LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The first female commander of the Nebraska Air National Guard has taken command.

Brig. Gen. Wendy Johnson was installed as commander during ceremonies this past weekend at the Nebraska National Guard headquarters in Lincoln.

Johnson is a native of Elba who enlisted in 1984 and has held a variety of leadership positions.

Johnson will be assistant adjutant general for air as well as commander of the Nebraska Air National Guard, succeeding Brig. Gen. James “Bob” Stevenson. He’s moving to a new post with the U.S. Strategic Command headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue.

.LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska judge has tossed out a lawsuit challenging the state’s lethal injection protocol.

The move marks the second time in recent months that a court has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to block Nebraska’s efforts to resume executions after more than two decades.

A Lancaster County district judge ruled last week that two death penalty opponents who filed the lawsuit lacked standing to do so.
Sen. Ernie Chambers and Rev. Stephen Griffith alleged in their suit that Nebraska’s execution protocol was developed without following state law and procedures. They asked the court to stop any executions until a proper protocol is implemented.

The decision follows a request last month from state Attorney General Doug Peterson. He asked the Nebraska Supreme Court to speed up its decision on issuing a death warrant for an inmate on death row.

WAVERLY, Neb. (AP) — Tyson Foods is buying the Nebraska company that makes the Smart Chicken brand of air-cooled chicken.

Tyson says it plans to keep Tecumseh Poultry’s roughly 600 workers and allow the company to operate as a separate subsidiary. Terms of the deal were not disclosed this week.

Smart Chicken’s air-chilled method of processing differs from the common industry practice of water chilling. The company started in 1998 and has two plants in Waverly and Tecumseh, Nebraska.

Tyson’s Chief Marketing Officer for poultry Eric Schwartz says acquiring this brand will help the company offer more choices for consumers.
Springdale, Arkansas-based Tyson already owns the NatureRaised Farms and Aidells brands of organic products.

Update June 5, 2018, 5:00 pm

North Platte police have identified the suspect involved in yesterday’s pursuit as 30-year-old Luke Lefever.

Lieutenant Steve Reeves says Lefever was transferred to an Omaha hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Reeves says the hospital does not release information on trauma patients.

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JUNE 4, 2018 (NORTH PLATTE, NEB.)  — A suspect was shot following a pursuit that crossed two counties in central Nebraska Monday morning. The pursuit of a stolen vehicle began in Dawson County near Highway 30 and Road 490. Near the initial stages of the pursuit with Dawson County Sheriff’s deputies, shots were fired.

The pursuit continued into Gothenburg, where the suspect stole another vehicle and headed west on Interstate 80. The vehicle eventually came to a stop northeast of Hershey on a county road.

More shots were fired by multiple law enforcement officers, including a Nebraska State Trooper. The suspect was struck. Officers on the scene rendered medical aid. The suspect was then transported to Great Plains Health and has since been flown to a hospital in Omaha. No officers were injured.

The Nebraska State Trooper who fired shots has been placed on administrative leave, in accordance with NSP policy, while the incident is investigated.

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STATEMENT FROM NP POLICE DEPARTMENT

On 06/04/18, at 8:27 AM, a Dawson County Deputy Sheriff called for assistance while investigating a suspicious vehicle northwest of Gothenburg.  The deputy and a Gothenburg police officer struggled with a man at the scene in an attempt to take him into custody.

The suspect fled on foot and confronted a nearby property owner.  The suspect stole a UTV from the resident and Dawson County authorities initiated a pursuit as the suspect took off across rural property driving the UTV.  The suspect eventually stopped at another rural residence and stole a 2003 Chevrolet pickup with an attached utility trailer from the property owner.  He continued his flight from law enforcement.

The Nebraska State Patrol and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s office assisted as the pursuit entered Lincoln County on Interstate 80.  The suspect continued westbound on I80, eventually leaving the roadway and continuing his flight on county roads.  The pursuit continued into the south side of North Platte, resulting in an accident at HW83 and State Farm Road.

Law enforcement lost sight of the suspect’s vehicle for a short time but later located the vehicle west of North Platte on HW30.  The suspect continued to flee from law enforcement and eventually went off-road near N. Parkway Rd and W Suburban Rd.

The suspect drove on private property for a short time and then tried to get back onto the roadway.  As he did so, he appeared to purposely ram a law enforcement vehicle and then backed in the direction of other officers.  Shots were fired by law enforcement and the suspect continued to flee across a field.  The vehicle slowly came to a stop and law enforcement officers cautiously approached the pickup.  The officers confirmed that the suspect had suffered gunshot wounds and Emergency Medical Services were immediately dispatched to the scene.

Hershey Fire Department, Sutherland Fire Department and the North Platte Fire Department responded.  The 30-year-old suspect was taken by ambulance to Great Plains Health.  He was later flown to an Omaha hospital.

A thorough investigation is being completed by the Nebraska State Patrol, Lincoln County Sherriff’s Office and the North Platte Police Department at the direction of the Lincoln County Attorney.