Police are saying that the abduction and killing of a 10-year-old girl in suburban Denver this month is connected to a kidnapping attempt against a young woman earlier this year.

Authorities aren’t releasing any details about that link but Westminster investigator Trevor Materasso said Tuesday that they’re looking for a suspect in connection with both cases that they describe as “a light-skinned man” between 18 and mid-30s of average height and build.

Jessica Ridgeway disappeared Oct. 5 after leaving for school. Her body was found five days later in a nearby field.

Police say a 22-year-old woman reported escaping from an attacker who grabbed her from behind and put a rag over her mouth that had a chemical smell while she jogged by a lake near Jessica’s school in May.

U.S. oil output is surging so fast that the United States could soon overtake Saudi Arabia as the world’s biggest producer.

The boom in production is being driven by high oil prices and new drilling methods that are allowing energy companies to unlock oil trapped between rocks.

U.S. production of oil and other liquid hydrocarbons is on track to rise 7 percent this year to an average of 10.9 million barrels per day. Energy experts say that within just a few years, the United States could top the Saudis.

Even if that happens, the U.S. will still need to import lots of oil to meet demand. Americans use 18.7 million barrels per day.

Motorists traveling to and from the remaining three Husker home football games can expect to see an increased Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) presence.

Troopers and Communication Specialists with NSP Headquarters Troop-Lincoln and Troop A-Omaha will work overtime hours during Husker games on Oct. 27, Nov. 10 & Nov. 17, thanks in part to a $6,570 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS). The Nebraska State Patrol Aviation Support Division will provide traffic reports both before and after the games.

Heavy traffic can mean congestion and delays. Motorists are reminded to give themselves plenty of time to reach their destination, obey the posted speed limit, always wear their seat belt and never drive impaired or distracted.

Numerous highway improvement projects continue across the state. Game day travelers  are reminded they could encounter slow downs on westbound I-80  near the Aurora Exit as bridge construction continues to reduce traffic to one lane. Motorists wanting to check their route can do some by dialing 511, the state’s advanced traveler information system or logging onto www.511.nebraska.gov

Anyone who observes a reckless or impaired driver, or anyone in need of on-emergency roadside assistance should call the NSP Highway Helpline when safe to do so at (star) *55 from their cellular phone or 1-800-525-5555 from any landline.

A third man has been has been arrested in the slaying of a 16-year-old boy and wounding of a 16-year-old girl in Omaha.

Police arrested 24-year-old Adam Gamble on Monday. Gamble, 22-year-old Joshua Vanackeren and 26-year-old Matthew Saunsoci face murder and weapons charges.

The shootings occurred in northeast Omaha shortly before 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Police say Montrell Wiseman died at the scene and that Desjuha Wilkinson was taken to Creighton University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Gamble, Vanackeren and Saunsoci are being held in Douglas County Jail. Online court records don’t list the names of their attorneys.

Police have arrested three people in connection with a fatal shooting outside a west Omaha nightclub last month.

Police announced the arrests in the death of 24-year-old Delayno Wright at a news conference Tuesday. Wright died after he was shot outside the Halo Ultra Lounge on Sept. 3.

Police say 24-year-old Avery Tyler, of Omaha, has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and using a weapon to commit a felony.

Two others — 28-year-old Romesha Fountain and 20-year-old Jelani Johnson — are suspected of helping Tyler with the shooting.

A Lincoln man who pleaded guilty to tampering with a witness has been sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison.

The Lincoln Journal Star says Paul Glaze was sentenced as a habitual offender on Tuesday in Lancaster County.

Glaze was arrested in April for domestic assault involving a woman. After his arrest, police say Glaze called the woman from jail and told her she would have to disappear. Jailers recorded the phone calls.

Glaze pleaded guilty in September. In exchange, domestic assault and resisting arrest charges were dropped.

Because he’s a habitual criminal, Glaze won’t be eligible for parole for about 12 years.

An Omaha couple have claimed their $1 million Powerball lottery prize.

The Nebraska Lottery says Guy and Marcella Stoller went to the lottery headquarters in Lincoln on Monday to turn over the ticket he’d bought at an Omaha Bag ‘N Save store near 90th and Maple streets.

The ticket matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball number during the drawing Saturday night. The numbers were 4, 21, 28, 31, 44 and Powerball 10.

Marcella Stoller told lottery officials that her husband bought the ticket for her as a surprise.

Their plans for the prize are still up in the air, but they say part of it might be earmarked for their grandchildren’s education.