OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A report says that nearly $4 billion would have been part of the regional economy in 2012 if racial gaps in income, employment and education were closed in the Omaha area.

The Metropolitan Area Planning Agency released its “Heartland 2050 Equitable Growth Profile” on Tuesday. It says minorities, which help drive Omaha’s population growth, are less likely to have high school degrees and skills needed for the modern workforce.

The report offered several suggestions to decrease the disparities between races. Among the recommendations were for the city to provide more job training programs and invest in public infrastructure to create jobs.

MAPA’s executive director says the costs of inequity will increase unless the racial gaps are closed.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln coalition of civic and school leaders is being formed to address several student suicides in recent weeks.

Five teenagers have committed suicide so far this year, with three in the past three weeks.

On Monday, a 14-year-old student attempted suicide by jumping from a downtown building. A Lincoln police officer says he suffered several broken bones and is in critical condition.

The superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools says the deaths are a community problem and announced the creation of the coalition Tuesday. He wants to gather teachers, law enforcement officials, mental health leaders and families to talk about the issue and look for solutions.

The district also asked parents with children in middle and high school to talk to their children about suicide.

A Tuesday, Dec. 2, crash between a semi and a pickup injured a Thurston County Sheriff’s Deputy. The crash occurred at the crest of a hill on Highway 94 about three miles east of Pender in Thurston County.

Around 4:15 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2, the semi was crossing Highway 94 from a county road, when a 2013 Ford pickup driven by a Thurston County Sheriff’s Deputy crested the hill. The deputy attempted to avoid the crash but was unable to and the pickup struck the rear of the semi.

Deputy Nicholas Carlson, 23, of Emerson, suffered a leg injury and was transported to Mercy Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa. The driver of the semi, Zachery Tietz, 25, Bancroft, was not injured.

The accident remains under investigation.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska woman has been sentenced to 50 to 70 years in prison for fatally shooting a woman in the chest at a house party while high on methamphetamine.

31-year-old LaToya Ross was sentenced Tuesday for killing 41-year-old Dawn Truman at an Omaha house party in December 2013. Authorities say Ross accused Truman of being a “snitch” and that the bullet pierced her heart. Truman died at the scene.

Ross confessed to the killing once she was sober. She pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of second-degree murder in a deal with prosecutors.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after authorities found methamphetamine, money and an assault rifle in his car.

Thirty-nine-year-old Pablo Rodriguez was sentenced Tuesday for possessing meth with intent to deliver and for possessing a firearm during drug-trafficking.

An area drug task force arrested Rodriguez after spotting his car leave a home it was watching. Officers stopped Rodriguez for failing to use a turn signal and found the drugs and an AR-15 assault rifle in the car.

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A Columbus city council member thinks the city won’t be getting enough money from the state for highway maintenance.

Terry Reardon raised his objection at Monday night’s council meeting during a discussion of the newest agreement with the Nebraska Roads Department. Under the annual agreement, the city is paid to seal cracks, fix potholes and do other work along U.S. Highways 81 and 30 in Columbus.

The city will receive a total nearly $38,500 for those services next year, an amount that Reardon says is too low. The per-lane rate has been the same since 2010.

Roads Department engineer Kevin Domogalla says the rate reflects the statewide average for maintenance costs per lane mile and that all communities are paid the same.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The Grand Island Police Department has been awarded six hand-held alcohol breath testing units through a state grant.

The Nebraska Office of Highway Safety provided the devices through a traffic safety grant award. The units are valued at $285 each.

Officials say the grant is part of the state’s efforts to prevent underage drinking and alcohol-related crashes. The portable units display a digital reading of a person’s blood alcohol level.

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — A Hastings man accused of trying to kill a police officer while escaping has pleaded no contest to charges.

Thirty-year-old Marty Deckert entered the plea Monday in Adams County District Court on charges of attempted second-degree murder, operating a vehicle to avoid arrest and first-degree criminal trespass. A plea deal dismissed other charges.

Authorities say Deckert tried to avoid arrest in July by speeding away in a car while dragging a police officer with him. The car crashed, causing minor injuries to the officer. Deckert escaped but was later arrested.

Deckert is scheduled to be sentenced in February.

FAIRBURY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities in southeast Nebraska have added a K-9 to its force.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says Rico is a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix that was added recently to the department.

Rico and his handler will receive training in Grand Island for the next few months.

Authorities collected donations to pay for the K-9.

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — A Bellevue man has been accused of stealing mail packages worth about $23,000.

Bellevue police say 24-year-old David S. Horvath faces charges of felony theft by unlawful taking and possession of stolen property. Court records do not list an attorney.

Authorities were investigating Horvath in connection to stolen property in La Vista when they matched his vehicle to a suspect vehicle in another theft. They observed several opened mail packages inside his car.

A search warrant was obtained and authorities found mail packages with addresses from Bellevue, Bennington, Ralston, La Vista and Omaha. The stolen items were valued at about $23,000.

Authorities say they’re looking for a woman in connection to the thefts.