OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Weather forecasters are warning of possible severe weather — including large hail, high winds and even tornadoes — for sections of eastern Nebraska and much of Iowa.

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, says severe thunderstorms are expected from midafternoon Wednesday in eastern Nebraska into the early hours of Thursday as they move east over Iowa and into Illinois.

Center meteorologist Ariel Cohen says the greatest risk for severe weather includes areas around Lincoln and Omaha in Nebraska and Des Moines and Waterloo in Iowa.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha police chief and Douglas County prosecutors say an officer was justified in shooting an unarmed man who reached into his waistband and then simulated bringing a gun to bear on the officer.

Dillon Trejo was hospitalized Monday afternoon after being shot by Officer Brooks Riley, a seven-year veteran.

The events began when a man robbed a convenience store and then drove about two miles away to steal a pickup truck. A subsequent chase ended when the pickup stopped and the driver — now identified as Trejo — got out to flee.

Police say Riley fired twice when Trejo turned, reached into his waistband and simulated raising a handgun and pointing it at the officer.

Chief Todd Schmaderer (SHMAH’-dur) said Tuesday that Riley acted in a reasonable manner.

SCHUYLER, Neb. (AP) — A man with a history of drunken driving has been charged with manslaughter and drunken driving in the crash death of a 15-year-old girl in Schuyler.

23-year-old Angel Lopez is accused of driving drunk during a brief police chase June 15 and then ramming into a tree in Schuyler, fatally injuring Isabella Brandt.

Online jail records say Lopez remained in custody Tuesday, pending $500,000 bail. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press. Lopez’s next court appearance is set for April 25.

Court records say Lopez was convicted of driving under the influence three months ago in Platte County and convicted of reckless driving in 2014.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police have issued an arrest warrant for a man in the fatal shooting death of another man in an apartment complex parking lot.

The warrant charges 30-year-old Antoine Johnson, of Omaha, with second-degree murder and a weapons count in the Easter death of 29-year-old Trent Stutheit.

Police say officers sent to investigate reports of gunshots found Stutheit around 8:05 p.m. Sunday. He was taken to Creighton University Medical Center, where he died.

Police said Tuesday that Johnson should be considered armed and dangerous.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 27-year-old Lincoln woman is recovering falling and accidentally stabbing herself in the abdomen with a butcher knife.

Police say the woman was walking in her kitchen while carrying the knife. Officer Katie Flood says she slipped on some water, fell and stabbed herself.

Flood says another woman in the house came to the stabbed woman’s aid when she heard her screaming.

The woman was taken to the hospital with injuries not considered to be life-threatening.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha Public Schools board has decided to keep its current superintendent on the job for another year while it resets a search for a permanent replacement.

The board voted 7-2 Monday to start hammering out a new contract to temporarily keep Superintendent Mark Evans, who had previously announced he would retire in June. The decision is a move several members say will keep the district on a steady path while they pause its superintendent search and focus on the district’s other myriad issues.

Keeping Evans on the job should make sure a leader is in place for the next school year, after the search for a new superintendent stalled out last month when all three final candidates withdrew from consideration.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a 17-month-old girl who was shot in the head at an apartment in northwest Omaha.

Police say a distraught man got into a private vehicle and took the bleeding toddler to a hospital around 3:40 p.m. Monday after the shooting at the Pine Tree Apartments.

On Tuesday police identified the girl as Ma’Laya Buie. Investigators haven’t released any information about how the shooting occurred.

OTOE, Neb. (AP) — No injuries or building damage has been reported from a tornado that touched down in southeast Nebraska.

The National Weather Service says it formed near Otoe and lasted about 10 minutes Saturday afternoon. Another funnel cloud was reported Saturday night six miles west of Stella in Richardson County.

The service also says hail as big as 2½ inches in diameter was reported in eastern Nebraska.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man wounded in an apartment complex parking lot has died at an Omaha hospital.

Police say officers sent to investigate reports of gunshots found 26-year-old Trent Stutheit around 8:05 p.m. Sunday. He was taken to Creighton University Medical Center. Police say he died there.

No arrests have been reported.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The City of Lincoln will begin a program to keep veterans or active duty military members facing felony criminal charges out of prison and to get them the support and services they need to stay out of trouble.

The Veterans Treatment Court will swear in three mentors Wednesday. The mentors, all veterans, will later be paired with participants.

Lincoln coordinator Tony Conell says the program will soon start screening potential candidates and go to the Veterans Court Committee to decide if they’re eligible.

Candidates must have to have served in combat, have a mental health diagnosis, be eligible for Veterans Administration benefits and not have a long criminal history prior to their service.

The program will be the second of its kind in Nebraska.