(AP) — A Lancaster County judge won’t block a lawsuit filed for three same-sex couples challenging a Nebraska policy that bars them and all unmarried couples from serving as foster parents.

The state had sought dismissal of the case, saying the plaintiffs had no standing and had failed to state a claim.

But Judge John Colborn said in a ruling issued last week that there was no evidence presented as to whether the policy could survive judicial scrutiny, so he allowed the case to go forward.

The lawsuit filed for the couples last August by the Nebraska and national American Civil Liberties Union argues that the policy discriminates against would-be foster parents based on their sexual orientation.

(AP) — A 42-year-old Omaha man has made a last-minute deal with prosecutors and been convicted of two rapes and other crimes.

Jury selection was to begin Monday for the trial of Anthony Vaughn, who originally was charged with seven counts of forcible sexual assault that occurred from 1999 through 2009. Instead he pleaded no contest and was convicted of two rapes, one attempted sexual assault and one weapons charge. Prosecutors dropped the other charges in exchange for his pleas.

Five women were prepared to testify against Vaughn.

He’ll face up to 140 years in prison when he’s sentenced in July. A DNA sample taken in 2011 after a burglary conviction linked Vaughn to the assaults.

(AP) — A Saunders County sheriff’s deputy has confirmed a motorist’s sighting of a mountain lion near Wahoo.

Sheriff Kevin Stukenholtz says the motorist saw the mountain lion about 4:25 a.m. Monday as it fed on a deer carcass on U.S. Highway 77 about a mile and a half south of Wahoo. The deputy sent to check the report shined his spotlight in some nearby trees and saw the mountain lion jump down from one and run off.

The sighting occurred about a half mile from Saunders Medical Center. Stukenholtz says the hospital was notified.

Mountain lions, which also are called cougars or pumas, have turned up as far east in Nebraska as Omaha.

(AP) — Adult siblings in Lincoln have been accused of brutally attacking a relative.

Lincoln police say 18-year-old Henrionce Cope and 20-year-old Sade Cope attacked 50-year-old Charles Riley Jr. on Sunday.

Officer Katie Flood said the siblings stabbed Riley 13 times in his head, arms and legs. They’re also accused of using a broken bottle and an iron in the attack.

Authorities say Riley is Henrionce Cope’s stepfather. It’s unclear what his relationship is to Sade Cope.

Riley was treated at a hospital. The siblings were arrested Monday without incident on suspicion of second-degree assault and using a weapon to commit a felony. Court records do not list attorneys.

(AP) — Authorities have released the name of a car driver killed in a collision with a truck in eastern Nebraska.

The driver was identified as 51-year-old Kevin Janning, of Bellevue.

The accident occurred a little before 6:10 a.m. Monday on U.S. Highway 275 about a half mile east of Scribner.

Dodge County Sheriff Steve Hespen says the westbound car crossed the center line and rammed the oncoming truck.

Janning was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver wasn’t injured. He’s been identified as 72-year-old Ronnie Billheimer, of Randolph.