OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say no evidence was turned up in a search at the home of the parents of a man convicted of killing an Omaha college student. Douglas County Sheriff Tim Dunning said Thursday there had been several tips about a new patio that had been poured in the home’s backyard about the time that 19-year-old Jessica O’Grady disappeared in 2006. Her body was never found. No evidence turned up after the patio at the Omaha home of Christopher Edwards’ parents was torn up and ground beneath and around it was searched. Edwards was convicted of second-degree murder and a weapons charge in 2007. Edwards was sentenced to 100 years in prison.

BROKEN BOW, Neb. (AP) – An Ohio company is planning to build a new grain elevator in central Nebraska near Broken Bow. This new 3.8-million-bushel grain elevator will be run by The Andersons Inc. The Maumee, Ohio, company expects the elevator to be ready for the 2012 harvest. The elevator will be built along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad’s main line crossing the state. The facility will be able to load grain into either trucks or trains. Elizabeth Babcock is president of the Custer County Economic Development Corporation.  She says this will help the area’s economy and give farmers another option of where to sell their grain.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A judge has ruled that a Hickman hot dog vendor can continue to store his cart and food in his garage. According to the Lincoln Journal Star, a Lancaster County district judge has ruled in favor of Steve and Carolyn Parker, owners of Steve O’ Dogs, saying the couple didn’t violate Hickman city code by parking a hot dog cart and storing food in their garage.The couple filed a lawsuit against the city last fall after the
city notified them they were violating city code that required a permit for home-based catering business. The judge issued his ruling last Friday.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Police in Lincoln say they are investigating an assault in which a man was knocked unconscious and robbed as he took a walk. Police were called the area about 1:15 a.m. Tuesday. Police say the 25-year-old man was walking and thought he heard someone behind him. As he turned to look, he was struck in the head. Police say the man was knocked out. When he came to, he found he was missing a small amount of money. The victim was treated at the scene.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska’s fall harvest is in full swing, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture says farmers are making good progress. The USDA issued its weekly crop progress report on Monday. Nebraska’s harvest is in line with the average pace.
That means about 11 percent of the corn has been harvested. And about 20 percent of the soybean crop and 80 percent of the dry bean crop had been harvested. The USDA estimates that 73 percent of the corn crop is in good or excellent condition. That’s behind last year’s 82 percent and the average of 75 percent at this time of year. About 78 percent of the soybean crop is in good or excellent shape. That’s better than last year’s 77 percent and the average of 74 percent.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) – Authorities in Buffalo County have
identified a Niobrara man who died after he was flipped into a
treatment pool at the Kearney wastewater treatment plant.
The Buffalo County attorney’s office issued a news release
Monday, identifying the man as 75-year-old William Aschoff.
Aschoff was operating a piece of equipment Friday when it
flipped into a treatment pool at the plant.
A dive team recovered his body later in the day.
An autopsy lists the preliminary cause of death as drowning.
The investigation is continuing.