LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The state of Nebraska won’t appeal a judge’s decision to bar a Colorado company from using a Nebraska Panhandle well to dispose of salty groundwater and chemical-laden fracking wastewater that result from oil and gas operations.

The judge ruled last month that the Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission exceeded its authority last year when it approved a request by Terex Energy Corp., of Broomfield, Colorado. The company wanted to dispose of wastewater produced in Colorado and Wyoming and eventually Nebraska.

The Nebraska attorney general’s office said in a news release Tuesday that it disagrees with the judge’s decision but also said recent legislation has addressed the judge’s concerns.

Signed by the governor in March, the legislation refocuses the agency’s role in promoting health, safety and protection of natural resources.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A $5.5 million grant will provide four new mobile classrooms to help improve training for emergency responders in rural parts of Nebraska over the next three years.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center said Tuesday that the grant from the Leona and Harry Helmsley foundation will pay for four of the $500,000 trucks to be stationed across the state.

The trucks have advanced simulators inside that offer hands-on training on advanced techniques. The manikins used in the simulations cost almost $900,000.

Nebraska is the fourth state to receive a grant from the Helmsley Foundation for the trucks after South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana.

Micheal Dwyer with the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association says this training will be especially important in rural areas because they rely heavily on volunteers.

The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office says the body of a man found in the Platte River in early-June has been positively identified.

Shortly after 4:00 p.m., on June 10, law enforcement was called to the north channel of the Platte River near the Bassway Strip Wildlife Mangement area, near the Minden exit on Interstate 80.

Authorities recovered the body of an adult male who was said to have been in the water for “quite some time.”  At the time, investigators were not able to establish the identity of the man, known as John Doe 16B.  An autopsy was conducted and concluded that the cause of death was drowning, with no evidence of foul play.

Law enforcement reached out to the public through social media outlets and media resources throughout the region.

On July 26, Captain Bob Anderson says the BCSO received numerous tips.  Anderson said that through this information, the man has been identified as 40-year-old David T. Neal.  Anderson said Neal was originally from Iowa but had also lived in Sterling, Colorado.

According to Anderson, Neal was last seen in the Kearney area on May 9.  Investigators learned that Neal had purchased a raft and was observed near the Platte River.

It is unknown what his destination was.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a woman fatally injured in an Omaha house explosion was a property inspector sent to check its condition after a tenant was evicted.

Police say 30-year-old Clara Bender died after being taken to Nebraska Medical Center. The blast occurred around 12:15 p.m. Monday in Omaha’s Benson neighborhood. A 46-year-old woman who lives next door and a 14-year-old boy also were hospitalized.

The explosion leveled the house and heavily damaged four adjacent homes.

Authorities say Bender worked for Certified Property Management. Company President Jeremy Aspen says Bender was married to another of his employees.

Police and fire investigators are trying to find out what caused the explosion.

A North Platte man is facing felony charges following a disturbance in the Platte River Mall parking lot on Sunday.

According to North Platte Police, at around 12:57 a.m., police responded to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office on the report of an assault.

It was reported that a man and woman were in a parked vehicle on the west side of the mall, when the woman’s husband, 35-year-old Nathan Coco, pulled up in another vehicle and blocked them in.

Police say the victims reported that Coco was very upset, approached the vehicle and produced a handgun from his waistband. Investigators say Coco pointed the gun at the couple and began making threats.

Following a verbal argument, the female reported that she attempted to exit the vehicle.  At that time, Coco allegedly pushed her down and kneed her in the ribs.

The woman told police that she got back into the vehicle, and Coco hit her in the face with the butt of his gun.

The couple was able to get away, and the male drove to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators say the woman had visible injuries that corroborated her account of the incident.

Deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office located Coco at Lake Maloney and placed him under arrest.

He was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed on charges of felony terroristic threats and use of a weapon to commit a felony.

Deputies recovered the handgun allegedly used in the incident.

BRIDGEPORT, Neb. (AP) — A homicide trial has been delayed for a Nebraskan accused of killing a Colorado man and stuffing his body into a barrel.

Court records say a new trial starting date of Nov. 14 has been set for 24-year-old Zachary Mueller. He’s pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and related weapons charges. He’s accused of killing 33-year-old Pedro Dominguez, of Greeley, Colorado. A farmer found the barrel near Bayard, Nebraska, on Dec. 4. Authorities say Dominguez had been shot in the back of the head.

Mueller’s trial was to begin Sept. 6, but a judge delayed it on a motion by Mueller’s lawyer.

Mueller is from Bridgeport.

An 8-year-old Idaho girl is dead following an accident on Interstate 80 near Maxwell on Sunday evening.

At around 6:46 p.m., an injury accident involving two semis was reported on I-80 near Mile Marker 192 eastbound, about two miles east of Maxwell.

The Nebraska State Patrol says a semi traveling eastbound, driven by 59-year-old Rana Singh, of Chino, California, was rear-ended by another eastbound semi, driven by 40-year-old Serget Kalinovskiy, of Meridian, Idaho.

The collision caused the semi driven by Kalinovskiy to turn onto its side, ejecting Kalnovskiy and his daughter, Victoria.

Investigators say bystanders immediately began CPR on Victoria and continued to do so until the North Platte Fire Department arrived on the scene.

Both of the Kalinovskiys were transported to Great Plains Health, where Victoria was pronounced dead on arrival.  Serget Kalinovskiy suffered minor injuries and was treated and released.

It was unknown if Singh sustained any injuries.

I-80 was closed for about four hours while the accident was investigated.  Drug or alcohol use is not believed to be a factor.

Troopers say this accident is a good example of how dangerous following another vehicle too closely can be.  They recommend allowing two seconds between you and other vehicles.

The crash remains under investigation.