KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) – A 48-year- old Kearney man has been sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl. The Hub of Kearney reports that Joseph Partridge was sentenced Monday in Buffalo County District Court. Partridge was originally charged with one count of first-degree sexual assault of a child. In an deal with prosecutors, Partridge pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of third-degree sexual assault of a child. Authorities say the abuse happened in 2009. Partridge must register with the Nebraska State Patrol as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

DENVER (AP) – Health officials have issued a warning for Rocky Ford cantaloupes from Colorado amid a bacteria outbreak blamed for four deaths in the state and New Mexico. The warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came after 16 cases of a strain of Listeria were reported in five states, including 11 from Colorado, two from Texas, and one each from Indiana, Nebraska and Oklahoma. The agency said it was the first Listeria outbreak linked to cantaloupe in the United States. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration said it had not recalled the melons while it worked to locate the source. Several grocery stores in the Rocky Mountain region have voluntarily pulled Rocky Ford cantaloupes. The cantaloupes are grown about 130 mile southeast of Denver and are known for their high sugar content.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska utilities say the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed new restrictions on coal plant pollution could force millions of dollars of upgrades and higher electric rates. The rules the EPA announced in July would go into effect in Nebraska and 26 other states next year. They are designed to reduce smokestack pollution that causes smog and soot in downwind states.  Nebraska utility officials tell the Lincoln Journal Star they were surprised by how stringent the proposals were. Several of Nebraska’s bigger utilities have asked state Attorney General Jon Bruning to look into filing a lawsuit to delay the rules. Hastings Utilities manager Marvin Schultes says it’s not possible to comply with these rules by January. Omaha Public Power District spokesman Mike Jones says these rules could be very expensive.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Several top University of Nebraska administrators are receiving larger raises than usual this year through the university’s non- profit fundraising arm. Budget documents show University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken will receive a 12 percent raise. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman’s pay will increase by 9 percent. University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor Harold Maurer will see a 13 percent raise. The raises come are part of the privately financed “executive salary equity” approved by the university’s Board of Regents to keep its schools competitive against other universities. But it also coincides with recent tuition increases. Milliken will receive nearly $411,400 from both public and private sources. By contrast, University of Iowa President Sally Mason’s annual salary was increased this year to $483,600.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman is promoting a new program that encourages healthy food choices and physical activity among students. Heineman pitched the program Monday as important to both school children and Nebraska dairy farmers. The “Fuel Up to Play 60” program seeks to raise awareness of healthy food choices, and encourages physical activity for at least 60 minutes a day. Participating schools can apply for funding for taste-testing healthy foods to add to lunch menus, and the purchase of physical activity equipment. Nearly 1,000 Nebraska schools have signed up so far, and $57,700 has been awarded. Heineman is the nation’s first governor to pledge support for the program. He made the announcement alongside Nebraska’s chief medical officer, Dr. Joann Schaefer, and other state representatives.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – The Nebraska Democratic Party alleges in a complaint that Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jon Bruning failed to disclose his ownership interest in a $675,000 vacation home. Party officials filed the complaint Monday. The complaint alleges that Bruning, the state attorney general, failed to disclose the shared home near Ashland in his 2008, 2009 and 2010 financial interest statements.  One provision cited in the complaint includes an exception for real estate owned by businesses. Bruning and two businessmen bought the home through a limited liability corporation, which was disclosed in another part of the forms. Democratic officials say that isn’t enough to comply. Bruning campaign manager Trent Fellers said Democratic officials are trying to divert attention from U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson’s support of the controversial federal health care law.

CHADRON, Neb. (AP) – Dawes County commissioners have approved a contract to provide police coverage to the town of Crawford. The commissioners had approved the concept already. The contract goes to the Crawford City Council, which is expected to vote on it on Tuesday. Dawes County Sheriff Karl Dailey and some Crawford residents had submitted the original proposal to the commission. The four-year agreement will cost the city a base price of nearly $228,000 a year. It can be renewed by mutual agreement or terminated by either side with six months’ notice. Under the contract, three deputies would be stationed in Crawford. The city would be their main duty, but they would be available to answer calls elsewhere in the Panhandle county.

GERING, Neb. (AP) – A 24-year-old Gering man accused of sexting a 14-year-old girl will stand trial on three felony charges in the case. Scottbluff radio station KNEB reports that Michael Hof was bound over Wednesday for trial in Scotts Bluff County District Court. He faces three felony counts: visual depiction of sexual contact, possession of child pornography and enticement by electronic device. Court documents say police were contacted by the girl’s mother. The girl told investigators that sexting had occurred, but said she had erased the messages on her phone. Police then obtained search warrants for Hof’s phones and say they found incriminating text messages to the girl. Hof is being held on $300,000 bail. Hof’s public defender was in court Thursday and did not immediately return a message left for him.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A new state audit alleges that Nebraska’s effort to privatize child welfare services has increased costs by 27 percent over the last two years and led to millions of dollars in overpayments to one service provider.  Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley told a legislative panel Wednesday that the Department of Health and Human Services failed to publicly bid multi-million dollar contracts with private service providers, and spent thousands of dollars on duplicate claims and payments to the wrong contractors. Foley called the agency’s lack of cooperation with his auditors “among the worst ever encountered in my office.” Kerry Winterer, the department’s CEO, says agency officials “strongly and fundamentally disagree” with the findings. He disputes claims that the service provider was overpaid, and says the agency cooperated with auditors.

SCOTTBLUFF, Neb. (AP) – Financial incentives have been approved by the City Council to lure a food processing facility to Scottsbluff.  Scottsbluff radio station KNEB reports the incentives for KYS Foods includes $110,000 in grant funds and $250,000 for a low-interest loan that would help the company buy equipment. Redevelopment officials say the $4.2 million plant would provide 22 new jobs to the area. The Scottsbluff site is one of two location finalists for the plant. A decision could be announced by the end of the month.