Newshound 8/31/2009

- Omaha could shed red
- Sigerson suffers heart attack and stroke


More after the jump ...



Omaha could shed red
With the 2010 census a few months away, political junkies are already anticipating its impact on congressional re-districting in 2011. Each congressional district should have around 600,000 residents. It's estimated that Nebraska's District 2, which represents Douglas County and most of Sarpy County, is over that number by 58,000. Redistricting could mean pushing Republican dominated Sarpy County towns into District 1, based in Lincoln.

Sigerson suffers heart attack and stroke
City councilman Chuck Sigerson suffered from a heart attack and stroke Aug. 29. He was taken to Lakeside Hospital where he remains in “critical” recovery. Fellow council member Franklin Thompson told KETV he spoke with Sigerson just one day after the incident and that Sigerson was in a “jovial” mood.

Sigersons illness comes at a crucial time for the council as they prepare to vote on this years budget. Sigerson was first elected to the council in 2001. He has served as the chair to the Nebraska Republican party.

North student arrested with gun
A 19-year-old North High student was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm on school grounds. He told Omaha Police he carried the weapon for protection in his neighborhood.

Morning drive-by injures one
A 24-year-old Omaha man was shot Aug. 31 near 42nd and Colby at around 9:00 a.m. Police said he was delivering items to a house when two men in a car drove by him and fired shots. The man was taken to Creighton University Medical Center in critical condition.

Bellevue left with posthumous bills
Bellevue city council members say they were thrown a curveball when several private firms billed the city $51,000 for work related to attracting the Omaha Royals. The Omaha World-Herald reported former Bellevue mayor Ed Babbit made the deals before he died July 8. Council members said there were no signed contracts and that they were never approached about the deal.

The bills include:

$11,295 to the Koley Jessen law firm.
$17,639.89 to the Croker Huck law firm.
$12,523.62 to the Leo A. Daly Co. for site planning, design and presentation.
$9,517.27 to Carroll for media and public relations work.