MADISON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a couple died after their minivan struck a semitrailer on U.S. Highway 81 near Madison in northeast Nebraska.

The accident occurred around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office says Martin Deets turned north onto the highway but struck the northbound semitrailer. The 92-year-old Deets and his 85-year-old wife, Norma, were taken to a Norfolk hospital. The Sheriff’s Office says the couple died there. They lived in Madison.

It’s unclear whether the truck driver was injured.

In 1961 the couple established in Madison what has become Deets Homestore in Norfolk.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A fire has displaced a family from a Lincoln home.

The blaze was reported around 5:20 p.m. Wednesday in northwest Lincoln. One person was treated at the scene for smoke exposure.

Fire inspector Chuck Schweitzer blamed careless smoking in a bedroom for the fire, which spread quickly to oxygen tanks in the room.

Schweitzer estimated $70,000 damage to the house and $35,000 to $40,000 damage to contents. He says the Red Cross is helping the family.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man who’s already served time in Nebraska and Florida is returning to a prison cell.

45-year-old John King was sentenced Wednesday in Lancaster County District Court in Lincoln. He’d pleaded guilty to possessing drugs and two counts of theft after prosecutors dropped other charges.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Morgan Smith said during the sentencing hearing that King’s life has been almost 30 years of crime interrupted only by prison stays. But King said he was tired of being viewed as a self-serving con artist.

He told Judge Jodi Nelson: “I want you to know there is good in me.”

Nelson told him that incarceration was necessary to protect the public from his schemes. She gave him nine to 14 years in prison.

 

UPDATE 12/21/16 9:30 p.m.

At approximately 1845 hours, the Fairbury Police Department was notified that Missing Adult Nyla Stanton has been located unharmed and is currently being reunited with family.

The Fairbury Police Department and the Stanton Family would like to thank everyone for their assistance in locating Nyla.

 

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The Fairbury Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing person who walked out of the Jefferson Community Health Center at approximately 1:30 P.M.

Police say 82-year-old Nyla Stanton is wearing a red top with black slacks, and was last seen driving a Black 2013 Cadillac XTS 4-Dr. Sedan License plate number 33B180. Police say they’ve attempted to use On-Star, which the vehicle is equipped with, but have been unsuccessful.

If you see the vehicle or Nyla Stanton, call 911 immediately.

The attached photo is from 2012, so Stanton may look slightly different.

WINNEBAGO, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say an 87-year-old man was injured by an explosion at his home south of Winnebago in northeast Nebraska.

Tony Pycha was found in the wreckage of his home Monday morning and was eventually taken to an Omaha hospital for treatment.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office and fire investigators say a malfunctioning propane heater caused the blast and resulting fire.

LINDSAY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a Humphrey man who was killed when a tractor engine exploded.

The Platte County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as 30-year-old Jeffrey Jarecki. He was pronounced dead at the scene on a farm outside Lindsay.

Sheriff’ Ed Wemhoff says Jarecki was working on the tractor in a machine shed when the engine blew up around 9:30 a.m. Monday.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha City Council has approved the creation of a nonprofit to give subsidies to groups that bring convention business to town.

The council voted 7-0 Tuesday to approve a resolution that allows the creation of the nonprofit.

Council members say they were satisfied by answers to questions raised about transparency mechanisms. The questions had forced postponement of a vote earlier this month.

Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Keith Backsen says the nonprofit won’t have to release detailed information about how much Omaha gives to groups that bring conventions to Douglas County. Backsen says releasing that information gives other cities a competitive advantage. He also says the nonprofit will be able to move quicker than the City Council in approving subsidies to secure conventions.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha priest is recovering after being hit by a vehicle as he walked from morning Mass to the church rectory in west Omaha.

Omaha police say the accident happened around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, when the Rev. Joseph Sund was crossing Eagle Run Drive at 143rd Circle. Police say the 30-year-old Sund was hit by an SUV, causing him to be hospitalized with a concussion.

Sund, who was ordained last year, is the associate Pastor at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church.

Police continue to investigate the accident.

WINNEBAGO, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say an 86-year-old man has died after a head-on collision in northeast Nebraska’s Dakota County.

The accident occurred around 5:45 p.m. Monday on U.S. Highway 77. The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release that Matthew Pilcher, of Winnebago, was driving north when the highway turned into a four-lane section and he continued northbound in a southbound lane. His van rammed head-on into an oncoming pickup.

The Sheriff’s Office says Pilcher was killed. The pickup driver was treated for minor injuries.