The twister that hit El Reno, Oklahoma on Friday, killing 19 people, is now the widest tornado on record, according to a researcher with the National Weather Service.

Tornado researcher Howard Bluestein said the tornado that hit west of Oklahoma City and killed four storm chases, reached a maximum width of 2.6 miles. Bluestein said, “This is the biggest ever.”

The previous record holder for the widest tornado was an F4-rated twister that hit Hallam, Nebraska on May 22nd, 2004. Its maximum width reached 2.5 miles.

In addition to revising the width of Friday’s twister, the National Weather Service upgraded its rating from EF-3 to the highest-intensity rating of EF-5. Also, the death toll has now been updated to 19.

(AP) — A South Sioux City man has been sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison for failing to register as a sex offender.

U.S. Attorney Deb Gilg says 34-year-old Louis Saunsoci was sentenced to 21 months in prison earlier this week in Omaha’s federal court. After his release, Saunsoci must also undergo five years of supervision.

Authorities say Saunsoci was previously convicted in federal court in Oklahoma for having sexual contact with a child. He received a 21 month sentence and was required to register as a sex offender.

Prosecutors say Saunsoci moved to Nebraska and registered with the Omaha Tribe as a sex offender. He listed a residence in Macy, when he actually lived in South Sioux City.

(AP) — A driver has died in the crash of a cement truck in northern Nebraska.

The Nebraska State Patrol says Rollin Kramer was found dead in the truck. The crash occurred a little after 3:45 p.m. on Monday, west of Amelia in Holt County.

The patrol says Kramer’s truck ran off the roadway on 856th Road, entered a ditch and rolled onto its roof.

(AP) — Grief counselors will be available to Fremont High School students Wednesday as they mourn the deaths of three classmates.

Authorities say three 16-year-old boys were fatally injured and another seriously hurt in a car crash Monday night southeast of Fremont.

Two who died at the scene were driver Jackson Blick and passenger Tyler Walling. Trey Hansen died Tuesday night at an Omaha hospital, where his organs were removed for transplants. Another 16-year-old, Jake Burnside, remains hospitalized in Omaha.

All four had been involved in school sports and activities, as well as church youth groups.

The accident was reported around 9:50 p.m. Monday. Dodge County Sheriff Steve Hespen says Blick lost control of his 1966 Mustang while speeding on Old Highway 8, and the car ran into a ditch and rolled.

(AP) — Authorities in Omaha have made another arrest in an investigation into gang-related activity.

Tuesday night, Omaha police arrested 27-year-old Jabari Liggins on suspicion of possessing crack cocaine with intent to deliver and destruction of property. He remained in custody Wednesday, and it was unclear if he has an attorney.

His arrest followed those of two other men earlier in the day. Police are still searching for two more men.

The arrests are part of a nine-month investigation by local and federal authorities called Operation Purple Haze. Four men were arrested late last month on suspicion of drug dealing. Another man faces a federal firearms charge.

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer says all the men are considered leaders in two of the city’s most notorious gangs.

(AP)-The head of a national animal welfare group that Nebraska’s governor has criticized will return to the state later this month.

Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, plans to hold two events promoting sustainable and humane farming techniques.

Pacelle plans to speak at an open forum at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln on June 27.

Then Pacelle will tour a dairy farm near Raymond, Neb., on June 28 to see the certified organic operation.

The Humane Society has criticized certain livestock and farming techniques such as using gestation crates for hogs. And the group has worked to put animal welfare issues on the ballot in other states.

Gov. Dave Heineman has said the Humane Society represents a threat to the state’s agricultural businesses.

(AP) — An Oregon company is recalling a frozen berry mix sold to Costco and Harris Teeter stores after the product was linked to at least 34 hepatitis A illnesses in five states.

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that Townsend Farms of Fairview, Ore., is recalling its frozen Organic Antioxidant Blend, packaged under the Townsend Farms label at Costco and under the Harris Teeter brand at those stores.

The recall came three days after the FDA and the federal Centers for Disease Control first announced a suspected link between the berries and the illnesses. Illnesses were reported in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and California.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that can last from a few weeks to a several months.

(AP) — The $279.5 million Omaha lead contamination cleanup that began in 1999 is nearly complete, and the Environmental Protection Agency is ready to begin declaring some properties lead-free.

The EPA said Tuesday that it is proposing listing 1,154 of the 11,425 properties in Omaha’s superfund site as completely cleaned up.

EPA officials say less than 2 percent of the eastern Omaha children tested today have elevated lead levels. Before the cleanup, nearly 33 percent had elevated lead levels.

The soil in more than 10,000 Omaha yards has been replaced to clean up lean contamination that the EPA says came from a lead smelter that operated in Omaha for more than a century.

The EPA also stabilized the paint on more than 5,000 homes and set up educational programs on lead dangers.

(AP) — A 50-year-old Grand Island firefighter has resigned and will face a criminal charge of possession of child pornography.

A city press release said Mark Fhuere quit his job as a firefighter paramedic on Friday, the same day the felony charge was filed.

There was no answer Tuesday at a Grand Island phone listed for Fhuere. Online court records don’t list the name of his attorney.