,701.87 per Class A share. Buffett was a net seller of $17 billion in stocks during the quarter, including trimming about 13% of Berkshire’s massive Apple stake. At $135.4 billion, the iPhone maker …

Warren Buffett Says AI May Be Better for Scammers Than Society. and He’s Seen How

Warren Buffett Says AI May Be Better for Scammers Than Society. and He’s Seen How

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett cautioned the tens of thousands of shareholders who packed an arena for his annual meeting that artificial intelligence scams could become “the growth industry of all time.” Doubling down on his cautionary words from last year, Buffett told the throngs he recently came face to face with the downside of AI. And it looked and sounded just like him. Someone made a fake video of Buffett, apparently convincing enough that the so-called Oracle of Omaha himself said he could imagine it tricking him into sending money overseas. The billionaire investing guru predicted scammers will seize on the technology, and may do more harm with it than society can wring good. “As someone who doesn’t understand a damn thing about it, it has enormous potential for good and enormous potential for harm and I just don’t know how that plays out,” he said. The day started early Saturday with Berkshire Hathaway announcing a steep drop in earnings as the paper value of its investments plummeted and it pared its Apple …

Baby among at least five killed after tornadoes rip through central US

Baby among at least five killed after tornadoes rip through central US

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At the Sulphur High School gym, where families took cover from the storm, Jackalyn Wright said she and her family heard what sounded like a helicopter as the tornado touched down over them. Chad Smith, 43, said people ran into the gym as the wind picked up. The rain started coming faster and the doors slammed shut. “Just give me a beer and a lawn chair and I will sit outside and watch it,” Mr Smith said. Instead, he took cover. Residents in other states were also digging out from storm damage. A tornado in suburban Omaha, Nebraska, demolished homes and businesses on Saturday as it moved for miles through farmland and into subdivisions, then slammed an Iowa town. The tornado damage began on Friday afternoon near Lincoln, Nebraska. An industrial building in Lancaster County was hit, causing it to collapse with 70 people inside. Several were trapped, but everyone was evacuated, and the three injuries were not life-threatening, authorities said. One or possibly two tornadoes then spent around an hour creeping toward Omaha, leaving behind damage consistent with an EF3 twister, …

At least 3 people are dead after tornadoes slam Oklahoma, Iowa and Nebraska

At least 3 people are dead after tornadoes slam Oklahoma, Iowa and Nebraska

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Homeowners in Bennington, Neb., assess the damage after a tornado passed through their neighborhood northwest of Omaha on Friday. Josh Funk/AP hide caption toggle caption Josh Funk/AP Homeowners in Bennington, Neb., assess the damage after a tornado passed through their neighborhood northwest of Omaha on Friday. Josh Funk/AP At least three people were killed and dozens suffered injuries in multiple states after a string of tornadoes barreled through parts of the South and Midwest on Friday and into the weekend. Recovery efforts are underway after severe weather devastated parts of Oklahoma, Nebraska and Iowa, turning homes and other buildings into heaps of lumber and rubble. In Hughes County, Okla., one man and one child died in the storms, according to the county EMS agency. The agency said Sunday morning that it was also treating four people for injuries, three of which were major. Love County Sheriff Andy Cumberledge confirmed in a press conference that a truck driver who was passing through the county was also killed. At least 30 people were also injured in the …

Overnight tornadoes, storms leave heavy destruction in Nebraska, Iowa

Overnight tornadoes, storms leave heavy destruction in Nebraska, Iowa

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A preliminary 79 tornadoes were reported Friday across six states, most occurring in Nebraska and Iowa, where homes were leveled and buildings collapsed. Omaha, Nebraska, Mayor Jean Stothert said in a Facebook post early Saturday that no deaths had been reported and there were a few minor injuries after a destructive tornado moved through rural farmland before hitting the suburbs. Omaha police Lt. Neal Bonacci said hundreds of homes were damaged, mostly in the Elkhorn area in the western part of the city. People walk through the rubble of a house that was leveled in Elkhorn, Neb., on Saturday.Nicholas Ingram / AP “You definitely see the path of the tornado,” Bonacci said. Police and firefighters went door-to-door to help residents and to search areas where people could be trapped, Omaha Fire Chief Kathy Bossman said. “We’ll be looking throughout properties in debris piles, we’ll be looking in basements, trying to find any victims and make sure everybody is rescued who needs assistance,” Bossman said. Pat Woods, who lives in Elkhorn, told The Associated Press, that …

Nebraska and Iowa tornadoes collapse buildings and level homes

Nebraska and Iowa tornadoes collapse buildings and level homes

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Terry Kicking sifts through the damage after a tornado leveled his home on Friday in Omaha, Neb. Nikos Frazier/Omaha World-Herald via AP hide caption toggle caption Nikos Frazier/Omaha World-Herald via AP Terry Kicking sifts through the damage after a tornado leveled his home on Friday in Omaha, Neb. Nikos Frazier/Omaha World-Herald via AP OMAHA, Neb. — Tornadoes wreaked havoc Friday in the Midwest, causing a building to collapse with dozens of people inside and destroying and damaging hundreds of homes, many around Omaha, Nebraska. As of Friday night, there were several reports of injuries but no immediate deaths reported. Tornado warnings continued to be issued into the night in Iowa. Three people were hurt in Nebraska’s Lancaster County when a tornado hit an industrial building, causing it to collapse with 70 people inside. Several were trapped, but everyone was evacuated and the injuries were not life-threatening, authorities said. One of the most destructive tornadoes moved for miles Friday through mostly rural farmland before chewing up homes and other structures in the suburbs of Omaha, a …

Tornadoes cause severe damage in Nebraska, especially suburban Omaha

Tornadoes cause severe damage in Nebraska, especially suburban Omaha

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Gopala Penmetsa walks past his house after it was leveled by a tornado near Omaha, Neb., on Friday. Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP hide caption toggle caption Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP Gopala Penmetsa walks past his house after it was leveled by a tornado near Omaha, Neb., on Friday. Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP OMAHA, Neb. — A tornado plowed through suburban Omaha, Nebraska, on Friday afternoon, damaging hundreds of homes and other structures as the twister tore for miles along farmland and into subdivisions. Injuries were reported but it wasn’t yet clear if anyone was killed in the storm. Multiple tornadoes were reported in Nebraska but the most destructive storm moved from a largely rural area into suburbs northwest of Omaha, a city of 485,000 people. Photos on social media showed heavily damaged homes and shredded trees. Video showed homes with roofs stripped of shingles, in a rural area near Omaha. Law enforcement were blocking off roads in the area. Hundreds of houses sustained damage in Omaha, mostly in the Elkhorn area in …

Ex-Nebraska Deputy Is Indicted in Connection With Fatal Highway Shooting

Ex-Nebraska Deputy Is Indicted in Connection With Fatal Highway Shooting

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SEWARD, Neb. (AP) — A former Nebraska deputy is jailed after a grand jury indicted him on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of a man in October, a prosecutor said Friday. Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon announced the indictment of former Seward County Deputy Anthony Gann. Gann is jailed on $100,000 bond and is expected to have his first court appearance Monday, Condon said. It wasn’t immediately clear if Gann had an attorney. Seward County Sheriff Michael Vance told the Lincoln Journal Star that Gann has resigned. Vance said an internal investigation by his office determined that Gann didn’t commit any violations or break procedure. The shooting happened on the afternoon of Oct. 23 when deputies tried to stop 43-year-old Jorge Santana-Ramirez on Interstate 80. The sheriff’s office said that instead of stopping, Santana-Ramirez turned his vehicle and drove east in the westbound lanes for a time before crossing into the eastbound lanes. A lengthy chase ended in Lancaster County. The sheriff’s office said a passenger exited but the driver refused …