(AP) — Police say a dramatic car chase that crisscrossed the Denver area during the morning commute started when a man stole an SUV with a 4-year-old boy inside.

The suspect, 28-year-old Ryan Stone, was wanted in a drug case. The chase ended after about 75 miles, two more carjackings, and a multi-vehicle crash. Stone ran across a parking lot before appearing to give up, lying face-down in the snow as officers approached and pinned him to the ground.

Police say the boy was found unharmed after Stone abandoned the SUV.

Also during the chase, Stone struck a state trooper who was putting down stop sticks. The trooper was taken to a hospital in serious condition.

Police said Stone was taken to a hospital, in part to see whether he was high or drunk.

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(AP) — Officials say nearly 20 dogs have been removed from an Omaha home.

The Nebraska Humane Society says it seized the dogs Monday. An animal control officer with the group presented the homeowner with a search warrant and described conditions inside as cluttered and filthy.

Humane Society officials say they were investigating the home after a neighbor reported multiple dogs running around the property. The neighbor claims the dogs chased her and one of them tried to bite her leg.

A variety of breeds were taken from the home, including poodles. More than half a dozen puppies were also taken.

The woman living at the home described the dogs as her children. Humane Society officials say charges in the case are pending.

(AP) — A judge has ruled that a man alleged to have given a gun to another man accused of killing four Omaha people is not guilty.

In a bench trial, Douglas County District Judge Peter Bataillon ruled Wednesday that 31-year-old Anthony Wells was not guilty of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

Prosecutors argued that Wells handed Jenkins a .12-gauge shotgun at a party the night Nikko Jenkins was released from prison in late July. But the defense said Jenkins’ girlfriend gave him the gun.

The judge said prosecutors failed to prove it was Wells who gave Jenkins the gun.

Jenkins is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the August deaths of Juan Uribe-Pena, Jorge Cajiga-Ruiz, Curtis Bradford and Andrea Kruger.

(AP) — Nebraska minors could soon be banned from using e-cigarettes.

Lawmakers voted 28-0 Tuesday on a measure that would prohibit minors from using the product, and prevent stores from selling them to anyone under 18.

Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber, who introduced the legislation, says there hasn’t been enough study to know if e-cigarettes are safe.

Electronic cigarettes are battery-powered devices that give users a puff of vapor, typically containing nicotine and sometimes flavorings such as fruit or mint. Users can vary the amount of nicotine.

Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln says the devices should be available to help minors quit smoking.

The National Conference of State Legislatures says that at least 27 states have prohibited the sale of e-cigarettes to minors.

(AP) — Work is scheduled to resume next week on U.S. Highway 77 from Nebraska Highway 112 to Beatrice.

The Nebraska Department of Roads says work will include bridge, concrete, shoulder, sidewalk and curb repairs, milling and an asphalt overlay.

Traffic will be controlled by signals, flaggers and a pilot car.

The project is expected to be finished this fall.

(AP) — A fundraising goal has been reached to fly more Nebraska veterans of the Korean War to visit memorials in Washington, D.C.

Organizer Bill Williams, of Patriotic Productions in Omaha, says more than $475,000 has been raised to fly more than 440 veterans and their family members and volunteer guardians. He organized a similar trip in October for 135 veterans.

The travelers will board three chartered jets the morning of March 25 after a dinner and ceremony the night before. Chartered buses in Washington will take them to the Korea, Vietnam, World War II and Lincoln memorials and Arlington National Cemetery. They’ll return that evening to a hero’s welcome in Omaha.

(AP) — A 19-year-old Nebraska man is facing several charges after police caught him carrying a large snake after a break-in at an exotic pet store.

Omaha police say the front door to Bart’s Exotic Pet Store and Aquaponic Supply was smashed around 8:40 a.m. Monday.

The business’ alarm went off. When officers arrived, numerous snakes were loose inside the store.

The 19-year-old fled out the back of the store with the snake, and was caught after a short pursuit. He is facing charges of burglary, cruelty to animals, and obstructing a peace officer.

(AP) — Nebraska officials have agreed to pay $2 million to the family of a Lincoln woman who was struck and killed by a state prison van driven by an inmate.

The settlement will go to the husband and son of 47-year-old Joyce Meeks, who was killed in the crash on June 25 in Lincoln. Lawmakers gave initial approval to the payment on Tuesday as part of the state’s annual claims bill.

The inmate driver, Jeremy Dobbe, was seen speeding and swerving erratically before he struck Meeks’ vehicle. Dobbe was driving to transport inmates as part of a state work-release program.

The lawsuit by Meeks’ husband, Leonard Meeks, and son, Martell Buchanan, alleges that Dobbe was under the influence of alcohol, drugs or some other intoxicating substance.

(AP) — A city of Seward streets maintenance worker has died after being injured on the job.

Authorities say 36-year-old Jeramie Schoepf died Friday in a Lincoln hospital. Authorities say Schoepf was working on an expansion of the city’s bike trail Feb. 28 when a tree limb fell on him. Schoepf had been a city employee since 2002.

Seward school district superintendent Greg Barnes says Schoepf helped coach the wrestling team for 11 years at Seward High. Schoepf graduated from the school in 1996.