We're your station.
This is the KPTM Fox 42 News at 9.
A couple makes a shocking discovery at a Council Bluff Cemetery.
Now police are looking for answers.
Hi everybody, thanks for joining us tonight.
I'm Taylor Wilson.
And I'm Tracy Jason.
Lab results show a human fetus was found in a Council Bluff Cemetery.
Police were called to the scene on Saturday but weren't sure what it was until today's
autopsy.
Fox 42's David DeJohn has more details.
It was along this road on the far end of Cedar Lawn Cemetery where the discovery was made.
A couple taking a Saturday afternoon walk found a 17 week old fetus.
One of them stood by while the other went to use the telephone and contacted the police
department.
When they arrived on the scene, police found what looked like a human fetus about the size
of a hand.
We contacted the medical examiner's office, state medical examiner's office on Saturday
night and they told us how they wanted it packaged and transported for an autopsy at
10 this morning on Monday.
Autopsy results prove it was indeed a human fetus, a boy, and that it had been outside
for about two weeks.
Management at Walnut Hill Coupler Cemetery says nothing like this has ever happened before
but that perhaps whoever placed the fetus here ultimately wanted it buried in baby land.
Preserved for infants, this section is also located far back in the cemetery.
I don't recall anything like this in several years here at the police department.
The next step for police is to find the mom.
Local hospitals have already been contacted in case the mother was in need of medical
attention.
Well, I don't know that we have anything to alert us that somebody is in danger here if
it's been outside for 14 days, possibly we're past the danger point.
With photographer Kyle Benneke, David Dijon, KPTM, Fox 42 News at 9.
Council Blutz Police say they need your help.
If you know anything about the case, call the department.
Those numbers right there on the bottom of your screen, 326-2509 or 328-STOP, both of
those numbers, 712 area codes.
And there's new information about the Omaha police officer who was injured during a chase
earlier this month.
The Omaha World Herald says police reports show Officer Chad Simmons did not have a seat
belt on at the time of his accident on January 2nd.
Simmons was kept in a medical coma for days after that accident.
He's out of the hospital now but is still recovering from head and neck injuries.
Omaha police say wearing seat belts is standard operating procedure and the accident is still
being investigated.
An Omaha church's uniting against hate mail left at homes around the metro.
The timing of tonight's forum was no mistake.
As Fox 42's Amanda Muller reports, the Hanscom Park United Methodist Church is hoping to
send a message to the group behind the mailings on the Martin Luther King holiday.
Packed pews full of people wanting to know why.
This 16 page newspaper ended up in driveways around the city a few weeks ago.
I just couldn't read it all because I didn't like what I saw.
The race's literature is nothing new to Omaha.
It comes from members of the National Alliance, a group that has delivered similar hate mail
around the city in the past.
This shows who publishes it.
But Bob Wolfson of Omaha's Anti-Defamation League says his latest publication called
The Aryan Alternative is louder.
Makes her color, better paper, they've got a little more sophisticated and that's a concern
for us.
Some might say bringing attention to the newspaper through forums like this one is just what
the group is looking for.
Well Wolfson says that's true but at the same time it's important to teach people about
extreme viewpoints.
Unless you acknowledge them, you can't see the very far extremes.
That's important to know so that we can work our way back to the middle where common people
are just trying to get along with each other.
So far the group has only sent its message through writing.
Wolfson just hopes that message doesn't turn violent.
I hope that enough people can kind of speak out and reject this that their fishing around
for adherents won't work here.
And that's just what these folks say they're doing by packing the pews, sending their own
message right back.
It's not something that needs to be brought out that humanity and goodwill is what we
need.
They're not going to get away with what they're saying and doing.
A move they say Martin Luther King Jr. would be proud of.
We need to lead the way.
If that's the way it has to be, we shall do it.
With photographer Taylor Stein, Amanda Mueller, KPTM, Fox 42 News at 9.
Wolfson says area law enforcement is watching the neo-Nazi groups targeting our area closely
and if you have concerns about the literature, you can find more information from the Anti-Defamation
League by calling 402-333-1303 or log on to the website at ADL.org.
Some of Nebraska's smallest schools are looking to join forces with those surrounding the
state's largest district.
Class 1 schools are hoping to work with Millard, Ralston, Elkhorn and District 66 to stop
forced school consolidation.
A new state law forces the small schools to merge with larger schools, something the small
schools say they could have in common with the Omaha area districts.
At tonight's meeting, both groups discussed how to get the legislature to work against
the planned mergers and stop future mergers.
And meantime, you can watch our town hall meeting we held last week where various issues
regarding consolidation were discussed and debated with the first panel of its kind on
this topic and a crowd of over 1,000.
Your Children, Your Voice, Our Future, it'll air this Wednesday at 6 o'clock right here
on Fox 42.
Today people across the metro celebrated Martin Luther King Jr.'s holiday.
Some wonder if the gatherings are becoming routine and are asking if the holiday is what
it should be.
Fox 42's Joe Giles has more.
An early morning march to the state capitol, just one way, people chose to celebrate Martin
Luther King Jr. Day.
I think it's our job as adults to make sure that children of this day and age remember
what Martin Luther King's dream was and to make that dream a reality.
But some, like Pastor Bernard Johnson, say the holiday isn't celebrated as it should
be.
This is considered a national holiday, but yet there are people still working today.
Nestled in North Omaha is this African American bookstore, open with a goal of education.
One person inside says people shouldn't just focus on King's famous I Have a Dream speech,
but study his other ideals.
Dr. King progressively was focusing on the class structure, the financial structure,
and how difficult that was keeping African American people and our families from really
being able to prosper.
Says African Americans should take the lead in getting that message out and placing a
greater importance on the holiday itself.
There's enough of us that we could take the lead in changing the approach.
And then I think others, Caucasians and others, they're going to follow our lead.
With photographer Jahad Way, Joe Giles, KPTM, Fox 42, News at Nine.
The several people we talked with today say they're glad the holiday is celebrated at
all and hope more people take the time to reflect on how Dr. King changed the fabric
of our country.
Former President Gerald Ford is back in the hospital tonight.
Doctors in California say Ford has been readmitted to a hospital there and is being treated for
pneumonia.
The 92-year-old was admitted over the weekend.
He was also in the hospital just last month for unspecified tests.
His office says Ford is doing well and resting comfortably.
Fire in north central Nebraska continues to burn tonight.
Firefighters say they have about 70 percent of the fire contained, but it is still burning
over about 9600 acres.
Fire crews say they were able to knock down some of the worst areas this morning, but
also say they're still concerned the fire could spread since high winds are expected
in the area.
Officials think the fire might have been started by people.
We want to talk to anyone who was in that area between 7 and 10 a.m. yesterday.
We had some windy weather here as well.
We did and hopefully it's not going to get any colder than we experienced today after
the warm temperatures over the weekend.
Here's Tyson in the weather center to tell us more.
I'll tell you what, overall still pretty windy outside with wind gusts right around 24 miles
per hour in the metro, gusting at 35 miles per hour in Lincoln at this hour.
That makes for cold wind chill values.
It feels like 16 degrees in Omaha, a current wind chill of 11 degrees in Harlan with a
current wind chill of 18 in Lincoln.
Now let's go ahead and focus on these snow showers that moved through earlier today.
We'll stop things at about one o'clock this afternoon from Denison through Logan.
Of course right here in the metro back towards Lincoln a quick trace of pretty much moderate
to heavy snow showers moving through, but those went through very quickly and have moved
out of the area and we're expecting clearing skies towards morning and those winds should
tend to die down a little bit as we start to make our way into tomorrow's partly cloudy
skies by seven o'clock for the bus stop forecast, 25 degrees.
Here's the good news, plenty of sunshine in the forecast for tomorrow and a little bit
warmer and not as windy.
So much better days as we start to make our way into Tuesday, 36 degrees by noon, 39 degrees
by five o'clock, mostly sunny skies at that time as well.
There will be changes on the forecast.
First good changes for midweek and then potential for snow by the end of the week.
Some people will focus on the seven day forecast coming up in a few minutes guys.
Alright, some good changes we'll take.
Good at first at least.
We don't want the rest of it.
Well the friends of Cunningham Lake continue their fight to keep Rainwood Road open.
They say the City Council compromise is not a solution.
The group says it appreciates the City Council's willingness to hear their concerns, but they
say the Council compromise plan has serious faults.
It says the idea to build an alternate road from the north side of Cunningham Lake to
the east side could do more damage than good.
You would be going through some of the most undeveloped area of the lake and that some
of the most beautiful area and a road would destroy some of that and also there's been
no environmental impact statement done.
And the City Council will talk about the future of Rainwood Road again on January 24th.
Also tonight on KPTM Fox 42 News at 9 we'll introduce you to a woman who has opened her
home to children for almost 30 years and is making the heartland proud.
How about the Blue Jays?
Creighton is hanging tough.
And speaking of tough, well we'll hit the mats with a three time state champion.
Watch this and we'll hear what he thinks of a loser.
Coming up later.
Almost 40 years later and an American great's presence is still felt strong.
Celebrations from across the country coming up next.
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Bellevue University really helped me accomplish what I wanted to do.
The faculty was great.
It was definitely a real world experience for me.
Commencement to me means that I'm moving forward in the world and being all that I can be and
proving myself to the world.
We're your station.
This is the KPTM Fox 42 News at 9.
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We recommit ourselves to working for the drain that Martin Luther King gave his life for.
In America where the dignity of every person is respected, where people are judged not
by the color of their skin, by the content of their character, and where the hope of
a better tomorrow is in every neighborhood in this country.
President Bush just won among millions of Americans remembering Dr. King.
Hundreds filled the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta where King preached from 1960 until
he was murdered in 1968.
He was remembered as a leader who went to jail 39 times working for freedom.
Yesterday would have been King's 77th birthday.
In Florida thousands took to the streets of Tampa for the Martin Luther King Jr. parade.
The parade kicks off Tampa's celebration of Black Heritage Month and raises money for
more than 20 different scholarships.
And for the first time in years, Houston's King Hallele was a day of unity.
It was the first time in a decade that only one parade was held.
For years the city's Black Heritage Society and a parade foundation put on competing parades,
but a court order brought the two groups together for this year's celebration.
Hundreds of Nebraskans joined the Freedom Ride in Lincoln today in honor of Martin Luther
King.
The day began as about 400 people took part in the annual youth rally.
Then the march wound its way through Lincoln under the leadership of Governor Heineman,
finally ending at the state capitol.
Service to all was one of the messages Martin Luther King Jr. tried to instill in Americans
through his speeches.
The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority came together to honor King's memory by serving those less
fortunate.
They shared King's story with those at the open door mission.
Not only is it a chance to do service by serving lunch here as well as presenting this program
where we help educate our community about the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.
A celebration for Martin Luther King Jr. drew a standing room only crowd at the University
of Nebraska Medical Center.
It featured keynote speaker Dr. Robert Jensen, an author who has written books about how
to confront racism.
Jensen says while progress has been made in stopping racism, King was looking for more
than just racial equality.
It was about justice and we have to also remember the radical nature of King's message, especially
on the day that we honor him.
Jensen says King promoted economic equality and nonviolent protest against war.
Hundreds turned out to hear first hand what it was like to march alongside Dr. King.
John Slade was one of thousands to march with the historic civil rights leader as keynote
speaker at UNL.
John Slade also spoke out about how he worries that the recognition of Dr. King is becoming,
as he calls it, rather routine.
In my view, that would be a mistake.
Dr. King's contribution to this nation continues to evolve because he did the seemingly impossible.
He awakened the better angels of our nature and gave hope to millions.
Slade is also a part of history, helping found the historically black fraternity.
He was one of 12 students at Morgan State University to found Iota Phi Theta fraternity.
Recognition for Dr. King all across Nebraska today.
All across the country.
Yeah, no doubt about that.
Well, there were definitely a few flurries outside there this afternoon, but could any
more snow be on the way?
Tyson is coming up with us now.
We don't want to hear it, but also tonight on the Fox 42 News at 9, could TV be rotting
more than your brain?
We'll explain in Your Health Matters.
And why are these protestors so upset with a little beer?
We've got the story next.
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A little help here.
If you see news happen, call the KPTM Fox 42 News team at 554-4282.
Iowa farmers are the top corn producers in the country.
Iowa Corn Promotion Board says Iowa farmers grew 20% of this year's U.S. corn crop.
The crop was just behind last year's record output.
It's the 12th straight year.
Iowa has been the top state in the U.S.
And the Garden State can now also be called another smoke-free state.
New Jersey Governor signed the Smoke-Free Air Act this Sunday.
It goes into effect April 15th, banning smoking in most public places, including bars, restaurants,
night clubs and bowling alleys.
But the state's famous Atlantic City casinos are exempt.
Fines are breaking the law between 250 and $1,000.
The oil market is watching Nigeria, where royal Dutch Shell says it might pull all of
its workers.
The possible move comes after four attacks on oil facilities in five days.
Shell is the largest oil producer in Nigeria.
The pullout could drive up worldwide prices and hurt the Nigerian economy.
An addition of a beer company to the National Stock Exchange causes a big brouhaha in Thailand.
Thousands of protesters rallied against the decision to add the country's largest alcohol
maker, Thai beverage.
Hundreds of Buddhist monks joined the protest, warning the move will further corrupt the
younger generation.
Encouraging developments in the battle against cancer.
New technology will soon make one type of leukemia nearly 90 percent curable.
New treatments for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, will allow physicians to quickly identify
children who aren't responding to a certain type of treatment, allowing them to make changes
before it's too late.
Doctors say there are also some promising new drugs out there that could help cure ALL.
And here's one parents should listen to.
Doctors have also found eating junk food might affect your mental health.
A lack of amino acids, from which neurotransmitters in the brain are actually made, can lead to
feelings of depression and apathy.
But diets with enough complex carbohydrates, essential fats, amino acids, vitamins and
minerals and water have been shown to promote balanced moods and feelings of well-being.
And grape juice.
Well this one's good for you.
South Korean researchers have found that grape juice can actually help lower blood pressure.
A substance in grape skin helps dilate blood vessels, which leads to the reduction in pressure.
Red and purple skinned grapes contain the highest concentrations of the substance.
And believe it or not, a refreshing, sugary soft drink can actually refresh your memory.
A team of Scottish psychologists found that a single sugary drink improved memory retention
and volunteers by up to 17 percent.
Using brain imaging techniques, researchers also revealed high levels of activity and
memory areas of the brain shortly after subjects drank the sugary liquids.
Well there you go.
I won't feel so guilty next time I pound a coke.
Every time you have the Pepsi on the set, it's good for you.
You've got an excuse.
Sure, sometimes it is.
And here's a question for you.
Could the secret to a happy marriage be leaving the TV in the TV room?
Well some doctors are saying so.
I'm not sure what their credentials are, but that's what they're saying.
A study by an Italian sexologist found that couples with a television in their bedroom
have sex half as often as those who don't.
In the study, those without a TV in their bedroom have sex twice a week compared to
once a week for those with one.
And for people 50 and above, the average fell from seven times a month to one and a half
times a month.
The study also found that what you watch might also have an effect on your love life.
Violent films put half of the couples out of the mood, while reality TV kills it for
one third.
So I guess the obvious question, do you have a TV in your bedroom?
You don't have to answer.
No comment, obviously.
I want to know what the testing methods, how do you do those tests?
Yeah, I don't even want to think about that either, you know?
How do you be a sexologist?
How does that play into things?
So many questions, so few answers.
Why don't we just toss it over to Tyson right now.
He can tell us about the weather.
It's a little safer.
Yeah, that's what I do best, talking about the weather.
Let's just get you right into the Almanac pages.
I'll tell you what, temperature wise, pretty chilly today.
We topped out at 49, but that was at 212 this morning.
Otherwise, temperatures were in the 30s throughout the afternoon with windy conditions, 31 and
11.
That's what we should be for this time of year, and we did see a trace of snow earlier
today throughout the afternoon hours.
We'll talk about a few changes in our forecast and our next chance for snow coming up in
about two and a half minutes.
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Okay, better news for tomorrow with temperatures climbing back into the upper 30s throughout
the afternoon.
Plenty of sunshine in the forecast also.
36 degrees by 12 o'clock, mostly sunny skies, 39 degrees by five.
Sunny conditions, not the case earlier today.
In fact, flurries were in the area with windy conditions as we take a look at video throughout
the afternoon.
There they are, flurries right there with some wet streaks throughout the one to two
o'clock hour.
And then those quickly moved on out.
Temperatures right around the 32-watt degree mark throughout the one and two o'clock hour
today.
Let's go ahead and take a look outside right now.
29 degrees in the metro, 30 in Columbus, 32 degrees in Lincoln.
However, we take a look at the current wind chill values and it feels cold out there.
It feels like 16 degrees in the metro, feels like 18 in Columbus, with current wind chill
values right around 11 in Harlan and 16 in Atlantic.
Highs today, this was throughout the early afternoon.
Temperatures really plummeted throughout the daytime hours.
37 in the metro, again 49 in about 212 this morning.
36 in Harlan, 38 degrees in Atlantic, with upper 30s west of here.
Clouds will continue to be on the decrease overnight tonight.
There's that initial band of snow that we saw move through earlier today.
These clouds are going to exit the region through the overnight hours.
Winds should die down as well.
You take that combination and our temperatures should tend to drop a little bit, mainly lower
to mid 20s from eastern Nebraska into western Iowa, with colder air even further west of
that.
So as we look across the nation, fortunately some good news for areas like eastern Oklahoma,
eastern Texas, even as we start to make our way into southern portions of Arkansas.
Some much needed rain at the same time though, unfortunately thunderstorm activity bringing
lightning to very dry areas, but across the central part of the nation, pretty quiet,
and that's still the same case here.
Again, those clouds continuing to stick with us throughout eastern Nebraska, but overall
you can see that line of snow and rain from earlier today has dissipated, and we're going
to stick with decent conditions overnight tonight.
So here's the clouds moving out as we continue through the 10 o'clock hour tomorrow.
Plenty of sunshine throughout eastern Nebraska, western Iowa.
Very nice day tomorrow, not as windy.
Temperatures still above normal, and clear conditions stay with us throughout eastern
Nebraska by tomorrow night at 8 o'clock.
But notice as we continue into Wednesday morning, a few clouds start to move into the region.
That's going to make way for partly cloudy skies as we continue into Wednesday afternoon
right here in Omaha.
So decreasing clouds for tonight, an overnight low of 24 degrees.
Winds will be from the northwest at about 15 to 25 miles per hour, and then tomorrow
mostly sunny skies, not incredibly warm, but still a good 9 degrees above average for this
time of year, 40 for a daytime high.
And then on Wednesday upper 40s, really nice once again, partly cloudy skies with winds
from the southwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour.
So temperatures are beautiful all the way through Wednesday into Thursday, 48 on Thursday,
but there is a chance for snow.
As we go into Friday, temperatures dip back into the mid-30s, about a 50% chance as of
right now, could see some accumulating snow here in the metro, and then we tend to cool
off a little bit for the first half of the weekend.
So windy and cold today, a better day tomorrow, and it gets better as we continue into midweek.
Nice to see that sun popping out again.
Finally, a little more sun.
After a great weekend, 62 on Sunday.
That's good news.
Thanks, Jason.
Well, President Bush's nomination for the Supreme Court is up for a vote.
We'll tell you how one Nebraska senator is leaning.
Also tonight on the Fox 42 News at 9, severe weather in Pakistan makes a bad situation
worse.
Headlines covering the world just ahead.
You can get Amber Alerts and other breaking news delivered to your mobile phone from KPTM
Fox 42.
Sign up at kptm.com.
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We're your station.
This is the KPTM Fox 42 News at 9.
We're your station.
This is the KPTM Fox 42 News at 9.
The Senate will soon vote on whether to confirm Judge Samuel Alito as the next Supreme Court
Justice.
And when Nebraska Senator is speaking out about his chances.
Senator Nelson met Alito and says the judge seems committed to being a judge and not a
legislator.
Although Nelson would not say how he will vote, he seems impressed with Alito.
I found him to be very straightforward, very candid.
And at the same time, I didn't find anything there that would cause me any, not to support
him.
Without a filibuster, a confirmation vote is expected next Tuesday.
So far, Democratic leaders say a filibuster is unlikely.
Two U.S. military helicopter pilots are dead tonight after the helicopter crashed north
of Baghdad.
The story's first tonight in the headlines.
It covers the world.
What does this say?
They saw the chopper go down after taking missile fire.
This is the second U.S. chopper crash in Iraq in the last three days.
The Iraq Insurgency Group is claiming responsibility for the incident.
A statement on its website has not yet been confirmed.
A fire in a Russian office building turns deadly as flames force workers to jump out
the windows.
Hundreds of people were evacuated from the nine-story bank building.
Officials say some stairwells were blocked by gates.
At least nine people are dead, 15 injured.
Cause of that fire is under investigation.
Heavy rain, snow and landslides exacerbate conditions for Pakistan's earthquake survivors.
For the second day in a row, the severe weather prevented U.N. workers from delivering supplies
to victims of the October quake.
Hundreds of thousands of survivors there are dependent on aid groups for food and shelter.
Relief workers fear the region's harsh weather will intensify hunger and misery and add to
the quake's death toll.
The standoff continues in Georgia where man and woman are holding their lawyer hostage.
This story is first tonight in our headlines covering America.
Police say legal issues may have led the couple to take three people hostage at a law office.
Two were released unharmed earlier today, but the suspects are still inside holding
their lawyer hostage with an explosive device.
Police are still trying to negotiate.
In California, crews are cleaning up after two million gallons of raw sewage comes ashore
after a pumping station breakdown.
Crews used bulldozers to build sand barriers to try to keep the sewage from reaching the
water, but most were unsuccessful and several beaches are now closed.
And a New York man is finally free after being buried up to his waist in dirt.
The construction worker became trapped when the trench of the house his construction crew
was working on collapsed on him.
More than two dozen people worked to finally get him free.
And after five decades, a gold ring is back in the hands of the rightful owner.
A deep sea diver made the spectacular find in a New York lake.
The class ring discovered was engraved with initials R-A-W, which led the diver to Ron
Wachowski.
Ron says he lost the special ring in Lake Erie back in 1958.
First Lady Laura Bush and Condoleezza Rice were in Africa, but they were not the ones
with the top position.
They were on hand to watch the continent's first elected woman president get sworn in.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf officially took office as Liberia's new president today.
She's backed by a strong show of U.S. support, including two offshore warships there to keep
the peace.
The new president promises to fight the country's recent violence and corruption.
And in Chile, the country's first elected woman president gets set to take office.
Michelle Bachelet was elected yesterday.
Despite being a socialist, she promises to work with the United States.
The 54-year-old is the third woman elected to office in Latin America, but the first
not to follow a politically powerful husband into power.
Well, you think you got a lot of children.
We'll introduce you to one special lady who has taken care of more than 200 kids.
Her story is next.
It starts tomorrow, but we've got a preview of what to expect from this year's batch of
Idol hopefuls and the hopeless.
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We're your station.
This is the KPTM Fox 42 News at nine.
There are youth in our town who need one hour of your time.
Teammates is a mentoring program that's making a difference in the lives of young people
in our area.
And it takes just an hour a week to get with the program.
It does not take very much of your time.
It is time well spent with young people.
It is important for young people to have hope.
And adults are able to give young people hope.
Mentoring makes a difference in a child's life.
For more news online, log on to kptm.com.
For most parents, handling one or two kids can often be a challenge.
But over the years, one Omaha woman has been a mother to more than 200, a foster mom for
more than a quarter of a century.
And tonight, Gloria Leiferman is making the heartland proud.
For nearly 27 years, Gloria Leiferman has been a perpetual foster mom.
She and her husband took in their first foster baby in 1979.
Hi, sweetie.
Hi.
You are such a good baby.
Today, at the age of 70, she has now passed the 200 mark.
This one is 203.
Her career as a pediatric nurse fueled her love for babies, a love she shared with her
father who died just a few years ago at the age of 98.
When he was 90, he would still get down on the floor and whistle at my babies.
He loved babies.
Love may not be a strong enough word for Gloria.
She is rarely without a baby on her arm.
I can't show you the face of the one she has now for privacy reasons.
But the faces of the 202 that have come before make it easy to see why she continues to do
it.
It's in the blood, and I enjoy it.
I love what I do.
When her husband passed away a few years ago, some thought Gloria might slow down a little
bit, but she found a home without the sound of a baby's cry.
It wasn't a home she wanted to live in.
I just felt I need a baby in my arms now that I'm alone more than ever.
Gloria has taken in kids as young as 17 hours old, kept some as long as two years at twins
and triplets, given them love, a well-equipped nursery with everything a baby could need.
Gloria says when you get right down to it, the babies are giving her something too.
Oh, I get way more back from my babies than I give to them.
Gloria and her husband also had six kids of their own.
One daughter is a foster mom and a son a pediatrician.
She says there is a slight difference, though, in how she raised both groups.
I didn't believe in pacifiers.
All six of my kids were thumb suckers, and now I love pacifiers.
They are wonderful.
Other than the six photo albums and five journals she's kept on her foster kids, Gloria also
has two volumes of 100 original paintings commemorating the first hundred given to her 15 years ago
by an architect in her husband's firm.
Of course, she has now more than doubled that number and sees even more bundles of joy in
her future.
Oh, sweetie.
Hi.
Yeah.
Hey.
Hi.
I'm going to keep doing it until I don't enjoy it anymore, when it's no longer fun and I'll
quit.
But I really can't see.
That's a long ways down the road.
Gloria Leiferman, one more person making the heartland proud.
Gloria says the need for foster parents today is much greater than it was when she started
because of the meth epidemic.
She's also about to be honored by Epsilon Sigma Alpha International with the Distinguished
International Academy of Noble Achievement Award.
If you know of someone making the heartland proud, just give me a call at 554-4282 or email
me at twilsonatkptm.com.
We're just hours away from the fifth season of American Idol, but does that mean Judge
Simon Cowell is mellowing with age?
Fox's Anita Vogel gets the lowdown from the brash Brit himself.
It's one of the most beautiful songs of all time.
They call him mean, cruel and brutal.
He says he's just brutally honest.
If I'm being honest, you are more Jerry Springer show than American Idol.
As American Idol launches into its fifth season, Judge Simon Cowell says he has no plans to
change.
Dear oh dear.
Nancy, what a horrible, horrible voice.
What can you possibly say or a different way of saying things so you don't repeat yourself?
And then I think, well, because it's a reality show, there's no pressure.
You can just walk in there and you haven't got to think about anything and you can react
to the moment.
In the first few weeks, America will be treated to a wide range of talent, getting the usual
dose of Randy, Paula and Simon on their way to Hollywood.
I know it sounds rude, but I almost need to hear you singing with my eyes shut.
And if it's true everybody's a critic, Simon isn't just anybody.
Over the last 15 years as a record executive, Simon has discovered hundreds of acts, selling
more than 100 million albums worldwide.
So spotting talent is literally his job.
You can normally tell from the auditions, you see so many people on the road, so that
when somebody really good comes in, you go, yeah, that person's standing out.
Only on this show can an undertaker or a funeral director sing, you raise me up.
And in the end, most contestants praise Simon for his candor.
It may be hard for the singers to hear, but it's music to the ears of the viewers nationwide.
We can.
There's some unbelievably bad people this year.
I mean, seriously, seriously bad.
And you always think, okay, this year there won't be so many bad people.
But I don't know what happened this year.
Remember my name, fame.
Well, now I know why it says you love to make people cry with your music.
In Hollywood, Anita Vogel, Fox News.
The bad ones are sometimes the best part.
I think a lot of people watch for that.
I think you're right.
But he is brutally honest.
Yes, he is.
This is the big time.
This isn't small potatoes.
This is the big time.
Why do I feel like if American Idol had existed back in your heyday that you may have given
it a go?
We all like to sing in the shower and we all like to think we can sing, but when push comes
to shove, when it's down to the wire in front of a guy like him, I'd probably choke.
Oh, you got a good voice.
I do.
I think you would do better than any of those people we saw.
But it's not big time.
See, that's big time.
Okay, I'll tell you what.
If you want to hear him sing on the set one day, you email me and let me know.
If we get more than 20, we may do it.
I spent a year in Hollywood pursuing the acting career.
That's big time.
Trust me, I know this stuff.
I know.
Give us the sports.
We're going to get the spot here.
Go on, move on.
Okay, here we go.
You know, it's funny.
One coach admits he's on the hot seat at Mizzou and the other, well, he just lost a no-no
at the Cathedral of College Basketball.
But what a game tonight.
Thomas Gardner, the Gardner, hits it to tie the game.
But now Kansas and Christian Moody,.4 seconds left to win it.
Oh my goodness, how did he miss the bench, says it all.
Quinn Snyder, we got another life.
In overtime, Darnell Jackson, hot potato, hot potato, who's got it?
The Jayhawks go up.
However, the Tigers right back.
Gardner to Marshall Brown with authority and the face says it all.
KU, one last shot.
Forget about it.
Mizzou wins 89 to 86.
Big 12 basketball, shifting into high gear.
Then there's the Blue Jays, playing well, winning on the road.
How about some B ball, times two from B town.
And Matt Vecchani from Papio.
Hey, what did he learn about himself after that loss?
Hey, don't look now, but the Blue Jays, Johnny Mathis sticks it, are hanging tough.
Jeff Radcliffe at practice this afternoon, but first, some school.
You've been practicing for this your entire life.
The Chrysler Town and Country with Stow and Go seating and storage.
For the first time ever, get $1,000 over stock bonus cash and grab a Town and Country for
around $22,000.
Omaha Exorbitant, scene one, take one.
This is JJ Davis with Jeff Radcliffe for the Omaha Exorbitant.
What's my line?
Scene one, take two.
This is JJ Davis with Jeff Radcliffe for the Omaha Exorbitant.
Give me the script.
Scene one, take three.
This is JJ Davis with Jeff Radcliffe to talk about the excitement of the Omaha Exorbitant
Knights.
Come on down to the Civic and check out the best hockey in Omaha.
JJ Davis with Jeff Radcliffe for the Omaha Exorbitant Knights.
Enter your station.
This is the KPTM Fox 42 News at nine.
Good for your abs.
Good for your arms.
Good for your legs.
Good for you.
Come experience Mick Doyle's Kickboxing Gym, a fully functioning gym unlike anything you've
seen before with fitness kickboxing classes and youth programs.
And if you're serious about getting into shape, try a power hour with our personal trainers
that will get you into shape and keep you there.
Learn more by visiting nickdoyle.com.
Now, what's your excuse?
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And that's why everybody wants a piece of the action.
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Did it just get hot in here?
KPTM Fox 42 Sports with J.J. Davis has been recognized by the Associated Press as the
best sportscast in Nebraska.
Now yesterday's game was over in the first half.
Creighton here, transition basketball, just stepped on their throats as Anthony Tolliver
put it and never let the Sycamores up.
It's good to see, great to see.
Hey, Jeff Radcliffe saw the Jays back at practice this afternoon.
Fresh off that rout in Terra Coat, the Blue Jays are surging both in the standings and
in confidence.
You know, I think it's all tied back to execution and not turning it over.
But I think that there are more confident groups than they were in December, even after
a couple losses early in January.
And the Blue Jays have slammed their last four opponents.
In fact, they've won eight of their last 11.
And go figure, those eight have come without Nate Funk on the floor.
But that's just a coincidence, right?
Obviously with Nate, we're a better team.
Just so happened that the two games that he came back, we happened to lose at the winning
four and now we done won four over.
So, no, I think it's just a coincidence.
I mean, I think we just come out with more focus and we have more to prove, I think,
whenever he's not in the lineup.
I think that everybody just focuses that much more whenever he came back, I think everybody
just kind of let down a little bit.
It's like, oh, he'll score 20, so we'll be all right.
And I just think that since he's been out, I think everybody can just really focus on
the role for this team and so we can get the job done.
Maybe there's a little bit more focus without Nate because the team is really dependent
on Nate for so many things.
And they just kind of look and say, well, Nate can do that, Nate can do that.
And without Nate, I think maybe they become a little bit more responsible and a little
more focused because they know they got to do more.
Last time the Jays played Bradley, Nate was in the game, but the Jays did less, losing
to the Braves.
The rematch is Wednesday night at Quest Center in Omaha.
Jeff Radcliffe, KPTM Fox 42 Sports.
Thanks Jeff.
Just in high school basketball.
And you know, it's always nice to get to Boys Town.
That old gym, I think, has got some pretty cool vibes.
Hey, first of two at the annual B-Town tournament.
Brandon Mock inside and this one was all Wahoo Newman.
How about again?
Just sticks that one.
Hey, the Jackets kind of scratching their heads.
All right.
Sean Johnson steps up and drills it, but this game for the most part kind of pro-hum.
The Cavs here just blew by TJ 72 to 33.
Then there was the nightcap.
The home team Cowboys just kind of strolled out to take on Nebraska City.
Check this out.
Vince Marshall with the little dip-si-doo, little off balance and somehow it goes in.
That Dwayne Wright just flies on in.
Actually jumped out 11 to zip.
And the Pioneers, come on man, let's make a game of it.
All right.
Neb City crashes the boards.
Aaron Bush somehow grabs it and puts it right back up and in and the power in.
Yeah.
Brace yourselves.
Vince Marshall stuffed in, ouch, stuffed in 21.
It was all B-Town 61 to 46.
Hey, the Cowboys are forced to be reckoned with perhaps in that state tournament this
year.
Turning to wrestling.
You know, Matt Bacani here was on track to be a four-time undefeated state champ.
And then after 113 straight wins, he lost to Ralston's Nate Koenig two weekends ago.
Now wrestling at 140, Matt won his fourth straight Metro title this past weekend.
Of course it all started right there with that pin on Friday, just 57 seconds.
But in that loss recently, however, what did Bacani learn about himself?
That I'm a pretty self-motivated person after that loss.
I've been doing some pretty really extreme things to get myself to where I think I need
to be.
How bad do you hate losing?
I can't stand it.
It's something that I'm not going to get accustomed to.
I don't ever get accustomed to losing.
What separates him from everybody else?
Well, he has tremendous physical abilities, great gifts, agility, his strength to body
support, weight is very good, and again, just that mental edge.
I like to think that I'm real intense and I'm always attacking.
I never give a slow moment.
And I think it's real interesting to watch me wrestle just because I'm always attacking.
And I feel that my matches are never boring.
All said and done, what have you remembered, thought of?
Just as a hard worker and a good wrestler and a good person.
So I mean, that's pretty much all I can ask for.
Remember this move from the state final a year ago?
Look for this monarch to challenge for the throne once again.
Look at that.
Four years, four titles for Matt McHenney.
Hey, not too many have done it.
And finally, to our Fox 42 fans of the day.
Of course, I was hanging out at B-Town tonight and there they are.
That's the JV team.
The Pioneers, JV team.
Yeah, that's right.
How often does the JV team get some pubs?
So Nebraska City's Junior Varsity basketball team on hand.
It's you're on the big guys tonight.
Yeah, our Fox 42 fans of the day.
And I do believe I've got a couple of more fans coming up after the break.
Some area residents face the frigid winter conditions without a coat or any other protection,
but you can lend a hand.
I am Taylor Wilson.
And I'm Tracy Jason, KPTM Fox 42 and the Salvation Army invite you to donate your new or nearly
new coats or other winter essential wear to these participating sponsors.
Show you care by taking part in the fourth annual winter warm up.
Get your new Toyota from Nebraska's number one volume Toyota dealer, Performance Toyota
of Lincoln.
Get these incredible January deals.
America's number one selling car, the new 2006 Toyota Camry LE, only $1.99 a month.
The new 2006 Toyota Tundra V6, just $1.19 a month.
For selection, fuel economy and resale, it's Nebraska's number one volume Toyota dealer.
Performance, driven to be the best.
Performance Toyota, just off I-80 and North 27th Street, Lincoln.
America's love affair with cars never ends.
Rekindle your passion.
At the Midlands International Auto Show, the hottest new cars, trucks, SUVs, concept vehicles,
classics, street rods are all there.
And have a chance to win a Pontiac Solstice or Torrent in the Make-A-Wish Foundation Raffle.
See them on Green's custom rides.
A full-scale Dodge Charger completely assembled on site.
The Snap-On Tool Bike from American Chopper.
And tons more.
The Midlands International Auto Show, January 26th through January 29th at the Quest Center.
America's love affair for cars is alive and well.
We're your station.
This is the KPTM Fox 42 News at 9.
Good for your abs.
Good for your arms.
Good for your legs.
Good for you.
Come experience Mick Doyle's Kickboxing Gym.
A fully functioning gym unlike anything you've seen before with fitness kickboxing classes
and youth programs.
And if you're serious about getting into shape, try a power hour with our personal trainers
that will get you into shape and keep you there.
Learn more by visiting nickdoyle.com.
Now, what's your excuse?
There are youth in our town who need one hour of your time.
Teammates is a mentoring program that's making a difference in the lives of young people
in our area.
And it takes just an hour a week to get with the program.
It does not take very much of your time.
It is time well spent with young people.
It is important for young people to have hope.
And adults are able to give young people hope.
Mentoring makes a difference in a child's life.
If you are one of the millions of Americans resolving to lose weight this year, this one
may not be for you.
But for you sweet tooths, check out this colossal cake.
The world's largest ice cream cake is nearly 16 feet long, almost 10 feet wide.
A team of 20 worked for nearly 20 days and literally used buckets of buttercream to cover
eight tons of cake and ice cream all while standing in a freezer.
Some got a sample.
This dessert is being saved to slice into 32,000 pieces at a children's play next week.
Looks yummy.
Yummy.
I'd like a diving board right next to it.
Right into it.
Boom.
Backflip into that.
That would be good.
The hot temperatures get even warmer as we go into Wednesday and Thursday.
And then snow enters the forecast as we approach the end of the week.
So nice through midweek and then it looks like more winter like weather to close things
out.
Alright, what can we do?
That's it.
Tonight's Fox News at 9.
Have a great night.
We'll see you back here tomorrow.
I don't know what to do anymore.
Consult Malcolm in the Middle.
There's something seriously wrong with this family.
This message brought to you by the American Malcolm Institute Foundation Association.