LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Police in Lincoln, Nebraska, are investigating an assault on a Muslim woman as a possible hate crime.

Police tell the Lincoln Journal Star that the 18-year-old victim was walking Wednesday night in west Lincoln when two white men approached her, made derogatory comments and threats and then knocked her to the ground and kicked her. Police say the woman suffered bruises and cuts to her forearms and both sides of her face. No arrests had been reported by Thursday afternoon.

Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said the attackers’ threats and comments led police to open a hate crime investigation in the assault. Bliemeister said his agency “will not tolerate hate crimes.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the attackers.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A group formed to recall Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert (STAH’-thurt) has halted its efforts.

The Coalition to Recall Stothert says on its Facebook page that the effort “isn’t possible with little funding and not enough volunteers.” Eric Scott had filed the paperwork to obtain recall petitions, and he says it was “too much to take on for a group of citizens with no political experience.”

Organizers had said last month that they were getting support from people angry about potholes, city trash contract changes and Stothert’s interactions with critics.

The mayor said in her written response to the recall filing that Omaha is “safe, economically strong and well-managed.”

The Republican was first elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2017.

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) – A former Hastings teacher accused of having sex with a teenage student and providing her alcohol has pleaded not guilty.

Adams County Court records say 23-year-old Tyler Hedlund filed the plea Wednesday to a charge of intentional child abuse. A trial date has not been set.

The records say Hedlund had sex with the 16-year-old girl several times at his Hastings home and that he gave her alcohol there and bought alcoholic beverages for her and three of her friends.

Hedlund had been teaching and coaching football at Hastings St. Cecilia.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A jury has found a 30-year-old man guilty of first-degree murder and two weapons crimes in Omaha.

Douglas County District Court records say the jury returned the verdict Tuesday against Forrest Cox III. Prosecutors say 25-year-old Laron Rogers was shot on March 6, 2017, during a marijuana deal outside a convenience store.

Cox’s is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 8 to life in prison.

WISNER, Neb. (AP) – A northeast Nebraska police chief has resigned after questions were raised about what he said were years of service in the U.S. Marines.

The Wisner City Council voted Monday night to accept the resignation of Jeffery Treu.

The Norfolk Daily News reports that a Howard County sheriff’s deputy, a U.S. Navy veteran, had requested information about Treu from the National Personnel Records Center. A letter in response says the center is “unable to locate any information that would help us verify the veteran’s military service.”

Efforts by The Associated Press to reach Treu on Wednesday were unsuccessful.

A retired U.S. Army soldier, Shannon Falk, says he talked to Treu and asked him directly whether he’d ever served in the military. Falk says Treu acknowledged that he had not.

STELLA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say two tornado sightings have been reported in southeast Nebraska.

The National Weather Service says the first report came in a little before 7:45 p.m. Tuesday. The report says the tornado was spotted about a mile south-southwest of Dawson. The second report was received a little before 8:10 p.m. It says a twister was seen about a mile north of Stella.

It’s unclear whether the sightings were of the same tornado or were of two formations from the same storm moving north-northeast.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The weather service also reported 1-inch hail about 5 miles east-southeast of Auburn.

MEAD, Neb. (AP) – Eastern Nebraska officials have identified a woman killed in a crash Monday in Saunders County.

The Saunders County Sheriff’s Office says 48-year-old Johanna Benting, of Fremont, died in the crash on Highway 92 between Mead and Wahoo.

Officials say the crash occurred just before 7 a.m. Monday when Benting’s car crossed the center line and collided with a cement truck. Benting died at the scene. The 79-year-old truck driver from Wahoo was taken to a hospital, treated for minor injuries and released.