In the recruiting world, things can change at a moment’s notice. A little over a week ago, Cornhuskers Wire reported that Chase Loftin, the top high school player in Nebraska, was projected to commit to the Cornhuskers.
That changed Saturday evening when Loftin announced his commitment to the Florida State Seminoles. He chose FSU over Nebraska, Missouri, and Texas A&M.
The tight end told 247Sports that the people at Florida State made the difference in his decision.
“Florida State is home for me because of the people. All the coaches showed tons of love. I think it is a place to win a Natty.”
Loftin is a 6-foot-5, 213-pound tight end for Millard South High School out of Omaha, Nebraska. Over the last two seasons, he’s appeared in 22 games and has 73 receptions for 1,017 yards and 11 touchdowns.
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Nebraska’s tight end room is incredibly deep heading into the 2024 season and beyond. With names such as Thomas Fidone II, Carter Nelson, and Ismael Smith Flores, big things are expected from that position group this year.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Newly-elected University of Nebraska President Jeffery P. Gold has named H. Dele Davies, M.D. as UNMC’s interim chancellor.
Davies will replace Gold, who assumed the role of university system president in March after a decade of serving as UNMC’s chancellor.
“It was important to me to find the right person who can keep our momentum going as we formulate plans for permanent leadership. Dr. Dele Davies is that leader,” Gold said in a press release Monday.
Davies previously served as the senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean of graduate studies within the University of Nebraska, where he added new professional degrees and research graduate training programs to the college system.
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“I look forward to continue deepening the relationships within the communities we serve to grow Nebraska’s health care workforce, expand our research breakthroughs and pursue new opportunities for expansion of excellence on all of our five campuses,” Davies said in the release.
Davies also played a key role in launching both the Interprofessional Experiential Center for Enduring Learning (iEXCEL) and the Global Center for Health Security. He also worked to expand UNMC’s rural health initiatives.
“UNMC is on a remarkable trajectory, thanks to the collective efforts of so many individuals on the campus and beyond whose work is transforming the health and quality of life for people in Nebraska and around the world,” Gold said.
The chancellor position is subject to formal approval by the Board of Regents.
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Seven people, including four children, have been shot by a neighbor who once told them to “go back to where they came from” and “to speak English,” according to law enforcement.
Police in Crete, Nebraska, outside of Lincoln, responded to a shooting on Friday afternoon. The shooting victims, all of whom are reportedly Hispanic, are expected to survive.
Nebraska State Patrol has said that 74-year-old Billy Booth discharged his firearm at neighbors from inside his home before using the gun to take his own life.
About 15 people were present at the home with most of the victims outside when they were struck by the gunshots.
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Police said that three victims are adults, aged between 22 and 43, and four are kids aged between three and 10. Some have been treated and released from hospital. One person is being treated in Lincoln and two others are being treated in Omaha, according to KETV.
Law enforcement found several victims with gunshot wounds at the scene on Friday, and located the suspect in his home. A shotgun was found close to his body.
Booth and his neighbors are thought to have had prior disputes but no conflict immediately preceded the shooting, according to police. Previous disputes included arguments over parking and other issues.
Nebraska State Patrol Col John Bolduc said during a press briefing on Saturday that several 911 calls were made about an active shooter situation at about 4.33pm on Friday. As police arrived at the scene, they could hear gunshots. A single gunshot was heard from a home across the street.
It remains unclear who lives at the targeted home and who was visiting.
“It was quickly determined that all gunfire had come from a single residence at 1810 Parkland Street,” Bolduc said, according to NBC News.
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He said that a SWAT team arrived at the scene to detain what they thought was a “barricaded suspect.” Entering the residence at about 6.40pm, they found Booth dead.
“Preliminary investigation shows that all rounds fired by Booth came from inside of his house,” Bolduc said.
“Investigators are still actively working this investigation to understand everything that occurred, but at this point, we don’t believe there was any verbal contact between the suspect and any of the victims in the moments that led up to the shooting.”
Crete police chief Gary Young Jr said on Saturday that since 2021 police have responded to a number of complaints, mostly coming from Booth, regarding “driving behavior.”
“Not necessarily associated with the victims’ house, but cars driving too fast in the neighborhood, improper parking, nuisance properties, quality-of-life type issues,” Young said. “There was a single report from the victims that the suspect had flipped them off, told them to ‘Go home’ or ‘back to where they came from,’ to ‘Speak English.’”
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The family chose not to take the case any further, Young added.
“That resolved the situation, so we had no further contact,” he said, adding that there “could be” a racial element to the shooting.
“Certainly the context of ‘Go home’ and ‘Speak English’ lends itself to that,” Young said. But he added that the motive is still being investigated.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.