6 things you need to know on Tuesday Oct. 8 Daybreak

Published: Oct. 8, 2024 at 5:50 AM CDT
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OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - 6 News Daybreak has the headlines you need to know to get your Tuesday started.

Fatal police shooting ‘justified,’ Douglas County Attorney says

The Douglas County Attorney announced Monday that last week’s fatal police shooting was justified.

Steven Phipps, 22, died after a traffic stop turned foot pursuit on Sept. 28. Phipps was shot eight times by Officer Zendejas in less than three seconds.

Attorney Don Kleine says that the incident was justified because Phipps brought out a firearm and pointed it at the officer. Kleine stated that Phipps was “not complying with the officer’s commands.”

The Omaha Police chief has also defended Zendejas’ actions after showing the public surveillance footage.

The incident will still go before a grand jury, per Nebraska state law on in-custody deaths.

Decision 2024: Bacon and Vargas to debate Tuesday

Republican Rep. Don Bacon and Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas are set to debate Tuesday in Lincoln.

The event will be streamed live on Nebraska Public Media at 8 p.m.

The two have agreed to three debates before voters take to the polls in Nov. Their first debate of this election season was held Friday and hosted by WOWT.

Experts are saying that Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District rematch is a toss-up, although Bacon has won re-election multiple times.

Omaha City Council hosts weekly meeting Tuesday

The Omaha City Council is having their weekly meeting on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

A public hearing will be held on accepting a “SAFER” grant that would give the Omaha-metro $6.8 million and 18 new firefighters.

The Beltine Trail will also be a topic of discussion, as land is needed to continue building from Decatur Street to Grant Street.

Another item on their agenda is to hold a hearing on extending the electric scooter program one more year, with the option of ten more years in Omaha and Council Bluffs.

Missing Lincoln woman found safe

Lincoln Police announced Tuesday morning that they have found a missing 75-year-old woman.

Charlotte Starkey was reported leaving her home in South 16th and Burnham Streets in southwest Lincoln.

LPD says that Starkey’s husband came home at about 2:30 p.m. to find her missing, as well as a red and silver 1887 Ford F150.

Starkey has dementia and suffers from short-term memory loss.

Police say that she was found safe early Tuesday morning.

Vigil held in Brownville for southeast Nebraska man

A candlelight vigil is being held Tuesday evening for Alex Mayfield, of Auburn.

Mayfield was reported missing on July 31, and was found dead in the Missouri River a week later. Authorities recovered his body from inside a car.

Although it has been nearly 10 weeks, the family says that they are still waiting for answers from local police.

The vigil will be at 6 p.m.

OPPD responding to Hurricane Milton

In their latest update, OPPD says they are staying in the southeast as Hurricane Milton approaches.

They have been restoring power in Virginia and West Virginia. The team will head to Florida after Milton hits the area.

OPPD says that its crews will stay in a safe location until the storm has passed and it’s safe to begin work.

Forecasters say that Milton will hit the west coast of Florida on Wednesday evening. AP reports that the hurricane will then hit major cities in Florida.

Nebraska Task Force 1 deployed additional members to the southeastern U.S. to help with searching for and rescuing victims.