OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The Nebraska Democatic Party will see a change in leadership at its state convention this summer.
Nebraska Democratic Party Chairman Vic Covalt says he plans to step down when his second term ends in November. Election for a new chairman will be held at the party’s state convention.
Covalt has endorsed Joe Higgins, of Omaha, who has a long history of service in the party, including currently serving as the party’s finance chairman. Higgins has also served as president of the Nebraska State Education Association and served two terms on the Nebraska State Board of Education.
Former gubernatorial candidate and attorney Mike Meister, of Scottsbluff, is also seeking to lead the state party.
The Nebraska Democratic Party state convention will be held June 22-24 in Omaha.

CHADRON, Neb. (AP) – Chadron State College President Janie Park has announced her intention to retire.
The announcement was made Tuesday during an employee honors luncheon.
Vice president for enrollment management and student services Randy Rhine will become the interim president of the school, which has nearly 3,000 students.
The 65-year-old Park has led the Nebraska State College System campus since August 2005. She says she and her husband intend to return to their home in Red Lodge, Mont., on May 12, the day after she ends her Nebraska service.

JUNIATA, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say a 57-year-old Juniata man has died in a head-on collision near the south-central Nebraska city.
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office says Paul Walters was driving west in a van about 4:10 p.m. Monday when it crested a hill and hit an eastbound pickup driven by Brad Reiss, of Heartwell.
Deputies say Walters died at the scene.
The 39-year-old Reiss and his passenger, Kim Kohn, were taken to a hospital for treatment.
The accident cause is being investigated.

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) – A 22-year-old Hastings man has been given 14 to 19 years in prison for his role in a 2011 robbery and home invasion.
Andrew Lyle was sentenced Monday afternoon.
Lyle had pleaded no contest to three counts of robbery, one of discharging a firearm and one of possession of a firearm by a felon. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped charges of attempted murder, use of a firearm for a felony and two counts of terroristic threats.
The charges stemmed from a robbery at a bank night deposit and a home invasion on May 9.
Lyle’s cousin, Tyrell Lyle, has been given 11 to 18 years in prison for his role in the crimes.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) – A California man faces up to 50 years in prison for a stabbing in October at a Kearney hotel.
Larry “Lorenzo” Aguilar, of Riverbank, Calif., pleaded no contest last month in Buffalo County District Court to first-degree assault.
Police say Aguilar stabbed Michael Autry, also of California, outside the hotel on Oct. 23. In exchange for Aguilar’s plea, a second weapons count was dismissed.
Autry underwent surgery for his injuries and has since recovered.
Aguilar, who remains at the Buffalo County Jail, is set to be sentenced June 14.

ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) – A government meteorologist says straight-line winds caused the damage in Alliance last week – not a tornado.
John Griffith of the National Weather Service says radar and other evidence lead him to rule out a tornado. Griffith says photographs showing what looks like a twister likely show a cloud of dust.
Friday’s storm ripped the roof off an Alliance home and pushed six coal cars off the tracks at a Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail yard on the south side of town.
No injuries were reported.