VALENTINE, Neb (AP) — Just more than two weeks into fall, those in western and northern Nebraska are already seeing snow.

The National Weather Service says snow is falling Thursday afternoon from Alliance to Valentine, with up to two inches expected before tapering off in the late afternoon.

High temperatures aren’t expected to climb past the upper 30s in the area, and overnight lows in the 20s.

The weather service has issued an overnight freeze warning for much of the area until Friday, when the high is expected to rebound to the upper 50s.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Prison officials say a Nebraska State Penitentiary staff member is recovering after being assaulted by two inmates in the Lincoln prison’s yard.

A written release says the inmates used homemade weapons to beat the staff member Wednesday night. Other staff used pepper spray on the inmates to stop the assault.

The staff member was taken to a local hospital, treated and released.

The attack happened as inmates were going to and from dinner. Prison officials say they will not release the names of the staff member or inmates.

Officials have detailed a rash of attacks on corrections officers and staff at various Nebraska prisons over several months, including one in August at the Lincoln Correctional Center that officials say was carried about by a dozen inmates and injured nine officers.

Officials at North Platte High School and local police aren’t clowning around when it comes to threats against the safety of students.

In line with national reports, officials at NPHS say they and students have received numerous threats of a “clown attack” at the school.

According to an email from Superintendent Ron Hanson, the threats have been issued via Snapchat, and have “threatened the physical and emotional safety of others.”

The North Platte Police Department has fielded numerous calls from parents who are concerned about the potential for an attack, but police say they don’t believe the threats are valid.

A message sent to students at NPHS from administrators, earlier today, stated that any student who came to school dressed as a clown in any way would be suspended from school, and would face potential legal consequences.

Administrators say it is their top priority to ensure that students feel safe, both physically and emotionally.

North Platte police told The Post that they have only received one report of a person dressed as a clown, and that was in late-September.  Officers were unable to locate the person and say they have not received any other reports of clown sightings.

Two felony charges have been filed against a North Platte man who is accused of assaulting his girlfriend.

At around 9:56 p.m., on October 5, officers responded to the report of a domestic disturbance in the 2100 block of West 5th Street.  A citizen had contacted police and reported hearing a woman call for help nearby.

Officers made contact with a 44-year-old female and 38-year-old Joey Ziegler.

According to Investigator John Deal, Ziegler and the female are in a dating relationship and live together.

The female told officers that she and Ziegler got into a verbal argument that turned physical when Ziegler punched her in the face and placed his hands around her neck, choking her.

The argument moved into the backyard of the residence, according to Deal, which is when the citizen heard the victim’s pleas for help.

Based on the investigation, and visible injuries to the female’s face and neck, Ziegler was placed under arrest and transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

He’s been charged with felony strangulation and domestic assault.  Deal said, due to prior convictions, the domestic assault charge was also enhanced to a felony.