A North Platte man is facing theft charges after he allegedly stole a computer and jewelry from a family member.

An officer with the North Platte Police Department responded to a reported theft in the 3100 block of Ioke at around 12:30 a.m., on Tuesday.

The victim reported that they suspected a family member, Joshua Richards, had stolen a laptop from their bedroom.

The victim told officers that they had spoken to Richards, and he indicated that the laptop was at one of his friend’s house.  They said they then contacted the friend, who stated that they hadn’t seen Richards in over a year.

On Wednesday, an officer made contact with Richards and, following an investigation, determined there was probable cause to cite Richards for misdemeanor theft.

Later on Wednesday evening, the victim again contacted police to report that Richards had stolen jewelry.

The victim said they feared that Richards would steal more items from them while they were at work, so they hid jewelry in a suitcase.  Upon returning home from work, the victim discovered that the suitcase was missing.

Another family member stated that they had seen Richards leaving the home with the suitcase.

An officer eventually located Richards driving in the 2000 block of East Phillip and conducted a traffic stop.

Investigator John Deal says the officer determined that Richards was driving under the influence of drugs.  Richards then voluntarily handed over drug paraphernalia and allowed the officer to search the vehicle.

During the search, the officer discovered some of the stolen jewelry.

It was determined that the value of the jewelry was over $500.

Richards was placed under arrest and charged with felony theft by unlawful taking and driving under the influence of drugs.

He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

• Today: Sunny, with a high near 88. South southeast wind 5 to 13 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Southeast wind 8 to 13 mph.
• Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. South southeast wind 8 to 11 mph.
• Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind 7 to 13 mph.
• Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South southeast wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
• Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.

DETROIT (AP) — The 2014 Chevrolet Impala is the only non-luxury car to earn the highest rating in tests of high-tech crash prevention systems.

Seven luxury cars have also earned “superior” ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety when equipped with optional collision warning and automatic braking.

They are the BMW 5 Series, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Buick Regal, Cadillac CTS, Cadillac XTS and 2015 Hyundai Genesis.

To get the highest rating, vehicles must warn drivers of impending collisions and apply automatic brakes to significantly slow the speed. Tests are conducted at 12 miles per hour and 25 mph.

The institute, which is funded by insurers, says 40 percent of 2014 models now offer forward collision warning, while 20 percent offer automatic braking. The results may encourage wider adoption of the technology.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Cities in Iowa and Nebraska have been notified they will receive federal grant money to help redevelop contaminated properties.

The Environmental Protection Agency says Oskaloosa, in southeast Iowa will get $400,000 to assess sites for the presence of hazardous waste or petroleum contamination.

The city of Gering, Nebraska has been selected to receive $200,000 to conduct 20 environmental site assessments for hazardous substances, plan for cleanup of four sites, and perform community outreach.

The money is provided through EPA’s Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup grants program.

The grants are targeted toward under-served and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods to assist in the cleanup of abandoned industrial and commercial properties.

Nationally, EPA will distribute $67 million in grants for fiscal year 2014.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The case of a woman who wants to divorce her same-sex partner after legally marrying in Iowa is now in the hands of the Nebraska Supreme Court.

The high court heard arguments Wednesday in the case of Bonnie Nichols, a Raymond woman who married her long-time partner, Margie, in 2009. Bonnie Nichols filed for divorce last year, but a Lancaster County judge ruled that the court couldn’t grant a divorce without recognizing the marriage.

Same-sex marriages are allowed in Iowa. Nebraska’s constitution doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions or domestic partnerships.

Bonnie Nichols’ attorney, Megan Mikolajczyk, says the Constitution’s “full faith and credit” clause requires Nebraska to recognize the marriage. The Nebraska attorney general’s office says allowing the divorce would disenfranchise voters who overwhelmingly approved Nebraska’s constitutional amendment in 2000.

HARRISON, Neb. (AP) A 25-year effort to reforest parts of Fort Robinson State Park that were devastated by a massive wildfire in 1989 wrapped up this spring.

About 1,400 members of the Boy Scouts of the Longs Peak Council and other volunteers planted 10,500 trees at Fort Robinson State Park in early April. The planting marked the 25th and final year for the event.

Since the first event in 1990, more than 450,000 trees have been planted. Organizers believe at least 76,000 have lived, helping restore the 48,000 acres burned by the fire.

Although the replanting effort has ended, scout leader and tree-planting organizer Jim Schmitt says the Boy Scouts will continue gathering every April at Fort Robinson to participate in other service projects around the park.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The ribbon has been cut at the Nebraska National Guard’s new $18 million Grand Island Readiness Center.

State and local leaders were on hand Tuesday for the formal opening of the center, where soldiers have been stationed for a few weeks.

The more than 92,000-square-foot building replaces the Nebraska National Guard’s armory in western Grand Island. The state is accepting bids to purchase the old armory.

The readiness center will be used to train new and experienced soldiers in aviation and has several classrooms and two recruiting offices.

It also has a drill hall to be used as an assembly space for heavy equipment training and a high-tech briefing room, where soldiers will begin each day.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Dave Heineman has applied for the University of Nebraska presidency, little more than a week after he publicly expressed interest in the job.

The term-limited governor announced Wednesday that he has asked the university’s Board of Regents to consider him for the position. The presidency came open with the departure of J.B. Milliken, who became chancellor of the City University of New York.

The university is conducting a national search for applicants, and will announce four finalists before making their selection.

Heineman, a Republican, says he reached out to several regents and spoke Milliken to notify them that he was seeking the job.

Heineman says he would focus on keeping tuition affordable and increasing research activity if he’s chosen. Heineman is leaving office in January.

MITCHELL, Neb. (AP) — A teenage girl has been killed in a single-vehicle rollover crash in western Nebraska.

Authorities say the 17-year-old girl was driving the vehicle when it went off a county road northeast of Mitchell around 7 p.m. Tuesday and rolled.

The girl was partially ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. A 20-year-old male passenger was taken to a Scottsbluff hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

Officials have not yet released the identities of the girl or the man. Investigators say neither was wearing a seat belt, and officials are investigating whether alcohol use was a factor in the crash.

A North Platte man has been charged with multiple felonies after he allegedly tried to light a residence on fire while his girlfriend and a small child were inside.

At around 5:21 p.m., on May 26, North Platte Police investigated a possible arson at a residence in the 2300 block of Rodeo Road.

It was reported to police that a resident of the home, James Peterson, had attempted set the house on fire.

According to witnesses, Peterson made comments that he was going to “burn the residence down,” while others were still inside.  He then held a lit lighter against a doorway inside the home, and a window on the outside of the residence.

Investigator John Deal said there were visible burn marks, but the girlfriend was able to put the fire out.

Witnesses also stated that Peterson took an aerosol can with a flammable fluid inside, sprayed it towards the woman and child and lit the lighter, causing the fluid to ignite.  The woman and child were able to move away from the flames and were not injured.

Peterson then left the residence and went to The Connection Homeless Shelter where he was contacted and placed under arrest.

He’s been charged with felony 1st degree arson, felony cruelty toward a child and felony 1st degree assault.

Peterson was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center where he is being held without bond.