dn the
dailynebraskan.com
monday, february 25, 2013 volume 112, issue 108
Inside Coverage
Southern hospitality
Hawk season
Grill thrives on neighborhood flavors, mood
Women, men basketball teams beat Iowa
5
10
A bump in the night
Dancing at the Mardi Gras 2013 party included various line dances that got the crowd together as a group to dance.
PUPPY LOVE
Drones, privacy debate heads to state Legislature Sens. Chambers, Schumacher propose act to prevent drone use REECE RISTAU DN “Drones” and “unmanned aerial vehicles” are no longer just “Call of Duty” terms. They’re now common in state legislatures, too. Tension is growing in state governments about the legality of domestic drone use and invasion of privacy and Nebraska is at the forefront of the issue. The federal government is slowly looking into the concern, but states have begun to take matters into their own hands. Domestic drones range in size from no bigger than the palm of a hand to the size of a small aircraft and many are equipped with a camera for surveillance purposes. Journalists, farmers and law enforcement all have uses for domestic drones. They can help to get video footage, track crop growth and search for criminals.
Seth Dodds and Kelsey Isom both visit with a puppy trying to eat his leash at the “I Love My Dog Expo” at the Lancaster Event Center. Dodds has a dog at home, an Akita, and says he came to see and play with the dogs.
dogs, owners bond at ‘I love my dog’ expo s t o ry b y r e e c e r i s ta u | p h o t o s b y s ta c i e h e c k e r
T
he barking inside the Lancaster Event Center Sunday afternoon wasn’t coming from the vendors peddling goods or the customers milling. The barking was from the fourlegged poodles, pooches and pugs amassed inside the center for the “I Love My Dog Expo.” Shelly Escamilla and her dog Finnegan, a 160-pound chocolate brown Newfoundland, were among thousands of other dogs and owners. “It was great to see all the different breeds of dogs and extreme looks, like a poodle dyed pink,” Escamilla said. The expo held Saturday and Sunday featured more than 60 vendors from the Lincoln area and drew more than 3,000 dog owners and dog lovers, according to event organizer Michelle Ashley. The event was sponsored by DomestiPups, a volunteer-based organization that provides service dogs to the disabled and pet therapy programs. This is the sixth year they have sponsored the event. “This has been the busiest year by far,” said Ashley, executive director of DomestiPups. “It’s a fun event for people to get involved with their dogs.” There were different entertainment events each hour of the fair. Such events included doga, which is yoga for dogs, search and rescue demonstrations from Lincoln Fire & Rescue and “Muttalica,” a group of dogs dressed like the band Metallica. Participants could view Earthdog demonstrations, where terriers and Dachshunds hunt for vermin underground. In these demonstrations, tunnels made from wood were set up with plexiglass-paneled walls, and the dogs could be seen hunting. Domesti-Pups has multiple pet therapy programs it provides to communities in Lincoln, Omaha and St. Joseph, Mo. The group also sends dogs to schools, where children read out loud to them. Ashley said because dogs are not judgmental of reading ability, they act as a motivator for children
who struggle with reading. There were dogs of all shapes and sizes, from giant Great Danes to tiny Dachshunds, from dogs with three legs to dogs with mohawks. Vendors peddled caps, shirts, leashes and other pet items. Owners could get a caricature of their dogs drawn. There were also raffles participants could enter to win a variety of pet-related prizes. Businesses such as Camp Bow Wow
and dog boutiques had booths set up. Domesti-Pups sponsored “Pawsitively Photos-To-Go,” where dog owners could get a professional photo of their dog taken. “Getting to see the different breeds together and getting along was great,” said LuAnn Mozer, a volunteer at Pug Partners of Nebraska, an organization that rescues pugs from puppy mills.
dogs: see page 3
@dailyneb | facebook.com/dailynebraskan
Drone usage in law enforcement agencies has state lawmakers most uneasy. “State legislators are getting concerned about the technology outpacing the law,” said Matt Waite, professor of practice in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Waite heads UNL’s Drone Journalism Lab, and he said drones are like most new technology, and the law hasn’t yet addressed what is legal or illegal. The Federal Aviation Administration is developing policies to cover the use of drones in U.S airspace, but it is doing so at a slow pace. The FAA explains that it will engage the public to decide what is best for the privacy of citizens. But states are trying to push laws through faster than the FAA. Nebraska legislators are pushing for the restriction of drones, and State Sens. Ernie Chambers and Paul Schumacher are leading the fight. Schumacher proposed the Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act at a hearing last week.
drones: see page 2
State considers buying plane from NU Foundation Cristina Woodworth DN
Tom Clements holds one of his many performing pets during the Muttalica Hoofn-Woof Roundup at the Lancaster Event Center on Sunday. Tom and his wife, Mary, had shows featuring their talented dogs and mini horses at the ‘I Love My Dog Expo’ and also are a headlining act at Worlds of Fun.
2
the country,” Endacott said. “By far, the most common mode of transportation used by our fundraisers to visit donors is comNebraska legislators are considering purchasing an 11-passen- mercial aircraft and automobile. Use of private aircraft comes in a ger twin turboprop aircraft curvery distant third place.” rently owned by the University Endacott said discussions to of Nebraska Foundation. sell the aircraft began after the The state is already in a foundation came under the lead$10,000-a-month lease-purchase agreement with the foundation, ership of interim CEO John Gottschalk in February 2012. Brian which ends on June 30, meaning Hastings was named CEO later the state must decide that year. whether to buy the “ T h e (The plane plane or let it go by primary that time. is) a time factor was The Legislature is the internal looking into purchas- machine in some discussion ing the plane for more on wheththan $2.16 million, respects.” er selling according to Andre ronnie mitchell (the plane) Aman, legal counsel state department of would have for the Nebraska Deaeronautics director any impact partment of Aeronauon our fundtics. raising abil“The Legislature ity and the conclusion was that will make the decision whether or not to purchase the aircraft,” it would not,” Endacott said. “The trigger that began that Aman said. “That question is discussion was having a new currently before the LegislaCEO named on Feb. 1. When he ture’s Appropriations Commitcame, he initiated a review of tee.” various operational items and Aman said the aircraft is the aircraft use was one of those available for use in all branches of state government. It’s used to items.” The NU Foundation’s decitransport the governor and other sion in June 2012 to sell the plane state officials when needed. also came shortly after the AsThe NU Foundation originalsociated Press published a May ly purchased the King Air B200 in 2001 to reach the foundation’s 2012 article about the more than $80,000 used for private flights donors, according to foundation in 2011 when the foundation spokesperson Dorothy Endacott. The initial price of the plane has could have used less-expensive modes of transportation like not been made public. “Our fundraisers work in the driving or commercial flights. The AP article said the prifoundation’s offices in Omaha, Lincoln and Kearney, but our plane: see page 3 alumni and donors live all over