LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The state inspector general for child welfare is investigating child sexual abuse and exploitation of children in state-licensed facilities.

Julie Rogers announced Wednesday that her investigation will show whether the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is taking adequate precautions to prevent and respond to children in the state’s care being abused.

Rogers’ office has received 36 reports since July 2013 of state wards, youth placed in state-licensed facilities and youths adopted from the child welfare system subjected to sexual abuse or exploitation.

Rogers says she intends to identify areas for improvement and make recommendations on how the state can better protect children. Her recommendations will be made public in September.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has warned thousands of current and former students about a computer security breach.

Campus officials said Tuesday in a letter to about 30,000 people that the breach potentially exposed thousands of student names, ID numbers and grades to an outside source. Officials say no Social Security numbers, credit card information or other personal data was stored on the computer server, which has been shut down.

The breach occurred sometime in the past two years. University spokesman Steve Smith says the source of the server breach isn’t known. A routine scan of the server during a system update uncovered the breach.

The letter to the students says the university has no evidence “that anyone has used this information for illegal or malicious activity.”

BROKEN BOW, Neb. (AP) — Sentencing for a Broken Bow woman found guilty in the death of her 20-month-old nephew has again been pushed back.

A judge moved 26-year-old Brittney Pryce’s sentencing to Jan. 26.

Authorities say 20-month-old Noah Pryce suffered a fatal head injury in November 2013 while in the care of Pryce and Pryce’s mother, Diane Hill. Both women were initially charged with second-degree murder. The case against Hill was dismissed. Pryce later was convicted of child abuse resulting in death.

A 25-year-old North Platte man was jailed on several charges after an alleged domestic assault on Monday evening.

At around 5:44 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 2100 block of West 16th Street on the report of a domestic disturbance.

Officers met with Christopher Caswell and a female victim, both 25.

Officers learned that the couple were in a dating relationship and lived together at the residence.  It was that reported that Caswell arrived home and, shortly thereafter, a verbal argument ensued over Caswell’s job.

During the argument, the female alleged that Caswell became angry and began punching walls in the bedroom.  The victim told officers that she wanted to leave the residence with their toddler child, but Caswell pulled her hair as she moved toward the front door.

As the woman continued to attempt to leave, Investigator John Deal says Caswell threw the woman’s phone outside, so she couldn’t call anybody, and blocked the door for approximately ten minutes.

At one point, the victim said Caswell raised his fist to her as she held the child.  Police did not report that Caswell ever punched the victim.

Eventually, Caswell allowed the woman to leave.  She then fled to a neighbor’s house and contacted the police.

Investigator Deal says the investigation revealed fresh holes in the bedroom wall that were consistent with someone punching it.

After further investigation, Caswell was placed under arrest and jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

He’s being charged with domestic assault, false imprisonment and, because the incident took placed in front of a child, child abuse.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s population has topped 1.9 million for the first time ever, and the state’s growth rate exceeded neighboring Iowa and matched the national rate.

New U.S. Census estimates released Tuesday show that Nebraska grew 0.7 percent to reach 1,907,116 on July 1. Iowa’s population grew 0.41 percent to hit 3,134,693.

Nebraska’s growth rate matched the national rate between last July and this July.

David Drozd of the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research says the latest figures suggest Nebraska has a decent chance to keep all three of its U.S. House seats after the 2020 Census.

VALENTINE, Neb. (AP) — The Cherry County Board of Commissioners has voted against providing a permit for a proposed wind farm.

The board voted 2-0 Monday to reject Bluestem Sandhills’ application. Bluestem wanted to build a 30-turbine farm over several thousand acres.

Critics of the plan cited fears about noise problems and damage to the environment.

Bluestem Vice President Eric Johnson says it’s possible Bluestem will seek permission to erect fewer turbines in an area near Kilgore. Bluestem Sandhills has discussed the possibility of reducing the number of wind towers to 17 by employing larger turbines.

Dawson Public Power District is warning its customers of a potential scam. Reports of suspicious phone calls demanding payment or risk having power disconnected were received by Dawson PPD.

Dawson PPD customers are encouraged to contact the utility if they receive a phone call requesting payment. Call Dawson PPD’s office at 800-752-8305 as the number the “representative” provides is most likely routed to the scammers themselves.

“Dawson PPD encourages its customers to protect themselves from fraudulent activities,” said Connie Hird, Supervisor, Consumer Accounts and Records. “If you suspect the phone call is a scam, please call us to verify the disconnect notice and contact your local authorities.”

The District notifies customers of delinquent bills three times prior to disconnecting a service: a reminder on the utility bill, a formal disconnect notice in the mail and finally an automated phone call.

Customers may securely pay their bill through an automated phone system, online via DawsonPower.com, the SmartHub mobile app or Dawson PPD’s offices in Lexington, Kearney and North Platte.

While it’s sure nice to get into a warm vehicle in the morning, warming up your vehicle can also make them an easy target for thieves.

On Monday at around 9:49 a.m., Lincoln County deputies responded to the report of a stolen vehicle from a residence on North U.S. Highway 83, north of North Platte.

The Sheriff’s Office says the residents had started their 1999 GMC van, which was parked in front of their house, so it could warm up.

A short time later, the residents observed a male subject enter their yard, get into the vehicle and take off, striking another vehicle and a barbed wire fence before heading northbound on Highway 83.

Multiple deputies from the LCSO responded to the area, and area law enforcement was notified.

As Logan County Sheriff Sean Carson was on patrol, looking for the stolen vehicle, he observed the vehicle crossing the Lincoln/Logan County line and initiated a traffic stop.

Carson made contact with the driver, identified as 31-year-old Alec Burnette, of Mission, South Dakota, and took him into custody without incident.

Lincoln County deputies arrived a short time later and transported Burnette to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

He was jailed on charges of felony theft and criminal mischief.

The van, which had minimal damage, was returned to its owner.