NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Meteorologists are finding that it’s easier to forecast stormy weather than it is to predict what goes on in the human mind.
As the nation’s midsection braces itself for possible tornadoes Tuesday, researchers have yet to determine when to raise a general alarm. With too much notice, people might try to flee in their cars, putting them at greater risk.
For now, the Storm Prediction Center is reminding people in general that it’s late April and tornado season is upon us. Forecasters suggest cleaning out the storm shelter and buying a weather radio — but get some gas for the chain saw just in case.
The center is telling emergency officials a severe weather outbreak is possible across Oklahoma on Tuesday, with storms also from Dallas to Wichita, Kansas.
Dakota CampbellLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man accused of having sex with a 12-year-old girl has been sentenced to eight to 10 years in prison.
22-year-old Dakota Campbell was sentenced Thursday. He had pleaded no contest to third-degree sexual assault of a child and felony child abuse. Campbell has been ordered to register as a sex offender once his prison sentence is complete.
Police say the sexual abuse was reported after the girl told a family friend, who told the girl’s father.
LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds Nebraska boaters that any operator of a motorboat or personal watercraft born after Dec. 31, 1985, is required to be certified in boater safety.
In addition to successfully completing a boating safety course, the operator must be in possession of a valid certificate. Nonresidents may present a certificate from their state.
To bring attention to boating safety, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators has declared April as National Take a Boating Safety Course Month. For more information, visit: https://www.nasbla.org/content.asp?admin=Y&contentid=389.
Anyone operating a motorboat or personal watercraft in Nebraska must be at least 14 years of age, and anyone age 14 or older may take the boater safety course.
“Boater safety courses save lives,” said Nebraska Boating Law Administrator Herb Angell. “While the course is required for some people, it is a smart thing to do for anyone else who boats in Nebraska. With the boating season coming up soon, now is the time to take a boater safety course.”
Boaters have two options to fulfill the boater safety requirement:
— attend a six-hour course with a proctored exam
— home study and attend a three-hour course review with proctored exam.
Visit BoatSafeNebraska.org for more information, to download home study materials or to find a list of boater safety classes across the state.
A North Platte woman is facing an assault charge after a disturbance Thursday night that ended with her jumping onto a moving vehicle.
According to Investigator John Deal, officers responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of West William Avenue at around 10:13 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers made contact with 20-year-old Jasmine Erausquin, who was in the roadway.
Erausquin told officers that she had jumped onto the hood of her boyfriend’s car in an attempt to keep him from leaving after an argument. She reported that her wrist was sore, but refused medical attention.
Officers then spoke to witnesses who confirmed that Erausquin had jumped onto the hood of the vehicle. They stated that the vehicle stopped, and she got off. However, when the vehicle started to move again, witnesses say Erausquin chased after it and attempted to grab onto the side, but, she fell, and the vehicle left the scene.
Deal said Erausquin’s boyfriend contacted police and stated that he had attempted to leave the residence following an argument, but Erausquin attacked him by scratching his face and biting his arm.
He corroborated the witnesses account of Erausquin jumping onto and chasing the vehicle.
The victim also had injuries consistent with his report to officers.
There was no evidence that Erausquin was struck or dragged by the vehicle, Deal said, but the windshield of the vehicle was broken. Officers believe this was caused by Erausquin punching it due to injuries she sustained in the ordeal.
Erausquin received medical treatment at Great Plains Health and, upon her release, was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center.
She’s been charged with 3rd-degree domestic assault.
BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — A 25-year-old Beatrice man caught with methamphetamine at the Gage County Courthouse has been given a year in prison.
Joshua Weeks was sentenced Thursday for possession of a controlled substance. His sentence will be served at the same time as his 20- to 48-month sentence for theft.
Weeks was arrested Dec. 31 after he arrived at the courthouse in Beatrice for hearings on two cases. Authorities say a metal detector alerted deputies that Weeks had metal on him. He gave a glasses case to a deputy, who opened it and found plastic bags, syringes, and a spoon.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An officer killed in the line of duty has been honored by the Omaha Police Foundation with its highest award.
The foundation named Kerrie Orozco as its Officer of the Year at a ceremony Thursday. She’s the first officer to be given the honor posthumously.
Police say Marcus Wheeler fatally shot Orozco on May 20, 2015, when he opened fire on officers trying to arrest him. Wheeler was killed when another officer returned fire. Orozco was one day away from going on maternity leave to care for the daughter she had delivered prematurely three months earlier.
Orozco’s mother, Ellen Holtz, and grandmother accepted the honor for her daughter. Holtz said, “Thank you so much for remembering Kerrie.”
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a Lincoln woman used stolen credit card data to buy more than $190,000 worth of laptop computers.
The 34-year-old woman was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of theft and criminal possession of a financial card. Online court records don’t show that she’s been formally charged.
A Wisconsin law enforcement agency contacted Lincoln police April 4 about credit card information from a Wisconsin business being used for purchases in Lincoln. Lincoln investigators soon learned about credit card data being stolen from business accounts in other states also being used by the same person in Lincoln. Security videos from Lincoln stores show the woman buying nearly $194,000 worth of laptops.
Sunny, with a high near 74. Light south wind becoming south southeast 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 48. South southeast wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Breezy, with a south wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph.
Saturday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. South southeast wind 11 to 18 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Breezy, with a west wind 11 to 16 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Breezy.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.
Monday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Tuesday
Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 54.
Tuesday Night
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Wednesday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Breezy.
SOUTH YANKTON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have identified a man who died in a mobile home fire in northeast Nebraska.
Gothenburg Invitational