LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln’s police chief says he doesn’t intend to surrender any city block to gang violence.

Chief Jim Peschong (peh-SHAWNG’) said Monday that Lincoln is “bonding together as a community to make sure gangs don’t gain a foothold,” citing an increase in gang violence.

The chief’s remarks follow a weekend marked by an apparent murder-suicide, another gang-connected shooting and an assault.

On Sunday a gang member burst into an apartment that contained young children to fatally shoot a rival. Police say the gunman got into a standoff with officers a few police hours later. Police say the standoff ended when the man killed himself.

NORTH BEND, Neb. (AP) — The body of a 101-year-old North Bend woman was found in her fire-damaged home in eastern Nebraska.

Firefighters were sent to the home a little before 6 p.m. Saturday, after a passer-by reported seeing smoke coming from the house’s attic.

Dodge County Sheriff Steve Hespen says Sylvia Slavik died in her home, where she’d lived alone.

The fire case is being investigated.

BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP) — A man accused of killing two 16-year-old boys after friends say the boys tried to blackmail him has pleaded not guilty in Colorado.

William Otto of Brighton faces charges of first-degree murder, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and tampering with evidence. He appeared in Adams County court Tuesday.

Gustavo Espinosa-Gamboa was shot three times in the head and once in the chest, and Jonathan Gonzalez died from one shot to the head.

The teens’ bodies were found buried in August in the small farming town of Sedgwick, about 150 miles from their neighborhood in unincorporated Adams County. The boys lived near Otto.

Authorities say Otto killed the teens after they allegedly tried to blackmail him with a cellphone video. An arrest affidavit says the video showed Otto asking at least one of them for a sex act.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Penitentiary is still on lockdown after 33 inmates refused to return to their cells Monday night.

A Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman said Tuesday that the inmates were protesting a year-old policy that limits the number of inmates who can be in the prison yard at one time. The policy was enacted to reduce conflicts among inmates.

Spokeswoman Dawn-Renee Smith says there were no injuries or major damage in the protest, aside from some fires in trash cans that were extinguished. Some inmates were moved to other locations because of the smoke.

Smith says prison staff members are investigating the fires. The inmates who protested were not violent, and were all secured Monday night.

MACY, Neb. (AP) — A northeast Nebraska man has been sentenced to more than three years in prison following a robbery around New Year’s Eve.

U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced Monday that 25-year-old Cory Woodhull, of Macy, was given 40 months of prison and three years of probation for a robbery conviction. He must pay $750 in restitution.

Authorities say Woodhull found a person sitting in a snow bank following a New Year’s Eve party. Woodhull assisted the person home but then beat and kicked the person while demanding information to a food stamp card.

Woodhull took the card and a DVD collection. The person suffered serious bodily injuries.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Douglas County will consider extending benefits to same-sex spouses of county employees who were legally married in other states.

The county board will consider a measure on Tuesday that would allow the couples to apply for all county benefits, including health insurance.

Douglas County is self-insured. As written, the measure would go into effect on Jan. 1. The board might also consider re-opening the sign-up window to allow same-sex spouses of current employees to enroll.

Board chairwoman Mary Ann Borgeson says the measure would affect a handful of county employees.

Nebraska doesn’t recognize same-sex relationships. Neighboring Iowa has allowed gay and lesbian couples to marry since 2009.