OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 22-year-old Omaha man accused of severely beating two cats — one of which died — has been charged with a felony count of animal cruelty.

Nathaniel Gilreath was arrested early Friday morning on a warrant charging him with the count.

The Nebraska Humane Society says that on Feb. 12, it seized a cat after someone reported the animal had been beaten by Gilreath. A veterinarian determined that the cat had a broken jaw and chipped teeth and that it was thin and dehydrated, likely because its injuries made eating and drinking difficult.

The Humane Society said its investigation also showed Gilreath beat another cat that died of its injuries about a month ago.

If convicted, Gilreath could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say they are investigating the death of an Omaha man as a homicide.

Police say police and emergency workers were called to a midtown Omaha home just before 1 p.m. Friday, where they found the body of a man.

Police say the circumstances of the death are suspicious, but declined to give details of how the death occurred or give the identity of the man found dead.

Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 402-444-7867 or the Omaha Police Homicide Unit at 402-444-5656. Information can also be given to police online at www.omahacrimestoppers.org or by texting “OPD” to 274637.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police say they’re unsure how thieves were able to remove a hefty air conditioning unit from the roof of Best Buy in Lincoln and hoist it down.

The Lincoln Police Department says a manager at Best Buy realized the unit was missing after the roof started leaking. Police say the unit was fully installed when it was taken sometime in early February, and that the suspects cut a copper to disconnect it.

Officer Katie Flood said the department hasn’t figured out what means were used to get the air conditioner off the roof of the business.

Police estimate around $5,000 in damage. Police say the air conditioning unit was likely sold as scrap metal.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 24-year-old woman has been given more than five years in prison for robbing a suburban Omaha bank branch last July.

In December a jury found Shantoria Valentine-Deguenon, of Omaha, guilty of bank robbery. On Friday prosecutors said Valentine-Deguenon was sentenced to 63 months in prison and three years of supervised release after she leaves federal custody.

Prosecutors say she walked into a Wells Fargo branch in Ralston in July, gave a note to tellers that said she had a bomb. She also yelled out the same threat.

Officers say she had more than $1,200 of the bank’s money with her when she was arrested a short time later at the Ralston Middle School parking lot.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Parents are voicing concern about a grant that would bring new federal money to Wakonda Elementary in Omaha, but would require that half the school’s teachers and its principal to be replaced.

Omaha Public Schools’ administrators are applying for the federal school improvement grant that would give the school, which is listed as one of the state’s lowest-achieving, about $1 million over three years for student improvement.

Superintendent Mark Evans told parents at a meeting Thursday that the principal has decided to retire, and that a replacement would be hired if the is approved. Teachers would also have to reapply for their jobs, but only half of them would be rehired.

Many parents are worried their children will have trouble adjusting to new faces and teaching styles.

LYONS, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say employees have escaped a massive fire at a longtime tractor salvage business in northeast Nebraska.

The fire at Northeast Tractor Salvage in Lyons was reported about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Lyons Fire Chief Kyle Simonsen said the rear portion of the shop was engulfed in flames when firetrucks pulled up.

Seven more fire departments were called in to help battle what Simonsen said was the biggest local fire he could recall. Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about three hours, but hot spots flared up Wednesday night and had to be doused.

The fire cause is being investigated.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska toy company that specializes in developing and selling educational toys has attracted an investment from a private equity firm to help it grow.

Fat Brain Toys said Thursday that Winona Capital will invest an undisclosed amount in the toy company.

Fat Brain’s President Mark Carson says the company has built a solid foundation over the past 12 years, and is now ready to expand.

The company is based in Omaha where it has its distribution center and a retail store. A second store is in Overland Park, Kansas, but many of its sales are completed online.

Besides selling toys, Fat Brain also develops some of its own toys and sells them wholesale to other toy retailers.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Grand Island police say a teenager was driving on a slippery road when he lost control of his pickup and crashed into a medical center’s building, causing about $100,000 in damage to the structure.

Police Sgt. Trent Hill says the 16-year-old driver from Grand Island wasn’t injured when he hit the Grand Island Clinic. No citations were issued in the Wednesday morning accident.

The clinic had recently added a new pediatric waiting room, lobby, lab and front reception areas.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Talks are underway to merge the Crete and Beatrice 911 centers to save money and improve emergency response.

The discussions have been going on for two months.

According to Crete City Administrator Tom Ourada, officials began thinking of the possibility of merging with another 911 center when faced with increasing labor and equipment costs, as well as declining federal telephone excise tax revenue on local phone service.

Ourada talked to the Crete City Council Tuesday about the budget challenges, 911 center costs and what would happen to 911 emergency services in the future.

Crete officials reached out to Lincoln last year and were told that consolidating with Beatrice’s center might be an option.

The Saline County Sheriff’s Office has been invited to join the discussion.