FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say an 18-year-old driver has died in the collision of two pickup trucks on a rural road in Dodge County.

Deputies were dispatched a little before 6:40 p.m. Wednesday to the scene about 3½ miles (6 kilometers) east of Fremont. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office says dust raised from traffic contributed to the collision of the northbound and southbound pickups.

The Sheriff’s Office says Jason Bechtel died at the scene. He lived in Fremont. The other driver was taken to a Fremont hospital. She’s been identified as a Fremont resident, 59-year-old Becky Crone.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A suburban fire district in Omaha is moving forward with plans to start its own fire department to serve residents and businesses outside the city’s western boundaries.

City officials announced Wednesday that the Elkhorn Suburban Fire District wants to create its own department and end its contract with the city for fire, rescue and medical services.

Mayor Jean Stothert disputes that the new Elkhorn Fire and Rescue Department won’t be able to serve the area at the same level as the Omaha Fire Department, which has more than 650 members.

Stothert says the city remains open to negotiate the contract, which expires at the end of 2018.

Fire District Chief Travis Harlow says staffing levels will stay the same and public safety won’t be at risk.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Former and current members of the Omaha Tribal Council charged with misusing federal money are challenging federal authority in the matter.

Court documents say the nine defendants paid themselves nearly $389,000 from contract funds with the Indian Health Service that was supposed to be used to provide health care for members of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska.

Officials have said bonuses were paid for work council and other officials did on a contract dispute with the Indian Health Service.

The defendants’ say in a motion to dismiss filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Omaha that the money was received as part of the legal settlement. They argue that the disbursement is an internal tribal matter that falls outside of federal government oversight.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln police say they’re seeking a suspect in a road rage incident that severed the leg a 39-year-old Lincoln man.

Police say the incident happened Thursday when two drivers crashed into each other in a road rage dispute.

Police say both men got out of their vehicles, then the driver of a Dodge Charger got back into his car and intentionally hit the other driver, severing the man’s leg.

Police found the Charger abandoned a few blocks away. Police were still seeking the driver of that car Friday.

Officials are crediting a passerby with saving the injured man’s life. Police say the Good Samaritan fashioned a tourniquet out of bungee cords to slow the bleeding.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State officials say a health alert remains in effect for a fourth straight week at Bluestem Lake in Lancaster County.

The latest alert notice comes after testing this week detected toxin levels produced by blue-green algal blooms.

Officials say visitors to the lake should avoid full body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing and jet skiing. Non-contact activities such as boating, fishing and camping should be safe. People also are urged to keep pets out of the water and not allow them to drink lake water.

Skin exposed to the toxin can develop rashes and blisters. Ingesting the toxin can cause headaches, nausea and muscular pain.