A North Platte man has been charged with multiple felonies after he allegedly used a hammer to assault another man.

According to Investigator John Deal, an officer responded to the report of a prior assault in the 2700 block of West 3rd Street, at around 3:18 p.m on January 25.

The officer met with a 21-year-old male victim who had a cut and swelling on the side of his head.

The victim alleged that, on January 19, he was contacted by Emmett Wood who asked him to come over to his residence.  The victim told the officer that he met with Wood, who confronted him about a relationship issue.

At this point, Wood reportedly grabbed a hammer and struck the victim on the side of the head.

Deal said a 3rd person entered the residence and prevented Wood from further assaulting the victim.  The victim then left the scene.

On January 26, officers responded to a business in the 100 block of West 8th Street and made contact with Wood.

He was arrested and jailed on charges of felony 2nd-degree assault and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.

Wood was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

A North Platte man has been charged in connection with an alleged assault and shooting.

On January 18, officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to the report of an assault in the 1800 block of West 17th Street.

According to police, a 24-year-old male had been assaulted and was being transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Officers spoke to several witnesses, and it was reported that three males had entered the residence, attacked the victim and left.

The victim suffered multiple abrasions and a gunshot wound to his calf.  According to Investigator John Deal, evidence was collected that indicated the shooting had occurred inside the residence.

On January 27, officers made contact with Daryl Jones, who had an active Lincoln County warrant for felony escape.

As the investigation into the alleged assault progressed, it was determined that Jones had actively participated in the assault, but is not believed to be the individual that fired the gun.

Jones was jailed on the warrant and was also charged with aggravated assault.

The investigation is ongoing.  No other arrests have been reported.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Thousands of Nebraska students attend parochial schools each year, yet a lawmaker says public schools have no contingency plan if one nearby were to suddenly close.

Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus argued Tuesday that schools should prepare financially and understand the costs that would come with a glut of new students. Schumacher proposed a bill to the Education Committee that would require districts to either increase their facilities, staff and cash reserve, or pay parochial schools a kind of insurance policy to stay open.

Schumacher says he knows the bill won’t pass, but he wants districts to discuss the issue.

The Nebraska Department of Education says nearly 38,000 students are attending private schools this year, compared to nearly 316,000 enrolled in a public school.