GRETNA, Neb. (AP) — A future Interstate 80 interchange is stirring up drama in an eastern Nebraska county.

Gretna and Papillion city officials have been struggling to come to an agreement about sharing the area around the interchange. The area is in high demand because Nebraska Highway 50 is flourishing and the area could provide cities with more space to expand.

Gretna annexed land around the future interchange last month.

Gretna council members said they felt threatened by Papillion and took the steps to annex the area in order to secure their development plans. Gretna officials hope to use the area for retail and mixed-use development or for a business and office park development.

“We want to have control, and that’s because it’s going to involve significant development and economic growth,” Gretna City Administrator Jeff Kooistra said of the intersection.

Papillion Mayor David Black had proposed a boundary agreement that would give Papillion land on the southern side of I-80. Gretna countered with a different boundary proposal but Black declined the offer, according to Papillion spokesman Trenton Albers.

Discussions have since halted, though both cities have “left the door open for future discussions,” Albers said.

“I would say the smart thing for the orderly growth of the county is for both Papillion and Gretna to have a presence at the interchange,” Black said.

Sarpy County has filed a lawsuit challenging Gretna’s annexation.

Much of the county has been divided in boundary agreements between five cities, which limits where cities can grow.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say a woman died at an Omaha hospital after her car was struck from behind on U.S. Highway 75 in southeast Omaha.

The collision occurred about 12:20 a.m. Monday. Police say a northbound car struck the rear of another and then crossed two lanes and hit a concrete barrier. The driver was not injured but later was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide.

Police say the driver of the car he struck was taken to Nebraska Medical Center, where she died. She’s been identified as 67-year-old Ann Smock, who lived in Omaha.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say three people were injured when an explosion heavily damaged a home in southeast Omaha.

The blast heard for several blocks was reported around 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Battalion Chief Keith Main says the house foundation was bowed out by the blast, and says firefighters had to work around a lot of debris.

It’s unclear what caused the explosion. Metropolitan Utilities District spokeswoman Tracey Christensen says natural gas does not appear to be a cause.

Officials say Daniel Andersen was taken to Nebraska Medical Center, where he was listed Monday in critical condition. His brother David Andersen and another person also were injured.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Police say a 19-year-old man has been shot to death in Grand Island.

Officers and medics sent to a home around 3:45 a.m. Monday found the wounded man. Police say he was taken to a Grand Island hospital, where he died. Police identified him as Trevor Sok.

No arrests have been reported.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A woman in a wheelchair who was forced off snowy sidewalks into a busy Omaha thoroughfare eventually received a showy escort: a firetruck.

Firefighters driving back to their station after a call Tuesday night noticed the woman headed down a street as cars zipped past. The crew watched her almost get hit by a truck and try to get back on a sidewalk that was blocked by snow and construction items.

Fire Capt. Mike Henrich said it was cold out, “but the most important thing is, it was dark.” The wind child that night: minus 18 degrees (minus 28 Celsius).

The firefighters soon flipped on their lights and followed the woman until she reached her destination. She gave them a thumbs-up as they departed.

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska zoo is accepting discarded Christmas trees to use as toys for its animals.

The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium annually collects and shreds unwanted trees. But this year, zoo staff is keeping a few to entertain elephants, bears, big cats and more.

The Omaha zoo says all decorations should be removed before a tree is turned in and the trees shouldn’t be treated with chemical preventatives or decorative sprays. Trees that are considered unfit for animals will be recycled.

Dan Cassidy is the zoo’s vice president of animal management. He says trees have helped deter violent behaviors among animals like bull elks.

The zoo says it’ll collect trees until Jan. 8.

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man arrested in Tennessee in the fatal shootings of his parents and a niece in Omaha has agreed to be returned to Nebraska to face murder charges.

46-year-old John Dalton Jr. waived his right to an extradition hearing Thursday in Jackson, Tennessee, where he was captured Wednesday.

Dalton is charged with first-degree murder in the killings of 70-year-old John Dalton Sr. and 65-year-old Jean Dalton on Tuesday. His 18-year-old niece, Leonna Dalton-Phillip, was also killed.

Court records don’t list an attorney who can speak on Dalton’s behalf.

Records show Dalton pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 1998 shooting of his wife, Shannon Dalton. He went to prison and was paroled in 2010. Authorities say he also fled to Tennessee within days of that shooting.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A cattle herd in north-central Nebraska’s Wheeler County where a cow tested positive for bovine tuberculosis remains in quarantine as authorities test other animals.

Nebraska Agriculture Department spokeswoman Kristin Kamm said Thursday that none of the cattle has yet been similarly diagnosed. Department staffers also are looking for cattle that may have been pastured next to and had fence line contact with the infected herd. The disease is primarily transmitted through nose to nose contact.

The South Dakota Animal Industry Board earlier this year contacted the Nebraska department as they traced cattle into and out of South Dakota’s infected herd. The testing of cattle that were moved into Nebraska led to the infected cow in Wheeler County.

Bovine tuberculosis causes severe coughing, fatigue, emaciation and debilitation in cattle and results in reduced milk and meat production.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A suburban Omaha assistant high school principal is facing sex assault charges, accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student.

Douglas County Jail records show 45-year-old Matthew Fedde remained in custody Friday. He’s been placed on administrative leave from his job at Millard South High School. He’s been a district employee since 2012.

Omaha police say the girl’s parents contacted authorities after reading her journal.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a former Omaha police officer accidentally shot himself at a gun range.

The shooting occurred Saturday at Inner 10 Weapons and Training in north Omaha. Police say video at the indoor range shows the shooting was accidental.

The man was taken to Nebraska Medical Center, where he had surgery. Authorities identified him as 70-year-old Langston Farrish, who left the force in 1998. He was listed in fair condition Wednesday.