OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska grand jury has found that authorities didn’t do anything wrong in connection with seven separate deaths.

State law requires a grand jury anytime a person dies in jail, in police custody or while law enforcement officials are trying to apprehend them. A Douglas County grand jury cleared authorities Wednesday in the seven deaths, starting from August 2013.

In one of the more high-profiled cases, the jury found no wrongdoing on the part of three federal agents and two Omaha police officers in Willie Michalak’s death. The officers opened fire on him after he refused their commands and reached toward his waistband in March. He was wanted on nine felony warrants and had said he wouldn’t be arrested alive.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A suspect at an Omaha hospital is accused of spitting at a police officer and security staff as he tried to escape.

Omaha police say 26-year-old Dustin Loparco was at Clarkson Hospital on Wednesday when he became involved in a brief struggle with an officer guarding him.

Loparco is accused of spitting at the officer and hospital security staff as he was being apprehended. No injuries were reported.

Laparco was later discharged from the hospital and arrested. He faces charges of attempted escape and assault on an officer with bodily fluid.

Police were attempting to arrest Loparco on a felony warrant when he required medical attention. He faces separate charges of assault, robbery and use of a weapon to commit a felony. Court records do not list an attorney.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A woman convicted of sneaking in marijuana to a Nebraska inmate last year has been given three to four years in prison.

Lancaster County District Judge Paul Merritt Jr. sentenced 34-year-old Andrea Prange on Wednesday. She had earlier pleaded guilty to conveying an article to an inmate and attempted possession with intent to deliver on an unrelated meth charge.

Officials say Prange was in a visiting room at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in January 2013 when she reached into her crotch area and handed over a small object under the table to an inmate. The inmate was later found with a 1-inch diameter object that held 6 grams of marijuana.

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities in eastern Nebraska say they are searching for whoever stole grease from a Burger King and accidentally spilled it across 16 city blocks.

Nebraska City Public Properties Director Dan Giittinger tells the Lincoln Journal Star (http://bit.ly/1v6qGwM ) the theft happened early Monday. He says someone pumped grease left over from cooking fried foods from a tap on the side of the building but forgot to close a valve on the tank.

Giittinger says city workers laid down a claylike material to soak up the grease. He says the cleanup cost the city about $1,000 and 14 hours of labor.

Nebraska City Police are reviewing surveillance footage.

Authorities believe the thief planned to sell the used oil to companies making biodiesel fuel or livestock feed.

RULO, Neb. (AP) — Officials are asking that residents of the southeastern Nebraska town of Rulo evacuate as the Missouri River swells to flood stage.

Officials asked residents along the river in and around Rulo to begin evacuating at 10 p.m. Wednesday.

The National Weather Service says the river at Rulo is expected to crest at 19 feet later Thursday. Flood stage is 17 feet.

Roads leading to flooded areas in that region have been closed.

The American Red Cross has been notified of the evacuation and will be available to assist residents who need a place to stay.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department says a Lincoln cyclist has been seriously injured after a truck driver veered off the road and hit him from behind.

Deputies say 52-year-old Michael Saif was flown to an area hospital Wednesday with back injuries. They say he was riding on the shoulder when the 62-year-old driver in a pickup truck hit him.

No charges have been reported. Deputies say the driver wasn’t speeding and alcohol isn’t considered to be a factor in the crash.

Saif was listed in serious but stable condition Wednesday night.

The sheriff’s office is investigating.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — At least one parent is protesting steps Lincoln Public Schools have taken to address transgender issues.

Rachel Terry has children at Lincoln Southeast High School and Irving Middle School. She’s sent emails to other parents asking them to join her at an October school board meeting.

During administrative training days before the school year began, district officials spoke with school leaders to help them better understand issues transgender students face.

Brenda Leggiardo is the district’s coordinator of social workers and counselors. Leggiardo says the district has trained staff on social issues for many years, but this is the first year they’ve specifically discussed transgender issues. Handouts were given to teachers on suggestions to make students feel comfortable.

SCHUYLER, Neb. (AP) — A grand jury in eastern Nebraska has cleared law enforcement officers of any wrongdoing in the June shooting death of a Columbus man who led authorities on a car chase.

Jurors in Colfax County District Court returned the decision in connection with the investigation into the death of 32-year-old Jason T. Van Buskirk.

Authorities say Van Buskirk, who was originally pursued in connection with a domestic disturbance in Columbus, led several law enforcement departments on a car chase through two counties. He is accused of shooting at a state trooper and ramming into several police cruisers.

Authorities eventually shot at Van Buskirk, and he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Colfax County Attorney Denise Kracl did not release additional information.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln police have arrested a man who they say ran over an 11-year-old boy and then drove off.

The 24-year-old man was arrested Wednesday and faces charges of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. The boy remained hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday night.

Police say the boy was riding his bicycle to Culler Middle School when he was hit. They say one of his teachers saw the accident and followed the driver.

Police say the bike was still wedged beneath the truck when they found it. The boy suffered a brain bleed and multiple fractures.

The accident is under investigation.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Guatemalan man has been sentenced to at least 35 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl in Nebraska.

45-year-old Hector Valladares-Miranda was sentenced on Tuesday to 35 to 45 years in prison. He faces deportation to Guatemala upon his release.

Valladares-Miranda pleaded no contest to first-degree sexual assault. The girl told police he abused her for several years when she lived in Lincoln.

His attorney argued for a shorter sentence because it was his first offense and he faces deportation.