SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) — The dedication of a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall drew hundreds of Vietnam veterans to Freedom Park in South Sioux City.

The half-scale replica of the wall, bearing the names of more than 58,000 U.S. service members killed in the Vietnam War, was dedicated Wednesday in the northeast Nebraska city.

The newspaper says the 250-foot black granite wall is the only replica that duplicates the original design in Washington, D.C. The granite came from the same quarry in India.

The wall’s completion opens the first phase of the $4 million, 55-acre park, dedicated to those who have served and died for their country. Organizers hope to break ground this summer on a 12,000-square-foot interpretive center.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Trial has been postponed for a man charged with murder in the 2003 stabbing death of another man in Council Bluffs.

The trial for 36-year-old James Cain Harris, of Council Bluffs, has been moved to June 24. His trial had been set to begin this week.

Harris and 47-year-old Thomas Sanchez, of La Vista, Nebraska, have been charged in the stabbing death of Nelson Alvarez-Hernandez on July 31, 2003, outside a home in Council Bluffs.

The case went cold until police used DNA results to tie Sanchez to the case and arrest him in late January. He’s pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial in July.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man charged in a Lincoln stabbing death will undergo a psychiatric evaluation to see if he is fit to stand trial.

A Lancaster County District judge on Wednesday ordered the evaluation for 30-year-old LaRon Branch, a day after defense attorney Robert Kortus of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy asked for it.

Police say Branch stabbed Jarvis Long to death in Peter Pan Park on Jan. 16. Branch has been charged with second-degree murder and using a weapon to commit a felony.

Branch was arrested on Valentine’s Day, nearly a month after Long’s body was found in the park. Branch told police he stabbed Long during a fight involving three men who Branch said attacked him at the park.

(AP) — A 25-year-old southeast Nebraska man has been arrested on suspicion of shooting another man who was trying to break up a fight.

Zachary Grummert, of DeWitt, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of shooting 28-year-old Joshua Voorhees, of Beatrice.

Witnesses tell police Voorhees was shot in the stomach at around 1:20 a.m. Wednesday after stepping between Grummert and another man who were arguing at a house party.

Voorhees was taken to a Lincoln hospital, where he underwent surgery to his colon and diaphragm. He is expected to recover.

Grummert remains in the Saline County jail on suspicion of assault and a weapons count.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The Grand Island City Council has authorized $236,000 in tax-increment financing to redevelop the former Masonic Temple downtown into a multi-use high-rise.

The authorization was approved Tuesday night.

Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity says the first floor of the building will be used for retail space, including a boutique scheduled to move in next week. The second through sixth floors will be used for office or apartment space. The seventh floor will be reserved for a restaurant.

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have recorded more than 260 violations during surprise truck inspections in Norfolk.

The Nebraska State Patrol says it conducted 80 inspections Wednesday on commercial vehicles that don’t pass through highway checkpoints as part of its regular route.

Authorities say 30 vehicles were not allowed to continue on the road. Those designations can come from a variety of reasons, including bad brakes or tires. Six drivers were not allowed to continue driving because most of them lacked a commercial driver’s license.

The Nebraska State Patrol worked with the Norfolk Police Department on the inspections.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln police say a man found asleep under a 7-year-old girl’s bed was stalking the girl’s mother.

25-year-old Dangelo Madkins, a transient, was arrested after he was heard snoring under the bed around 3:30 a.m. Sunday. Madkins was charged Tuesday with stalking and making terroristic threats; he has pleaded not guilty.

Police found Madkins under the bed with a stun gun, knife, screwdriver, a key to the apartment and the woman’s work identification. Madkins and the woman know each other, and the woman told police her ID disappeared last week.

Police say Madkins told an officer that the woman gave him the key, but he denied knowing about the stun gun and could not explain why he was under the girl’s bed.

FREEHOLD, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey man who tossed his 2-year-old daughter into a creek while she was strapped into her car seat apologized Wednesday — but not for murdering the child.

Just before he was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison, Arthur Morgan III apologized to the child’s mother for the deterioration of their friendship.

Given the chance to explain his actions to Judge Anthony Mellaci Jr., Morgan complained that the media published photos that made him look inappropriately angry or happy. He also says he would not have worn designer clothing to court if he knew he would be criticized for it.

Morgan was convicted of killing Tierra Morgan-Glover by throwing her into a creek, strapped into a car seat and weighed down by a tire jack.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former state senator who used campaign money to gamble at casinos is fighting to keep her law license, but the decision is now in the hands of the Nebraska Supreme Court.

Attorneys argued Wednesday over whether former state Sen. Brenda Council should have her license suspended, or be disbarred. A court-appointed referee has recommended that Council receive a one-year license suspension plus two years of probation.

Council was sentenced to three years of criminal probation and fined $500 earlier last year after pleading guilty to a federal wire fraud charge. She also was fined $500 after pleading guilty to state misdemeanor charges related to her use of campaign money. She lost her 2012 re-election bid to Sen. Ernie Chambers.

The court heard arguments but did not take immediate action.