(AP) — A proposal to eliminate Nebraska’s mountain lion hunting season has hit a snag in the Legislature.

Opponents mounted a filibuster on Thursday to try to block the legislation before lawmakers could grant final approval.

The bill has already advanced through two previous votes. Lawmakers moved on to other measures without voting, but are expected to return to it later.

Sen. Ernie Chambers has said he introduced the bill because the state has a duty to protect mountain lions, which are native to Nebraska but were virtually wiped out by settlers. Foes of the measure say the Nebraska Game and Parks Commissions should be able to regulate the population.

Lawmakers approved mountain-lion hunting in 2012, while Chambers was out of office due to term limits.

(AP) — A proposal to ban e-cigarette sales to minors in Nebraska is headed to a final vote in the Legislature.

Lawmakers gave the bill second-round approval on Thursday. The battery-powered devices give users a puff of vapor with nicotine, sometimes with flavors.

Minors who use e-cigarettes and stores that sell them to minors could face a misdemeanor charge for violating the law.

Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber, the bill sponsor, says there hasn’t been enough study to know if e-cigarettes are safe. Some lawmakers say they’ve heard from parents who might want to use e-cigarettes to help a child quit smoking.

Two North Platte women are facing a robbery charge after they allegedly assaulted a North Platte woman and stole property from her.

According to Officer John Deal, officers responded to the report of an assault in the 800 block of South Bailey at around 4:29 a.m. this morning.

Officers made contact with a female victim who alleged that at least two females had assaulted her and took her keys and cell phone.

As the officer was interviewing the victim, other officers observed a vehicle, believed to be involved, leaving the area.

The vehicle was stopped and two females, Angelica Gray and Jerrita Running-Enemy, were contacted.

Deal said both matched the description given by the victim and other witnesses.

As search of the vehicle revealed the victim’s cell phone and keys.

Officers determined there was probable cause to arrest both Gray and Running-Enemy.  Both have been charged with robbery and 3rd degree assault.

They are being held at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Deal said the investigation is ongoing.

A 31-year-old North Platte man is facing felony drug charges following his arrest on an active warrant.

At around 1:09 a.m., on March 20, an officer with the North Platte Police Department saw Ryan Walsh park a vehicle in the 2400 block of East 2nd Street.

Knowing Walsh had an active warrant, the officer made contact with him and placed him under arrest.

A search of Walsh’s backpack revealed several prescription pills that were determined to be Alprazolam.

Walsh was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center, where a more thorough search revealed a plastic baggie which contained a white powdery substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.

In the end, Walsh was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, felony possession of Alprazolam and failure to appear.

He is being held without bond.

North Platte Public Schools Associate Superintendent Tami Eshleman and Superintendent Marty Basset have announced the new principal for Osgood and Lake Elementary Schools.

Following an intense interview process with district administrators, an elementary principal, building staff and teachers, Robin Vahle will be recommended to the North Platte Public Schools Board of Education to fill the position.

Vahle has a Bachelor of Arts in Education, and a Masters in Art Education and K-12 Administration, all of which were obtained from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

She has 15 years of experience as a K-12 Art teacher in Elm Creek.

“Robin is excited for the opportunity to be a part of North Platte Public Schools,” Eshleman said.

Vahle will replace long-time educator and administrator, Dr. Midge Mougey, who will be retiring at the end of the year.

“She [Vahle] will be working with Dr. Mougey through the transition,” Eshleman added.

Vahle has a current Nebraska certification for teaching and administration.

She will be making the move to North Platte with her husband, Mark, and their daughter, Addyson, who will be starting kindergarten in the fall.