GERING, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts has appointed a Scottsbluff attorney to fill a western Nebraska district judgeship left vacant by the retiring of longtime District Judge Randall Lippstreu earlier this year.

Andrea Miller, of Bayard, has been named the new district judge for the 12th Judicial District of Nebraska.

Miller is currently an attorney at Simmons Olsen Law Firm in Scottsbluff. She holds a bachelor of science in political science from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and received her law degree from the University of Nebraska.

Her primary office will be in Gering in Scotts Bluff County. The district also includes Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Grant, Kimball, Morrill, Sheridan and Sioux counties.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A spokeswoman for the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office says Nebraska was not among those states targeted by hackers last year.

Laura Strimple says the U.S. Department of Homeland Security contacted the office Friday, but only to share that Nebraska’s system had not been among those targeted.

That comes as election officials in 21 states were told by the federal agency that hackers targeted their systems last year, although most were not breached.

Homeland Security officials tell The Associated Press that hackers believed to be Russian agents targeted the voter registration systems in September.

Strimple says this one-time her office is happy “being at the bottom of the list.”

HOLDREGE, Neb. (AP) — Officials in south-central Nebraska are issuing a warning about possible rabies exposure at a little league football game last weekend.

The Two Rivers Public Health Department in Holdrege says a bat that was in the area during the event in Cozad on Sunday has tested positive for rabies. The department is asking anyone who had direct contact with a bat to immediately seek medical attention and contact the health department.

Rabies is a viral disease transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal that affects people. It is almost always fatal if not treated before symptoms appear.

Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol Troop D – North Platte conducted alcohol compliance checks in Lincoln County during the evening
hours of Thursday, September 21, 2017.

This project was supported in whole or part by Grant # 93.959 under the SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Region II Human Services and the Nebraska DHHS Division of Behavioral Health.

A total of ten businesses were checked. Three sold alcohol to a minor for a non-compliance rate of 30%. Nine of the businesses checked the minor’s ID. The businesses included convenience stores, golf courses, liquor stores, grocery stores, and hotels.

The three business which sold alcohol to a minor are:

Love’s Travel Stop #390 (North Platte)

Prairie Mart (North Platte)

Sutherland Reservoir Park (Sutherland), which also did not check ID.

This operation was done in conjunction with a special enforcement by Troop D Traffic Services. Citations or warnings were issued for Speeding (3), Lighting Violation (2), Fail to Signal (1), Texting While Driving (1), DOT Markings (1), Driving on the Shoulder (1), No License (1), No Proof of Insurance (1). Troopers also made one arrest on a warrant/failure to appear.