A North Platte woman is facing charges after she allegedly caused a crash while driving under the influence.

At around 5:10 p.m., on April 5, deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the North Platte Police Department responded to a two-vehicle crash on Newberry Access, just south of Wilson road near North Platte.

Upon arrival, deputies found North Platte Fire and Rescue personnel attending to the driver of a Chrysler Town and Country minivan.

Deputies then made contact with the driver of the other vehicle, a Ford Taurus, 37-year-old Shawnda Mills.

Authorities say it appears Mills was traveling eastbound on 12th Street when she looked down into her purse to find her phone.

As she looked down, deputies say she crossed the center line and struck the westbound minivan.

As authorities investigated, they noticed that Mills, who wasn’t seriously injured, smelled of alcohol.

Deputies say Mills admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages earlier in the day.

A LCSO drug recognition expert was called to the scene and determined that Mills was under the influence of something other than alcohol.

Following further investigation, Mills was arrested and charged with felony driving under the influence of drugs (4th offense), no proof of insurance and open container of alcohol.

Deputies say the minivan driver’s injuries were not life-threatening.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Utilities are reminding Nebraskans to check with authorities before digging to avoid hitting buried lines this summer.

Black Hills Energy says it’s important for homeowners and contractors to call the 811 hotline or visit www.ne1call.com before digging to get utility lines marked.

Authorities say it’s important to hand dig any holes near gas facilities to avoid nicking a line.

The utility’s Don Nordell says following these practices will help keep you safe.

And anyone who fails to have utility lines marked before digging can face tough penalties.

KIMBALL, Neb. (AP) — Work is scheduled to begin the week of April 13 on U.S. Highway 30 from Kimball east to Dix in the Nebraska Panhandle.

The Nebraska Department of Roads says the project will include asphalt removal and replacement, plus some curb and gutter repairs.

Traffic will be maintained by a pilot vehicle and flaggers. The work is expected to be finished by June 9.

Today: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Light and variable wind becoming north 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight: Occasional drizzle after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. East northeast wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: A chance of drizzle before 1pm. Patchy fog before 1pm. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 60. North northeast wind 11 to 13 mph.
Tuesday Night: A slight chance of drizzle after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. East wind 9 to 13 mph.
Wednesday: A chance of drizzle, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 57. East wind around 11 mph.
Wednesday Night: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Thursday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 49. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — It would be more difficult to remove American Indian children from their families under a measure being considered in the Nebraska Legislature.

The bill by Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln would clarify hazy terms already in Nebraska law, strengthening protections of cultural identities for children by engaging tribal government and extended family mediation before removing children from tribal homes.

American Indian children represent just 2 percent of Nebraska’s children but account for more than 5 percent of all children in out-of-home placement, one of the highest disparities in the nation, according to 2014 data from Nebraska’s Foster Care Review Office.

The Judiciary Committee is expected to discuss advancing the bill on Tuesday.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska farmers can learn more about the benefits of planting cover crops at a workshop later this month.

The workshop will be held April 14 at a farm in northeast Buffalo County near Gibbon.

Cover crops are planted between growing seasons to limit erosion and replenish nutrients in the soil, which can reduce the need for fertilizer.

The workshop will discuss how using cover crops affects soil moisture and soil structure.

Anyone interested in the workshop should contact Beth Hiatt at (308) 237-3118 or beth.hiatt@ne.usda.gov.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — An alligator being kept illegally as a pet in western Nebraska is getting a new home in either Colorado or New Mexico.

The 8-year-old, 4-foot-long alligator named Sprinkles was found in a home last month, where it was being kept in a kiddie pool.

Sprinkles was taken to the Riverside Discovery Center zoo in Scottsbluff. Zookeeper Adrianne Leopard, who once worked at an alligator sanctuary in Alabama, says the female alligator appears to be in good shape, although her growth may have been stunted in confinement.

The alligator is now at the Colorado Gators Rescue Park in Mosca, Colorado, where she may stay or be sent to a zoo in Albuquerque.

ODESSA, Neb. (AP) — An Elm Creek man stabbed nine times on a central Nebraska roadside was still was able to subdue his accused attacker until someone else came to his aid.

38-year-old Johnny Quintana was stabbed nine times Friday afternoon following an argument with an 18-year-old Ohio man. Sheriff’s officials say the two men were traveling in separate vehicles on a county road in Odessa when they exchanged words, then got out of their vehicles. Authorities say the Ohio man stabbed Quintana with a knife.

Army National Guard Sgt. Lucuas Gerdes says he grabbed a handgun and ran to the scene after hearing shouts. Gerdes held the Ohio man at gunpoint until officers arrived.

Quintana was listed in serious condition late Friday at a local hospital.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse says national security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are helping to stabilize both countries with support from the United States.

Sasse says he saw good progress during a recent trip with a congressional delegation to the Middle East, but cautions that the situation could change. His comments came at the end of a visit to Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Sasse says the countries’ securities forces have become more professional, and political leaders are working to root out corruption and govern transparently.

Sasse says the countries still have to overcome challenges to build their economies. He says many U.S. troops he spoke with are optimistic, but they’re concerned that Americans lack the political will to let them finish their work.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Repairs are scheduled to begin next week on two U.S. highways in Nebraska.

The Nebraska Roads Department says work on a stretch of U.S. Highway 30 from the Wyoming state line east to Bushnell will include pavement and bridge decking repairs. Traffic will be controlled by a pilot vehicle and flaggers. The work is expected to be finished by July 10.

The department also says pavement work on U.S. Highway 81 is scheduled to begin at the Kansas state line and run 62 miles north to York. There will be lane closures and reduced speeds as the work continues.

The project is expected to be finished by late fall.