(AP) — A southeast Nebraska woman is joining some other parents across the nation in deciding their children will not take statewide tests.

Jill Osler, of Doniphan, said she thinks the tests are about politics, not about learning.

Valorie Foy is the Nebraska Department of Education director of state assessment, and she says the assessments are a tool to help schools improve.

A growing number of parents in several states are choosing not to have their children take the standardized tests. In New York City, for example, an advocacy group called Change the Stakes estimates that as many as 1,000 students in the city will not take the English test this month.

(AP) — Gov. Dave Heineman is encouraging all Nebraskans to volunteer next week.

ServeNebraska week is April 20 to 26.

Heineman, first lady Sally Ganem and Jamesena Moore, chairwoman of ServeNebraska, joined for a news conference Monday to publicize the effort.

Moore says she hope to see volunteerism recorded in all 93 counties during ServeNebraska week.

Heineman says Nebraska ranks fifth across the country in terms in terms of volunteerism. Moore says she wants that ranking to climb to No. 1.

Heineman and Ganem will participate by reading to fourth grade students at McPhee elementary school in Lincoln on April 24.

To register a volunteer activity or for more information on volunteering, visit: www.serve.nebraska.gov.

A North Platte man is facing charges after he allegedly assaulted his wife and child.

At around 8:30 p.m., on Saturday, North Platte Police responded to the report of an assault in progress in the 2000 block of West 15th Street.

Upon arrival, officers could hear screaming inside the residence.

Officers forced entry into the home and discovered that 30-year-old Chauncey Mendoza had injured his wife by assaulting and strangling her.

Authorities also say there were children in the home at the time of the assault, and one of them was injured when they attempted to stop Mendoza from hurting their mother.

Mendoza was placed under arrest and charged with domestic assault, child abuse and felony strangulation.

He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center where he is being held on ten percent of $15,000 bond.