WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors say a Kansas foster father was high on marijuana when he left a 10-month-old girl in a hot car, where she died.

The details of the case surfaced during a bond hearing Friday for Seth Jackson. He’s charged with first-degree murder in the July 24 death.

Police say the girl was in the sweltering car for more than two hours in Wichita, where temperatures were 90 degrees.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett cited the marijuana use in court as the reason for raising Jackson’s bond to $250,000.

Bennett told the court Jackson had gone to his drug dealer’s house and bought marijuana. Prosecutors believe he then intended to smoke marijuana. But they have said there’s nothing to indicate the girl’s death was intentional

DENVER (AP) — Marijuana is joining roses and dahlias in blue ribbon events at the nation’s first county fair to allow pot competitions.

This weekend’s Denver County Fair includes a 21-and-over “Pot Pavilion” where winning entries for plants, bongs, edible treats and clothes made from hemp are on display.

There’s no actual weed at the fairgrounds. Instead, fairgoers will see photos of competing pot plants and marijuana-infused foods. A sign near the entry warns patrons not to consume pot at the fair.

A joint-rolling contest uses oregano, not pot. The only real stuff allowed at the event? Doritos, to be used in the munchie contest.

The fair opens Friday afternoon and runs through Sunday.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has reversed a trial judge’s ruling that he did not have jurisdiction to hear a man’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea years after he had already served his sentence.

Francisco Rodriguez, of Omaha, was sentenced in 2004 to two years’ probation for misdemeanor drug possession.

Rodriguez said he pleaded guilty only after a former trial judge advised him that he could be deported if he pleaded guilty to a felony. State law requires judges to give such warnings to those subject to deportation because of criminal convictions, but the judge’s warning deviated from the explicit language required by the state law.

The Supreme Court said Friday that the law does not require plea withdrawal motions to be filed before a defendant completes his sentence.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s U.S. senators have joined the effort to seek federal recognition for the trail the Ponca Tribe took during a forced march more than 135 years ago.

U.S. Sens. Mike Johanns and Deb Fischer introduced legislation Thursday calling on the Interior Department to determine the feasibility of creating a Chief Standing Bear National Historic Trail. The legislation is similar to a bill that Rep. Jeff Fortenberry introduced earlier this month in the House.

The route taken in 1877 runs from the Niobrara River in Nebraska to near what now is Ponca City, Oklahoma, and back the Omaha site of the 1879 trial of Chief Standing Bear. The chief and his tribe became the first Native Americans to be recognized as people under the law in the federal court decision.

PILGER, Neb. (AP) — A tornado that ripped through the small northeast Nebraska city of Pilger damaged or destroyed many of the community’s houses, but now the first new home has gone up.

After focusing most its attention on tearing down and hauling away damaged structures, Pilger residents were relieved to see the first new home since the June 16 tornado.

The house is owned by Pilger Village clerk treasurer Kimberly Neiman and her husband.

She says the home shows “something positive going on. Not anything negative. Not destruction.”

Neiman says other homes will be going up soon.

She notes her new home will have an above-ground storm shelter.

The Neimans plan to move into their home in a couple weeks.

ALLEN, Neb. (AP) — A crop-duster pilot has been injured when his helicopter crashed in a field in northeast Nebraska.

The helicopter commissioned by Crop Production Services of South Sioux City crashed Thursday afternoon near Allen, in Dixon County.

Tom McBride, a sales representative for the company, says the pilot was able to walk away from the crash.

The Dixon County Sheriff’s Office says the pilot was taken by ambulance to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. His name wasn’t released.

Marty Vohs, a manager with Crop Production Services, says it appears the helicopter clipped power lines.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska county attorney says a teenager has been charged with tampering in connection with a fatal game of Russian roulette.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine on Thursday provided new details about the Sunday shooting in Omaha. He says 19-year-old Joseph Merolla died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Kleine says Merolla died on the first turn of the game. He says two of Merolla’s friends saw the shooting and a third was in another room. Klein was found dead on the kitchen floor.

Kleine says 18-year-old Erik Valencia took the gun and left the apartment. He has been charged with tampering with physical evidence, a felony offense.

Valencia was released from jail Thursday after posting bond. It wasn’t immediately clear if he has an attorney.