GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A central Nebraska school district is doling out inventive pay to persuade local substitute teachers to work for the district instead of other area schools.

Grand Island Public Schools’ incentive program went into effect retroactively on Nov. 1.

Wayne Stelk is the district’s executive director of human resources. He says teachers will receive a $150 incentive in addition to the regular substitute pay if they work a minimum number of days each month.

The requirement varies each month depending on holidays, semester breaks and other factors. The requirement ranges from 12 days in December and May to 18 days in April.

Stelk says there’s no sliding scale to compensate teachers who don’t work the minimum amount.

The program is expected to cost the district about $26,000 this school year.

PONCA, Neb. (AP) — People are invited to celebrate the holiday season at Ponca State Park and enjoy the activities of Christmas in the Woods.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says the events present chances for families to do seasonal crafts, get family photos taken, decorate cookies or cupcakes, attend outdoor programs or ride on a decorated and lighted hayrack. Also, a Snowman Building Contest will be held from Nov. 25 through March 19.

The Christmas in the Woods events are scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 2, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16.

Contact the park for more information about activities or discount lodging packages at 402-755-2284. The park sits about a mile north of Ponca in northeast Nebraska’s Dixon County.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Remains found in northeast and eastern Nebraska have been turned over to the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska for burial on the tribe’s ancestral homeland along the lower Niobrara River.

Some of the human remains given to tribal representatives Wednesday were found nearly 60 years ago by workers building a railroad bridge in Knox County. Others were found in Platte County, and others in Butler County.

The return of the Ponca remains is part of a repatriation process begun in 1990, when the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act became federal law. The Nebraska State Historical Society consequently inventoried all the human remains in its custody. If archaeologists could determine which tribe they came from, they were to be given to the tribe.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a small plane landed safety at the Lincoln Airport after a bird smashed through its cockpit windshield.

The plane was flying from Plattsmouth to Lincoln on Tuesday evening when the bird struck it about 10 miles (17 kilometers) from Lincoln.

Lincoln Airport deputy operations director Bob McNally says such an incident is virtually unheard of for Lincoln. McNally said the airport follows a wildlife management plan to deal with birds near the airport, but it can’t easily account for birds so far away.

It’s unclear whether the two people aboard the plane were injured.

MALMO, Neb. (AP) — Four people have been arrested on suspicion of robbing a bank in eastern Nebraska.

The robbery of Security Home Bank in Malmo occurred around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Two suspects were soon arrested, and two more were arrested after a high-speed chase that ended in western Omaha.

No injuries have been reported. None of the suspects have been identified.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have indicted a northeast Nebraska man for not paying nearly $302,000 in income taxes.

U.S. District Court records say 62-year-old Daniel Kinnison (VUR’-dih-gree), is charged with tax evasion. A phone listed for him in Verdigre (VUR’-dih-gree) rang busy during several calls Thursday. His attorney didn’t immediately return messages from The Associated Press.

Indictment documents say Kinnison didn’t pay a large part of the income taxes due for 2002 through 2005. The documents say he directed his income from two companies into a relative’s business and bank accounts as a way to conceal that income. The documents also say Kinnison lied to IRS agents on Feb. 23, 2016, when he told them he had no employment income from 2009 to that date.

His next court date is Dec. 11.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 37-year-old man has been imprisoned for trying to bribe a woman who accused his brother of sexual assault in Lincoln.

Ivan Leon was sentenced Wednesday to two years. He’d pleaded no contest to tampering with a witness.

Court records say the woman reported in April that Leon’s brother, Edmundo Vera, had assaulted her. Police arrested Vera on June 27. Officers arrested Leon the same day, saying he’d told the woman he’d pay her $1,000 to call police and drop her allegations.

Vera remained in Lancaster County Jail on Thursday, awaiting trial. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call Thursday from The Associated Press.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska authorities say eight hunters from Louisiana have been cited for several deer hunting violations.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said in a news release Wednesday that the eight were cited earlier this month for illegal activities in southeast Nebraska’s Gage and Jefferson counties. The violations included hunting without permits, killing too many deer and borrowing deer hunting permits.

The commission says the carcasses of 12 illegally taken deer were seized and says penalties will exceed $13,000.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln woman has been trying to get back her car from Lancaster County prosecutors, who say they can’t let it go.

Dorris Harris said her car was involved in a hit-and-run that cost a man his leg. She had nothing to do with the crime and has cooperated with prosecutors.

County Attorney Joe Kelly says the evidence has to stay in police custody until defense attorneys say otherwise. He says it’s unfortunate when an innocent person is caught in the middle of the judicial process, but one of the suspects involved is still being sought. Kelly says that’s delayed the release of Harris’ car.

The vehicle still sits in an impound lot, running up a $12-a-day storage fee, which will be paid by taxpayers.

___