PONCA, Neb. (AP) — A man has pleaded guilty to setting fires in 2010 in Dixon County in northeast Nebraska.

Iowa media reports  31-year-old Ahren Ferris, of Coleridge, pleaded guilty last week to one count of second-degree arson and three counts of criminal mischief.

Sentencing is set for Aug. 27 in Dixon County District Court in Ponca.

Ferris was accused of setting fire to outdoor restrooms at Buckskin Hills Recreational Area near Newcastle and Powder Creek Recreational Area in rural Dixon County, and to hay bales and a trailer near Maskell.

HALSEY, Neb. (AP) — Firefighters are battling a wildfire that has burned more than 1,000 acres in the rugged hills of the Nebraska National Forest.

The fire that started Saturday forced the evacuation of two campgrounds. Smoke is visible from Highway 2.

Bessey District Ranger Tim Buskirk says the fire has been difficult to fight because of the terrain. Sunday’s forecast for high temperatures and wind gusts up to 30 mph could make it hard to contain the fire.

Two other fires in the area have been contained, but they remain only a few miles away. One of those fires was north of Stapleton and one was near Ringgold.

Officials believe that lightning sparked the fires.

CRETE, Neb. (AP) — Doane College officials have reinstated a fraternity that was suspended in April 2010 because of hazing allegations.

Alpha Omega was originally suspended for four years because a student was hit with a paddle during an initiation ceremony.

Doane President Jacque Carter told the local media  the fraternity successfully met requirements the university imposed for early reinstatement.

The fraternity had to submit a detailed plan for restoration and create new bylaws. Also, its alumni board promised to oversee the fraternity and provide regular reporting.

Alpha Omega will now be allowed to recruit new members in the fall.

Doane’s Alpha Omega chapter was founded in 1897 and had about 17 active members when it was suspended.

(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman has declared a state of emergency due to current drought conditions throughout the state.

 

Gov. Heineman authorized an emergency declaration for statewide drought that allows state personnel and resources to assist with emergency situations and prevention, and allows maximum flexibility to the state to deploy Nebraska National Guard and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency assets and resources as needed.

 

“This declaration is important for continued efforts of state officials to ensure the safety of Nebraskans,” Gov. Heineman said. “This action is necessary as dry conditions are presenting an imminent threat to the ability of local governments to respond to drought conditions. Additionally, actions such as haying along the roadsides in Nebraska help with drought conditions.”

 

Additionally, the Governor has directed the Nebraska Department of Roads to advance the starting date for roadside haying from July 15 to July 3 in the following 55 counties: Adams, Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Boyd, Box Butte, Brown, Chase, Cherry, Cheyenne, Custer, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Dundy, Franklin, Furnas, Frontier, Gage, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Greeley, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Holt, Hooker, Howard, Jefferson, Kearney, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Morrill, Nuckolls, Pawnee, Perkins, Phelps, Red Willow, Richardson, Rock, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sherman, Sioux, Thayer, Thomas, Valley, and Webster.

 

The Governor and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency will continue to monitor the situation throughout the state, as the drought continues.

WAHOO, Neb. (AP) — The small town of Wahoo, given national exposure by David Letterman in 1996 when he claimed the town of 4,500 as home office for “The Late Show,” is about to be in the spotlight again.

Local media reports that Wahoo is scheduled to be featured in August on “Today in America,” a nationally syndicated cable show hosted by former football star Terry Bradshaw.

The show is distributed to cable networks including The Discovery Channel and CNN. It focuses on positive stories across the country in cities and small towns.

Wahoo’s five-minute segment will be part of a half-hour program.

Mayor Jerry Johnson says a new aquatics center and public library are examples recent successes. A film crew is scheduled to spend about three days in the city.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A talent competition later this summer will help raise money for nonprofit homeless prevention agency Together Omaha.

The Nebraska’s Got Talent competition is accepting applications now from anyone who would like to be part of the show.

Contestants are asked to submit videos of their acts. Judges will review the videos and invite 120 to compete in the preliminary round at Burke High on Aug. 25.

From that group, 15 will be chosen to compete at the finals on Sept. 15, which will also be held at Burke.

The top three contestants will receive prizes and have a chance to perform at the fall home and garden show in Omaha.

The show’s promoters say $15,000 will be donated to Together Omaha if both shows sell out.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A dozen Union Pacific employees will ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday to celebrate the railroad’s 150th birthday.

The nation’s largest railroad will also celebrate at its Omaha headquarters on Monday with a bell-ringing reception for its employees.

Union Pacific is holding a number of events in 2012 to commemorate the day when President Abraham Lincoln signed the law creating the railroad on July 1, 1862.

The only problem with Monday’s celebration is that it is happening one day after the actual anniversary. Union Pacific had to adjust its plans because July 1 falls on a Sunday this year.

Union Pacific started laying rail in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and worked westward to meet the Central Pacific railroad. The transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A federal judge has rescheduled the trial for a Justice Department housing discrimination lawsuit against the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

The lawsuit alleges that university officials violated the U.S. Fair Housing Act when they denied a student the chance to keep a therapy dog in her university-owned apartment. The student says she needed the 4-pound miniature pinscher to cope with depression and anxiety.

The university bans all pets except for fish in its residence halls and apartments, unless the student has a disability that requires a service animal or works on staff. University officials are fighting the lawsuit, saying it could open the door to legions of pets and exotic animals.

The trial was moved from January to June 2013 at the federal courthouse in Lincoln.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Young athletes who sign up for youth sports programs will not have to pay sales taxes on any fees they’re charged, under a new Nebraska law taking effect Sunday.

The law sailed through the Legislature and was signed by Gov. Dave Heineman in April. That approval came after hundreds of soccer moms and baseball dads complained about a state Revenue Department proposal to tax participation in youth sports.

Department officials say they were trying to fix an inconsistency in how Nebraska’s sales tax law is enforced. The state has been taxing admissions to swimming pools, bowling tournaments and other events since the state adopted its sales tax in 1967.

Department officials argued the law should also apply to youths who pay “admission” fees to participate in sports leagues and tournaments.

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — A judge has ruled that a therapist can interpret for developmentally disabled witnesses in an upcoming trial against a former Beatrice State Developmental Center employee accused of abusing center residents.

Local media reports that the judge ruled Friday on a motion by Matthew Pangborn’s defense attorney objecting to the use of an interpreter. Prosecutors plan to use a therapist to interpret verbal and non-verbal communication by witnesses, who have difficulty speaking.

Pangborn was among five workers charged with abuse after an investigation last year at the Beatrice State Development Center. One has pleaded guilty to charges in the case, three others have pleaded no contest.

Pangborn faces a July 9 trial on 11 counts.