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Christmas in the Woods set at Ponca State Park

PONCA, Neb. (AP) — People are invited to celebrate the holiday season at Ponca State Park and enjoy the activities of Christmas in the Woods.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says the events present chances for families to do seasonal crafts, get family photos taken, decorate cookies or cupcakes, attend outdoor programs or ride on a decorated and lighted hayrack. Also, a Snowman Building Contest will be held from Nov. 25 through March 19.

The Christmas in the Woods events are scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 2, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16.

Contact the park for more information about activities or discount lodging packages at 402-755-2284. The park sits about a mile north of Ponca in northeast Nebraska’s Dixon County.

Remains turned over to Ponca Tribe for burial

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Remains found in northeast and eastern Nebraska have been turned over to the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska for burial on the tribe’s ancestral homeland along the lower Niobrara River.

Some of the human remains given to tribal representatives Wednesday were found nearly 60 years ago by workers building a railroad bridge in Knox County. Others were found in Platte County, and others in Butler County.

The return of the Ponca remains is part of a repatriation process begun in 1990, when the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act became federal law. The Nebraska State Historical Society consequently inventoried all the human remains in its custody. If archaeologists could determine which tribe they came from, they were to be given to the tribe.

Small plane lands OK after bird smashes through windshield

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a small plane landed safety at the Lincoln Airport after a bird smashed through its cockpit windshield.

The plane was flying from Plattsmouth to Lincoln on Tuesday evening when the bird struck it about 10 miles (17 kilometers) from Lincoln.

Lincoln Airport deputy operations director Bob McNally says such an incident is virtually unheard of for Lincoln. McNally said the airport follows a wildlife management plan to deal with birds near the airport, but it can’t easily account for birds so far away.

It’s unclear whether the two people aboard the plane were injured.

4 arrested after bank robbery in eastern Nebraska

MALMO, Neb. (AP) — Four people have been arrested on suspicion of robbing a bank in eastern Nebraska.

The robbery of Security Home Bank in Malmo occurred around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Two suspects were soon arrested, and two more were arrested after a high-speed chase that ended in western Omaha.

No injuries have been reported. None of the suspects have been identified.

Feds say Nebraska man owes more than $301K in back taxes

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have indicted a northeast Nebraska man for not paying nearly $302,000 in income taxes.

U.S. District Court records say 62-year-old Daniel Kinnison (VUR’-dih-gree), is charged with tax evasion. A phone listed for him in Verdigre (VUR’-dih-gree) rang busy during several calls Thursday. His attorney didn’t immediately return messages from The Associated Press.

Indictment documents say Kinnison didn’t pay a large part of the income taxes due for 2002 through 2005. The documents say he directed his income from two companies into a relative’s business and bank accounts as a way to conceal that income. The documents also say Kinnison lied to IRS agents on Feb. 23, 2016, when he told them he had no employment income from 2009 to that date.

His next court date is Dec. 11.

Man gets 2 years for trying to pay off brother’s accuser

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 37-year-old man has been imprisoned for trying to bribe a woman who accused his brother of sexual assault in Lincoln.

Ivan Leon was sentenced Wednesday to two years. He’d pleaded no contest to tampering with a witness.

Court records say the woman reported in April that Leon’s brother, Edmundo Vera, had assaulted her. Police arrested Vera on June 27. Officers arrested Leon the same day, saying he’d told the woman he’d pay her $1,000 to call police and drop her allegations.

Vera remained in Lancaster County Jail on Thursday, awaiting trial. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call Thursday from The Associated Press.

8 hunters facing penalties for deer hunting violations

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska authorities say eight hunters from Louisiana have been cited for several deer hunting violations.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said in a news release Wednesday that the eight were cited earlier this month for illegal activities in southeast Nebraska’s Gage and Jefferson counties. The violations included hunting without permits, killing too many deer and borrowing deer hunting permits.

The commission says the carcasses of 12 illegally taken deer were seized and says penalties will exceed $13,000.

Woman says she can’t get back her car: It’s evidence

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln woman has been trying to get back her car from Lancaster County prosecutors, who say they can’t let it go.

Dorris Harris said her car was involved in a hit-and-run that cost a man his leg. She had nothing to do with the crime and has cooperated with prosecutors.

County Attorney Joe Kelly says the evidence has to stay in police custody until defense attorneys say otherwise. He says it’s unfortunate when an innocent person is caught in the middle of the judicial process, but one of the suspects involved is still being sought. Kelly says that’s delayed the release of Harris’ car.

The vehicle still sits in an impound lot, running up a $12-a-day storage fee, which will be paid by taxpayers.

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5 plead not guilty to bank robbery conspiracy charge

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Five people have pleaded not guilty to charges that they conspired to rob banks in Lincoln.

The five entered their pleas to conspiracy counts Monday in U.S. District Court in Lincoln. Four of the five also pleaded not guilty to bank robbery. Only 21-year-old Crystal Stabler was not charged with robbery.

Prosecutors identified the four others as 22-year-old Israel Holmes, 23-year-old Julian Huffman, 22-year-old Kaylene Stabler and 21-year-old Kiana Stabler.

Court records say seven banks were robbed of a total of more than $49,000 from May through October. Prosecutors say pepper spray was used on bank employees in at least two of the robberies and the robbers also used realistic-looking BB guns to menace the employees.

Gym peeper gets 18 months in jail, 5 years of probation

Jade Hawklin

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man accused of spying on nude women at a Lincoln fitness gym and making videos has been sent to jail.

Court records say 29-year-old Jade Hawklen was sentenced Monday to 18 months behind bars and was given five years of probation. He’d pleaded no contest to three counts of unlawful intrusion and one of attempted unlawful intrusion.

Hawklen told police he used to work at the gym and used a key he’d acquired to access a room that contained a light therapy machine.

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