(AP) — A 39-year-old Mitchell man intends to use an insanity defense to fight charges stemming from a bomb scare in Mitchell.

Papers asking for a psychiatric evaluation of Christopher Lopez were filed Wednesday by his attorney. Lopez is charged with placing a false bomb, possession of methamphetamine and driving under suspension and is facing trial in May.

Mitchell Police Chief Mike Cotant says an officer recognized the man who fled a vehicle that had been parked behind the police station on Dec. 31. The officer raised an alarm when he smelled fuel coming from the vehicle and saw four fuel cans lashed together, sitting on the car’s dashboard.

By: Giselle Kuri, Promotions Representative for Up with People

She felt the blood pumping through her veins. Her knees were shaking; her mind was in a faraway land.

It had been four weeks since she had met the people who were now sitting by her side in the crowded little room where it all started. Life was already different, she felt it in her stomach. Maybe it was just that she was starting to get sick. The noise was nerve-wracking? as the crowd became louder and louder taking their seats in the theater ready to see her. To see them.

She was trying to go over the moves in her head, making sure she knew every single thing that was about to happen. How did the time fly by without her noticing? The brand new red dress she was wearing was about to become her weekly outfit, and she felt kind of weird in it still. Did it fit correctly? Here comes the sickness once again. She seriously needs to stop thinking.

She took a deep breath and she held it in, making herself dizzy and a little light-headed. There was a moment of fear, confusion, noise; but she was ready. This is what she wanted to do, and most importantly, she believed in the message of it.

Every time a song ended, a feeling of relief mixed with accomplishment came with the applause, and the nerves started going away, to be completely substituted with an amazing joy. She was not sure if the energy she was feeling came from the audience, or if the audience was energized because of their performance. Theirs. Everyone kept saying that they would become a family but finally it all made sense, it was a team effort and that magic wouldn’t happen without having each and every single one of them on stage.

She found herself standing behind a bunch of people who were on their feet for a standing ovation that she was gladly a part of. It had been a year since she was that shaky, sick girl on stage and now, she was on the other side, teary-eyed and cheering for the people who now do a fantastic job making her feel that energy she didn’t quite understand a year ago. It might have come from her and her friends back then, as it now does from these talented and passionate young people who left their heart on the stage.

The show was called Voices, and she was a proud part of those voices that wanted to make a difference in the world, as these 100 diverse individuals who inspired her to continue trying to make that change happen reminded her. She took a breath, absorbed the moment and got ready to tell the world about her experience.

I can gladly say, just one year ago I was her. I was part of the Up with People Cast and I got to stay with host families all around the world for six months, volunteering at various places and performing Voices in over 8 countries. The show itself talks about how nowadays, being more connected than ever, we are losing the ability to understand each other face to face. However, what the cast manages to tell us on stage is so much more than that. They take us on a world tour in two hours, overcoming language barriers, stereotypes and obstacles to share more than a message; they share a passion with all of us in the audience.

Collin Shepherd, Misa Grenier and myself, the Advanced Team in North Platte Nebraska, had the opportunity to see the first show presented by Cast A ’14 in Denver, CO this past Saturday, and cannot wait until we can share this with the people in North Platte so they can also be part of this fun, unique and unforgettable experience.

Check out your opportunities to join us at: https://www.facebook.com/events/731006426912410/

(AP) — A May trial has been scheduled for a Nebraska Panhandle woman accused of extorting money from a man who has acknowledged that he groped the woman’s 7-year-old daughter.

The 30-year-old woman has pleaded not guilty. The Associated Press isn’t identifying the mother in order to protect her daughter’s privacy. The trial is set to begin May 27.

The man involved is 56-year-old Jason Frei, of Potter. In December Frei pleaded no contest to negligent child abuse and attempted witness tampering. His sentencing has been rescheduled to April 2.

Authorities say cellphone messages between Frei and the woman say Frei acknowledged groping the girl while giving her mother a massage in August. Frei told an investigator that the woman was extorting $20,000 from him to help him avoid conviction.

(AP) — The western Nebraska town of Curtis has been honored for having the best-tasting rural water in the country.

Curtis beat 36 other municipalities to win the Great American Water Taste Test sponsored by the National Rural Water Association on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

Curtis Mayor Kevin Brown says his town of 935 residents is served by two deep wells drilled into the Ogallala aquifer. Brown says the water goes straight from the wells to people’s taps, without treatment.

Second place went to Stansbury Park, Utah, and third to Fulton, Mo.

• Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. Northwest wind 12 to 17 mph becoming light west southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.
• Tonight: A slight chance of rain before 9pm, then a slight chance of snow between 9pm and midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Light south southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. West northwest wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph after midnight.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. South wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
• Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.

(AP) — You don’t just have to be male or female on Facebook anymore.

The social media giant is adding a customizable option with about 50 different terms people can use to identify their gender as well as three preferred pronoun choices: him, her or them.

Facebook said the changes being rolled out Thursday for the company’s 159 million U.S. users are aimed at giving people more choices in how they describe themselves, such as androgynous, bi-gender, intersex, gender fluid or transsexual.

Facebook, which has 1.15 billion active monthly users around the world, also allows them to keep their gender identity private.

Here is a list of new gender options Facebook is making available for U.S. users:

Agender

Androgyne

Androgynous

Bigender

Cis

Cis Female

Cis Male

Cis Man

Cis Woman

Cisgender

Cisgender Female

Cisgender Male

Cisgender Man

Cisgender Woman

Female to Male

FTM

Gender Fluid

Gender Nonconforming

Gender Questioning

Gender Variant

Genderqueer

Intersex

Male to Female

MTF

Neither

Neutrois

Non-binary

Other

Pangender

Trans

Trans Female

Trans Male

Trans Man

Trans Person

Trans(asterisk)Female

Trans(asterisk)Male

Trans(asterisk)Man

Trans(asterisk)Person

Trans(asterisk)Woman

Transexual

Transexual Female

Transexual Male

Transexual Man

Transexual Person

Transexual Woman

Transgender Female

Transgender Person

Transmasculine

Two-spirit

A North Platte man has been charged with a felony after he allegedly stole thousands of dollars from his employer.

At around 12:15 p.m. on February 12, an officer with the North Platte Police Department responded to a reported employee theft at the Super 8 motel, 220 West Eugene.

A manager with the motel advised officers that an employee, 29-year-old Robert Richards, was stealing money.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, the manager advised that when customers paid cash, Richards would keep the cash and enter the transaction as compensated.

The thefts allegedly started on October 5, 2013 and continued until the most recent theft of February 8, 2014.  The total amount of money taken was $3, 420.90, making this a felony offense.

On February 13, an officer met with Richards regarding the complaint and, following further investigation, determined there was probable cause to arrest Richards.

He was charged with theft by deception, a Class III felony, and transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

A North Platte man has been jailed after he allegedly had sexual intercourse with a 10-year-old girl on multiple occasions.

According to NPPD Public Information Officer, Rodney Brown, a sexual assault complaint was filed with police on December 31, 2013.  It was alleged that 52-year-old Wendell Matthews had sexual intercourse with a 10-year-old female.

Brown said the incidents reportedly occurred multiple times in the victim’s home when she was alone with Matthews beginning when she was between the ages of 7 and 8.

The juvenile was interviewed at The Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center and, following further investigation, an investigator determined there was probable cause to arrest Matthews.

On February 12, 2014, an investigator made contact with Matthews and placed him under arrest.

He’s been charged with 1st degree sexual assault of a child, a Class 1B felony.

• Today: Sunny, with a high near 46. West wind 7 to 9 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. West northwest wind 9 to 13 mph.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. West northwest wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
• Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. South southwest wind 6 to 11 mph.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Northwest wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around

(AP) — A proposal that would end automatic “good time” credit for violent prisoners in Nebraska is facing scrutiny from lawmakers.

Members of the Judiciary Committee questioned Wednesday whether the bill would work if adequate rehabilitation programs weren’t available in Nebraska’s prisons.

The bill by Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh would require those convicted of murder, robbery, sexual assault and other violent crimes to behave and participate in rehabilitation programs to earn reductions in their sentences. The bill was introduced on behalf of Gov. Dave Heineman, who has called for reforms in the wake of the Nikko Jenkins case in Omaha.

Department of Correctional Services Director Michael Kenney spoke in support of the bill, saying it would apply to offenders who pose the greatest risk to the community.