(AP) — The National Weather Service has extended a flood warning for the Platte River in eastern Nebraska.

The warning is expected to expire at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday for a stretch of the Platte in southern Colfax and northern Butler counties. The weather service blamed an ice jam.

Nebraska Highway 15 had water running over it south of Schuyler and water had migrated into low-lying areas upstream of the jam.

Hall County authorities also reported flooding at the junction of Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 281 south of Grand Island. They blamed an ice jam in the vicinity. Floodwater had reached parking lots of hotels and restaurants on the south side of the interchange.

(AP) — A man died in a grain bin accident in the small south-central Nebraska city of Edgar.

The man died Tuesday morning in a grain bin on the north edge of the Clay County city.

Edgar Fire Chief Gene Babcock says it’s unclear what happened, but the man was scooping corn out of his bin when he somehow got trapped inside. He died before crews could pull him out.

Babcock declined to name the man who died.

Fire crews and volunteers were at the bin for nearly 90 minutes, working to move out corn and free the man.

(AP) — A jury has found an Omaha nanny guilty in the death of a 4-month-old baby under her care.

The jury of four men and eight women on Tuesday found Sarah A. Cullen guilty of child abuse resulting in death.

Cullen had been caring for Cash Bell in late February of 2013 when the baby suffered a fractured skull and massive bleeding. Cash died five days later after being removed from life support at a hospital.

The 25-year-old Cullen offered several stories as she tried to explain the baby’s injuries.

Sentencing is set for May. Cullen faces a sentence ranging from 20 years to life in prison.

The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) announces the promotion of Lieutenant Brenda Konfrst, to the position of Captain in Command of Troop A-Omaha.

A nearly 24-year veteran of the agency, Captain Konfrst, 46, has served in both the Field Services and Investigative Services Divisions.  Having started her career assigned as a traffic trooper in Troop A- Omaha, Captain Konfrst also served as a member of the Troop A Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and was a certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

“With this promotion, Captain Konfrst becomes the first female Troop Area Commander in the agency’s history,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “We are very proud of Brenda. She has come up through the ranks and is an excellent choice to take over the reins as Troop A Commander.”

Captain Konfrst who received the 2009 Nebraska State Patrol Manager of the Year award is a graduate of Creighton University (1990), the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command (2008) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) “Leadership in Police Organizations” course (2010).

Captain Konfrst takes over for Major Brett Friesz, who was promoted to Investigative Services Major at State Headquarters in Lincoln.

(AP) — For much of the past three decades, pit bulls have been widely regarded as America’s most dangerous dog — the favorite breed of thugs, drug dealers and dog-fighting rings, with a fearsome reputation for unprovoked, sometimes deadly attacks.

Hostility toward “pits” grew so intense that some cities began treating them as the canine equivalent of assault rifles and prohibited residents from owning them.

But attitudes have softened considerably since then as animal activists and even television shows cast the dogs in a more positive light.

Seventeen states now have laws that prohibit communities from adopting breed-specific bans. Lawmakers in six more states are considering similar measures.

The dogs’ foes complain that their message is being drowned out by a well-funded, well-organized lobbying effort by pit bull advocates.

(AP) — The interim fire chief in Omaha has been named permanently to the post.

Mayor Jean Stothert announced Monday that Bernie Kanger will lead the Omaha Fire Department. He beat three other finalists for the job following a nationwide search.

Kanger has been with the department since 1991. He served as battalion chief before he took on the interim role last August. That’s when former Chief Mike McDonnell agreed to resign under a deal at the time with Stothert over the department’s budget. He went on administrative leave then retired in November.

Stothert has praised Kanger for his efforts to cut costs as the mayor and the fire union sparred over the department’s budget.

(AP) — Nebraska lawmakers are squabbling over how much money to put into a state fund that helps reduce property taxes, and whether to pay $2.5 million for bronze fountains at the Capitol.

The disputes on Monday arose as lawmakers debated changes to the state’s $7.8 billion, two-year budget.

The current proposal includes a $25 million increase in Nebraska’s property tax credit fund, bringing the total annual amount to $140 million. The money is distributed as a tax credit to property owners. Senators on Monday rejected an attempt to increase the fund by $45 million instead.

Some conservatives tried unsuccessfully to strip funding for Capitol fountains out of the budget. The fountains were part of the Capitol’s original design, but were never finished.

(AP) — Central Nebraska authorities say snow and ice may have been factors in a collision that fatally injured a St. Paul man.

The Howard County sheriff’s office says the accident was reported just after 6 p.m. Friday about two miles north of Cotesfield on Nebraska Highway 11.

Officials say 47-year-old Donald Kozeal was driving his van south when it was struck by a northbound semitrailer that had crossed the center line.

No injuries to the semi driver were reported. He was identified as 25-year-old Cody Stevens.

The sheriff’s office says Kozeal was taken to Howard County Medical Center in St. Paul, where he died.

(AP) — No charges will be filed against an Omaha homeowner who shot and killed a 19-year-old after he broke into the home.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Monday that 66-year-old Ronald Green’s actions were justified because he feared for his life.

Authorities say Ramon Matlock broke into Green’s home in northeast Omaha around 9 p.m. Saturday.

Kleine says Matlock swung at Green and landed a glancing blow before Green fired his gun. Matlock was struck twice and died in Green’s front yard.

Green called 911 after the shooting and asked for paramedics. His gun is properly licensed.

(AP) — An expert will discuss the quality of America’s educational system in a speech in Lincoln later this month.

Many studies and test score comparisons suggest American students are lagging behind their peers in other countries.

Education researcher Yong Zhao will speak about that at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on March 18.

The University of Oregon associate dean has written more than 100 articles and 20 books about education, and his most-recent book is “Catching Up or Leading the Way: American Education in the Age of Globalization.”