(AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker is continuing his fight to bring charter schools to the state.

Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh of Omaha introduced a bill that would allow for the creation of up to five charter schools in the Omaha Public Schools district through a pilot program.

Charter schools are funded with public money but operate independently of a school board.

Lautenbaugh says these schools can adapt more easily to the needs of their students.

Nebraska is one of eight states that do not allow charter schools.

Sen. Tanya Cook of Omaha is a member of the Education Committee.

Cook says she has concerns that bringing charter schools to the state would be like giving up on the state’s public schools.

(AP) — Outdoor outfitter Cabela’s is planning to open new stores in Idaho, Virginia and Georgia.

The Sidney, Neb., based company announced plans for the new retail stores on Thursday.

The new Cabela’s in Ammon, Idaho, will be the company’s third store in that state. That 42,000-square-foot store is expected to open near Idaho Falls in spring 2015.

In Virginia, Cabela’s is planning a 97,500-square-foot store along Interstate 64 in the Richmond area’s Short Pump Station shopping center. It is expected to open in 2016.

The Georgia store will be built in Fort Oglethorpe, not far from Chattanooga, Tenn. That 70,000-square-foot store should open in 2015.

(AP) — University of Nebraska-Lincoln animal experts say pets can still suffer from frostbite and hypothermia in extremely cold conditions, even if some may come with fur coats.

UNL Extension companion animal specialist Lisa Karr-Lilienthal says extremities such as the nose, ears and feet of pets are especially susceptible to frostbite.

Signs that an animal has gotten too cold include shivering, lethargy, slowed respiration and skin discoloration. Pets exhibiting those signs should be brought indoors and warmed up slowly by wrapping them in warm blankets for dried sheets.

She advised keeping outside bathroom trips short and to refrain from walking dogs on very cold days.

Outdoor dogs and cats should be fed more during the winter and brought inside or in a garage on dangerously cold days.

(AP) — A 70-year-old Bayard woman accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from state wards has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Judith Widener pleaded not guilty Friday in Scottsbluff County District Court. She remains free on $50,000 bond.

Widener, the president of the Safe Haven Inc., was arrested in November following a Nebraska State Auditor’s report said she took over $35,000 intended for court-appointed wards for her personal use.

State Auditor Mike Foley says Widener masked her alleged embezzlement through a complex array of credit cards and dozens of bank accounts containing more than $600,000.

(AP) — Union Pacific Corp. has announced its chairman, Jim Young, has died at his home in Omaha. He was 61.

Young led the Omaha, Neb., based railroad for seven years until 2012, when he announced he was battling pancreatic cancer. The then served as non-executive chairman.

A lifelong Omaha resident and the oldest of six children, Young was elected Union Pacific Corporation chairman in January 2007, and served as president and chief executive officer from November 2005 until March 2012.

Young began his railroad career with Union Pacific in 1978 when he was hired for an entry-level finance position.

A graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Young married his college sweetheart, Shirley, who survives him. He is also survived by three children and two grandchildren.

(AP) — Republican Jon Bruning’s decision to run for governor has set the stage for a rare, competitive race for Nebraska attorney general, with only three months until the May primary.

The GOP race could see four candidates in the race. Lincoln attorney Doug Peterson and state Sen. Pete Pirsch of Omaha have already declared. Omaha attorney Brian Buescher and Lincoln attorney Mike Hilgers are both looking seriously at the race.

This year’s race would become the first contested primary for Republicans since 1990, when Don Stenberg defeated then-Lancaster County Attorney Mike Heavican and Lincoln attorney John DeCamp for the job.

Fremont attorney Janet Stewart is running unopposed in the Democratic primary, but without Bruning, she no longer faces an incumbent in the general election.

(AP) — A western Nebraska jail corrections officer has been declared brain dead after authorities say she was attacked and strangled by a teenage inmate.

The Scotts Bluff County Attorney’s Office says in a written release that the guard, 24-year-old Amanda Baker, was strangled at Scotts Bluff County Detention Center early Friday morning by a 15-year-old inmate.

Baker was taken to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, where she was later declared brain dead.

The 15-year-old, of Torrington, Wyo., has been arrested on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder. He had been in the detention center since early December awaiting trial on a charge of robbing a Mitchell, Neb., convenience store.

The Associated Press typically doesn’t name juveniles accused of crimes.

(AP) — Nebraska state Sen. Pete Pirsch is joining the Republican primary race for attorney general.

Pirsch announced Friday that he would seek the seat held by Jon Bruning, who is running for governor.

Pirsch has served in the Legislature for eight years, representing west Omaha. He also has worked as a criminal prosecutor in Douglas County, and served on the Nebraska Crime Commission.

The 44-year-old had originally planned to run for state auditor before the attorney general position came open. He says he believes he could have served in both roles, but his greater passion was with the attorney general’s office.

Pirsch is the second GOP hopeful to announce that he’ll run. Lincoln attorney Doug Peterson has also declared his candidacy.

Fremont attorney Janet Stewart is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

• Bruce Edward Winters, 46, North Platte and Patrice Shawn Muehlenkamp, 45, North Platte

 

• Kenneth Andrew Pouk, 28, North Platte and Sofia Lynn Brandt, 33, North Platte

 

• Michael James McWain, 58, North Platte and Sharon Kay DeVino, 55, North Platte

 

• Jose Leon Cardenas, 43, North Platte and Krystal Cathrine Minzey, 36, North Platte

 

• Thomas Leland Mason, 59, North Platte and Nenita Rosales Capao, 53, North Platte

 

• Donovon Scott Pannell, 31, Pocatello ID and Amber Dawn Randall, 30, Pocatello ID

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s office is warning residents of a recent phone scam in the area.

According to Chief Deputy Roland Kramer, a citizen received a phone call on February 13, advising them that they had a warrant for their arrest.

The caller informed the citizen that they could avoid the warrant if they paid the caller a certain amount of money, and the caller represented his/herself as Sheriff’s office employee from another jurisdiction.

Kramer said the caller had a phone number with a “308” area code, and when the citizen hung up and called the number back, the caller answered “Sheriff’s Office.”

Neither the LCSO or any other Sheriff’s Office will ever call demanding money, according to Kramer.

“This particular scammer, rest assured, is likely not even from Nebraska,” Kramer added.

If you have a question about these types of calls, please contact the LCSO at (308) 535-9599.