EMERSON, Neb. (AP) — Northeastern Nebraska authorities have identified human remains found in rural Dakota County as those of a 41-year-old man.

The Dakota County Attorney’s office on Thursday identified the man as Kraig Kubik, of Emerson.

Authorities found parts of Kubik’s body at a trailer home near Emerson on Wednesday afternoon, and officials have determined that Kubik is dead. Officials have not said how they believed he died, but have begun a homicide investigation. Investigators continued Thursday to search for Kubik’s other remains.

Authorities say people are being questioned, but no one had been charged by Thursday afternoon.

Authorities say Kubik was last seen Tuesday night at his home. Investigators believe an altercation took place there, and he was forcibly taken from the residence.

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — A 37-year-old Diller man has pleaded no contest to an amended charge in the abuse case of a Beatrice State Developmental Center resident.

Shawn Ebeling entered the plea Thursday to a misdemeanor charge of attempted abuse of a vulnerable adult. In exchange, prosecutors dropped a more serious felony charge.

Ebeling faces up to a year in jail when he’s sentenced Jan. 5.

Another employee of the center reported that Ebeling punched a patient on Aug. 24, and then manhandled the patient until the patient’s face struck the handle of a fuse box. Ebeling told investigators he got upset when the resident tried to bite him and he pushed “a little too hard.”

The facility houses and treats disabled residents.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man who helped another man rob a 76-year-old woman at Omaha’s St. Cecilia Cathedral has been given six to eight years in prison.

Online court records say 21-year-old Larry Leggett was sentenced Wednesday. He’d pleaded no contest to robbery. The judge credited him with 439 days already served.

Surveillance video of the Aug. 16, 2015, crime shows the woman was reading the parish newsletter at the cathedral entrance when two men approached her. One stole her purse and the other punched her in the head, causing the woman to hit her head against the side of a table as she fell.

Leggett’s accomplice, 24-year-old Wayman Clark, last month was sentenced to 10 to 12 years in prison for robbery and assault.

RAYMOND, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln firefighter has been injured while battling a house fire near nearby Raymond.

Authorities say Raymond Fire & Rescue requested aid from the Lincoln, Malcolm and Air National Guard fire departments early Thursday. The home’s occupants fled to safety before firefighters arrived, but some family pets died in the blaze. The fire cause is being investigated.

The injured firefighter was taken to a hospital. Lincoln Battalion Chief Jeremy Gegg says the firefighter’s injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening.

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — Two southeast Nebraska public power districts are discussing a merger.

Officials with Norris Public Power District and Seward County Public Power District have each approved a memorandum of understanding on their intent to merge.

Norris Public Power District Manager Bruce Vitosh (VIT-awsh) says the discussions began when Seward County Public Power District contacted Norris about the possibility of a merger.

Norris Public Power District has about 18,900 customers and 76 employees in Gage, Jefferson, Lancaster, Saline and Thayer Counties. Seward County Public Power serves 4,900 customers and has 17 employees.

Vitosh says the planned effective date for the merger is May 1. The boards of both utilities and the Nebraska Power Review Board would have to approve the merger.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The bus system that serves Omaha and neighboring Council Bluffs, Iowa, will be giving free rides to the polls next week.

Metro Transit is offering free rides Tuesday on Election Day.

In a news release Wednesday, the transportation company said bus passengers can get a ride to their polling place, free of charge, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Officials recommend passengers research the location of their polling place before their trip.

The Nebraska State Patrol, in conjunction with the Dakota and Dixon County Sheriff’s Offices and the Dakota County Attorney, are
investigating a suspicious death near Emerson.

At approximately 10: 30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 2, investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol responded to a location at 2605 Highway 35 near Emerson at the request of the Dakota County Sheriff’s office regarding a report of a possible death.

The investigation continues, no additional information is available at this time.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha City Council has approved several new regulations for food trucks.

Council members approved Mayor Jean Stothert’s (STAH’-thurt’s) package at Tuesday’s council meeting. They take effect Nov. 16.

The new rules say trucks may be operated until 2:30 a.m. each day. They can’t be parked nearer than 50 feet from a restaurant and can’t be parked on private property unless the property owner approves.

The truck operators will have to pay an annual licensing fee of $100, plus an additional $100 if they operate downtown.

Earlier this year the council rejected an ordinance that would have imposed the city’s restaurant tax on the truck operators.

PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha-area woman has been accused of using a belt to choke and beat her children.

Mattice Mayo was charged Tuesday with five counts of child abuse. Sarpy County Jail records say the 30-year-old Mayo remained in custody Wednesday, pending $25,000 bail. Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment on Mayo’s behalf.

Mayo’s next court date in Sarpy County Court in Papillion (puh-PIHL’-yuhn) is set for Nov. 22.

The five children — all under the age of 12 — have been removed from their home in La Vista.

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — A new trial date has been granted a Norfolk woman accused of causing her daughter’s death.

Online court records say a judge approved 22-year-old Carla Montoya’s request on Monday. Earlier trial dates had been set in July and September. The trial’s now scheduled to begin Jan. 10 in Madison County District Court.

Court documents say Montoya told Norfolk investigators that she had tossed her 4-year-old daughter, Caylee, into a bed three times on March 12. Montoya said she thought her daughter may have hit her head on the bed frame or a wall.

Montoya’s pleaded not guilty to intentional child abuse resulting in death.