Katie Schubert

Longtime Bellevue Police Chief John Stacey is on administrative leave.

Bellevue city administrator Dan Berlowitz confirmed Thursday morning Stacey is on leave while the city attorney investigates a personnel matter. Berlowitz couldn’t disclose any additional information.

The Centers for Disease Control says Nebraska ranks second in the nation when it comes to binge drinking.

The Vital Signs report released in January says one in six adults binge drink. Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks for women, and five or more drinks for men, on one occasion.

A survey of supply managers in nine states shows the economy is growing, in spite of continued troubles at the national level.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the Mid-America Business Conditions survey. The Business Conditions Index, an overall indicator of economic health, climbed to 60 in April. A number above 50 indicates economic growth.  Goss says healthy agricultural and manufacturing sectors are to credit for the growth.

Two Omaha schools are among the Department of Education’s green ribbon schools.

Lothrop Magnet Center and Miller Park Elementary received the designations last week. The Department of Education says green ribbon schools are those that practice sustainability, implement recycling and other environmentally-friendly programs, and promote health.

Pam Galus of Lothrop Magnet Center says the school participates in several environmentally-friendly activities, including composting of plant materials, recycling, and collecting eyeglasses.

The Iowa DOT wants to hear from metro area residents about the Chicago-to-Omaha rail study.

A public meeting is scheduled Thursday in Council Bluffs about the passenger rail study. The combination state-federal project seeks to identify a “reasonable and feasible” high-speed passenger rail route between Chicago and Omaha. The preferred alternative route travels through the Quad Cities, Iowa City, and Des Moines, following I-80.

VA of Nebraska-Western Iowa officials estimate several thousand veterans in their service territory are homeless or living below the poverty line.

The VA of Nebraska-Western Iowa is partnering with Omaha’s Together Inc. to offer a food pantry for homeless and low-income veterans. The pantry opened April 18th and will operate on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.

VA of Nebraska-Western Iowa spokesman Will Ackerman says they hope to provide another resource to veterans struggling to get by.

Russia’s Ambassador to the U.S. says two decades after the Cold War, relations between the two countries remain complex.

Sergey Kislyak discussed international relations during a forum Thursday night at UNO. Kislyak has served as Ambassador since 2008, and says the relationship between the U.S. and Russia has improved steadily over the past few years.

Creighton University’s president says new partnerships with Alegent Health mean health science students will have quality training for years to come.

One agreement expands Alegent’s teaching affiliation with Creighton’s health sciences programs. Creighton president Father Timothy Lannon says the move is good for medical students, and will better address community needs.

Alegent’s Bergan Mercy Medical Center and Immanuel Hospital provide residency slots for Creighton’s medical students.

Nancy Sebring will take over July 1 as the Omaha Public Schools’ new superintendent.

The OPS board unanimously approved Sebring’s contract Wednesday afternoon. She’ll receive a $275,000 base salary, plus $12,000 for transportation expenses and an annuity equal to 14 percent of her salary. The contract does not include bonuses.

OPS board president Freddie Gray says she’s confident Sebring will transition smoothly in to her new role as superintendent.

Expanding Omaha’s bicycle and pedestrian transit system is a key component of the city’s new transportation master plan.

The plan, unveiled Monday, looks at Omaha’s transportation needs over the next 25 years. City officials say there are four goals for the plan, including sustainability, connecting neighborhoods, and providing more options.