A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for eastern Johnson, northwestern Nemaha and southern Otoe counties in Nebraska until 3:15 p.m. Sunday. A tornado watch is in effect until 10 p.m. Sunday for southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa, including Omaha, Council Bluffs and Lincoln.
A state evaluation of TransCanada's route for the Keystone XL oil pipeline through Nebraska has been sent to the governor.
The office of Gov. Dave Heineman said in a news release Friday that he has 30 days to review the more than 2,000 pages before making his decision. That decision will be shared with the U.S. State Department, which has federal jurisdiction because the pipeline begins in Canada. The State Department recommendation will go to President Obama, who has the final say.
TransCanada's pipeline is designed to carry tar sands oil from Canada across Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The company also has proposed connecting it to the Bakken oil field in Montana and North Dakota.
