LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A University of Nebraska-Lincoln engineering team is testing an improved highway safety device to ensure it meets new safety standards the university experts helped write.

The engineers are deliberately crashing cars, pickups and tractor-trailers into guardrails and barriers found along highways nationwide at the facility’s outdoor proving grounds at Lincoln Airport. The team conducted its seventh test Tuesday of an improved bullnose guardrail.

Bob Bielenberg is a researcher at the university’s Midwest Roadside Safety Facility. He says the guardrail is designed to buckle under a vehicle’s force, bringing it to a relatively safe stop.

Bielenberg says the university will be able to communicate test results to transportation departments across the region so state officials can make more informed decisions about road safety.

A 34-year-old man is in custody after he allegedly stole a vehicle in North Platte on Monday evening.

At around 6:58 p.m., officers responded to the report of a vehicle theft in the 200 block of Rodeo Road.

It was reported that the vehicle had been stolen and the incident had been captured on surveillance video.

At around 8:30 p.m., the owners located their vehicle in the 500 block of East Philip.

Officers located the driver, Joshua Krayhagan, in a nearby business and detained him for questioning.

During the interview, police say Krayhagan gave false information and reported that his name was Jason Krayhagan.  They say he also gave a false date of birth.

According to police, the keys to the vehicle were found in Krayhagan’s possession and investigators confirmed his identity on the surveillance video.

Officers discovered a firearm in the vehicle during a search and say Krayhagan has prior felony convictions which prohibit him from possessing a firearm.

Krayhagan was placed under arrest and jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center on charges of felony theft by unlawful taking, felony criminal impersonation and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Police did not report any damage to the vehicle.

JUNE 5, 2018 (LINCOLN, NEB.)  — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol issued more than 100 citations for seatbelt violations during the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign which ran for two weeks surrounding Memorial Day.

The enforcement ran from May 21 through June 3 in conjunction with efforts of numerous other departments around Nebraska and agencies all over the country. The campaign included high-visibility patrols, special enforcement areas, and vehicle checks.

In addition to the 101 seatbelt violations, NSP issued 27 citations for improper child restraint and made 37 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Troopers also arrested 68 people on drug possession charges and performed 460 roadside motorist assists.

Other statewide enforcement statistics for NSP’s “Click It or Ticket” enforcement include:

101 – Seatbelt citations	27 – Child Restraint citations
1,601 – Speeding citations	37 – Driving Under the Influence 37 – Open Container 23 – Minor in Possession
70 – Driving Under Suspension	60 – No Proof of Insurance
68 – Drug Possession arrests	9 – Stolen Vehicle Recovered
17 – Fugitives Apprehended	6 – Reckless Driving arrests
2,691 – Total citations	460 – Motorist Assists

 

“Click It or Ticket” was made possible thanks in part to a grant for $28,830 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

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.