A Lincoln man accused of beating another man after a car crash has taken a plea deal offered by prosecutors.

The 21-year-old Adrian Phillips pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of third-degree assault in Lancaster County District Court on Monday. He faces up to a year in prison.

Phillips was charged with a felony count of first-degree assault, which carries a prison sentence of up to 50 years.

Police say Phillips broke the other man’s jaw, leg and eye socket after the man hit the car that Phillips was riding in on May 29.

Douglas County health officials in Omaha say a man has died of West Nile virus, marking the county’s first death from the mosquito-borne disease this year.

Health Director Dr. Adi Pour says the man was over 65 years old and had traveled to Texas before getting sick with the disease. The man had been hospitalized.

West Nile virus is transmitted to people through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus from an infected bird. The virus has flu-like symptoms.

Health officials say residents should limit their time outdoors during dawn or dusk, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants if they’re outside and use insect repellent.

For the third time this year, thieves have stolen more copper downspouts from an Omaha church.

Officials with First Christian Church say thieves made off with $2,100 worth of downspouts about two weeks ago. Seven 10 foot-sections were taken. About $4,800 worth of downspouts were taken on two occasions in early July.

The church has insurance to cover the losses. Officials say they won’t replace the downspouts with copper but will use another product that has no scrap value.

First Christian Church isn’t the only church that has been targeted by copper thieves this year. Copper gutters at three other churches were stolen in May and at three more in June.

Authorities say a Lincoln man has been hospitalized after he drank acetone and crashed his minivan into a tree in an apparent suicide attempt.

Lincoln Police Capt. Jim Davidsaver told the media that the accident occurred near the Holmes Lake Park entrance in southeast Lincoln a little before 4:30 p.m. Monday.

The man was taken to a hospital, where he underwent surgery. Davidsaver says the man suffered little or no injury in the crash, but the acetone severely damaged his body.

Acetone is a solvent used to dissolve other substances, including paint, plastics and glues.

A Grand Island man is being charged with threatening a federal drug investigator, prosecutors say a friend of his helped hide the man after the threats.

U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg says 18-year-old Alexander Martinez threatened to assault an officer with the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force on Aug. 6.

Court documents say Martinez was trying to impede the task force’s investigation.

Prosecutors also charged 18-year-old Luis Green-Chavez with helping Martinez avoid apprehension after making the threats.

The federal indictments against both men were unsealed on Monday. The two men are expected to make their initial appearances in court later this week.