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Pierce County crash causes 2 fatalities

A crash in Pierce County at the intersection of Highway 81 and Highway 13 has claimed the lives of two people, one of them a small child.

The crash occurred at approximately 12:45 p.m. Thursday, as a Buick Enclave attempted to turn west from Highway 81 onto Highway 13 when it was struck by a southbound semi.

The driver of the Buick was pronounced deceased on the scene. There were three small children in the vehicle as well. Two of the children were transported to Faith Regional Health Services hospital in Norfolk and the third was flown to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. One of the two children taken to Norfolk has since passed away.

The driver of the semi was transported to Norfolk as well, with non-life-threatening conditions.

Names and additional details regarding age and gender will be released following notification of next of kin.

The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating the crash.

Death penalty sought against man in Lincoln woman’s death 

Aubrey Trail

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for a Nebraska man accused of strangling a woman with an extension cord, dismembering her and dumping her remains in a field.

The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office said in a Thursday filing that 51-year-old Aubrey Trail has a history of assaultive and terrorizing criminal activity, calling the killing of Sydney Loofe exceptionally depraved.

Trail is charged with first-degree murder and unlawful disposal of human remains in the November killing of 24-year-old Loofe in Lincoln.

Trail’s former roommate, 24-year-old Bailey Boswell, faces the same charges. She’s accused of helping Trail dismember and dispose of Loofe’s remains by stuffing them in trash bags.

Loofe was reported missing a day after she went on a date with Boswell. Her remains were found Dec. 4.

Omaha water resort shut down after health inspection

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — County health inspectors have shut down an Omaha indoor water resort after discovering a myriad of problems.

Coco Key Water Resort will be closed for at least a month following the Douglas County Health Department inspection on Friday.

Problems found included loose concrete in the “lazy river” feature, a chemical imbalance in a hot tub, a missing first aid kit and lifeguard certifications, broken shower heads, sand in the bottom of a pool and malfunctioning water pumps.

The closure follows a temporary pool closure about four months ago after an earlier inspection.

General manager Mario Mandolfo says the water park, which is part of the Ramada Plaza hotel by Wyndham Omaha, will be repaired and shortcomings resolved. The hotel portion of the property remains open.

3 charged in marriage fraud case in Omaha

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted three people accused of conspiring to commit marriage fraud in a sham marriage case.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Faisal Garba-Adenkunjo, Farangis Gafarova and Jeremiah Logan are set to make their first court appearances Thursday in U.S. District Court in Omaha.

Gafarova and Logan are also charged with marriage fraud.

In court records unsealed last week, a federal prosecutor said Garba-Adenkunjo, a lawful permanent resident, spoke with Logan sometime in 2014 about marrying Gafarova so Gafarova could get a green card and stay in the U.S. once her student visa expired.

Prosecutors say Logan agreed to do it for $5,000, but ultimately was paid $2,800.

Court records show the two married on Jan. 10, 2015, in Omaha.

Colorado designates interstate as pollinator highway

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — The Colorado Department of Transportation is working to make a stretch of interstate from Denver to Nebraska friendlier for bees and butterflies.

The Greeley Tribune reports the state Legislature in May designated the stretch of Interstate 76 as the Colorado Pollinator Highway.

According to the department, this section was chosen because it runs through environmentally sensitive areas and is a key path for migratory butterflies.

Under the designation, a roadside manager will promote genetically appropriate plants for the area that are resistant to invasive species, and crews will not mow past 15 feet (4.5 meters) from the highway from April to September.

The department will also partner with groups to map roadside habitat and restore or improve those areas.

Northeast Nebraska man dies after accident in farm grain bin

CLEARWATER, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man died after a farm accident in northeast Nebraska.

Antelope County deputies and the Nebraska State Patrol were sent around 5:50 p.m. Monday to the farm, which sits about 5 miles (8 kilometers) northwest of Clearwater. The Norfolk Daily News reports that the injured man they found was taken to Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh (NEE’-lee). He died there.

Authorities say he’d been using an auger in a grain bin.

The man’s been identified as 52-year-old Robert Pokorny.

Former employee imprisoned for stealing from Platte County

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A former Platte County employee has been imprisoned for stealing from the county.

44-year-old Traci Nelsen was given four to six years. She was sentenced Wednesday in Columbus.

She’d pleaded no contest in April to two counts of theft, one of filing a false claim and one of evidence tampering. Prosecutors say more than $56,000 was taken from the county from 2014 to 2017. She was in charge of its adult diversion program.

One of the theft counts involved a theft from a Girl Scouts entity.

Lincoln doctor pleads not guilty to drug, firearms charges

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln doctor accused of using patients and employees to obtain prescription drugs for himself has pleaded not guilty.

U.S. District Court records say Dr. Jeffrey Fraser entered the pleas Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Omaha. The charges: obtaining controlled substance by fraud and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

Prosecutors say the crimes occurred from March 2014 into January this year. The records don’t show that a trial date has been set.

The 61-year-old is accused of being addicted to hydrocodone and oxycodone and possessing a revolver.

Man charged with manslaughter for crash death of passenger

STANTON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have charged a driver with manslaughter for a northeast Nebraska crash death.

Stanton County Court records say 24-year-old Tucker Lanz was charged last week and is scheduled for arraignment July 24. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call Thursday from The Associated Press.

The crash occurred the night of May 12, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) east of Stanton. Authorities say Lanz was driving east when his vehicle crossed into a ditch on the north side of the road, hit a power pole and rolled onto its top.

Lanz was injured, and his passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have identified him as 22-year-old Hunter Hetzler, who lived in Stanton.

Nebraska state park unveils new ‘glamping’ cabins

LOUISVILLE, Neb. (AP) — Visitors to an eastern Nebraska park can now enjoy camping without sacrificing the comforts of Wi-Fi, air conditioning or even Keurig K-Cups.

Nebraska Game and Parks officials are inviting visitors to turn the three new “glamping” cabins at Platte River State Park into their next getaway. Parks officials will begin taking reservations Friday for the glamorous camping alternative near Louisville costing $165 a night.

Each cabin is equipped with a queen-sized bed that can roll outside for a night under the stars. The cabins also have a bathroom and kitchen that includes a microwave and coffee machine.

Campers will have an easy time braving the elements outside with lighted sidewalks, raised fire pits and decks.

Parks Administrator Jim Swenson says the state is interested in capturing the trendy “glamping” market.

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