PIERCE, Neb. (AP) — A northeast Nebraska city has placed water restrictions on residents.

The city of Pierce has imposed lawn watering rules: Residents who live on the even side of a street may water only on even-numbered days, and residents on the odd side of a street may water only on odd-numbered days. Residents face fines if they don’t comply.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map from the National Drought Mitigation Center shows that nearly 25 percent of the state is experiencing a moderate drought, including Pierce County.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has rejected a postconviction appeal by a death-row inmate who helped carry out one of the deadliest bank shootings in U.S. history.

The state’s high court on Friday upheld a lower court decision rejecting — without an evidentiary hearing — Erick Vela’s motion for postconviction relief. Vela claimed in the motion that his lawyer did such a poor job of defending him that his convictions should be rendered void.

Vela and two other men were each sentenced to death for killing five people at a U.S. Bank branch in Norfolk on Sept. 26, 2002. A fourth man who served as a lookout was sentenced to life.

Vela pleaded guilty in 2003 to five counts of first-degree murder.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Animal experts say a coyote’s snatching of a small dog near Lincoln is a reminder to keep a close eye on pets in areas where coyotes may be wandering.

Steve Anderson saw his Yorkie, Jasper, snatched by a coyote last week on his acreage west of Lincoln. Anderson says he tried to chase after the coyote, but the animal disappeared into a cornfield with Jasper.

Animal Control manager Steve Beal says there have been about 35 reports of coyote sightings in the city since May. He says the group hadn’t received any reports of attacks on pets before Jasper.

Beal recommends people keep a close watch on their pets and to not let them outside unattended. He also says pet owners can carry a whistle to scare off coyotes.

PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — A Sarpy County prosecutor facing charges of assault and negligent child abuse has quit her job.

Authorities say Jennifer Hessig resigned Wednesday. Court records say she’s charged with misdemeanor domestic assault for incidents Feb. 3 and July 3 and with five misdemeanor counts of child abuse stemming from the July 3 incident. Hessig has declined to comment.

Her attorney, Julie Bear, said in a written statement that Hessig “has been proactive in addressing the matters in her personal life” and will continue to do so as the matter moves through court.

Hessig and her husband, Bellevue police detective Harold Hessig, were arrested July 4. Prosecutors have declined to charge him.

A Douglas County prosecutor will handle Jennifer Hessig’s case. A Dodge County judge has been assigned to it as well.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Nebraska man found guilty of second-degree murder in northwest Iowa for the death of his estranged wife has been sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Rogelio Morales, of Hubbard, Nebraska, was found guilty last month of killing 21-year-old Margarita Morales on April 19, 2015, in his car near a Sioux City residence. He was sentenced Friday in Woodbury County District Court.

Court documents say Morales told investigators a fight broke out when his wife told him she no longer wanted to be in a relationship and that she was seeing another man.

Morales’ defense attorney has said Morales suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and had argued he should be convicted of voluntary manslaughter, not murder.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 21-year-old Plattsmouth man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for producing child pornography.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Omaha says Cody Childers was sentenced Friday in Omaha. He will be under supervision for 10 years following his release and must register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal prison system.

Investigators say Childers used Facebook to contact minor girls in and outside of Nebraska and request sexually explicit photographs from the minors. Officials say he obtained sexually explicit photos of three girls in Nebraska between the ages of 13 and 15.