(AP) — A bill designed to help ex-convicts find jobs in Nebraska is headed to a final vote in the Legislature.

The measure, part of the state’s prison reform bill, was amended Tuesday before receiving second-round approval by lawmakers. The legislation would prevent public employers from asking about a job hopeful’s criminal history when they first apply.

The amendment would allow schools to ask about any criminal infractions related to sexual or physical abuse. The amendment came in response to lawmaker concerns about student safety. Supporters say nothing stops the schools from doing the background checks.

The measure was included in prison reforms that aim to reduce the inmate population by providing more services to those behind bars and diverting nonviolent offenders from the Department of Corrections.

A North Platte man is in jail after he ran from North Platte Police and crashed into the porch of a residence.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, an officer was on patrol in the 700 block of East Philip, when they observed two eastbound vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed.

The second vehicle, a 2011 Honda Civic driven by 26-year-old Bryon Little II, was observed passing the lead vehicle at approximately 68 mph.

Brown said the officer turned to make a traffic stop, but Little made no attempt to stop or slow down.  He said Little continued to travel eastbound until he turned onto Bryan Avenue.

Little then lost control control of the vehicle, and crashed into the back porch of a residence in the 800 block of South Bryan.

Little had already fled the scene, but an officer soon spotted him in the 700 block of South Belmont.  A chase ensued, and Little fled into a garage.

Officers were eventually able to subdued him and place him under arrest.

Little was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center on charges of 2nd offense DUI, willful reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and possession of drug paraphernalia.

There were no reports of injuries.

(AP) — Three men have been given probation and fined for a string of thefts from vehicles in the Nebraska Panhandle last year.

Online court records say 19-year-old Austin Clark, 19-year-old Zachery Bibb and 18-year-old Mathieu Priells had pleaded no contest to 10 counts each. On Friday they were given two years of probation, suspended jail sentences of 90 days, 200 hours of community service and were fined $500 on each of the 10 counts. They also were ordered to pay a total of more than $7,100 in restitution.

The men were convicted of stealing items from unlocked vehicles between the end of November and early December.

Clark and Bibb are former players for the men’s basketball team at Western Nebraska Community College.