An 18-year-old man accused in the attack of two workers at a North Platte Youth Shelter has reached a deal with prosecutors.

According to court records, Keenan Lambert appeared in Lincoln County District Court on Monday.  As part of the deal, prosecutors reduced an attempted 1st degree murder charge to 1st degree assault and use of a weapon to commit a felony.  Lambert pleaded no contest to both counts.

Prosecutors say Lambert and 16-year-old Jordan Baker attacked Robin Schneider and Diana Johns at the Nebraska Youth Shelter last July.   Baker is accused of stabbing Johns twice in the neck, while Lambert allegedly stabbed Schneider in the head and neck.

The duo then stole a vehicle before being captured in Dawson County.

Baker made a plea deal with prosecutors in February.

Lambert and Baker will be sentenced on April 28.

(AP) — For Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers, a bill about abandoned cemeteries was a perfect time to serenade the Nebraska Legislature in song.

Chambers sang his “Morticians’ National Anthem” Monday to his colleagues.

A few lawmakers chuckled but most sat silently as Chambers sang to the tune of “My Favorite Things.”

“Churches and eulogies, pallbearers, mourners, weeping and wailing in all the church corners,” he sang.

Lyrics also included, “When the last dirt tops the casket and the grave is filled, we shall not gather again in this way, until someone else is chilled.”

Chambers often reads poetry in the chamber, but he rarely sings. He did, however, sing the mortician anthem at least once before, in 2005.

The bill deals with transferring authority of an abandoned cemetery from counties to cemetery associations.

(AP) — Entries are being sought for the 24th annual Nebraska Handwriting Contest.

The contest is open to all Nebraska residents. There are four age divisions: 12 and under, ages 13-16, ages 17-49 and age 50 and over.

The contest is administered by the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

The judges’ criteria include ease of reading, fluent rhythmic movement and technically correct performance of specifications.

Contestants will be provided text to copy for the entry. Go online at https://coe.unk.edu/contest for official rules and the text to be copied.

The entry deadline is March 31.  All entries should be mailed to:

Nebraska Handwriting Contest
Attention: Julie Agard
University of Nebraska at Kearney/College of Education
Kearney, Neb., 68849.

(AP) — A proposal to ban minors from using e-cigarettes has sparked a debate in the Nebraska Legislature.

Lawmakers began debate Monday on a measure that would ban minors from using e-cigarettes and stores from selling them to anyone under 18. Senators broke away for lunch before taking a vote.

Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber, who introduced the legislation, says there hasn’t been enough study to know if e-cigarettes are safe.

Sen. Jerry Johnson of Wahoo tried and failed to change the legislation so that the product wouldn’t have to be behind a counter or in a secure display case. He says if the e-cigarettes can help people break a smoking habit, they should have better visibility.

A 36-year-old North Platte woman has been charged with burglary after she allegedly entered a room at a North Platte motel to retrieve property that belonged to a friend.

At around 10:20 a.m., on March 8, officers from the North Platte Police Department responded to the Country Inn, 321 South Dewey Street, on the report of a burglary.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, a 27-year-old female alleged that Nikki Stevens entered the room she and a 29-year-old male were residing in through a window.  Brown said Stevens was reportedly assisting a friend in retrieving property that belonged to her and the male who was residing in the room.  The male was not present during the incident.

A brief verbal and physical altercation ensued between Stevens and the female, according to Brown, at which time Country Inn management confronted Stevens and her friend and demanded they leave.

Stevens and her female friend left the area prior to police arriving, and Brown said no property was taken.

In any case, following further investigation, officers determined that there was probable cause to charge Stevens with burglary, a Class II felony.

Stevens was placed under arrest and processed and released from the Lincoln County Detention Center.

No other charges were reported in the case.

A North Platte man has been jailed on a felony charge following a disturbance Friday evening.

According to Office Rodney Brown, officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to the report of a domestic disturbance in the 200 block of East 9th Street at around 9:00 p.m.

Upon arrival, a 36-year-old female told officers that her boyfriend, 29-year-old Roman Reyes, struck her multiple times and forcefully held her down.

Following further investigation, officers determined there was probable cause to charge Reyes with 3rd degree domestic assault (Class I Misdemeanor).  Additionally, Brown said a child was present during the altercation so, as a result, Reyes was also charges with child abuse (Class I Misdemeanor).

Reyes was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center, where a search of his person revealed suspected methamphetamine.

Reyes was also charged with possession of methamphetamine (Class IV Felony).

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol will be conducting high visibility enforcement efforts March 13-15 as fans make their way to basketball tournaments across the state.

Beginning Thursday, March 13 and continuing through Saturday, March 15, troopers will focus on high traffic areas in an effort to reduce serious injury and fatality crashes.

“From state basketball to local tournaments, there is the potential for increased traffic volume on state roadways,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent Nebraska State Patrol.  “We want everyone to have the opportunity to cheer their team to victory and encourage voluntary compliance with all traffic safety laws.”

An $11,990 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS) will help pay for the special enforcement efforts.

Motorists are reminded to obey the posted speed limit, always wear their seat belt, allow plenty of time to reach their destination and never drive impaired or distracted. Several construction projects are underway on Nebraska roadways. Drivers are urged to obey the posted speed limits and use caution in construction zones.

Weather and road construction can play a factor in travel plans. Fans headed to tournament games are reminded to check road and weather condition reports by utilizing 511, Nebraska’s Advanced Traveler Information System or the 511 Mobile Traveler Site or by dialing 511 (800-906-9069) from any landline or cellular phone for information.

(AP) — The Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation has prepared a list to help Nebraska farmers navigate changes wrought by the recently passed farm bill in Washington.

The list is titled the “Top 10 Things to Know About the 2014 Farm Bill.”

Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson says the list “provides a baseline of information to help (farmers) get started.”

The bureau says a critical component of the new bill for Nebraska farmers and ranchers is the retroactive extension of numerous livestock disaster programs. Livestock disaster signup begins April 15.

The bureau has developed a 2014 Farm Bill Breakdown web offering that includes a way to submit farm bill questions. The website address is www.nefb.org .

(AP) — The carcasses of dead bald and golden eagles found in Nebraska are collected and recycled for religious purposes.

The state is part of an unusual federal recycling program that provides parts of eagle carcasses to Native Americans who hold valid permits.

The feathers and other body parts of eagles are considered sacred by some Native Americans. But federal laws designed to protect the birds make it illegal for most people to possess any part of a golden or bald eagle.

Lauren Dinan with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says the state recently sent 37 eagles to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Eagle Repository in Commerce City, Colo.

• Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 5 to 13 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm.
• Tuesday: A chance of rain and snow, mainly after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 39. Windy, with a north wind 17 to 22 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Tuesday Night: Scattered flurries before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Blustery, with a north northwest wind 14 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.
• Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 51. Breezy, with a northwest wind 14 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.