6 things you need to know on Friday, April 3

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - First Alert 6 has the headlines you need to know to get your Friday started.

Former Bellevue East music teacher to appear in court Friday

A former Omaha metro music teacher in custody on charges of child pornography is set to appear in court Friday.

David Groth, 37, is facing two counts of child pornography in federal court. He was a vocal music teacher at Bellevue East.

According to court documents, one of the charges alleges distribution and possession of images of two children, one prepubescent and the other under 12.

District officials confirm he turned in his letter of resignation Thursday, the same day he was taken into custody. Bellevue Public Schools says Groth was placed on paid administrative leave August 8, 2025.

Former Norris bus driver to be sentenced in court Friday

A woman accused of driving a Norris school bus while intoxicated accepted is set to be sentenced in court Friday.

Betty Johnson, 68, of Hickman, pled no contest on Jan. 22 to .15+ DUI, child abuse and first offense reckless driving, all misdemeanors.

She was initially charged with first offense of a .15+ DUI and transporting a child while intoxicated, but the charges were reduced as part of the plea deal. Prosecutors also dropped two other counts of transporting a child while intoxicated.

Johnson could face up to one year and five months behind bars, with up to a $1,000 fine.

Registered sex offender arrested, released after approaching schools

First Alert 6 is learning new details about a suspicious case that prompted an alert to every metro school district last month.

Nyoak Nyoak is a registered sex offender. Ralston Schools warned parents after administrators said he approached several female students, asking for their social media.

Districts and police then issued a ban and bar, meaning he can be arrested if he shows up.

Tuesday, Omaha police arrested him for trespassing at a Kwik Shop where he was already banned. A judge sentenced him to one day in jail and released him on Wednesday.

Nebraska law bans sex offenders from living within 500 feet of a school or park, but just walking near a school is not against the law.

Watch Friday’s 7 a.m. streaming newscast

Nebraska lawmakers advance oversight of no-bid contracts

Nebraska lawmakers have moved forward with a plan to tighten oversight of state no-bid contracts.

Senators voted 42-0 Thursday for an amendment from Papillion Sen. Bob Anderson. It would require a copy of any no-bid contract and the emergency justification to be sent to the state auditor within three business days.

Scrutiny of no-bid deals spiked after Auditor Mike Foley accused Gov. Jim Pillen of favoritism on a $2.5 million renewable energy contract.

Pillen’s office denies wrongdoing. The Lincoln Police Department is now investigating.

Nebraska governor lifts statewide burn ban as wildfire risk subsides

Gov. Jim Pillen on Thursday rescinded his recently issued burn ban due to a reduction in the potential for drought-related emergencies.

Pillen issued the burn ban on March 13 to help reduce the potential for new wildfires. Multiple wildfires have burned about 874,489 acres across the state.

Crews have fully contained several wildfires but have continued to suppress two others in western and central Nebraska.

The state parks department has also lifted its campfire ban and prescribed burns.

Creighton wins opening game in College Basketball Crown tournament

Creighton men’s basketball opened tournament play Thursday night in the second annual College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas.

The Bluejays beat the Rutgers 82 to 69 on Thursday. The field features eight teams, with the winner taking home $300,000.

The Jays will be back in action Saturday at 3 p.m. when they take on West Virginia.

On March 23, head coach Greg McDermott announced he will retire after the Jays’ final game in the tournament.

Alan Huss will be promoted to the head coach position after being brought onto the program as associate head coach last April.

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