(AP) — A Lincoln man has been arrested on suspicion of severally beating his 5-month-old son.

The Lincoln Police Department says 43-year-old Raad Al-Masaudi was taken into custody Wednesday. He faces felony counts of child abuse and serious bodily harm.

Al-Masaudi told the boy’s mother while she was out grocery shopping on Nov. 12 that the boy’s toddler sister head-butted the infant. Al-Masaudi says he tried CPR on the boy, who had gone limp and was not breathing.

The parents took the infant to the hospital. Police say Al-Masaudi’s account was not consistent with the boy’s multiple brain bleeds.

Al-Masaudi is at the Lancaster County jail. Court records do not list an attorney.

The boy remains hospitalized in critical condition.

A single vehicle crash on Bennington Road in Douglas County has claimed two lives.

Just before 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, the Nebraska State Patrol responded to reports of a single vehicle crash a quarter of a mile east of Highway 133 on Bennington Road.

Troopers working the crash say a vehicle was traveling on Bennington Road when it left the roadway and rolled, striking a tree on the south side of the Highway.

The two occupants in the vehicle were killed. The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of family.  Seat belts were in use.

The investigation into the crash continues.

(AP) — Authorities say a man found in a wooded area in western Iowa is from Nebraska.

The state Division of Criminal Investigation says fingerprints submitted to a FBI database helped confirm the identity of 52-year-old Michael E. Gnirk, of Hoskins, Neb. A hunter found him on Saturday in a rural, wooded area a few miles southwest of Mondamin in Harrison County.

Authorities said in a news release Wednesday they’re continuing to investigate the case, and they’re trying to retrace Gnirk’s last few weeks and days. They’re looking for anyone who may have been in contact with him over the last three to six months.

(AP) — The City of Omaha says it will not offer health care and dental benefits to same-sex spouses of city employees covered by the police union contract.

Mayor Jean Stothert said in a statement Wednesday that officials determined the city’s health insurance policy does not include same-sex spouses in its definition of spouse. However, they are entitled to pension and flexible spending benefits in compliance with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling this year that extends a variety of federal benefits to same-sex spouses.

Stothert says the health care and dental benefits can be negotiated with the city’s unions.

John Wells, president of the Omaha Police Officers Association, says city officials are playing politics. He says his group will push for the benefits in future contract negotiations.

(AP) — Nebraska state Sen. Annette Dubas, a candidate for governor, is planning to introduce a property tax relief measure when lawmakers convene next year.

The Democratic hopeful from Fullerton said Wednesday that her measure would reduce the property tax burden on homeowners and renters.

Property tax rates were one of the most common complaints raised by residents during a series of summer tax hearings. The Legislature’s Tax Modernization Committee is looking at possible reforms. Dubas says she has spoken informally with some committee members about her proposal, and will release more details before the session begins in January. She says state aid for education will be part of the plan.

Dubas is competing with former University of Nebraska Regent Chuck Hassebrook in the Democratic primary. Five Republicans are also running.

(AP) — A Columbus woman has been accused of hitting her two daughters over several months.

Laura Sosa Alonzo recently made her first appearance in Platte County Court. The 30-year-old faces two child abuse charges in connection with incidents that allegedly began in August and continued through October.

Alonzo’s daughters, ages 10 and 12, say the abuse began after their mother’s boyfriend moved in with them. He is not accused of hitting them, but the girls told investigators he threatened them.

Alonzo is accused of hitting the girls with various items, including a plastic clothes hanger and a cable television wire.

Alonzo has been released from custody on a personal recognizance bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 3.

Court records do not list an attorney.

(AP) — A patient and two staff members aboard a Beatrice ambulance escaped injury when the vehicle struck a deer on the southern edge of Lincoln.

The accident occurred around 5:10 p.m. Tuesday when the deer ran across the road in front of the ambulance.

The patient being transferred to a Lincoln hospital was taken the rest of the way by a Lincoln ambulance.

The Beatrice ambulance was towed back to Beatrice.