WATERLOO, Neb. (AP) — A motorcyclist has died in a head-on crash with a pickup just west of Omaha.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened near 240th and Pacific Streets, just south of Waterloo, around 12:20 a.m. Friday.

Investigators say the truck was headed south on 240th Street when it crossed the center line, hitting the motorcycle head-on.

Deputies say the motorcyclist was killed instantly. Authorities have not yet released his name.

Officials say the truck driver was now hurt, but was taken to a hospital for evaluation and for tests to determine whether he was intoxicated.

PIERCE, Neb. (AP) — A 23-year-old Nebraska man has pleaded not guilty to four charges related to a fatal 2011 shooting.

Daniel Hofmann of Columbus entered his pleas Thursday in Pierce County District Court.

Hofmann is charged with manslaughter, making terroristic threats, using a weapon and tampering with evidence in the death of 18-year-old Wesley Kuester of Norfolk.

Kuester was shot with a shotgun in April 2011 while visiting friends in Pierce.

Prosecutors say Kuester and Hofmann were the only ones in the apartment at the time of the shooting, and it would have been physically impossible for Kuester to shoot himself.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man has been given three life terms for the drug-related shooting deaths of an Omaha man and his two sons.

Timothy Britt received the sentence Thursday. He also got 105 to 120 years in prison on gun charges.

A jury convicted Britt in April of three counts of first-degree murder in connection to the July 2012 deaths of 44-year-old Miguel Avalos, 18-year-old Miguel Avalos Jr. and 16-year-old Jose Avalos.

Another man, Anthony Davis, was found guilty of similar charges in March. He was sentenced to three life terms.

Witnesses testified during Davis’ trial that the men went to the Avalos home to steal drugs and money.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire that further damaged a vacant house in north Omaha.

The Omaha Fire Department says crews dispatched to the single-family home Wednesday morning and found the property in flames. It was under control a short time later.

The house already had damage from a fire two years ago. Authorities say the structure is unsecure and a hazardous environment for future fires.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities are attempting to locate surveillance video from a neighboring residence for more information.

 

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) — The dedication of a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall drew hundreds of Vietnam veterans to Freedom Park in South Sioux City.

The half-scale replica of the wall, bearing the names of more than 58,000 U.S. service members killed in the Vietnam War, was dedicated Wednesday in the northeast Nebraska city.

The newspaper says the 250-foot black granite wall is the only replica that duplicates the original design in Washington, D.C. The granite came from the same quarry in India.

The wall’s completion opens the first phase of the $4 million, 55-acre park, dedicated to those who have served and died for their country. Organizers hope to break ground this summer on a 12,000-square-foot interpretive center.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Trial has been postponed for a man charged with murder in the 2003 stabbing death of another man in Council Bluffs.

The trial for 36-year-old James Cain Harris, of Council Bluffs, has been moved to June 24. His trial had been set to begin this week.

Harris and 47-year-old Thomas Sanchez, of La Vista, Nebraska, have been charged in the stabbing death of Nelson Alvarez-Hernandez on July 31, 2003, outside a home in Council Bluffs.

The case went cold until police used DNA results to tie Sanchez to the case and arrest him in late January. He’s pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial in July.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man charged in a Lincoln stabbing death will undergo a psychiatric evaluation to see if he is fit to stand trial.

A Lancaster County District judge on Wednesday ordered the evaluation for 30-year-old LaRon Branch, a day after defense attorney Robert Kortus of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy asked for it.

Police say Branch stabbed Jarvis Long to death in Peter Pan Park on Jan. 16. Branch has been charged with second-degree murder and using a weapon to commit a felony.

Branch was arrested on Valentine’s Day, nearly a month after Long’s body was found in the park. Branch told police he stabbed Long during a fight involving three men who Branch said attacked him at the park.

(AP) — A 25-year-old southeast Nebraska man has been arrested on suspicion of shooting another man who was trying to break up a fight.

Zachary Grummert, of DeWitt, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of shooting 28-year-old Joshua Voorhees, of Beatrice.

Witnesses tell police Voorhees was shot in the stomach at around 1:20 a.m. Wednesday after stepping between Grummert and another man who were arguing at a house party.

Voorhees was taken to a Lincoln hospital, where he underwent surgery to his colon and diaphragm. He is expected to recover.

Grummert remains in the Saline County jail on suspicion of assault and a weapons count.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The Grand Island City Council has authorized $236,000 in tax-increment financing to redevelop the former Masonic Temple downtown into a multi-use high-rise.

The authorization was approved Tuesday night.

Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity says the first floor of the building will be used for retail space, including a boutique scheduled to move in next week. The second through sixth floors will be used for office or apartment space. The seventh floor will be reserved for a restaurant.

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have recorded more than 260 violations during surprise truck inspections in Norfolk.

The Nebraska State Patrol says it conducted 80 inspections Wednesday on commercial vehicles that don’t pass through highway checkpoints as part of its regular route.

Authorities say 30 vehicles were not allowed to continue on the road. Those designations can come from a variety of reasons, including bad brakes or tires. Six drivers were not allowed to continue driving because most of them lacked a commercial driver’s license.

The Nebraska State Patrol worked with the Norfolk Police Department on the inspections.