OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Police say a Nebraska mom who disappeared last month with her son strangled the 10-year-old boy before strangling herself in the woods of an Iowa state park.

Council Bluffs police said Monday that 41-year-old Charlotte Schilling, of Plattsmouth, Neb. and her son, Owen, both died with plastic zip ties around their necks.

The Schillings were missing from May 10 until their bodies were found May 20 in Lake Manawa State Park, south of Council Bluffs in western Iowa, about 20 miles north of Plattsmouth.

Council Bluffs police say Charlotte Schilling tried to commit suicide with a plastic zip tie in November, but a family member intervened.

Friends told investigators that Schilling’s recent behavior was consistent with someone contemplating suicide.

If you know someone showing signs of suicide please call the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-Suicide

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Six people face federal charges for allegedly smuggling cigarettes from Vietnam and unlawfully selling them in Nebraska.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Omaha says the group had more than 10,000 cigarettes shipped from Vietnam to Lincoln addresses in December and March. The prosecutor says the group sold the cigarettes, disguised as presents, and didn’t collect state or federal cigarette taxes.

An 18-count indictment against the suspects was announced Friday. The charges relate to the importation, possession, distribution and sale of untaxed cigarettes. Maximum sentences for each count range from five to 20 years.

U.S. Attorney Deb Gilg says the investigation into the smuggling ring is still under way.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An exhibition of contemporary Native American art has opened at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Great Plains Art Museum.

The exhibit includes works from 26 artists chosen from submissions by nearly 130 artists. The artwork expresses some element indigenous culture in the Great Plains.

People who attend the exhibition may participate in the “Viewer’s Choice” awards. An awards ceremony is scheduled for July 6.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are investigating a fatal construction accident at Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha.

A base spokesman told KETV-TV in Omaha that a 47-year-old man died in Thursday’s accident. He was working along the parade grounds on General’s Row at the time.

The man was a subcontractor for a project on the base. His name and details of the accident have not been released.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Five people have been hurt in a freak accident during a horse race at a Lincoln track.

Pat Borer of the Lincoln fire department told local mediathat three horses fell during a race Saturday afternoon at the Lincoln Race Course and landed in a pile. Three jockeys and two people near the pileup were injured.

The three jockeys have been taken to hospitals. Borer says their injuries don’t appear to be life threatening. The other two people were treated at the track.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln actuarial science program has been given a $500,000 gift to support outstanding teachers.

The university says the money comes from Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., of Lincoln. The company established the Ameritas Actuarial Faculty Fellowship Fund as a permanent endowment at the University of Nebraska Foundation.

The fund lets the university award one or more annual stipends to actuarial science faculty members who excel in teaching, research and creative activities.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a 12-year-old Kansas girl has been found in Michigan after her parents reported she left her home with a Canadian man she met on the Internet.

Michigan State Police Lt. T.J. Riegle says the girl and a man were stopped while driving Friday afternoon southwest of Lansing. Riegle says both are being held as police “sort things out.”

El Dorado Police Chief Tom Boren says the girl’s parents told investigators had last seen her about 2 a.m. Thursday and believed she had left her home with 20-year-old Kenneth Stewart McGill, of Ontario, Canada. They reported her missing about 12 hours later. The girl’s father had refused to comment to The Associated Press earlier Friday.

McGill previously had been reported missing and suicidal by his parents.

(Omaha, Neb.)- The Nebraska State Patrol Troop A Headquarters-Omaha in conjunction with the Omaha Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office contacted 383 drivers during a series of Omaha Metro Safety Initiatives (OMSI). The combined efforts took place on various days and times during the months of March, April & May, 2012.

A total of 102 speeding citations were issued, 20 motorists were arrested for Driving Under Suspension (DUS), two Driving While Intoxicated arrests were made and seven people were arrested on outstanding warrants. Citations and warnings were also issued for seat belt (27) and child restraint (5) violations.

Troopers and Communication Specialists with the Nebraska State Patrol participating in the special initiatives utilized overtime hours paid for thanks in part to a grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS).

Formed in 2008, OMSI involves data driven enforcement activities utilizing traffic enforcement strategies to reduce crashes while fighting crime through traffic violations and high visibility officer presence.