UPDATE:

A 38-year old woman kidnapped in Lincoln at gunpoint on Saturday, August 24, has been located unharmed and her kidnapper found deceased west of Imperial in rural Chase County.

Just before 7:30 p.m., Sunday, August 25, Julie Hanes, 38, Lincoln, walked out of a cornfield onto 331 Avenue, approximately two ½ miles northwest of Imperial in rural Chase County.  Hanes, who was uninjured, was taken to the Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial for observation.

Just before 9:00 p.m., the body of Dwayne Lawrence, 38, Lincoln, was located by authorities approximately 130 yards into the same cornfield.  Authorities at the scene say Lawrence suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

The search for Lawrence and Hanes began around 8:30 a.m., Sunday, August 25, after a local farmer called the Imperial Police Department to report he had located an abandoned 1998 Gold Chrysler matching the description of a vehicle wanted in connection with a kidnapping in Lincoln. The abandoned vehicle was on driveway at the end of an irrigated farm field.

A perimeter was established and law enforcement officers from the Nebraska State Patrol, Imperial Police Department and the Chase County Sheriff’s Office along with K-9 units and the Nebraska State Patrol Helicopter combed an eight mile area approximately two miles west of Imperial.

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The Nebraska State Patrol in conjunction with the Imperial Police Department and Chase County Sheriff’s Office are searching an area west of Imperial for the victim and a suspect in connection with a kidnapping that occurred in Lincoln on Saturday. August 24.

Around 4:30 a.m., Sunday, August 25, an Imperial officer on foot patrol spotted a car matching the description of the vehicle involved in the kidnapping driving down a street in the west part of Imperial.  The car took off and a search for the vehicle began.  Around 8:30 a.m., a farmer in the area called the Imperial Police Department to report he had located a 1998 Gold Chrysler abandoned on a driveway at the end of an irrigated farm field. The car was identified as the vehicle driven by the suspect, Dwayne Lawrence, 38, Lincoln.  A perimeter was set up and a search began.

An NSP Helicopter, along with K-9 units and officers, from the Nebraska State Patrol, Imperial Police Department and Chase County Sheriff’s Office are currently searching an eight mile area approximately two miles west of Imperial.

The suspect, Dwayne Lawrence, and the victim Julie Hanes, 38, Lincoln, are believed to be on foot.  Residents in the surrounding areas are asked to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activity to 911.

(AP) — The number of cattle in feedlots in Nebraska and nationwide shrank last month, so beef prices are likely to remain high.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says there were 2.08 million cattle in Nebraska feedlots on Aug. 1. That’s 7 percent lower than last year.

Nationally, there were 10 million cattle in feedlots on Aug. 1. That figure was 6 percent lower than 2012.

The USDA figures are for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more.

(AP) — Nebraska cattle producers are being warned to keep watch for a grass fungus that poses problems for livestock.

The ergot (UR’-guht) fungus has been confirmed in several nearby states, including Missouri and Iowa.

Richard Randle is a University of Nebraska-Lincoln beef veterinarian, and he says he and colleagues are aware of at least a couple of unconfirmed Nebraska reports.

Early moisture followed by heat causes certain grasses to grow quickly and develop seed heads faster than cattle can consume them. That allows ergot to flourish in the seed heads.

The tips of cattle ears and tails fall off because the fungus can hamper blood flow to extremities. Cattle also can become lame, but ergot poisoning is unlikely to be fatal.

More information is available online at https://marketjournal.unl.edu/ .

(AP) — Financial advisers who work with online brokerage TD Ameritrade now have access to software that will help them quickly fill out repetitive forms for clients.

TD Ameritrade says it is the first firm to offer advisers the Laser App Anywhere software that automatically fills out basic client information on many forms.

The software is based on the Internet, so it is available on computers, tablets and mobile phones. The form-completing software is integrated into the Veo investment management program Ameritrade offers advisers.

Dan Kiley, CEO of Retrement Corporation of America, says his investment clients expect him to have key information available wherever he is, and this software helps with that.

(AP) — Seven Nebraska communities are getting more than $1.4 million in grants to help pay for public works projects.

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development says the grants will help the cities improve their infrastructure. Most of the projects involve upgrades to drainage systems, sewers and sidewalks.

Projects in Dorchester, Osmond and Lindsay will each receive grants of $250,000. Those are the biggest individual grants.

The other cities receiving grants are Cambridge, Duncan, South Sioux City and Walthill. Those grants range from $90,000 to $223,000.

All of the grants require the cities to contribute some additional money to complete the projects.