• Today: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Cloudy, with a high near 78. East southeast wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
• Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. East wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. North wind 6 to 8 mph.
• Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. North northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Northwest wind around 7 mph.
• Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 84.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — People who visit doctors or hospitals in the state associated with the Catholic Health Initiatives network may soon have to pay more if they have insurance from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska.

The contract between the big insurer and the medical network may expire Sunday because the two sides have been unable to agree on rates since Blue Cross voided the deal in June.

Both sides complain the other refuses to give up much in negotiations.

If an agreement can’t be reached, all the Omaha-area doctors associated with Catholic Health Initiatives and CHI Health’s hospitals statewide will no longer be in Blue Cross’ network.

If that happens, going to an affected CHI Health facility or doctor will become significantly more expensive for Blue Cross policyholders.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new report by a civil liberties group says Nebraska law enforcement officers stop and arrest a disproportionate number of non-white drivers.

The report released Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska says African-American and Hispanic drivers in the state are more likely than white drivers to be stopped, searched and arrested. The ACLU used data compiled by the Nebraska Crime Commission for the report.

As an example, the report notes that black drivers make up 9.6 percent of stops in Lincoln, even though blacks make up only 3.5 percent of the city’s population.

The ACLU suggests that the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center in Grand Island and individual departments implement annual training specifically designed to address racial profiling.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A 33-year-old Kearney man has been given probation and suspended prison time on convictions stemming from a Kearney standoff last year.

Trenton Nielsen pleaded no contest to three misdemeanors after prosecutors lowered the charges and dropped three others.

Nielsen was sentenced to two years of probation. He also was sentenced to two years in prison, but the judge said that time would be suspended if Nielsen were to comply with the terms of his probation order.

Police say Nielsen held two relatives against their will in their home in November and threatened them with various sharp weapons. He was taken into custody about three hours into his subsequent standoff with police.

GERING, Neb. (AP) — A prosecutor has filed an amended charge against a 16-year-old accused of killing a Scotts Bluff County jailer.

Dylan Cardeilhac, of Torrington, Wyoming, had been charged with first-degree murder for the fatal, Feb. 14 attack on 24-year-old Amanda Baker. On Monday state prosecutor Doug Warner filed an amended charge of first-degree murder during the commission of a robbery. Cardeilhac is accused of strangling Baker while stealing her keys so he could try to escape.

His trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 17. Another inmate, 17-year-old Guy Eagle Elk, of Lisco, is scheduled to go on trial Sept. 15. He’s accused of helping Cardeilhac plan the attack on Baker.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A 33-year-old Ravenna man who was convicted of incest and sexually assaulting a child has been given 15 to 25 years in prison.

The man last week was given 336 days credit for time already served. The Associated Press is not naming the man in order to protect the identity of the girl. She was younger than 12 at the time of the assault last September.

The man was convicted following a two-day trial in May.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is reporting a slight increase in the percentage of students who met or exceeded math and reading proficiency standards.

The Nebraska Department of Education on Tuesday released the results of this year’s statewide exams in reading, science and math.

According to the department, 71 percent of students met or exceeded Nebraska’s proficiency standards for math this year. That’s an increase from 69 percent in 2013.

The department says 72 percent of students met or exceeded science standards, up from 70 percent last year. For reading, the percentage of students held steady at 77 percent.

The department did not release writing exam results, which were thrown out this year because of widespread computer problems for students.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has won an $11.3 million grant to establish a research center focused on understanding nutrition and obesity at the molecular level.

The five-year grant awarded by the National Institutes of Health will support the Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules.

Center director Janos Zempleni says that through research at the center, “We will develop science-based strategies using dietary compounds to improve human health.”

• Today: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. East southeast wind 8 to 11 mph.
• Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 10pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Cloudy, with a low around 62. East southeast wind 7 to 10 mph becoming northeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
• Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 78. East southeast wind 7 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Cloudy, with a low around 61. South southeast wind 7 to 11 mph becoming north northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. North wind 6 to 10 mph.
• Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
• Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Federal authorities have approved Nebraska’s new program that’s aimed at helping former state wards transition to adulthood.

It’s called Bridge to Independence, and on Oct. 20 it’s expected to begin helping former foster children who have aged out of state custody at 19. State legislation passed in 2013 and 2014 authorized the program, but funding approval by the federal government was necessary before it could begin. Since Jan. 1, 51 former wards aged out of the system, and 41 more will age out by the end of the year.

Caseworkers called “independence coordinators” will meet with the former wards monthly and help them make life choices. Those participating in the program could receive monthly stipends to assist with living costs such as housing, education and other expenses.