Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) have arrested a man following a report of a sexual assault at a gas station just off of Interstate 80 in Lincoln County.

At approximately 10:00 p.m. Monday, August 21, troopers responded to a gas station at mile marker 179, near North Platte, upon a report from an adult female that a man had assaulted her while they were traveling in a vehicle. The suspect had left th3rd-degreefore troopers arrived.

About an hour later, the vehicle was located by the Deuel County Sheriff’s Office at a truck stop in Big Springs. The suspect was not with the vehicle, but troopers were able to locate the suspect a short time later.

Robert Hall, 61, of Gulfport, Mississippi, was arrested for 3rd degree sexual assault, making terroristic threats, and attempted 1st degree sexual assault. He was lodged in Lincoln County Jail.

The former director of the North Platte Kids Academy is facing charges after authorities say she stole from the organization

On April 18, 2018, the North Platte Police Department was made aware of a theft that had occurred in the 1200 block of South Ash Street.

Officers spoke to employees at the North Platte Kids Academy and learned that 41-year-old Michelle Seidler had been hired as the Executive Director in August of 2016 and was terminated from the position in January of 2018.

After Seidler’s departure, multiple discrepancies were discovered in the organization’s financial records and funds managed by Seidler.

Investigators believe Seidler used several different methods to steal the money and was able to take around $33,000 from the Kids Academy.

Officer Beth Kerr said one of the methods Seidler used was continuing to pay a former employee and diverting the money into her personal account.

Additionally, close to $11,000 in false claims were sent to the Department of Health and Human Services by Seidler, who then diverted those funds into her own account.

It was determined that there was probable cause to charge Seidler with felony theft from the Kids Academy, felony theft from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and criminal impersonation, also a felony.

Authorities were unable to locate Seidler and a warrant was issued for her arrest. On August 22, Seidler turned herself in at the Lincoln County Detention Center and was jailed.

A North Platte woman is in jail after authorities say they found her in possession of pornographic images involving children.

Earlier this month, North Platte police received information from law enforcement in Washington County regarding a social media profile they were investigating. Investigators told police that some communications from this profile consisted of sexual activity involving minors.

Based of this information, on August 22, police executed a search on the Kari Bock residence in the 100 block of North Allen Avenue.

Police say they found Bock to be in possession of a digital image that depicted minors as “portrayed observers” to sexually explicit conduct.

Bock was placed under arrest and jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center. She’s been charged with possession of child pornography.

The investigation began in Kennard, Nebraska.

Authorities there arrested 32-year-old Eric Schulkey for allegedly trying to entice hundreds of women into engaging in illegal and inappropriate acts with children.

Authorities in Washington County say Bock and a woman from Topeka, Kansas exchanged photos and videos with Schulkey.

It is unknown if Bock will face charges in Washington County as well.

Police say Schulkey contacted over 600 Facebook accounts and engaged in conversation with at least 30 to 40 individuals, most of whom were women.

The investigation is ongoing.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A fraternity has asked a district court judge to tell University of Nebraska-Lincoln administrators they must turn over correspondence relating to the frat’s suspension.

In March 2017 the university suspended the Phi Gamma Delta chapter for three years. Members had been accused of making vulgar comments to women during the January 2017 Women’s March in Lincoln. Administrators say an investigation uncovered what they described as reckless alcohol use, hazing and inappropriate sexually based behavior.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the frat filed records requests in December. The university turned over some records on May 25 but withheld nearly 1,700 others under a state provision allowing “records developed or received by law enforcement agencies and other public bodies charged with duties of investigation” to be exempted from public searches.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha World-Herald is eliminating 23 positions from its staff, including 10 employees who were laid off.

The layoffs were announced Tuesday in a memo to the newspaper’s staff. The company will also leave eight jobs unfilled, and five other employees will retire.

Omaha World-Herald President Phil Taylor says in the memo the newspaper’s print advertising revenue continues to decline in certain categories, including large national retailers.

Sue Violi, the newspaper’s community relations director, says the cuts amount to 3 percent of the World-Herald’s workforce. Violi says the newspaper has seen rapid digital subscription growth but faces a “very difficult” transition.

The Omaha World-Herald is owned by Omaha-based Berkshire Hathaway Inc. The company announced in June it had struck a deal with Iowa-based chain Lee Enterprises to manage its newspapers.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials have announced a $6.5 million statewide commitment to improve stroke response and care in Nebraska.

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association said Tuesday the three-year initiative will build on the existing system of stroke care in the state.

A three-year, $5.35 million grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Trust is underpinning the effort, which is named Mission: Lifeline Stroke.

The initiative will include a public awareness campaign and also focus on innovation and rehabilitation.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is in line to get a $36.2 million refund from the federal government as part of a lawsuit that said a fee on the state’s Medicaid program was unconstitutional.

Nebraska is one of six states that will receive a combined $389 million back from the Internal Revenue Service after a federal judge in Texas sided with the states. Attorney General Doug Peterson said Wednesday he was pleased with the ruling.

“The federal government is not able to tax the states because of the unconstitutional constructs of Obamacare, and the portion illegally collected from Nebraska should be returned to our state,” Peterson said, referring to the common name for the Affordable Care Act.

Nebraska, Kansas and Wisconsin joined the lawsuit that was initially filed by Texas, Kansas and Louisiana in October 2015. Under an Obama-era regulation, the states were threatened with a loss of Medicaid funding unless they paid a portion of a health insurance providers fee to help pay for the Affordable Care Act.

It’s not clear whether the federal government will appeal the ruling.

Indiana is expected to receive a $94.8 million repayment, Kansas is expected to get $142.1 million, Louisiana is expected get $172.5 million, Wisconsin is expected to get $89 million, and Texas is expected to get $304.7 million.

The lawsuit, led by Texas, argued that the Affordable Care Act didn’t give clear notice to states that the fees would be required to continue receiving federal money for Medicaid and the Child Health Insurance Program.

Authorities with the Nebraska State Patrol, Custer County Sheriff’s Office, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lexington Police Department worked together to quickly locate the victim of an apparent abduction and arrest the suspect on Tuesday morning in Lexington.

The incident happened at approximately 5:00 a.m. when the Custer County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Callaway following reports that an adult female had been taken against her will by a known acquaintance. The male suspect was reportedly also driving a stolen vehicle.

At approximately 8:30 a.m., troopers were able to locate the suspect and victim at the Walmart in Lexington. Ryan Ingram, 32, of Kearney, was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, violation of a protection order, false reporting, open container, possession of drug paraphernalia, and outstanding warrants. Ingram was lodged in Dawson County Jail.

The Custer County Sheriff’s Office is the lead agency on the ongoing investigation.

North Platte High School was placed on lockout this morning after law enforcement and adminstrators were made aware of a potential threat outside the building.

The following is a statement from the North Platte Police Department.

This morning (8/21/18), North Platte High School was placed on a lockout as part of Standard Response Protocol in order to protect students and staff against a potential threat outside of the building. This lockout was announced at approximately 9:50 AM and was lifted at around 10:50 AM.

During the lockout, students attended classes normally, but no one was allowed to enter or exit North Platte High School.

NPHS Administration, along with law enforcement, received possible concerns of a threat outside of the high school. North Platte High School activated the Standard Response Protocol. More information on this protocol can be found in the student-parent handbook.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Jane Raybould has released a new statewide television ad highlighting her work in her family’s grocery store chain.

The 30-second spot began airing Tuesday and features Raybould sacking groceries, a job she held at her family’s first grocery store when she was younger.

Raybould says in the ad that she helps run the family stores and hears from customers who are struggling because of policies out of Washington. The ad highlights the impact of President Donald Trump’s trade policies on Nebraska farmers and mentions rising health care costs.

Raybould is looking to unseat first-term U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, a Republican who is seeking re-election in the GOP-dominated state.