STAPLETON, Neb. (AP) — Federal authorities say the sixth mild earthquake in a week has occurred under central Nebraska.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the latest occurred was recorded around 4:50 p.m. Monday, 22 miles (35 kilometers) east-southeast of Stapleton in Custer County, near Arnold. It occurred 3 miles (5 kilometers) under the surface and was rated a 3.1 magnitude temblor.

No damage or injuries have been reported.

A North Platte couple is facing charges after they allegedly held a man captive and assaulted him.

According to Investigator John Deal, North Platte police responded to the report of a disturbance in the 1100 block of South Tabor Street at around 11:51 a.m., on April 14.

Officers met with a 22-year-old male who stated that he had been held captive and assaulted by 19-year-old Kaidyn Dieter and 25-year-old Miranda Lewis.

The victim told officers that he had gone to Lewis’ apartment on the evening of April 11.  He stated that Lewis and Dieter were at the residence and accused the victim of stealing from Lewis.

The victim alleged that both Dieter and Lewis punched him in the face and he was forced to get into his vehicle.

Deal says Dieter drove the victim’s vehicle around and, while there were in the car, the duo reportedly assaulted the victim with a glass bottle and a pool cue.

They then drove the victim to his house and demanded that he get a gaming console so they could sell it. The victim said they forced him to withdraw $300 cash before they returned to Lewis’ apartment.

Deal says the victim was held against his will at the apartment until April 13.  During that time, Deal says the victim was forced to remove his clothing and his wrists were bound with duct tape. At one point, police say Lewis threatened to harm the victim with a kitchen knife and began to cut his hair off.

Dieter and Lewis then forced the victim to get in a closet, Deal says, where he stayed until he was able to escape when Dieter and Lewis fell asleep.

Officers made contact with Dieter and Lewis at the apartment and obtained a search warrant.

Deal says a search of the residence led to the discovery of the gaming console, which Dieter had listed for sale on social media, a pool cue, a knife, duct tape and other evidence.  The victim also had bruising and swelling consistent with his account of the ordeal.

Dieter and Lewis were both placed under arrest and jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center on charges of terroristic threats, false imprisonment, use of a weapon to commit a felony, felony assault and robbery.

 

SCOTTSLBUFF, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Patrol says at least one person was killed and scores of stranded drivers were rescued in western Nebraska as a late-season blizzard crippled travel in western Nebraska.

The patrol says 61-year-old Rollo Ward, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, died at the scene of the crash Friday when the semitrailer he was driving eastbound on Interstate 80 went out of control on the snow-covered roadway and hit another semi previously stranded in the blizzard. The crash happened near Chappell in western Nebraska.

The patrol says the Friday blizzard also left more than 100 drivers stranded on I-80 and other highways near Sidney. The patrol said its troopers worked with area police, sheriff’s departments and emergency management agencies, as well as the Nebraska Department of Transportation, to rescue the stranded drivers.

The rescued motorists were taken to a church in Sidney or to area hotels.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prison officials are keeping an eye on new technology being used to smuggle contraband into state prisons, including drones.

A crashed drone attached with bags of marijuana and tobacco was found at the Lincoln Correctional Center two months ago. The Justice Department reported last year an increasing number of attempts to use drones to smuggle contraband into federal prisons over the past five years.

The state prisons’ Centralized Intelligence Unit formed last year identifies and stays ahead of technology trends, said Christopher Connelly, agency intelligence administrator at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.

“Really, there’s so many ways that contraband can come in, whether it comes in through the front entrance or a laundry cart or delivery truck,” said prisons spokeswoman Dawn-Renee Smith.

“Or dropped in by a drone,” Connelly said.

Prisons are refocusing efforts to locate and recover contraband, particularly cellphones, which has become a growing issue, said Smith. Inmates can use cellphones to track prison staff’s home addresses or transact business, Connelly said.

More than 165 cellphones were seized last year in the state’s 10 prison facilities, according to a Corrections Department report. Nearly 65 were found in 2016 and almost 80 in 2015.

Prisons are using new detection technology, Cellsense, to find cellphones that have been smuggled inside, said Smith. Trained dogs are also used.

While prisons have seen a spike in cellphones found within prison walls, drugs and alcohol still top the list of contraband found in Nebraska’s prisons.

In nearly 5 percent of cases in 2016, amphetamines, alcohol, cocaine and marijuana were detected in inmates’ systems across the penal system, according to the latest available department data.

Connelly said the growing number of ways that inmates can smuggle in contraband means that staff must be hyper-vigilant.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two of Nebraska’s most popular state parks are looking for seasonal employees to help operate the attractions this summer.

Applications are now being accepted for jobs at Eugene T. Mahoney and Platte River state parks in eastern Nebraska.

Having experience in landscaping, food service, heating and air conditioning or business is helpful. Some part-time positions could lead to full-time jobs.

More details about the job openings is available online at www.outdoornebraska.gov/workinapark.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers will finish a short, 60-day session Wednesday dominated by bitter disputes over the state budget, tax policy and social issues — and those battles aren’t done yet.

The session’s end sets the stage for new debates that will continue through the November election and into next year’s legislative session.

Here are some things to watch:

TURNING TO THE PEOPLE

Frustrated that their bills stalled, some lawmakers and advocacy groups are trying to bypass the Legislature with petition drives that would take the proposals to voters in November.

One is a property tax ballot measure that would eventually direct more than $1 billion in state revenue each year into tax credits for property owners. Another possible ballot measure would expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, a proposal Nebraska lawmakers have rejected six times.

Supporters of both measures said they’re confident they’ll get enough signatures to qualify for this year’s general-election ballot.

“We’ve been very pleased with the level of enthusiasm we’ve seen from folks across the state,” said Molly McCleery, a health care advocate for Nebraska Appleseed, which is working on the Medicaid expansion measure.

Organizers of the property tax petition drive began collecting signatures in February and have made good progress so far, said Trent Fellers, a former Lincoln city councilman who is managing the campaign.

“Our focus hasn’t been what’s going on the Legislature,” Fellers said. “There’s been gridlock there for two years on these types of tax issues.”

The property tax measure will face organized opposition from Nebraska’s largest business groups, which argue it could hinder efforts to cut income taxes.

The credits for property tax owners would increase annually if the ballot measure passes, costing the state an estimated $1.35 billion by fiscal year 2025. Nebraska’s current state budget is about $8.8 billion, spread over two years. Gov. Pete Ricketts has said it would force lawmakers to make drastic cuts to state services and possibly approve a large tax increase.

It’s unclear whether the Medicaid expansion measure will have organized opposition, but previous bills have drawn criticism from Ricketts and other top state officials.

Advocates for legalized marijuana are also seeking a ballot measure, but their previous attempts have failed.

BACK SO SOON?

Nebraska lawmakers could return to the Capitol in just a few weeks to debate property taxes, if some senators have their way.

Sen. Tom Brewer, of Gordon, submitted a letter last week to the Nebraska secretary of state with 12 co-signers that requests a special session to lower property taxes.

At least 10 senators were needed to start the process of convening a special session. After receiving the letter, Secretary of State John Gale sent letters Wednesday to all of the remaining senators asking if they would support a special session.

If at least 33 of the Legislature’s 49 members respond favorably, state law requires Ricketts to call the session. Lawmakers have until April 23 to respond.

“This really is the last legislative tool in the toolbox,” Brewer said.

Brewer acknowledged his push for a special session is a long shot, but said lawmakers need to explore every possible option. If he succeeds, lawmakers would likely reconvene in late April or early May. Ricketts and Speaker of the Legislature Jim Scheer oppose the idea.

MORE MONEY WOES?

Nebraska lawmakers may have balanced the state budget, but a shaky farm economy and the new federal tax law could lead to more financial problems next year.

Nebraska collected far less tax revenue than expected in March, according to the state Department of Revenue. Tax collections are still 1.6 percent above projections in the current fiscal year, and that could change in the next few months.

Much of the uncertainty comes from the federal tax law President Donald Trump signed in December. Although lawmakers passed a bill to negate many of its effects on state tax collections, state officials still don’t know how the new law might change taxpayer behavior.

“It’s almost impossible to put a finger on it,” said Nebraska State Tax Commissioner Tony Fulton. “We don’t know how all of this is going to play out.”

Fulton said state officials should know more after April, traditionally the biggest month for tax collections.

Lawmakers faced a $173 million shortfall at the beginning of this year’s session, forcing them to impose across-the-board and targeted cuts to state agencies, including the University of Nebraska. They also drew heavily from the state’s cash reserve, which is intended for emergencies and one-time expenses.

CAMPAIGN TIME

With the session behind them, many lawmakers will shift into full-time campaign mode ahead of Nebraska’s May 15 primary.

Sixteen of the Legislature’s 49 senators are up for re-election, and 11 of them will have to overcome primary challengers to return next year.

Two others are running for higher office. Sen. Bob Krist, of Omaha, is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Ricketts, a Republican incumbent. Krist had previously been a Republican but switched his affiliation to nonpartisan in September. He joined the Democratic Party after he encountered major obstacles to getting on the ballot as an independent.

Krist will face fellow Democrats Tyler Davis and Vanessa Gayle Ward, both of Omaha, in the primary.

State Sen. John Murante, of Gretna, is looking to become Nebraska’s state treasurer, but he faces a primary challenge from fellow Republican Taylor Royal, of Omaha. Both are vying to replace Republican State Treasurer Don Stenberg, who is leaving office because of term limits.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — More than 10 organizations that promote sports tourism have teamed up to sell Nebraska to regional and national sporting event planners.

The Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau announced this past week its partnership with 10 other organizations to form Sports Nebraska.

The new group aims to bring more regional and national sporting events to the state, according to Derek Bombeck, president of Sports Nebraska.

“By combining efforts and expertise from across the state, Sports Nebraska feels it can create a cohesive package that will drive new sporting business into the state,” Bombeck said.

Events such as the USA Roller Sports National Championships bring thousands of people to Lincoln and millions of dollars of tourism spending. The National High School Finals Rodeo is expected to bring as many as 50,000 visitors to Lincoln each year when it comes to the Lancaster Event Center in 2020 and 2021. Officials expect the annual economic impact of the rodeo to be more than $16 million.

Getting more sporting events to come to Nebraska means more tourism dollars for the communities that host them, Bombeck said.

“We’re just trying to get more sports tourism dollars to Nebraska,” he said.

The group’s first event will be the National Association of Sports Commissions Annual Symposium in Minneapolis this month.

Other members of Sports Nebraska include the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Omaha Sports Commission, Sarpy County Tourism, Visit Fremont and Visit Grand Island.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A nearly $454,000 federal grant will go to help a University of Nebraska-Lincoln project to support youth entrepreneurship in rural communities.

The project partners high school students with rural business owners and will be led by Surin Kim, assistant professor in textiles, merchandising and fashion design and a Nebraska Extension entrepreneurship specialist.

High school students participating through school-based and 4-H programs will collaborate with local community leaders, small business owners, and educators to develop solutions for local businesses, which suffer from rural population decline.

The $493,560 U.S. Department of Agriculture comes from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. The initiative is charged with combating several issues in the U.S., including improving rural economies.

Blizzard conditions caused major problems for drivers in Western Nebraska Friday, leaving many stranded on Interstate 80 and other highways.

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP), working with the Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office, Sidney Police Department, Sidney Public Schools, Cheyenne County Emergency Management, the Nebraska Department of Transportation, and others, worked to clear all of the stranded vehicles. In total, more than 100 motorists were rescued.

There were two major areas where vehicles had become trapped on I-80 near Sidney. One section was more than a mile and a half long and the other section was estimated to have at least 50 vehicles. Sidney Public Schools offered buses to assist in the rescue, which were escorted to the scene by patrol vehicles and snow plows.

The assembled law enforcement officers went door to door, knocking on all vehicles and rescuing all of the occupants in freezing temperatures. The rescued motorists were taken to Light Memorial Presbyterian Church in Sidney or to a hotel of their choice.

In addition to the large-scale rescues, troopers have responded to more than 80 motorist assist calls during the storm. Stranded drivers are reminded to call *55 to reach the NSP Highway Helpline.

There has been one confirmed fatality accident in the area. The fatality was a result of a crash involving two semis in the median of Interstate 80 near mile marker 84. Rollo Ward, 61, of Idaho Falls, ID, was pronounced deceased at the scene after the semi he was driving eastbound lost control, entered the median, and struck a semi that had previously become stranded.

Road conditions remain poor to impassible in many parts of central to western Nebraska. At this time, Interstate 80 is closed to westbound traffic from Grand Island to the Wyoming state line. Eastbound I-80 is closed from the Wyoming state line to Ogallala. Keep up-to-date on other road closures by calling 511, visiting 511.Nebraska.gov, or by downloading the 511 smartphone app.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s state tax collections fell far below expectations in March.

The state Department of Revenue on Friday reported net tax receipts of $306 million for the month, which is nearly 10 percent below the official certified forecast of $337 million.

The report says net sale and use tax collections were nearly 9 percent below projections; net individual income tax receipts were more than 2 percent below; net corporate income taxes were more than 35 percent below; and net miscellaneous income tax receipts were more than 4 percent below.

Net tax receipts for the whole fiscal year are still nearly 2 percent above projections. The current fiscal year ends June 30.

The comparisons are based on October estimates from the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board.