(AP) — Investigators say lightning started a fire that damaged a school building in northwest corner of the Nebraska Panhandle.
Firefighters were sent to Belmont School a little before 11 a.m. Monday to battle the flames. The school sits a few miles south of Crawford, just east of Nebraska Highway 71.
Jeff Kennedy with the Crawford Fire Department says firefighters from Chadron and Hemingford also were on the scene.
No injuries have been reported.
(AP) — Researchers say a vaccine for a sexually spread virus has cut infections in teen girls by half.
This is the first evidence of how well the HPV vaccine works since it came on the market seven years ago.
For girls ages 14 to 19, the study found a 56 percent reduction in the types of HPV virus targeted by the shots. Vaccination campaigns focus on girls ages 11 and 12.
Many men and women are infected with the human papillomavirus during their life. Most don’t develop symptoms and clear the infection on their own. But some infections lead to genital warts, cervical cancer and other cancers.
Results of the study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were released Wednesday.
(AP) — A legislative committee has begun to look at ways to improve Nebraska’s school funding formula.
Members of the Education Committee met on Wednesday to begin their work on the interim study, which could lead to changes in the way state aid to schools is distributed.
The formula seeks to fill the gap between school district needs and what each can generate locally through property taxes. State funding for schools has led to conflicts in recent years between many smaller and larger school districts.
Sen. Kate Sullivan of Cedar Rapids, the committee chairwoman, has said the study will explore ways to make funding more stable and predictable for school districts. Lawmakers also plan to work in tandem with members of a committee that is studying Nebraska’s tax system.
(AP) — A judge has set a trial date for a trucker accused of causing a crash that killed a family in western Nebraska.
Online court records show that 37-year-old Josef Slezak is scheduled to stand trial starting Sept. 16. The trial in Cheyenne County District Court is expected to last two weeks.
Slezak is charged with four counts of manslaughter, four counts of motor vehicle homicide, and one count of motor vehicle homicide of an unborn child.
Authorities say Slezak had been driving virtually nonstop from Milwaukee, Wis., and wasn’t paying attention before the crash on Interstate 80, about 40 miles from the Wyoming border. The crash killed Christopher Schmidt, his wife Diana Schmidt, and the couple’s two young children. Diana Schmidt was 30 weeks pregnant at the time.
A North Platte woman is facing a felony charge after she is accused of stealing from her former employer.
At around 7:20 a.m on Tuesday June 18th, Officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to M & W Salvage at 1320 N. Roosevelt.
The victim alleged that a former employee, 22-year-old Bobbi Jo Hartman, had used company funds for purposes other than business dealings.
The total amount reportedly taken was $500.
Following an investigation, Officers determined there was probable cause to arrest Hartman for Felony Theft by Deception.
Officers located Hartman and transported her to the Lincoln County Detention Center.
Police say an additional theft investigation connected with this case in ongoing.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is moving its office in Lexington.
State officials say they don’t expect any interruption in services when workers move to the new location on Tuesday. The move includes 19 child and family services workers, one child care licensure employee and others who work in developmental disabilities services.
Employees plan to staff both the current and new offices on the day of the move to respond to clients’ needs.
The new office is located at 200 West 7th St., Suite 1, in Lexington. The post office box and office phone number will remain the same.
(AP) — A state senator has been sentenced after pleading guilty to drunken driving in his northwest Omaha district.
On Monday Scott Lautenbaugh was fined $500 and given two days in jail and a year of probation. He qualified for house arrest so will serve his jail time at home.
Authorities say Lautenbaugh was stopped around 2 a.m. on Feb. 27 after he was seen driving erratically. A breath test indicated his blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal driving limit.
Lautenbaugh has served in the Legislature since 2007.
(AP) — Chrysler says it has resolved its differences with the government and will recall older Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs that could be at risk of a fuel tank fire.
Earlier this month the company refused the government’s request to recall the Jeeps. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration contended that the gas tanks could rupture if hit from the rear, causing fires. NHTSA said 51 people had died in fiery crashes.
But Chrysler says in a statement Tuesday that dealers will inspect the vehicles and upgrade the rear structure if needed to better handle low-speed crashes.
The company maintains that the vehicles aren’t defective.
The government had asked Chrysler to recall 2.7 million Jeep Grand Cherokees from model years 1993 through 2004 and Jeep Libertys from 2002 through 2007
(AP) — The Scotts Bluff County Board is telling officials in 11 communities that they need to pay more to upgrade emergency 911 and dispatch services or the county will drop out of a 23-year-old dispatch agreement.
The board was mailing letters Tuesday to officials, explaining that when the county asked for contributions to upgrade equipment and related software, most communities provided only half of what was requested.
The board says the contributions suggested in the letter be paid by Oct. 1 if the communities want to keep receiving 911 and dispatch services.
Scottsbluff City Manager Rick Kuckkahn says the county’s offer is a good deal and he’ll recommend the City Council sign the agreement.
Gering Mayor Ed Mayo says he’ll also recommend his council approve the deal.
