BROKEN BOW, Neb. (AP) — A Custer County man sentenced to life in prison last month for kidnapping and assaulting his ex-wife has been denied a new trial.

Custer County District Judge Karin Noakes on Wednesday denied a motion by Tyler Bain’s attorney, Stephen Potter of Gothenburg, for a new trial.

Potter had argued that at least one and possibly two jurors had engaged in misconduct — one by reading an article about Bain in a local newspaper during the trial and the other for using social media during the trial.

Potter also objected to a forensic pathologist’s testimony.

But Judge Noakes agreed with prosecutors that Potter failed to prove juror misconduct. She also said Potter’s unhappiness with the pathologist’s testimony is not grounds for a new trial.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The sudden death of a healthy high school senior has focused attention on unregulated caffeine powder.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to avoid the substance, as it collects more information.

A recent autopsy found that 18-year-old Logan Stiner (STY’-nur) had a lethal amount of caffeine in his system when he died May 27 at his home in LaGrange, Ohio, southwest of Cleveland.

A coroner said the prom king and wrestler had as much as 23 times the amount of caffeine in his system found in a typical coffee or soda drinker.

Health officials worry about the powder’s potential popularity among exercise enthusiasts and young people seeking an energy boost. It’s sold as a dietary supplement, not subject to the same federal regulations as certain caffeinated foods.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former Nebraska State Trooper convicted of sexually assaulting an underage girl won’t have to pay his pension to the victim’s father.

The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled Friday that a 2012 law which would have allowed the garnishment was unconstitutional special legislation because it only applied to six crimes.

Billy Hobbs was convicted in 2006 and sentenced to up to 30 years in prison. The girl’s father sued Hobbs on her behalf, and was awarded $325,000.

Court records say Hobbs is receiving more than $3,700 a month while in prison, with more than $1,800 going to his ex-wife as part of their divorce.

A judge rejected the father’s request to use the rest of the money to pay off the civil judgment, ruling that Hobbs’ retirement assets were exempt.

U.S. Cellular, in conjunction with its partner King Street Wireless, announced that Nebraska residents primarily in rural areas will have 4G LTE services later this year. The company is adding more than 1,200 4G LTE cell sites across the country.

By the end of 2014, more than 93 percent of U.S. Cellular customers will have access to 4G LTE speeds that are up to 10 times faster than 3G.

Western Nebraska communities that will receive 4G LTE service from U.S. Cellular later in the year include Bartley, Beaver City, Brady, Culbertson, Curtis, Hershey, Imperial, Indianola, Maxwell, McCook, Mullen, Paxton, Stapleton, Sutherland, Thedford, Trenton and Wauneta.

U.S. Cellular customers in and around Omaha, Lincoln, Beatrice, Bellevue, Columbus, Fremont, Grand Island, Hastings, Holdrege, Kearney, La Vista, Lexington, Nebraska City, Norfolk, North Platte, Ogallala, Papillion, Seward, Wayne, West Point and York received 4G LTE access last October.

In addition to Nebraska, this latest U.S. Cellular network expansion adds vast 4G LTE coverage in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and North Carolina and also brings additional 4G LTE service to areas in Illinois, Maine, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

“We are a community carrier that is focused on Nebraska, and we provide a network that works where our customers live, work and play,” said Erryn Andersen, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Nebraska and Iowa. “This network expansion brings fast 4G LTE speeds to additional parts of Nebraska, and we will continue to provide our customers the best-in-class network, devices and technology that gives them access to experiences that enrich their lives.”

For more information about the 4G LTE experience, visit uscellular.com/4G.

A North Platte woman is facing charges after she allegedly drove drunk with a child in her car.

At around 12:10 a.m., on July 18, officers with the North Platte Police Department were dispatched to the area of 500 West 9th Street on the report of a verbal disturbance.

A responding officer saw a vehicle blocking the street with two male subjects standing outside of it.  Additionally, the officer observed a discarded beer bottle on the street in front of the car.

The officer stopped to determine if the vehicle was involved in the disturbance and identified the driver as Sheree Rodriguez.

The officer suspected that Rodriguez was under the influence of alcohol, and complied with her request to administer a preliminary breath test, which indicated she was over the legal limit to operate a vehicle.

According to investigator John Deal, Rodriguez had a 6-year-old child in the car with her.

As a result, Rodriguez was placed under arrest and charged with driving under the influence of liquor and child abuse.

No other arrests were made, but Deal said officers did break up a loud party in the area.

Rodriguez was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

UPDATE:

According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Christopher Tidball passed away on July 17.

An autopsy will be conducted next week by Central Nebraska Forensic Services in Gibbon.

The investigation is ongoing.

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The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an apparent self-inflicted shooting in North Platte.

At around 11:11 p.m., on July 15, officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to the report of a physical disturbance at the Patriot Mobile Home Park, 2300 East Philip, Lot #12.

As officers were responding, witnesses told dispatchers that a male subject had fled the scene on foot.

Upon arrival, officers found a female bleeding heavily from her head.  They were told the female had been assaulted by her husband, 26-year-old Christopher Tidball, of North Platte.

The victim alleged that Tidball had kicked her in the head with boots on and beaten her with a lamp.  She was transported to Great Plains Health by the North Platte Fire Department.

Meanwhile, officers began to search for Tidball.

Later in the evening, officers were informed by neighbors that Tidball had returned to the residence.

According to authorities, while officers were in front of the house, Tidball shot himself in another room.  He was transported to Great Plains Health before being transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney with life threatening injuries.

Because Tidball would have been arrested for felony assault, he was considered to be in the custody of law enforcement. Because his injuries are life threatening, Nebraska state law requires that a Grand Jury be convened.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation and processed the scene throughout the night.

Authorities say the investigation is ongoing.

The condition of the victim and Tidball are unknown at this time.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A 49-year-old Grand Island man has been given 25 to 40 years in prison for trying to kill his estranged wife.

Jesus Parra was sentenced on Thursday in Hall County District Court. He’d pleaded no contest to attempted murder, assault and possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person. Prosecutors dropped six other charges in exchange for Parra’s pleas.

In February he’d been declared mentally incompetent and was sent to a psychiatric hospital for treatment. A judge said Parra was to remain there until “the disability is removed.” In April Parra was declared competent to stand trial as long as he continued to take his medication.

Police say he attacked and injured Rosa Olivas de Parra at her home in April 2013.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A newly released report says Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate dropped to 3.5 percent in June.

That’s a tenth of a point below the revised May rate of 3.6 percent and a half point under the June 2013 rate of 4 percent.

The Nebraska Labor Department said in the report released Friday that the new Nebraska figure remained well below the preliminary national unemployment rate of 6.1 percent in June, which was two-tenths of a point below the revised May figure of 6.3 percent.

OGALLALA, Neb. (AP) — A 38-year-old Colorado man has been given jail time and probation for a fatal boating accident in western Nebraska.

Andrew Schmidt, of Castle Rock, Colorado, last week was given 180 days in jail and three years of probation. He also must pay more than $7,200 in restitution.

Schmidt had pleaded no contest to attempted manslaughter. Prosecutors had lowered the charge and dropped four others in return for Schmidt’s plea.

Prosecutors say Schmidt’s personal watercraft ran into and landed inside a boat on Sept. 2, 2012, at Lake McConaughy.

The collision fatally injured 64-year-old Richard Caroselli, of Brighton, Colorado, and injured three others on the boat.

• Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. South wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. South southeast wind 6 to 11 mph.
• Saturday Night: A slight chance of thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South southeast wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.
• Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
• Monday: A slight chance of thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Chance of precipitation is 20%.