• Today: Sunny, with a high near 91. Northeast wind 6 to 11 mph becoming east southeast 12 to 17 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. East southeast wind 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Southeast wind 8 to 13 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon.
• Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
• Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.

GERING, Neb. (AP) — A former Miss Nebraska contestant has filed an amended lawsuit over injuries she suffered when a bull charged at her during a 2010 county fair.

An attorney for Jessica Littlejohn filed the lawsuit on Aug. 5. It names three county entities and a rodeo stock company.

Littlejohn, the 2010 Scotts Bluff County Fair Queen, claims defendants in the lawsuit were negligent for not securing the bull. The animal broke loose as Littlejohn and pageant contestants were being introduced to a crowd.

The new suit asks for at least $29,000 in medical costs and other damages.

In January, a judge threw out a 2012 lawsuit by Littlejohn. The judge ruled defendants were not served within the required six months after the lawsuit was filed.

A 57-year-old North Platte man has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.

James Burnside appeared in Lincoln County District Court on Monday.

Prosecutors say North Platte Police received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in January, that possible child pornography had been uploaded to Burnside’s Facebook account.

Investigators served a search warrant at Burnside’s residence on West Second Street in April, and found at least one image of child pornography on his computer.

Burnside will be sentenced on October 6.

 

 

A North Platte man accused of sexually assaulting two 15-year-old girls has reached a plea deal with prosecutors.

Johnathon Hernandez appeared in Lincoln County District Court on Monday.

Hernandez entered a no contest plea to two reduced charges of attempted 1st degree sexual assault of a child.

Prosecutors say North Platte Police were contacted by the parents of a 15-year-old girl in February, who alleged that Hernandez has sexually assaulted her.

An investigation by police revealed that Hernandez, who was 21 at the time, had actually sexually assaulted another 15-year-old female as well.

In exchange for his plea, prosecutors reduced the charges.  Hernandez was originally charged with four counts of 1st degree sexual assault of a child.

Prosecutors say Hernandez admitted to having sexual intercourse with the girls.

Judge Richard Birch set Hernandez’ sentencing for October 6.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal officials want Nebraska to repay nearly $2.5 million because they say the state mishandled some Medicaid prescription drug claims.

The problem was discovered by an audit the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released earlier this month.

The report says in some cases between 2009 and 2011 Nebraska officials failed to collect detailed information about prescriptions and failed to claim rebates from drug manufacturers.

Nebraska officials say they are working to resolve the problem, but the state disputes the amount that will have to be repaid to the federal government.

ARNOLD, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of an Oklahoma man who died after a rollover accident in central Nebraska.

The man was identified as 32-year-old Tab Round, of Council Hill, Oklahoma. The accident occurred about 3:30 a.m. Sunday on Nebraska Highway 92, about two miles west of Arnold. The Custer County Sheriff’s Office says Round was driving east when he lost control of his pickup and it rolled.

Round was ejected, and he died at the scene. His passenger, 29-year-old Christopher Gaither, also from Oklahoma, was taken to a hospital in Callaway and is expected to survive his injuries.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Some Kearney residents say they’re concerned about a re-entry center for federal prisoners that could be built in the south-central Nebraska city.

A Kentucky-based company called Dismas Charities operates re-entry programs. It secured a building permit in 2013 for property in Kearney.

The company wants to build a facility to house federal prisoners who have committed nonviolent crimes that are primarily related to substance abuse. The center would offer supervision and support for inmates nearing release.

The business has submitted a bid for a Kearney re-entry center to the federal Bureau of Prisons. U.S. officials had requested proposals last year for one in Nebraska. No bid has been approved yet.

Kearney resident Mike Wise said his main concern about the project is residents’ safety.

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — Powerful storm winds have knocked down power lines and trees as hail pounded several parts of Nebraska.

At least one person was reported to have been hospitalized after being injured Sunday by hail in northwest Nebraska’s Sheridan County. Large hail was reported in adjacent Cherry County as well.

Hail and wind-whipped debris damaged buildings and vehicles elsewhere in the state. A gust of 83 mph was recorded by the National Weather Service in Hastings.

The overnight storms caused power outages in Garfield County and in Hastings and Grand Island. Spokeswoman LeAnne Doose (dohs) said Monday that power had been restored to Southern Power District customers in south-central Nebraska.

There was heavy rain, too, with more than a half inch recorded in Ord and Kearney.

 

UPDATE 8/18/14 2:15 p.m.

In a statement Monday afternoon, North Platte Police said the body found in a van in the vacant lot east of McDonald’s, was that of a 57-year-old male.

Authorities say there are no obvious indications of foul play at this time, and it appears that the man was living out of the van.

The man’s identity is still being withheld, as police attempt to positively identify him, and notify relatives.

No further information will be released until this is accomplished.

The investigation remains open.

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North Platte Police are investigating after a body was found near McDonald’s in North Platte.

At around 9:30 p.m., on Sunday, police responded to the report of a unconscious male near the parking lot at McDonald’s, 1313 South Dewey Street.

Upon arrival, officers found an unresponsive man lying near a van.  Paramedics were called to the scene, but the man was pronounced dead.

Police have released few details about the man’s death, pending the notification of next-of-kin.

The Post is monitoring this story and will bring you any further information as it becomes available.

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.  CHECK BACK FOR MORE DETAILS.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Rat and Beaver Lakes in Cherry County will be temporarily closed next month for an aquatic habitat project.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says the closure is set for Sept. 3-4, depending on the weather, for the chemical renovation of the lakes’ fisheries. The lakes will be temporarily closed to the public Sept. 3-7 for safety reasons.

A temporary water-control structure was installed this spring to allow the lakes to be lowered. Two fish barriers will be installed below the lowered lakes. Those barriers will keep common carp from going upstream into the lakes.

The lakes will be restocked with bluegill, yellow perch, black crappie and largemouth bass.

For more information, contact Zac Brashears at the Valentine State Fish Hatchery at 402-376-8080.