OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — New U.S. Census data show that nearly a third of Nebraska’s 93 counties recorded growth over the previous five years, but the population continued to decline in rural areas of the state.

David Drozd of the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research analyzed the census figures released Thursday.

He says the state is seeing its most widespread growth since the early 1990s, but the long-standing trend of dwindling rural populations and urban growth continued.

More than 54 percent of Nebraska residents live in Douglas, Sarpy and Lancaster counties.

Twenty-nine of Nebraska’s counties grew between July 2010 and July 2015. During the previous five years, 25 counties grew and between 2000 and 2005, 18 counties recorded population growth.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Three state employees and three teenagers were briefly hospitalized earlier this week after an outbreak of violence at a state-run juvenile facility in Kearney.

Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Russ Reno says five youths are accused of assaulting staff members Tuesday night at the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center. Reno says youths damaged ceiling tiles, sprinkler heads and doors in the room where they were being held.

Three youths were hospitalized after they allegedly broke into a staff office and ingested an employee’s diabetes medication.

Mike Marvin, president of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, says one staff member was bitten and had teeth damaged in the assault. Reno says only one of the youths was held overnight for observation. The others were treated and released.

ELLSWORTH, Neb. (AP) — A body believed to be that of a missing pilot has been recovered from the wreckage of a small plane in northwest Nebraska.

Authorities say Ben Andrick was last seen taking off from the Alliance airport Sunday morning. The search began after he failed to return there as expected.

A search plane pilot spotted the wreckage Tuesday about seven miles northeast of Ellsworth, which is a small community in Sheridan County. Authorities say the plane was the one being flown by Andrick, of Alliance.

A statement from the Sheridan County attorney’s office doesn’t mention Andrick by name but says the body was that of the “missing man” and that an autopsy would be conducted.

A federal grand jury has indicted a North Platte couple after they allegedly conspired and attempted to distribute child pornography.

The couple, 30-year-old William Jones and 35-year-old Rayanne Paulmann were indicted on three counts:

• Count I charges the defendants with conspiracy to distribute child pornography on or about June of 2015 and continuing to on or about December 11, 2015.  The maximum penalty, if convicted, is 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, five years to life of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.
• Counts II and III charge the defendants with attempted distribution of child pornography between June of 2015 and December 11, 2015. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, 5 years to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for each count.

The case stems from a December arrest.

According to Lieutenant Steve Reeves with the North Platte Police Department, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) was alerted after someone tried to transfer images of child pornography via a social media account.  They determined that the computer was located in North Platte.

The Nebraska Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which includes the North Platte Police Department, was notified and an investigation was initiated.

Reeves said legal process was served on the social media provider, which led to identifying William Jones and Rayanne Paulman as the suspects.

On December 11, a search warrant was executed on the couple’s home in the 2300 block of East Philip Avenue.

Cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices were analyzed using special preview software, and illegal child pornography images were discovered.

Local law enforcement was notified and, at around 4:30 pm on December 11, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office located Jones and Paulman in Hershey.

Jones and Paulman were held in the Lincoln County Detention Center until they were taken into federal custody.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Volunteer emergency responders could get a tax credit under a bill that won first-round approval in the Nebraska Legislature.

Lawmakers advanced the measure Wednesday with a 34-12 vote.

The bill by Sen. Al Davis of Hyannis would allow active volunteer emergency responders to claim a $250 credit on their state income taxes. The bill would go into effect in January 2017 and cost the state an estimated $2.2 million annually.

Davis says the bill is intended to recognize responders who frequently have to sacrifice work, family and vacation time to be on call. Because they work for little or no pay, Davis says the responders provide a tax savings in their communities.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A federal judge has ruled in favor of Nebraska state officials in a lawsuit that challenged the state’s law requiring picketers to stay at least 500 feet from funerals.

U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp said in her decision Wednesday that the law does not infringe on the constitutionally-protected free speech rights of Westboro Baptist Church members.

Shirley Phelps-Roper, a prominent member of the Topeka-Kansas based church, sued in 2009. She argued, among other things, that the Nebraska law is selectively enforced.

The church protests at funerals throughout the country using anti-gay chants and signs because it believes God is punishing U.S. military members and others for defending a nation that tolerates homosexuality.