Local4′s Four Things You Need to Know for October 1, 2024

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - Here are the four stories you need to know for October 1, 2024.

Preliminary hearing

A preliminary hearing for the Grand Island rest stop murder suspect, James Thompson Jr., is scheduled for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. Thompson Jr. has been charged with 11 felonies connected to the double stabbing that killed a 72-year-old Missouri man and injured his wife.

Thompson is accused of stabbing them both in their camper and then driving his car westbound on I-80 before driving his car into the Platte River by Wood River.

Osborn sends cease and desist letter to Fisher group

Attack ads between Republican incumbent Deb Fisher and independent Dan Osborne in their race for senate continue to dominate the air waves, but it could be coming to a courthouse near you soon. Osborn has sent an independent group advertising on behalf of Fischer a cease and desist letter for what his campaign calls “Blatantly false and defamatory.”

Osborn’s team said, in part, “Fischer’s smear campaign is another attempt to distract Nebraskans from her failed record on these very issues.”

The Fischer advertising group responded by saying, “Unfortunately for Dan, he can’t change his record of being a registered Democrat, advocating for social security for illegal immigrants, and backing radical pro-abortion policies.”

City Hall construction delayed

In an update to a story we brought you Monday, demolition is not finished at the Hastings City Hall. The delay comes after more asbestos were discovered in the facility and have to be removed.

The demolition phase is now scheduled to last a few more weeks, but according to city officials, the project should still be completed on time by the end of 2025.

Department of Education responds to lunch money misuse allegations

The Nebraska Department of Education responded to our request for comment early Tuesday morning saying that they do not approve of the purchase of scoreboards using the school’s lunch funds.

David Jespersen said in an email to Local4, “The original expense does not meet funding requirements for approval.”

Jespersen added that the school will get quotes for real lunch menu displays, get those approved by the department and then reimburse the lunch funds minus the cost of the real boards.

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