Paul Hammel, Nebraska Examiner

Terry Poland, 34, of Fremont, resigned as police chief in Oakland after the purchases were made public. He was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Nelson for misuse of public funds.

The Nebraska Auditor’s Office, in a June 2022 audit, found that Poland had used 27 gift cards purchased with city funds to buy a series of personal items, including ice-fishing equipment, a wake surfboard and a $950 glass basketball backboard.

He had told Oakland officials that he was using the gift cards to buy ammunition for the police department. ...

Jeffrey Stenstrom, 42, and a now deceased associate, Brett Cook of Fremont, stole more than $5 million from clients of Darland Properties, an Omaha property management company, to fund lavish lifestyles, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Eugene Kowel, the special agent in charge of the Omaha FBI office, called it “a clear-cut case of greed.”

Stenstrom owned and operated commercial remodeling and repair businesses, and Brett Cook, the vice president of Darland Properties, directed jobs to Stenstrom’s firms, which, in turn, hired subcontractors to do the work. ...

In a report released Tuesday, Doug Koebernick, the inspector general for corrections, said the use of force was excessive and unnecessary in dealing with a mentally ill inmate, with whom prison staff had previous experience.

“This was a disturbing event,” the inspector general wrote. “Although this event took place in 2021, it was important to release it in order to promote accountability within the system and to assist with identifying any possible reforms related to this incident and similar incidents.”

Acting director shared concern

In January, Diane Sabatka-Rine, then the acting director of state corrections, wrote a formal response, saying that she shared the IG’s concern about the mishandling of the disturbance. She said that the actions of staff do not represent the mission or values of the department. ...

Pillen, in a press release Tuesday, said the aim of the billboards was to “destroy Nebraska’s way of life by shutting down our state’s largest industry – livestock.”

“As the Governor of Nebraska, I will always stand and defend our businesses, farmers and ranchers against radical activists who value cheap stunts over bettering the lives of Nebraskans,” he said in the release.

The billboards were erected by the Washington, D.C.-based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine beginning two weeks ago. Pillen and his family own the Pillen Family Farms hog complexes. ...

LINCOLN — First Lady Susanne Shore is doubling down on her support for the Democrat in the 1st Congressional District race, State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks.

In a video released Tuesday, Shore — who doesn’t share her husband’s Republican Party affiliation — formally endorsed the Lincoln legislator, highlighting their shared passion for children.

‘A person in their corner’

“I’m passionate about helping all of our children thrive and succeed: mine, yours and those across Nebraska,” Shore said in the video. “I want to make sure those who can’t always advocate for themselves have a person in their corner fighting for them.” ...