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Judge Officiates Wyoming Man’s Wedding, Then Sentences Him

gavel-moreCODY, Wyo. (AP) — A Wyoming man’s “I do” wasn’t followed by a kiss, cake or honeymoon but a prison sentence for an August crime spree.

25-year-old Israel Silva wore an orange jail jumpsuit and shackles when District Judge Steven Cranfill wed him and his 19-year-old bride in a Cody courtroom last week. The bride stayed 15 feet away from Silva to comply with the jail’s “no contact” rules.

Right after, Cranfill sentenced Silva to six to 10 years in prison for a drunken crime spree in which he stole two pickup trucks, crashed one, fired shots at other vehicles and led police on a chase that reached speeds of up to 110 mph.

Silva is disputing the county attorney’s arguments that he owes nearly $46,000 in restitution.

Omaha Zoo Announces Names of 3 African Lion Cubs

henry-doorly-zooOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium has announced the names of its three African lion cubs.

The Omaha zoo says the two males will be named Kayode and Shango. Kimani will be the name of the female cub.

Zookeepers selected the names, which are of Western and Central African origin, out of more than 1,800 entries submitted online.

The cubs were born on Nov. 21 and are on display with their mother, Ahadi, in the Cat Complex. Their father, Mr. Big, is in a separate display.

The cubs are the first born at the zoo since 2012. Each cub weighed 30 pounds as of last week.

Columbus ‘Big Give’ to Be Open to All Local Charity Nonprofits

CASH_MONEYCOLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — The organizers of Columbus Big Give have decided that all charitable nonprofits will be eligible to share the proceeds from the 24 hours of giving.

Last year only the 17 members of the Columbus Area Philanthropy Council were eligible for the first Big Give. But the council has decided there will be no such limits for this year’s event, in May.

Last year’s Big Give raised more than $23,000 through “giving stations” around Columbus and online and mail-in donations.

Participating nonprofits will be able to raise money for specific projects and receive training and joint marketing support in advance of the event.

Seward County Traffic Stops Leads to Seizure of 50 Pounds of Pot

POT-BUSTA traffic stop for speeding on Interstate 80 in Seward County led to the seizure of 50 lbs. of marijuana and one arrest.

Just after 2:30 p.m. on Monday, February 16, a trooper stopped a 2015 Hyundai Elantra for speeding eastbound on I-80 near the Utica exit (mm366) in Seward County. The trooper was given consent to search the vehicle. The search led to the seizure of 50 lbs., of marijuana. The marijuana was located in luggage in the backseat and trunk of the vehicle.

The driver and lone occupant of the vehicle, Ian G. Gyori, 37, Glennallen, Alaska, was lodged in the Seward County Jail on a charge of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Deliver.

Nikko Jenkins Due in Court Tuesday

Nikko Jenkins
Nikko Jenkins

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha man convicted of first-degree murder in four 2013 shootings that occurred shortly after he was released from prison is expected back in court Tuesday.

Nikko Jenkins was convicted last year after he pleaded no contest to the charges, but his sentencing has been on hold because of questions about his mental competency.

Douglas County District Judge Peter Bataillon is expected to receive a report from the state’s psychiatrists on whether Jenkins is competent enough for sentencing.

A three-judge panel will determine whether the 28-year-old receives the death penalty.

Bataillon may also address some of the hand-written motions Jenkins has filed from prison. Jenkins has asked to have a new lawyer appointed, and he wants certain police officers subpoenaed for his sentencing hearing.

Nebraska Teen Injured in Crash on Snowy Kansas Highway

kansas-highway-patrolHOLTON, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a 16-year-old girl was hospitalized after her car crashed on a snow-packed highway in northeastern Kansas.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says the 16-year-old girl from Bellevue, Nebraska, on Sunday night was traveling north on U.S. 75 near Holton when she lost control of her vehicle and it landed in a ditch.

The teen was wearing a seat belt and was taken to Holton Community Hospital for treatment of her injuries. Her condition wasn’t immediately known Monday morning.

Troopers say there were no passengers in her vehicle.

Police Release Name of Man Found Dead in Fremont

police-lights-redFREMONT, Neb. (AP) — Fremont police have released the name of a man whose body was found in a street.

The 52-year-old man identified as Dennis Charron, of Fremont. His body was found around 7:30 a.m. Sunday near 8th and Broad streets.

Police say the circumstances of Charron’s death are suspicious and an investigation is continuing. An autopsy has been scheduled.

Police also say there’s no indication that the public’s safety has been put at risk by the circumstances of Charron’s death.

UNL Lecture to Focus on Creative Learning for Children

UNLLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An expert on education and creative learning is set to set to speak about nurturing curiosity in children in a lecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Milton Chen will present “Creativity, Curiosity and Learning” at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Chen’s career has spanned four decades at the intersection of pre-K-12 education, media and technology.

Chen will talk about successful schools and afterschool programs that emphasize creative learning through projects, the visual and performing arts, and experiences in authentic places such as the national parks.

Chen is senior fellow and executive director emeritus at the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit operating foundation in the San Francisco Bay area.

His remarks are part of the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues.

Bellevue Police Seek Man Who Hit Mom Twice with SUV

bellevue-police-patchBELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Police are searching for a 32-year-old man who they say twice struck his mother with an SUV in an attempt to evade an officer.

A Bellevue police spokeswoman says an officer on Saturday afternoon spoke briefly with Anthony M. Flud’s mother outside a home.

Flud was sought on felony arrest warrants after being charged in late December with operating a vehicle to avoid arrest and felony theft.

The spokesman says that while the officer and the mother were talking, Flud was inside a vehicle and hit his mother in the driveway. Flud struck his mother a second time and the officer’s patrol car before driving away.

Police followed Flud’s vehicle but called it off for safety reasons.

Flud’s mother was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Nebraska District Buys Flood-Prone Land Along Missouri River

missouri-river-omahaBELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — The last round of buyouts has been completed of flood-prone property at a development along the Missouri River south of Bellevue.

The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District board last week approved the buyouts at Iske Place. The secluded riverside community sits just south of where Papillion Creek empties into the river, north of the mouth of the Platte River.

The properties targeted for buyout were on the river side of a levee. Authorities sought to get residents out of the floodway to reduce the cost of evacuation and cleanup when the river floods again. The combined purchase price for all 25 lots on the 35-acre property amounts to roughly $1.5 million. Three-quarters of that is being covered by the federal government.

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