GERING, Neb. (AP) — A 40-year-old Alliance man has been accused of fatally stabbing and slashing his brother in Scottsbluff.

Online court records say William Reed was formally charged Monday in Scotts Bluff County Court with second-degree murder and a related weapons crime. Police say he killed 42-year-old Christopher Reed at Christopher’s home Friday in Scottsbluff. William Reed’s attorney didn’t immediately return a call Tuesday from The Associated Press.

William Reed is being held on $500,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 3.

Court documents say William Reed twice told officers he’d stabbed his brother. Investigators say there was evidence of a fight in the several rooms in the home and outside. A knife found at the scene was seized as evidence.

A 35-year-old North Platte man is behind bars after he allegedly led Lincoln County Deputies on a dangerous high-speed chase.

At around 1:50 a.m., on April 26, a deputy was patrolling near Hershey, on Highway 30, when they observed a motorcycle speeding.

According to Chief Deputy Roland Kramer, the motorcycle initially stopped, but before the deputy could make contact with the driver, he fled the scene.

The deputy pursued the motorcycle eastbound on Highway 30 at speeds exceeding 90 miles per hour.

The pursuit continued through North Platte before the driver headed south toward Lake Maloney on Highway 83.  Deputies say the driver, later  identified as Nicholas MacMillan, drove into the lawn of Lake Maloney Elementary School and fled on foot.

MacMillan was quickly apprehended and placed under arrest. A subsequent search led to the discovery of methamphetamine on MacMillan’s person.

MacMillan was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed on charges of felony flight to avoid arrest, felony possession of methamphetamine, willful reckless driving and driving under suspension.  MacMillan also had an active warrant for failure to appear.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Forecasters say a severe weather outbreak is possible Tuesday with powerful, long-track tornadoes and enormous hail predicted in some central and southern Plains states.

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, says the most dangerous weather is predicted for a 69,000-square-mile area stretching from northern Oklahoma to southern Nebraska, including the Oklahoma City area.

Forecasters say that area could see powerful winds, tornadoes and hail as large as baseballs or softballs on Tuesday afternoon and evening.

In all, 25 million people are at a slight risk or higher of experiencing severe weather Tuesday in an area from San Antonio to Omaha, Nebraska. In the east, a separate storm system could bring thunderstorms, strong winds and hail to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., but no outbreak is expected there.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prison officials say they’re investigating another assault on an employee this month.

A staff member was injured during an assault Sunday morning at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln.

The employee was treated at an outside medical facility for injuries to his hand and released.

Corrections department spokesman Andrew Nystrom says the inmate responsible is a county inmate currently housed at the center.

All men sentenced to prison start their time at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center, where they are evaluated before being sent to the state’s other prisons to finish out their sentences. Nystrom says a county may transport an inmate to the state when it is unable to attend to the needs of the individual.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A free fishing clinic for children is set for Saturday at a state fishing hatchery in Valentine.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Valentine Lions Club are sponsoring the event.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the clinic starts at 10, rain or shine. Free rod-and-reel combos provided by the Nebraska Walleye Association and other donors will be handed out to the first 75 registrants.

Participants in the morning will learn about knot-tying, casting, lures and baits, fish identification and water and boating safety. After lunch, the children will fish one of the hatchery ponds stocked with rainbow trout.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The deadline for those interested in filling a vacant Nebraska Supreme Court seat to apply is May 11.

The Judicial Nominating Commission will hold a public hearing in the York County Courthouse on June 1 to receive information on candidates to fill the vacancy left by the announced retirement of Justice William Connolly. Connolly’s retirement goes into effect Aug. 1.

The public is welcome and may present information concerning high court candidates at the hearing.

Those interested in applying for the position many obtain a judicial vacancy application package from the Nebraska Judicial Branch website at http://1.usa.gov/25kbaBk .

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average price of gasoline has jumped by 8 cents over the past three weeks to $2.18 a gallon for regular grade.

Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday that the hike is partly due to crude oil prices edging up. The price at the pump has gone up 41 cents over the past nine weeks.

Lundberg says that trend will likely continue as refiners make higher-cost summer blend gasoline in compliance with federal regulations.

In the Lower 48, the highest average price of regular gasoline was $2.79 per gallon in San Francisco. The lowest was $1.82 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The U.S. average diesel price is $2.20 per gallon, up 3 cents from two weeks ago.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is taking steps to ensure juveniles who get into legal trouble have representation, but lack of resources will exclude children in most counties.

Gov. Pete Ricketts approved a law this month requiring that every juvenile in Sarpy, Lancaster and Douglas counties is automatically appointed an attorney as soon as a petition is filed in juvenile court. Currently youth in Nebraska are presented with the right to an attorney at their first appearance.

Juvenile advocates say without early access to legal counsel, children can make irrevocable mistakes early in the legal process that can affect future employment, education or result in unnecessary out-of-home placement.

But attorneys in rural counties say requiring immediate appointments would burden counties already strapped for funding and public defenders with heavy caseloads.