Newshound 8/27/2009

- 'Fun tax' is back


More after the jump ...

Jerram wants entertainment tax
Omaha city councilman Chris Jerram has revived a proposed tax on entertainment. Jerram said he wants the tax on the books incase the police and fire union's reject the two-week furloughs city council members proposed to save the city an estimated $7.8 million.

Last month Jerram joined all but one council member in rejecting Mayor Jim Suttles entertainment tax proposal. Jerram's latest proposal is nearly identical to Suttle's — it would tax movies, bar tabs, restaurants and concerts. Non-profit organizations, including the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority would be exempt. However, health clubs would also be exempt from Jerram's tax.

DHHS procedures change after boy's grisly death
In July, Omaha police confirmed Angela Manns was keeping the decomposing body of her 12-year-old son in the top floor of her home. Three month's earlier, Mann's reached out to a social worker at the Department of Health and Human Services. Through missed calls, Mann's apparently never made a connection with a social worker or met one in person.

Kerry Winterer, the new head of Nebraska HHS, said he wants to make sure that doesn't happen again. Under new procedures, when a caseworker receives a call where they feel children are in danger, it will get referred to the agency's crisis hotline. An personal visit will be made if follow-up calls after the initial contact are not returned.

Mann's is charged with first-degree murder.

Steve King wont run for Iowa gov.
U.S. Rep. Steve King of Council Bluffs announced he will not enter the already crowded Iowa governors race. King said he could better serve Iowan's in congress than at the state house.

Sen. McGill will seek re-election
State Sen. Amanda McGill announced she will seek re-election in her northeast Lincoln district. McGill, 29, has served in the Legislature since 2006. She chaired the children's crisis task force that convened in the wake of Nebraska's safe haven debacle.