DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. says its U.S. sales fell 12 percent in October, hampered by a slowing market and a safety recall.

Most automakers reported sales Monday, but Ford’s results were delayed by a day because of an electrical fire at its Dearborn, Michigan headquarters.

Ford sold 188,813 vehicles last month. Its car sales plummeted 27.5 percent, while its SUV sales were down 9 percent. F-Series pickup sales were flat compared to last October.

Ford paused Transit Connect commercial van sales to fix faulty door latches, which also hurt sales.

Overall industry sales were down an estimated 4 percent in October, but they may fall further now that Ford has reported its totals.

Ford cut production at four North American plants last month because of falling U.S. demand for new vehicles.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A federal judge has ruled against a Tecumseh State Correctional Institution inmate who sued the state prisons director and prison staff, saying they failed to protect him during a riot last year.

Robert Clayborne Jr. had protective custody status when inmates gained control of the prison for several hours after an attack on prison staff on May 10, 2015. Two inmates were found dead after order was restored.

Clayborne’s lawsuit said understaffing led to the riot and that staff showed a deliberate indifference to his right to safety and medical care. He says the incident almost cost him his life.

The judge dismissed the lawsuit, saying staff had to retreat to an office in the lobby for their safety and that the prison wasn’t understaffed at the time of the disturbance.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say an inmate has been charged with assaulting three guards at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln.

39-year-old Jeffrey Hoover is charged with three counts of assault by a confined person. Online court records don’t list an attorney who could comment for him about the allegations. State records show Hoover has been moved to the state prison in Tecumseh.

The corrections department says that on Aug. 8 Hoover punched a guard in the face and then struck two more guards who arrived to help the first guard. The first guard punched was taken to a hospital for treatment. The other guards were treated elsewhere.

Hoover is serving time for assault.

UPDATE (11-2-16 4:00pm)

The Post spoke to City Fire Marshal George Lewis and he stated that he was not able to locate a “source of ignition” for the fire.

The cause has officially been ruled “undetermined.”

Lewis confirmed that one person was transported to the hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation.  No other injuries were reported.

A North Platte family lost their home in a fire on Halloween night.

According to the North Platte Fire Department, a call came in shortly after 10:00 pm, reporting a structure fire in the 1800 block of East Sixth Street.

Officials say firefighters arrived and found a garage and adjoining trailer fully engulfed in flames.

Fire crews battled the blaze for about twenty-five minutes and initially ruled the fire “under control” at around 10:40 pm.  But, crews had to return to the structure around midnight to address a flare-up.

The garage, home, and a vehicle were all total losses.  Scanner traffic indicated that at least one person was transported to the hospital with possible smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported.

The fire is being investigated by City Fire Marshal George Lewis. The Post expects to have more details tomorrow morning. It is believed that the fire started in the garage.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A monthly survey of business leaders suggests the economy will continue slowing in nine Midwest and Plains states, in part because of manufacturing weakness.

The Mid-America Business Conditions Index report released Tuesday says the overall economic index for the region dropped to 43.8 in October from September’s 45.5.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says “weakness among manufacturers linked to agriculture and energy continue to weigh on regional economic conditions.”

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor. A score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

The North Platte Community Playhouse has announced the opening of its next production of the 2016/2017 season, “A Christmas Carol Musical.”

For many around the world, Christmas isn’t Christmas without revisiting the well-loved tale of the penny-pinching miser, Ebenezer Scrooge and the awakening of his long-forgotten festive spirit.

Written in the latter months of 1843, over a period of just a few weeks Charles Dickens, created one of his most affecting and universal novels, “A Christmas Carol”.

This ghostly tale of the Past, Present and Future is brought to life in this exciting new musical adaptation. Keeping true to the original text, it draws upon the themes of time, family and society’s ills to warm even the coldest of hearts.

When the spirit of Jacob Marley, his former partner, tells Scrooge he must know his responsibilities, Scrooge is taken on a very busy night to show him the error of his ways. With the Ghost of Christmas Past illustrating the importance of family and friends, Christmas Present representing charity and benevolence and Future bringing in its wake what should happen if all these lessons are forgotten, Scrooge becomes a changed man.

Drawing strongly on the theme of time, this adaptation shows that we must use our time wisely and understand that we have but a moment to make the right choices. With time ticking onward, Scrooge must make his life mean something before it is too late. When the bell tolls for Christmas Day, will he have the strength to change the man he has become over so many wasted years?

Production dates are November 11, 12, 13 & 18, 19, 20, 2016.  Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8:00 pm and Sundays matinees begin at 2:00 pm.

Tickets will be available at the Playhouse Box Office or online at www.northplattecommunityplayhouse.com, beginning Monday, November 7, 2016.  They are $15.00 for adults and $8.00 for children and students. Tickets will also be available at the door prior to each performance.

“A Christmas Carol Musical” is directed by Bob Allen, with assistant director Carolyn Clark and Music Director Carmen Allen. It is produced through a special arrangement with International Theatre and Music, LTD.

“A Christmas Carol Musical is made possible by our Corporate Sponsor, Eye Surgeons of Nebraska, and the support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment for the Arts.

CAST LIST

Charles Dickens          Josh Gesinski

Ebenezer Scrooge       Todd von Kampen

Bob Cratchit               Malachi Murtaugh

Fred                             Philip Ryan

Jacob Marley               Justin Morgan

Second Gentleman      Stewart Clow

Fezziwig                      Morris Turner

Man at Party 1,           Stewart Clow

Man at Party 2             Roy Lawton

Businessman 3            Stewart Clow

Young Scrooge           Ben von Kampen

Young Marley             Michael Richey

Old Joe                        Roy Lawton

Costermonger              Stewart Clow

Poulterer                      Melodie Loostrom

Lamplighter                 Stewart Clow

Sam                             Michael Richey

Beadle                         Annie von Kampen

Mrs. Cratchit               Mahaila Botts

Belle                            Mari Gesinski

Mrs. Fezziwig             Melissa Mitchell

Mrs. Dilber                  Katy Walker

Beth                            Andrea Foster

Mrs. Filch                    Connie Huebner

Women’s Ensemble    Traci Shavlik – Vendor

Annie von Kampen – Parent

Lisa Hodgen – Poor Woman

Alexandria San Miguel – Wife

Dani Ingison –Vendor

Ghost of Christmas Past         Hannah Sukraw

Ghost of Christmas Present    Tia San Miguel

Ghost of Christmas To Come Melodie Loostrom

Boy Scrooge               Nic Zurn

Fan                              Mandi Hatch

Martha                         Shekynah Hodgen

Peter                            Jonah San Miguel

Belinda                        Julie Ingison

Tiny Tim                     Ranan Rubalcara

Boy                             Lance Allen

CONTINUED

Lamp Lad                   Jeremiah Ingison

Spoilt boy                    Luke Borges

Spoilt girl                    Rei Wood

Ignorance                    Cooper Lange

Want                           Raya Rubalcara

Ragged Youths/  Youth Ensemble

Jessen McClintock

Isaiah Mitchell

Bella Mitchell

Marissa Pfeifer

Douglas Titman

Ella Harmon

Makenna Modlin

Dakota Guthrie

Mya Larsen

Sierra Mitchell

Lost souls (ghosts)      Ben Von Kampen

Michael Richey

Alexandria San Miguel

Roy Lawton

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Scientists at the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab say they’re already seeing improvements a year after they began working in the new building.

The lab opened Oct. 26, 2015, and is 15,000 square feet bigger than the previous facility, giving the department’s nearly 30 employees more room to work and process evidence.

Patrol spokeswoman Deb Collins says there are continuing improvements processing backlogs in sections of the facility. The new lab also has technological upgrades, including a remote firing apparatus to keep forensic scientists safe when testing possibly faulty guns.

The lab provides services free to law enforcement statewide.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska regulators have decided to require stores to complete long-form applications for liquor licenses if they want to continue selling millions of cans of beer to residents of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission voted Tuesday to impose the more arduous requirement on the four beer stores in Whiteclay, which sits across the state line from the reservation in South Dakota. The reservation is plagued by poverty, alcoholism and high rates of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Nebraska Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks says the long-form process will require all parties to demonstrate the adequacy of law enforcement in Whiteclay. Nebraska requires adequate law enforcement near establishments that sell alcohol.

Officials have said the county doesn’t have sufficient resources to police Whiteclay.