KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a 29-year-old man who died in a collision near Kearney

The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as James Luft, of Gibbon.

The office says the incident happened about 7 a.m. Friday at the intersection of 56th Street and Antelope Avenue, northeast of Kearney. The sheriff’s office says a 2007 Chevrolet pickup driven by Luft didn’t stop at the intersection and collided with a 2013 Chevrolet pickup driven by 54-year-old Scott Frauen, of rural Kearney.

Then one of the trucks struck a 1994 Chevrolet Camaro stopped at the intersection. It was driven by 25-year-old Nathan Finley, of Kearney.

• Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. South southeast wind 6 to 11 mph.
• Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South southeast wind 7 to 11 mph.
• Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. South southeast wind 6 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
• Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Calm wind becoming east around 6 mph.
• Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. North northeast wind 3 to 8 mph.
• Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
• Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Hundreds of people marched through downtown Lincoln and converged at the Nebraska governor’s residence to plead for help for a religious minority group in northern Iraq.

Two people were arrested for allegedly attacking officers on Sunday. No injuries were reported, and the group dispersed later in the afternoon.

Protesters were met by Lincoln police and Nebraska State Patrol troopers, who had at least 20 vehicles at the scene. The Nebraska Capitol across the street was temporarily closed and locked.

The protesters were pleading for help for Yazidis, a religious minority group, in northern Iraq and Syria. Militants with the Islamic State extremist group seized two small towns in northern Iraq on Sunday after driving out Kurdish security forces.

HARRISBURG, Neb. (AP) — A weekend fire in rural western Nebraska has destroyed a business’ shop and two other buildings.

The fire in rural Banner County started in a shop at Banner Feeding Company around 4 p.m. Saturday. Witnesses reported seeing huge plumes of smoke from dozens of miles away.

The Gering and Minatare Fire Departments were called to respond around 5 p.m. Crews remained at the scene until around 11 p.m. Saturday.

The fire spread to two adjacent buildings, as well as trees and grass. Authorities say they had to use loaders to remove hay bales from the buildings. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Ranchers who want to monitor the condition of their pastures now have a mobile application to help them.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension has released an app called GrassSnap to make the monitoring process easier. The new app allows ranchers to save key information about their pastures, along with a photo. The information can be quickly downloaded to a computer.

UNL Extension educator Bethany Johnston says it’s important for ranchers to monitor the health of their pastures. Photos and other information may also be used to qualify for carbon credits or to comply with government conservation programs.

The app is free.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers are looking at ways to increase oversight of the state’s troubled prison system, including creation of an independent watchdog position or by having the department answer to the Legislature.

The Department of Correctional Services came under fire after lawmakers learned state officials failed to follow two Nebraska Supreme Court rulings that explained how to determine prison sentences.

Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha says lawmakers may create an independent inspector general to oversee the department once lawmakers convene in January.

Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha, who is leaving office because of term limits, says he’s drafting legislation to create an oversight commission for the department. Ashford is calling for a special session, although Gov. Dave Heineman and many lawmakers say one isn’t necessary.

McCOOK, Neb. (AP) — A human case of the West Nile virus has been reported in southwest Nebraska.

A mosquito pool in Chase County has also tested positive for the virus.

Tami Herskowitz, a surveillance nurse at the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department, says residents should take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

Residents are encouraged to limit their time outside from dusk until dawn, wear long-sleeve shirts and pants and repair all holes in screens. They also are advised to dump stagnant water, keep their gutters clean and use insect repellent.

Anyone who thinks they may have contracted the virus should contact their health care provider. People with cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease are at greater risk.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — A teen accused of helping plan a fatal attack on a western Nebraska jail guard is asking the court to keep statements he made to police out of evidence.

An attorney for 16-year-old Guy Eagle Elk asked a judge Friday to suppress statements Eagle Elk made before he was read his rights.

Eagle Elk, of Lisco, has been charged as an adult with felony aiding and abetting assault. Another teen, 15-year-old Dylan Cardeilhac, of Torrington, Wyoming, is charged as an adult with first-degree murder in the Feb. 14 death of 24-year-old jail guard Amanda Baker.

Authorities say Cardeilhac lured Baker into his cell, pouncing on her and strangling her from behind.

Authorities say Eagle Elk told Cardeilhac how to choke the woman.

MINDEN, Neb. (AP) — Residents of Minden have gotten a look at the south-central Nebraska city’s plans for an updated water system.

A meeting was held Thursday night at the Minden Opera House to give residents a peek at the new plans.

Chief among the plans is to replace the system’s primary water main to increase water pressure, needed to help firefighters battle blazes.

Another reason for the proposed changes is the water’s clarity. While the water is safe to drink, it has a rusty color because of the city’s older pipes.

To pay for the changes, the city council is considering proposing a sales tax increase on the November ballot.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha state Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh says there will be another effort to pass charter school legislation in the session beginning in January, but the bill won’t come from him. He’s leaving his seat at the end of the year because of term limits.

In the past two years, Lautenbaugh has twice introduced legislation to allow charter schools, only to see the bills die in committee.

Lautenbaugh says he believes another Omaha senator will take over his effort when the new session begins in January. Americans for Prosperity — the conservative anti-tax, small-government group — says the issue is one of its top priorities for Nebraska and will work with state lawmakers to again push for charter school legislation.

State Sen. Ernie Chambers has vowed to fight any renewed effort.