LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a Nebraska leader has been killed in a hit-and-run near his Hickman home.

The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office says 62-year-old Gregory Nicklas was killed Thursday night as he walked his dog.

Nicklas’ wife found her husband badly injured near the end of their driveway. He died at the scene.

Sheriff Terry Wagner said authorities need help from the public to find a suspect or suspects in the case.

Nicklas was the co-founder and co-CEO of Christian Heritage, a group that cares for abused and neglected children in the state.

HUMBOLDT, Neb. (AP) — State officials have issued a health alert at a recreation area in Richardson County.

The state Department of Health and Human Services said in a news release Friday that the alert is for toxic blue-green algae at Kirkman’s Cove Recreation Area.

Samples taken earlier this week at Kirkman’s Cove were above the state’s threshold.

Officials say the alert will continue at the lake for at least two more weeks because testing will require two consecutive weeks.

The alert means designated swimming beaches are closed. Recreational boating and fishing, as well as camping and other outdoor activities, are still permitted.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lancaster county authorities have confirmed an altercation between deputies and a man at a home in southeast Lincoln.

Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner said deputies were serving a notice to the man Friday to vacate the premises. He says deputies kicked in the door.

A locksmith present during the incident tells the newspaper that gunfire was exchanged during the incident.

A message left Friday for the sheriff’s office has not been returned.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 31-year-old Lincoln man accused of stabbing his estranged wife more than a dozen times in November has pleaded no contest to several felony charges.

Robert Haggan is set to be sentenced June 30. He pleaded no contest Tuesday to first-degree assault, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, violation of a protection order and third-degree domestic assault.

The assault and weapons charges each carry penalties of up to 50 years in prison.

Authorities say that on Nov. 23, Haggan showed up at his wife’s home with a bat and a knife after she filed for divorce. Police say he kicked in the door and stabbed her 14 times in her neck, shoulder, arm and torso. She survived the attack.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln woman who rear-ended a Lincoln police car last year while drunk has been sentenced to 180 days in jail and her driver’s license revoked for 15 years.

35-year-old Calli Lounsbury was sentenced Thursday after pleading no contest to third-offense drunken driving.

Prosecutors say that around 2:30 a.m. on June 3, Lounsbury ran into the back of Officer Cole Jennings’ squad car as it was stopped at a red light.

Jennings took Lounsbury’s license and told her wait until another officer arrived, but prosecutors say after waiting about five minutes, Lounsbury backed up and drove off.

She was later stopped and arrested. Her blood alcohol level tested at more than twice the legal limit to drive.

WATERLOO, Neb. (AP) — A motorcyclist has died in a head-on crash with a pickup just west of Omaha.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened near 240th and Pacific Streets, just south of Waterloo, around 12:20 a.m. Friday.

Investigators say the truck was headed south on 240th Street when it crossed the center line, hitting the motorcycle head-on.

Deputies say the motorcyclist was killed instantly. Authorities have not yet released his name.

Officials say the truck driver was now hurt, but was taken to a hospital for evaluation and for tests to determine whether he was intoxicated.

PIERCE, Neb. (AP) — A 23-year-old Nebraska man has pleaded not guilty to four charges related to a fatal 2011 shooting.

Daniel Hofmann of Columbus entered his pleas Thursday in Pierce County District Court.

Hofmann is charged with manslaughter, making terroristic threats, using a weapon and tampering with evidence in the death of 18-year-old Wesley Kuester of Norfolk.

Kuester was shot with a shotgun in April 2011 while visiting friends in Pierce.

Prosecutors say Kuester and Hofmann were the only ones in the apartment at the time of the shooting, and it would have been physically impossible for Kuester to shoot himself.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man has been given three life terms for the drug-related shooting deaths of an Omaha man and his two sons.

Timothy Britt received the sentence Thursday. He also got 105 to 120 years in prison on gun charges.

A jury convicted Britt in April of three counts of first-degree murder in connection to the July 2012 deaths of 44-year-old Miguel Avalos, 18-year-old Miguel Avalos Jr. and 16-year-old Jose Avalos.

Another man, Anthony Davis, was found guilty of similar charges in March. He was sentenced to three life terms.

Witnesses testified during Davis’ trial that the men went to the Avalos home to steal drugs and money.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire that further damaged a vacant house in north Omaha.

The Omaha Fire Department says crews dispatched to the single-family home Wednesday morning and found the property in flames. It was under control a short time later.

The house already had damage from a fire two years ago. Authorities say the structure is unsecure and a hazardous environment for future fires.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities are attempting to locate surveillance video from a neighboring residence for more information.