RUSKIN, Neb. (AP) — A southeastern Nebraska farmer was killed when a large piece of equipment fell on him.

Nuckolls County Sheriff Jim Marr says that 33-year-old Jeffrey Schardt died Wednesday.

Marr says Schardt’s wife discovered his body around 5 p.m. Wednesday on the family farm northeast of Ruskin.

Marr says it appears that Schardt had been unloading grain from a bin before his death. An auger Schardt was trying to move fell on top of the farmer and pinned him to the ground face down.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have questioned an Omaha man who is suspected of flashing a laser pointer at planes and helicopters.

The most recent incident occurred Tuesday night when a police helicopter was targeted. Authorities say he also may have aimed the pointer at passenger planes flying in and out of Omaha’s Eppley Airfield.

The man has not been arrested, so authorities aren’t releasing his name. The laser pointer has been confiscated.

Experts say a laser beam could harm a pilot’s night vision or cause blindness.

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced that it will pursue civil penalties on those who point lasers into the cockpits of aircraft.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Douglas County authorities are looking for two women who are targeting homes and stealing jewelry.

The sheriff’s office says two women have hit at least three homes in the past three weeks in the western part of the county. In one home, over $100,000 worth of jewelry was taken.

In surveillance video on June 29, the women can be seen ringing the doorbell at a house and trying to see if anyone is inside. The two leave, but then they walk out the front door about 15 minutes later.

The women are suspects in similar crimes two days earlier and again on July 7.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — One sponsor of Omaha’s nighttime bicycle ride expects record turnout for the Saturday event.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center says well over 2,000 bike riders are expected to participate in Omaha’s annual Owl Ride.

The 14-mile ride is the largest annual night bicycle ride between Chicago and Denver.

Proceeds go to the Meyer Foundation for Disabilities, which supports social and recreational programs for people with developmental disabilities in the Omaha area.

The cost to register is $30 for individuals and $60 for families. Participants may register at www.owlride.org through Friday. Riders may also register in person on Saturday, although it will cost more.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Education Commissioner Roger Breed will receive the National Educational Administrator of the Year award.

Breed is set to receive the award Thursday at the National Association of Educational Office Professional’s annual conference in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Nebraska’s affiliate of the national association, comprised of about 200 educational office employees statewide, nominated Breed for the national award.

Breed is only the second state education commissioner to receive the award since 1973, when it was first established. Nancy Grasmick, from Maryland, was the first in 1992.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Dave Heineman, the chairman of an association of American governors, is heading to the group’s annual meeting in Virginia.

The Nebraska Republican is scheduled to arrive at the National Governors Association meeting on Thursday. The gathering for Republican and Democratic governors runs through Sunday.

Heineman has served as the group’s chairman since July 2011, and is the first Nebraska governor to hold the title in 50 years. His one-year term ends Sunday, when he will be replaced by Delaware Gov. Jack Markell.

Nebraska Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy is currently serving as chairman of the National Lieutenant Governors Association.

The National Governors Association represents the governors of all 50 U.S. states, and five U.S. territories.

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — Sentencing is delayed for a former assistant high school football coach in Sidney on drug charges.

Robert Lewis was charged last November after the Nebraska State Patrol found marijuana and hashish in his car during a traffic stop in Sidney. Troopers had been tipped that he was transporting drugs.

Lewis pleaded guilty in May to two drug possession charges.

Lewis’ sentencing, which had been set for Thursday, was reset for Aug. 8. Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub says the delay is to complete a pre-sentence investigation.

Lewis had been on the Sidney High School coaching staff for ten years. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — An attorney for a man accused of abusing developmentally disabled patients at a state-run center is getting a shot at painting his client in a better light.

After two days of testimony against Matthew Pangborn, defense attorney Brett McArthur began his case Wednesday, calling witnesses to the stand.

Martha McCarthy, a former staff assistant at the Beatrice State Development Center, testified that Pangborn was well-liked by residents at the center.

Under cross-examination, McCarthy revealed that she had worked a total of 19 days with Pangborn.

On Monday and Tuesday, former co-workers testified that they saw Pangborn hit and choke residents at the center. Pangborn is being tried on six counts of abuse of a vulnerable adult and four counts of strangulation.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln’s mayor is calling on residents to voluntarily conserve water for the rest of the summer by adhering to outdoor water use limits.

Mayor Chris Beutler says the restriction is voluntary, but noted that the city is about two inches below normal rainfall for the year and temperatures remain high.

Beutler is asking residents with street addresses ending in even numbers to limit outdoor water use — including watering lawns and washing vehicles — to Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Those with addresses ending in odd numbers are asked to limit their outdoor water use to Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The mayor’s water conservation task force also recommends, among other things, that residents water lawns during the coolest part of the day and refrain from watering when it’s windy.