LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State and Lancaster County officials are at odds over payments the county receives for housing juvenile offenders at the Youth Services Center in Lincoln.

Lancaster County says the state owes more than $500,000 to the county. They also argue the state should be paying the county more each day for the young offenders.

State officials disagree and say they’re paying enough. But they also say they will negotiate a new contract with Lancaster County.

Nebraska counties must now discuss rates with state probation officials instead of the Department of Health and Human Services.

In the 2013 legislative session, Nebraska senators transferred the oversight of juvenile offenders from the state’s health and human services and gave the responsibility to probation officers and juvenile court judges.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska inmate who likely saved a guard’s life while incarcerated will not have an opportunity to argue for his release.

The State Board of Pardons voted 3-0 on Thursday to deny a commutation hearing request by Ted Parsons, an ex-Air Force officer who’s now 71. He was sentenced to life in prison for the 1986 fatal shooting of his girlfriend, Jill Garlock.

Garlock had tried to break up with him before the shooting.

Parsons was in prison for five years before several other inmates trying to escape stabbed and set a guard on fire. Parsons removed his shirt and helped put out the flames with the help of another inmate.

Thursday marked the first time Parsons asked for a commutation hearing.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a 43-year-old inmate at the Douglas County Jail in Omaha.

The county corrections department said Joseph Losteiner was found unresponsive in a single cell shortly after midnight on Friday.

Staff members announced a medical emergency and tried to resuscitate Losteiner. He was later pronounced dead at an Omaha hospital.

Losteiner was booked into the jail Thursday night on charges of theft, flight to avoid arrest, leaving the scene of an accident and other charges. He had not made an initial court appearance.

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have arrested four teenagers who are suspected of assaulting and robbing a 57-year-old man in Norfolk.

Three 18-year-old men and a 16-year-old female were charged after the Wednesday assault.

Police say the man who was attacked was hospitalized with head and face injuries, and his wallet was stolen.

Those arrested were Zackary J. Schmer, Damian L. Price and Aaron C. Wilson, all of Norfolk. All were charged with robbery, and were being held in the Madison County Jail. The 16-year-old also faces a robbery charge, and was taken to the Madison County Youth Detention Center in Madison.

Officers say they found the accuser’s wallet, driver’s license and other personal items during a search of Schmer’s home.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say they’re investigating an incident in which an officer was caught on video speeding in a non-emergency.

A man with a cellphone posted the video on YouTube after following the office to a convenience store, where the officer bought a bag of peanuts.

Police Chief Todd Schmaderer says authorities have launched an internal investigation, but he declined to comment further, saying it was a personnel matter.

Police say officers are allowed to violate traffic laws at times, but the incident in question didn’t appear to be warranted.

Authorities say they appreciate citizens reporting questionable police actions, but say they shouldn’t violate the law. The camera man, who was not identified, acknowledged that he had to speed to follow the officer.

PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska sheriff’s deputy faces a misdemeanor sexual assault charge for an alleged incident at a Papillion sports bar.

Sgt. Rick Wheeler of the Sarpy County sheriff’s office is charged with one count of third-degree sexual assault.

The Cass County attorney’s office alleges that Wheeler touched a woman in a sexual manner without her consent at Jerzes Sports Bar on Sept. 9. The sheriff’s department became aware of the incident a few days later and launched an internal investigation.

Wheeler, a 26-year veteran of the department, has pleaded not guilty to the charge. A pretrial hearing is set for Nov. 21.

Wheeler was placed paid administrative leave. His attorney declined to comment.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 21-year-old is recovering in the hospital after he was shot in the street in north Omaha.

Police say Denzell Davis told them he was walking toward a home around 8:45 p.m. on Thursday when he heard gunshots and realized he was wounded.

Authorities say Davis was able to walk into CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center for treatment. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.

Davis’ family members say they’re cooperating with the investigation. A neighbor told Omaha television station WOWT that he heard about eight gunshots.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say the “real work” will start Friday to recover the remains of four people who died when a small plane crashed into a building at a Kansas airport.

Jet fuel from the twin-engine Beechcraft King Air burned so hot after the crash Thursday morning that portions of the building at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport remained unsafe all day.

Wichita Fire Chief Ronald Blackwell says heavy equipment will arrive Friday to remove portions of the building so emergency personnel can reach the victims’ bodies. Crews are expected to be at the site for several days.

A federal investigator says the pilot reported a problem with the aircraft’s left engine soon after taking off from the airport.

Three of the dead were inside the building and the pilot was the fourth victim.

PIERCE, Neb. (AP) — A Columbus man accused of killing a Norfolk teenager in 2011 has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Twenty-four-year-old Daniel Hofmann entered the plea in Pierce County court on Thursday. He admitted to shooting his friend, 18-year-old Wesley Kuester, in April 2011. Three other charges were dropped as part of the deal.

Authorities say Hofmann shot Kuester with a shotgun while they were playing with guns after drinking.

Hofmann faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced in December.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A worker at a Tyson Foods building in Omaha was injured in an early-morning accident.

Omaha television station WOWT reports that the man was taken to the hospital after getting his hand caught in a chain at the plant around 2:45 a.m. It took crews about half an hour to extricate him.

Authorities say the man was at the CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center with critical injuries. It’s not yet clear what caused the accident.