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Northeast Nebraska man dies after accident in farm grain bin

CLEARWATER, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man died after a farm accident in northeast Nebraska.

Antelope County deputies and the Nebraska State Patrol were sent around 5:50 p.m. Monday to the farm, which sits about 5 miles (8 kilometers) northwest of Clearwater. The Norfolk Daily News reports that the injured man they found was taken to Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh (NEE’-lee). He died there.

Authorities say he’d been using an auger in a grain bin.

The man’s been identified as 52-year-old Robert Pokorny.

Former employee imprisoned for stealing from Platte County

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A former Platte County employee has been imprisoned for stealing from the county.

44-year-old Traci Nelsen was given four to six years. She was sentenced Wednesday in Columbus.

She’d pleaded no contest in April to two counts of theft, one of filing a false claim and one of evidence tampering. Prosecutors say more than $56,000 was taken from the county from 2014 to 2017. She was in charge of its adult diversion program.

One of the theft counts involved a theft from a Girl Scouts entity.

Lincoln doctor pleads not guilty to drug, firearms charges

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln doctor accused of using patients and employees to obtain prescription drugs for himself has pleaded not guilty.

U.S. District Court records say Dr. Jeffrey Fraser entered the pleas Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Omaha. The charges: obtaining controlled substance by fraud and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

Prosecutors say the crimes occurred from March 2014 into January this year. The records don’t show that a trial date has been set.

The 61-year-old is accused of being addicted to hydrocodone and oxycodone and possessing a revolver.

Man charged with manslaughter for crash death of passenger

STANTON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have charged a driver with manslaughter for a northeast Nebraska crash death.

Stanton County Court records say 24-year-old Tucker Lanz was charged last week and is scheduled for arraignment July 24. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call Thursday from The Associated Press.

The crash occurred the night of May 12, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) east of Stanton. Authorities say Lanz was driving east when his vehicle crossed into a ditch on the north side of the road, hit a power pole and rolled onto its top.

Lanz was injured, and his passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have identified him as 22-year-old Hunter Hetzler, who lived in Stanton.

Nebraska state park unveils new ‘glamping’ cabins

LOUISVILLE, Neb. (AP) — Visitors to an eastern Nebraska park can now enjoy camping without sacrificing the comforts of Wi-Fi, air conditioning or even Keurig K-Cups.

Nebraska Game and Parks officials are inviting visitors to turn the three new “glamping” cabins at Platte River State Park into their next getaway. Parks officials will begin taking reservations Friday for the glamorous camping alternative near Louisville costing $165 a night.

Each cabin is equipped with a queen-sized bed that can roll outside for a night under the stars. The cabins also have a bathroom and kitchen that includes a microwave and coffee machine.

Campers will have an easy time braving the elements outside with lighted sidewalks, raised fire pits and decks.

Parks Administrator Jim Swenson says the state is interested in capturing the trendy “glamping” market.

Lincoln firefighter files lawsuit over sex discrimination

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln firefighter is suing department officials and the city, saying she was discriminated against as a woman and faced a hostile work environment after filing complaints.

Amber Benson’s lawsuit follows two others filed by Lincoln Fire and Rescue employees alleging their bosses retaliated against them for reporting harassment of female firefighters.

Benson alleges that Capt. Shawn Mahler arbitrarily placed her on 18 months’ observation, though he didn’t require the same of male firefighters. The lawsuit also says Mahler discouraged Benson in 2014 from rotating onto the firetruck because “typically women are less mechanically-minded.”

City Attorney Jeff Kirkpatrick said Tuesday he hasn’t received the lawsuit. He says the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission already investigated Benson’s case and didn’t find evidence of discrimination or retaliation.

Couple on way to birth center are stopped short by new son

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A couple headed to a birthing center in Lincoln say they were stopped short by their new son.

Margaret Markland said she and her husband, Cal, were on U.S. Highway 6 in northeast Lincoln when she told him to pull over. The baby was arriving.

Cal Markland stopped their vehicle and called 911 for help, but the youngster wouldn’t wait. Cal Markland says a dispatcher coached him through the delivery, and his wife says she didn’t panic because her husband “was calm and collected, even though it was kind of hectic.”

They say little Jason Scott Markland is doing well and already has met his big brother and sister.

Lincoln woman takes plea deal in aunt’s fatal fall from SUV

Kacie Altoree

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An August sentencing is scheduled for a Lincoln woman accused of causing her aunt’s death by swerving to throw her off a vehicle.

Lancaster County District Court records say 22-year-old Kacie Alatoree pleaded no contest Monday to vehicular homicide. In exchange, prosecutors dropped a charge of failing to stop and render aid. Her sentencing is set for Aug. 7.

Police say 36-year-old Autumn Rodriguez Hernandez died Nov. 12, days after she climbed onto the SUV Alatoree was driving. Police say Alatoree accelerated and swerved left and right to shake Rodriguez Hernandez off the vehicle, causing the older woman to fall and hit her head on a curb. Police say Alatoree then fled.

Police say Rodriguez Hernandez had lent the SUV to her niece three months earlier.

Clothing company operator accused of tax evasion

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State tax evasion charges have been filed against a Lincoln woman whose clothing businesses were accused of failing to fulfill customer orders after payments.

Lancaster County Court records say 38-year-old Andrea Christensen is charged with failure to pay sales tax, three counts of income tax evasion and one of failing to remit income tax withholding. A Lincoln phone listed for Christensen rang busy during several calls Tuesday. Her attorney in the consumer protection case didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press.

The tax charges arose from a state investigation into the Christensen’s now defunct businesses, Pixi Chix and State 51 Wear. In 2016 state attorneys sued her and her companies alleging that she’d violated the Nebraska Consumer Protection Act and Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, among other laws. In April Christensen and her businesses admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to pay $7,500 in a settlement.

Woman dies after being ejected from rolling car

FIRTH, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a driver died at a hospital after she was ejected from her car in a Lancaster County rollover accident.

The crash was reported around 9 p.m. Monday, about a mile and a half northwest of Firth. The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office says the southbound car ran into the west ditch and rolled several times.

The sheriff’s office says the driver was pronounced dead shortly after being flown to a Lincoln hospital. She’s been identified as 33-year-old Stephanie Leard, who lived in Hickman.

The crash is being investigated.

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