CENTRAL CITY, Neb. (AP) - A Central City man is dead following an accident just west of the Merrick County town.

<a href="https://theindependent.com/news/local/semi-car-collide-in-merrick-county-killing-1/article_1b4d98d6-1b25-11eb-b821-ff5df19a8eb4.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1" target="_blank">The Grand Island Independent</a>&nbsp;reports that the accident happened Friday afternoon on U.S. 30 when a Chevy Cobalt collided with a semi. The Cobalt driver, 44-year-old Eric S. Johnson, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The semi driver was uninjured. The semi was engulfed in flames by the time first responders arrived.

Authorities say the preliminary investigation showed that Johnson crossed the center line of the highway.

CENTRAL CITY, Neb. (AP) - A Central City man is dead following an accident just west of the Merrick County town.<a href="https://theindependent.com/news/local/semi-car-collide-in-merrick-county-killing-1/article_1b4d98d6-1b25-11eb-b821-ff5df19a8eb4.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1" target="_blank">The Grand Island Independent</a>&nbsp;reports that the accident happened Friday afternoon on U.S. 30 when a Chevy Cobalt collided with a semi. The Cobalt driver, 44-year-old Eric S. Johnson, was pronounced dead at the scene.The semi driver was uninjured. The semi was engulfed in flames by the time first responders arrived.Authorities say the preliminary investigation showed that Johnson crossed the center line of the highway.

One dead following accident in Merrick County

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Gov. Kristi Noem has gotten more campaign donations in the last two weeks than she received in the first five months of the year. And, the governor isn’t up for reelection for two more years. 

Noem’s time in the national political spotlight likely has helped her amass more than $1 million in contributions in the last six months, including $224,000 in the last 10 days, according to filings with the South Dakota Secretary of State. 

Noem received donations between $100 and $4,000 from individuals residing in at least 42 states.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Gov. Kristi Noem has gotten more campaign donations in the last two weeks than she received in the first five months of the year. And, the governor isn’t up for reelection for two more years. Noem’s time in the national political spotlight likely has helped her amass more than $1 million in contributions in the last six months, including $224,000 in the last 10 days, according to filings with the South Dakota Secretary of State. Noem received donations between $100 and $4,000 from individuals residing in at least 42 states.

Gov. Noem's campaign war chest tops $1 million

LINCOLN, Neb.-Krista Henderson of Red Cloud won $106,000 playing Nebraska Pick 5 from the Nebraska Lottery.

Henderson purchased her winning ticket from Casey’s General Store #1583 at 612 N Webster in Red Cloud. Henderson’s ticket contained four quick pick plays for the October 21 drawing, one of which matched the winning combination of 18, 20, 24, 30, 37.

Henderson’s not sure what she’s going to do with her winnings yet, but she told us what she yelled when she saw she’d matched all five numbers.

Nebraska Pick 5 is Nebraska’s unique Lottery game: all the proceeds from Nebraska Pick 5 stay in Nebraska, and all the winning tickets are sold in Nebraska at Nebraska Lottery Lotto game retailers. The odds of winning the Nebraska Pick 5 jackpot, which starts at $50,000 and grows by $4,000 each drawing that is not won, are 1 in 501,942 while the overall odds of winning a prize in the game, which has drawings seven nights a week, are 1 in 8.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $793 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1604148683393.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Nebraska Lottery News ReleaseLINCOLN, Neb.-Krista Henderson of Red Cloud won $106,000 playing Nebraska Pick 5 from the Nebraska Lottery.Henderson purchased her winning ticket from Casey’s General Store #1583 at 612 N Webster in Red Cloud. Henderson’s ticket contained four quick pick plays for the October 21 drawing, one of which matched the winning combination of 18, 20, 24, 30, 37.Henderson’s not sure what she’s going to do with her winnings yet, but she told us what she yelled when she saw she’d matched all five numbers.“I won, I won!”Nebraska Pick 5 is Nebraska’s unique Lottery game: all the proceeds from Nebraska Pick 5 stay in Nebraska, and all the winning tickets are sold in Nebraska at Nebraska Lottery Lotto game retailers. The odds of winning the Nebraska Pick 5 jackpot, which starts at $50,000 and grows by $4,000 each drawing that is not won, are 1 in 501,942 while the overall odds of winning a prize in the game, which has drawings seven nights a week, are 1 in 8.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $793 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Red Cloud woman wins $106,000 on Pick 5 ticket

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart has reversed course, announcing it is returning ammunition and firearms to their displays in its U.S. stores.

On Thursday the nation’s largest retailer said it had removed the items from displays due to “civil unrest” in some areas of the country. Guns and ammunition, however, had remained for sale at the stores, just not visible to shoppers.

But on Friday Walmart said the items had been restored to displays because the unrest has remained isolated.

The moves come after several days of protests, vandalism, and an overnight curfew in Philadelphia after police fatally shot a Black man with a history of mental health problems.

“After civil unrest earlier this week resulted in damage to several of our stores, consistent with actions we took over the summer, we asked stores to move firearms and ammunition from the sales floor to a secure location in the back of the store in an abundance of caution, “ Walmart said in a statement. “As the current incidents have remained geographically isolated, we have made the decision to begin returning these products to the sales floor today.”

The retailer based in Bentonville, Arkansas, sells firearms in about half of its 4,700 stores.

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart says it has removed ammunition and firearms from displays at its U.S. stores, citing “civil unrest” in some areas.

The nation’s largest retailer, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, sells firearms in about half of its 4,700 stores.

“We have seen some isolated civil unrest and as we have done on several occasions over the last few years, we have moved our firearms and ammunition off the sales floor as a precaution for the safety of our associates and customers,” Walmart said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press on Thursday.

The discounter said the items remain available for purchase by customers.

The move comes after several days of protests, widespread vandalism and an overnight curfew in Philadelphia before Election Day after police fatally shot a Black man with a history of mental health problems.

Walmart made a a similar move in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd that set off sometimes violent demonstrations against police brutality and injustice against African Americans.

Last year, Walmart stopped selling handgun and short-barrel rifle ammunition while requesting that customers not openly carry firearms in its stores, even where state laws allow it. The company also ended the sale of handguns in Alaska, the only state where the discounter sold them.

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart has reversed course, announcing it is returning ammunition and firearms to their displays in its U.S. stores.On Thursday the nation’s largest retailer said it had removed the items from displays due to “civil unrest” in some areas of the country. Guns and ammunition, however, had remained for sale at the stores, just not visible to shoppers.But on Friday Walmart said the items had been restored to displays because the unrest has remained isolated.The moves come after several days of protests, vandalism, and an overnight curfew in Philadelphia after police fatally shot a Black man with a history of mental health problems.“After civil unrest earlier this week resulted in damage to several of our stores, consistent with actions we took over the summer, we asked stores to move firearms and ammunition from the sales floor to a secure location in the back of the store in an abundance of caution, “ Walmart said in a statement. “As the current incidents have remained geographically isolated, we have made the decision to begin returning these products to the sales floor today.”The retailer based in Bentonville, Arkansas, sells firearms in about half of its 4,700 stores._____NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart says it has removed ammunition and firearms from displays at its U.S. stores, citing “civil unrest” in some areas.The nation’s largest retailer, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, sells firearms in about half of its 4,700 stores.“We have seen some isolated civil unrest and as we have done on several occasions over the last few years, we have moved our firearms and ammunition off the sales floor as a precaution for the safety of our associates and customers,” Walmart said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press on Thursday.The discounter said the items remain available for purchase by customers.The move comes after several days of protests, widespread vandalism and an overnight curfew in Philadelphia before Election Day after police fatally shot a Black man with a history of mental health problems.Walmart made a a similar move in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd that set off sometimes violent demonstrations against police brutality and injustice against African Americans.Last year, Walmart stopped selling handgun and short-barrel rifle ammunition while requesting that customers not openly carry firearms in its stores, even where state laws allow it. The company also ended the sale of handguns in Alaska, the only state where the discounter sold them.

Walmart returns guns and ammunition to US store displays

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota is adding 1.5 million U.S. vehicles to recalls from early this year to fix fuel pumps that can fail and cause engines to stall.

The company says the latest recall brings the total to 5.8 million Toyota and Lexus brand vehicles that need to be repaired worldwide.

The recall affects more than 40 vehicles in the U.S. dating to the 2013 model year, covering much of the Toyota and Lexus model lineup.

Toyota said in a statement Wednesday that the fuel pumps can suddenly stop operating, and that can cause the vehicles to stall. Drivers may not be able to restart them. If the stall happens at high speeds, the risk of a crash could increase. Toyota wouldn’t say if the problem has caused any crashes or injuries.

Toyota and Lexus dealers will replace the fuel pumps at no cost to customers.

Toyota began recalling the vehicles in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3f3f9ee0c6926f3e96b5df2437019429">January with about 700,000</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/19e5186ba5fd34b862c231392816695c">added 1.2 million in March</a>. The company said that it didn’t recall all the vehicles at once because it was monitoring data and investigating to see if vehicles outside the scope of the original recalls would experience the same problem.

The additions include the 2019 and 2020 RAV4, the top-selling vehicle in the U.S. that isn’t a pickup truck. Also included are the 2013 to 2015 Lexus LS 460 and GS 350; the 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser and Lexus IS-F; the 2014 and 2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser; the 2014 and 2015 Lexus GX 460, IS 350, LX 570; the 2015 Lexus NX 200t and RC 350; the 2017 Lexus IS 200t, RC 200t and GS 200t; the 2017 to 2019 Toyota Highlander and Lexus GS 350; the 2017 through 2020 Toyota Sienna and Lexus RX 350; the 2018 and 2019 Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Lexus GS 300, GX 460, IS 300, IS 350, LS 500h, LX 570, NX 300, RC 300, RC 350; the 2018 through 2020 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra and Lexus ES 350, LC 500, LC 500h, LS 500, RX 350L; and the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback and Lexus UX 200.

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota is adding 1.5 million U.S. vehicles to recalls from early this year to fix fuel pumps that can fail and cause engines to stall.The company says the latest recall brings the total to 5.8 million Toyota and Lexus brand vehicles that need to be repaired worldwide.The recall affects more than 40 vehicles in the U.S. dating to the 2013 model year, covering much of the Toyota and Lexus model lineup.Toyota said in a statement Wednesday that the fuel pumps can suddenly stop operating, and that can cause the vehicles to stall. Drivers may not be able to restart them. If the stall happens at high speeds, the risk of a crash could increase. Toyota wouldn’t say if the problem has caused any crashes or injuries.Toyota and Lexus dealers will replace the fuel pumps at no cost to customers.Toyota began recalling the vehicles in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3f3f9ee0c6926f3e96b5df2437019429">January with about 700,000</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/19e5186ba5fd34b862c231392816695c">added 1.2 million in March</a>. The company said that it didn’t recall all the vehicles at once because it was monitoring data and investigating to see if vehicles outside the scope of the original recalls would experience the same problem.The additions include the 2019 and 2020 RAV4, the top-selling vehicle in the U.S. that isn’t a pickup truck. Also included are the 2013 to 2015 Lexus LS 460 and GS 350; the 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser and Lexus IS-F; the 2014 and 2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser; the 2014 and 2015 Lexus GX 460, IS 350, LX 570; the 2015 Lexus NX 200t and RC 350; the 2017 Lexus IS 200t, RC 200t and GS 200t; the 2017 to 2019 Toyota Highlander and Lexus GS 350; the 2017 through 2020 Toyota Sienna and Lexus RX 350; the 2018 and 2019 Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Lexus GS 300, GX 460, IS 300, IS 350, LS 500h, LX 570, NX 300, RC 300, RC 350; the 2018 through 2020 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra and Lexus ES 350, LC 500, LC 500h, LS 500, RX 350L; and the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback and Lexus UX 200.

Toyota adds 1.5M vehicles to recalls for engine stalling

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police say officers who stopped a Lincoln man wanted on an assault warrant found $30,000 worth of methamphetamine in his car. 

Officials say members of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force stopped the 51-year-old man's BMW Wednesday night outside a Lincoln apartment.

 Police say he was wanted for an assault that had occurred two days earlier and that he was driving on a suspended license. 

Officers who searched the man and his car say they found 344 grams of meth in a bag and under the passenger seat, as well as $4,000 in cash.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police say officers who stopped a Lincoln man wanted on an assault warrant found $30,000 worth of methamphetamine in his car. Officials say members of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force stopped the 51-year-old man's BMW Wednesday night outside a Lincoln apartment. Police say he was wanted for an assault that had occurred two days earlier and that he was driving on a suspended license. Officers who searched the man and his car say they found 344 grams of meth in a bag and under the passenger seat, as well as $4,000 in cash.

Police say $30K worth of meth found in Lincoln man's car

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 49-year-old Lincoln man has pleaded no contest to attempted manslaughter after beating a man who died five days later.

  Mark Hietbrink was originally charged with manslaughter and first-degree assault in the death of Jonathan Olson in October 2019. 

Officers went to Olson's home after he reported being assaulted. 

Doctors determined he had suffered serious internal head injuries requiring multiple surgeries. 

Olson, who had heart disease and had undergone a heart transplant, died five days later. 

Police said the two men had a relationship with the same woman and Hietbrink beat Olson when he came to collect the woman's belongings.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 49-year-old Lincoln man has pleaded no contest to attempted manslaughter after beating a man who died five days later. Mark Hietbrink was originally charged with manslaughter and first-degree assault in the death of Jonathan Olson in October 2019. Officers went to Olson's home after he reported being assaulted. Doctors determined he had suffered serious internal head injuries requiring multiple surgeries. Olson, who had heart disease and had undergone a heart transplant, died five days later. Police said the two men had a relationship with the same woman and Hietbrink beat Olson when he came to collect the woman's belongings.

Lincoln man accepts deal in beating that led to man's death

LINCOLN, Neb.-Jerald Osborne of Atkinson won $58,000 playing Nebraska Pick 5 from the Nebraska Lottery.

Osborne purchased his winning ticket from Casey’s General Store #2656 in Fullerton. Osborne’s ticket contained five quick pick plays for the October 24 drawing, one of which had the winning combination 03, 04, 18, 19, 38.

Osborne said he used to only buy Powerball tickets until his dad Tom Osborne—"The truck driver, not the football coach," he clarified"—told him to try Pick 5. His dad died earlier this year, but Osborne still plays Pick 5.

Usually Osborne buys his tickets at a shop in Atkinson, but while passing through Fullerton, he stopped at Casey’s to use the restroom. He felt obligated to buy something, so he picked up a few Pick 5 tickets.

He said he checked his numbers on the Nebraska Lottery website on Saturday night and discovered he’d hit the jackpot.

“The next sound I heard was my jaw hitting the floor,” he said. “I couldn’t go to sleep.”

Osborne said he’s planning on paying off a few bills and saving the rest of his winnings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1604067191792.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb.-Jerald Osborne of Atkinson won $58,000 playing Nebraska Pick 5 from the Nebraska Lottery.Osborne purchased his winning ticket from Casey’s General Store #2656 in Fullerton. Osborne’s ticket contained five quick pick plays for the October 24 drawing, one of which had the winning combination 03, 04, 18, 19, 38.Osborne said he used to only buy Powerball tickets until his dad Tom Osborne—"The truck driver, not the football coach," he clarified"—told him to try Pick 5. His dad died earlier this year, but Osborne still plays Pick 5.Usually Osborne buys his tickets at a shop in Atkinson, but while passing through Fullerton, he stopped at Casey’s to use the restroom. He felt obligated to buy something, so he picked up a few Pick 5 tickets.He said he checked his numbers on the Nebraska Lottery website on Saturday night and discovered he’d hit the jackpot.“The next sound I heard was my jaw hitting the floor,” he said. “I couldn’t go to sleep.”Osborne said he’s planning on paying off a few bills and saving the rest of his winnings.Nebraska Pick 5 is Nebraska’s unique Lottery game: all the proceeds from Nebraska Pick 5 stay in Nebraska, and all the winning tickets are sold in Nebraska at Nebraska Lottery Lotto game retailers. The odds of winning the Nebraska Pick 5 jackpot, which starts at $50,000 and grows by $4,000 each drawing that is not won, are 1 in 501,942 while the overall odds of winning a prize in the game, which has drawings seven nights a week, are 1 in 8.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $793 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Atkinson man wins $58,000 playing Pick 5

WASHINGTON (AP) — North Carolina, yes. Pennsylvania, yes. Wisconsin, no. That’s how the Supreme Court has answered questions in recent days about an extended timeline for receiving and counting ballots in those states.

In each case, Democrats backed the extensions and Republicans opposed them. All three states have Democratic governors and legislatures controlled by the GOP.

At first blush, the difference in the outcomes at the Supreme Court seems odd because the high court typically takes up issues to harmonize the rules across the country. But elections are largely governed by states, and the rules differ from one state to the next.

A big asterisk: These cases are being dealt with on an emergency basis in which the court issues orders that either block or keep in place a lower-court ruling. But there is almost never an explanation of the majority’s rationale, though individual justices sometimes write opinions that partially explain the matter.

There also is a difference in how the justices act based on whether they are ruling on a lawsuit that began in state or federal court.

Conservative justices who hold a majority on the Supreme Court object to what they see as intrusions by federal judges who order last-minute changes to state election rules, even in the middle of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">coronavirus pandemic</a>. The power to alter absentee ballot deadlines and other voting issues rests with state legislatures, not federal courts, according to the conservative justices.

The court also is divided, but so far has been willing to allow state courts interpreting their own state constitutions to play more of a role than their federal counterparts.

Last week, four conservative justices would have put on hold a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling allowing three additional days to receive and count mailed ballots. Three justices in Wednesday’s order about North Carolina’s absentee ballots would have blocked a six-day extension.

The justices did not finally resolve the legal issues involved, but they could do so after the election. A more thorough examination could come either in a post-election challenge that could determine the presidential winner if, for example, Pennsylvania proves critical to the national outcome, or in a less tense setting that might not affect the 2020 vote, but would apply in the future.

Even a decision that only looked ahead to future elections would be “concerning given that state courts have often been more protective of the right to vote under state constitutions then the federal courts have under the U.S. Constitution,” University of Kentucky law professor Joshua Douglas said.

One more asterisk: new Justice Amy Coney Barrett has not taken part in any of these last-minute orders, but could participate going forward.

Here are some state-specific explanations of what has taken place over the past 10 days:

Last week, before Barrett had been confirmed, the justices divided 4-4, a tie vote that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-campaigns-pennsylvania-elections-62bb4957766f436e27ed7de52921aab3">allowed the three-day extension ordered by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to remain in effect</a>.

On Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-pennsylvania-amy-coney-barrett-elections-courts-57d6c7a32284071f36986006e37ee2d3">the court said it would not grant a quick, pre-election review</a>&nbsp;to a new Republican appeal to exclude absentee ballots received after Election Day in the battleground state.

But it remained unclear whether those ballots will ultimately be counted.

The court’s order left open the possibility that the justices could take up and decide after the election whether a three-day extension to receive and count absentee ballots ordered by Pennsylvania’s high court was proper.

The issue would take on enormous importance if Pennsylvania turns out to be the crucial state in next week’s election and the votes received between Nov. 3 and Nov. 6 are potentially decisive.

The Supreme Court ruled hours after Pennsylvania’s Department of State agreed to segregate ballots received in the mail after polls close on Tuesday and before 5 p.m. on Nov. 6. Without keeping those ballots separate, Pennsylvania might have risked having the state’s overall vote count called into question.

Three conservative justices signaled their interest in the court’s eventual review of the case.

The court on Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-samuel-alito-amy-coney-barrett-north-carolina-elections-4cb4c214446bcfadbd73dafca9353701">refused to block an extra six days to receive and count absentee ballots in North Carolina</a>.

The State Board of Elections lengthened the period from three to nine days because of the coronavirus pandemic, pushing back the deadline to Nov. 12. The board’s decision was part of a legal settlement with a union-affiliated group. The extension was approved by a state judge.

Lawmakers had previously set Nov. 6 as the deadline for mailed ballots because of the pandemic.

There’s no order or recommendation in North Carolina that ballots received after Nov. 6 be kept apart.

Justice Neil Gorsuch said courts should not be second-guessing the legislature. The election board and the state judge “worked together to override a carefully tailored legislative response to COVID,” Gorsuch wrote.

In Wisconsin, ballots must arrive by Election Day, Nov. 3, to be counted.

The Supreme Court on Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-wisconsin-elections-us-supreme-court-dcf1e115d0804e203ef2cf9887cfabff">refused to reinstate a lower-court order</a>&nbsp;that would have added six days to the deadline, identical to the extension granted primary voters in April. A federal appeals court already had blocked the additional days.

This time, it was the court’s liberals who objected. “As the COVID pandemic rages, the Court has failed to adequately protect the Nation’s voters,” Justice Elena Kagan wrote in dissent.

Again, there was nothing from the court explaining its order, but Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Gorsuch all wrote separate opinions.

“Different bodies of law and different precedents govern these two situations and require, in these particular circumstances, that we allow the modification of election rules in Pennsylvania but not Wisconsin,” Roberts wrote, before the court had acted in the North Carolina case.

Kavanaugh’s opinion drew outsized attention because he invoked the court’s Bush v. Gore case that effectively resolved the 2000 presidential election in favor of Republican George W. Bush.

The Supreme Court has never cited Bush v. Gore in an opinion of the court. In 2000, in its unsigned majority opinion the court wrote, “Our consideration is limited to the present circumstances.”

But three lawyers who worked for Bush’s cause in 2000, Roberts, Kavanaugh and now Barrett, sit on the court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1571309298669.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — North Carolina, yes. Pennsylvania, yes. Wisconsin, no. That’s how the Supreme Court has answered questions in recent days about an extended timeline for receiving and counting ballots in those states.In each case, Democrats backed the extensions and Republicans opposed them. All three states have Democratic governors and legislatures controlled by the GOP.At first blush, the difference in the outcomes at the Supreme Court seems odd because the high court typically takes up issues to harmonize the rules across the country. But elections are largely governed by states, and the rules differ from one state to the next.A big asterisk: These cases are being dealt with on an emergency basis in which the court issues orders that either block or keep in place a lower-court ruling. But there is almost never an explanation of the majority’s rationale, though individual justices sometimes write opinions that partially explain the matter.There also is a difference in how the justices act based on whether they are ruling on a lawsuit that began in state or federal court.Conservative justices who hold a majority on the Supreme Court object to what they see as intrusions by federal judges who order last-minute changes to state election rules, even in the middle of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">coronavirus pandemic</a>. The power to alter absentee ballot deadlines and other voting issues rests with state legislatures, not federal courts, according to the conservative justices.The court also is divided, but so far has been willing to allow state courts interpreting their own state constitutions to play more of a role than their federal counterparts.Last week, four conservative justices would have put on hold a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling allowing three additional days to receive and count mailed ballots. Three justices in Wednesday’s order about North Carolina’s absentee ballots would have blocked a six-day extension.The justices did not finally resolve the legal issues involved, but they could do so after the election. A more thorough examination could come either in a post-election challenge that could determine the presidential winner if, for example, Pennsylvania proves critical to the national outcome, or in a less tense setting that might not affect the 2020 vote, but would apply in the future.Even a decision that only looked ahead to future elections would be “concerning given that state courts have often been more protective of the right to vote under state constitutions then the federal courts have under the U.S. Constitution,” University of Kentucky law professor Joshua Douglas said.One more asterisk: new Justice Amy Coney Barrett has not taken part in any of these last-minute orders, but could participate going forward.Here are some state-specific explanations of what has taken place over the past 10 days:___PENNSYLVANIALast week, before Barrett had been confirmed, the justices divided 4-4, a tie vote that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-campaigns-pennsylvania-elections-62bb4957766f436e27ed7de52921aab3">allowed the three-day extension ordered by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to remain in effect</a>.On Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-pennsylvania-amy-coney-barrett-elections-courts-57d6c7a32284071f36986006e37ee2d3">the court said it would not grant a quick, pre-election review</a>&nbsp;to a new Republican appeal to exclude absentee ballots received after Election Day in the battleground state.But it remained unclear whether those ballots will ultimately be counted.The court’s order left open the possibility that the justices could take up and decide after the election whether a three-day extension to receive and count absentee ballots ordered by Pennsylvania’s high court was proper.The issue would take on enormous importance if Pennsylvania turns out to be the crucial state in next week’s election and the votes received between Nov. 3 and Nov. 6 are potentially decisive.The Supreme Court ruled hours after Pennsylvania’s Department of State agreed to segregate ballots received in the mail after polls close on Tuesday and before 5 p.m. on Nov. 6. Without keeping those ballots separate, Pennsylvania might have risked having the state’s overall vote count called into question.Three conservative justices signaled their interest in the court’s eventual review of the case.___NORTH CAROLINAThe court on Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-samuel-alito-amy-coney-barrett-north-carolina-elections-4cb4c214446bcfadbd73dafca9353701">refused to block an extra six days to receive and count absentee ballots in North Carolina</a>.The State Board of Elections lengthened the period from three to nine days because of the coronavirus pandemic, pushing back the deadline to Nov. 12. The board’s decision was part of a legal settlement with a union-affiliated group. The extension was approved by a state judge.Lawmakers had previously set Nov. 6 as the deadline for mailed ballots because of the pandemic.There’s no order or recommendation in North Carolina that ballots received after Nov. 6 be kept apart.Justice Neil Gorsuch said courts should not be second-guessing the legislature. The election board and the state judge “worked together to override a carefully tailored legislative response to COVID,” Gorsuch wrote.___WISCONSINIn Wisconsin, ballots must arrive by Election Day, Nov. 3, to be counted.The Supreme Court on Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-wisconsin-elections-us-supreme-court-dcf1e115d0804e203ef2cf9887cfabff">refused to reinstate a lower-court order</a>&nbsp;that would have added six days to the deadline, identical to the extension granted primary voters in April. A federal appeals court already had blocked the additional days.This time, it was the court’s liberals who objected. “As the COVID pandemic rages, the Court has failed to adequately protect the Nation’s voters,” Justice Elena Kagan wrote in dissent.Again, there was nothing from the court explaining its order, but Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Gorsuch all wrote separate opinions.“Different bodies of law and different precedents govern these two situations and require, in these particular circumstances, that we allow the modification of election rules in Pennsylvania but not Wisconsin,” Roberts wrote, before the court had acted in the North Carolina case.Kavanaugh’s opinion drew outsized attention because he invoked the court’s Bush v. Gore case that effectively resolved the 2000 presidential election in favor of Republican George W. Bush.The Supreme Court has never cited Bush v. Gore in an opinion of the court. In 2000, in its unsigned majority opinion the court wrote, “Our consideration is limited to the present circumstances.”But three lawyers who worked for Bush’s cause in 2000, Roberts, Kavanaugh and now Barrett, sit on the court.

Supreme Court issues last-minute orders for counting ballots

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found in a northwestern Omaha apartment unit.

 The Omaha World-Herald reports that police were called around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday to the apartment complex near West Maple Road and 108th Street. 

Officers who arrived on the scene found the body of 39-year-old Mercedes Elizabeth De Leon Cayaxon. 

Police have not said how she died, but confirmed that homicide detectives are investigating.

 Police have not named any suspects or announced any arrests n the case.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found in a northwestern Omaha apartment unit. The Omaha World-Herald reports that police were called around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday to the apartment complex near West Maple Road and 108th Street. Officers who arrived on the scene found the body of 39-year-old Mercedes Elizabeth De Leon Cayaxon. Police have not said how she died, but confirmed that homicide detectives are investigating. Police have not named any suspects or announced any arrests n the case.

Omaha police investigating after woman's body found

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Caterpillar says it's partnering with the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology to build the next generation of mining and construction technology. 

University faculty and students will work with Caterpillar engineers on autonomous robotic mining, new software used to manage mining and construction operations and on new equipment that increases efficiency and safety.

 Officials say the partnership could involve a range of projects from research and development in surface mining and reclamation in places like the Powder River Basin to the development of an underground area to test robotic mining equipment at the Sanford Underground Research Facility.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Caterpillar says it's partnering with the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology to build the next generation of mining and construction technology. University faculty and students will work with Caterpillar engineers on autonomous robotic mining, new software used to manage mining and construction operations and on new equipment that increases efficiency and safety. Officials say the partnership could involve a range of projects from research and development in surface mining and reclamation in places like the Powder River Basin to the development of an underground area to test robotic mining equipment at the Sanford Underground Research Facility.

Caterpillar, School of Mines partner on mining technology

LINCOLN&nbsp; — Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a Johnson County man after locating multiple controlled substances at his residence in rural Johnson County.

Wednesday morning, October 28, investigators served a search warrant at the residence of 61944 724 Road in Johnson County, as part of an investigation in conjunction with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. 

During the search, investigators located 83 pounds of marijuana, .5 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, 11 grams of methamphetamine, and cash.&nbsp;

The resident, Kevin Golden, 50, was arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, possession of money during a drug violation, and no drug tax stamp. Golden was lodged in Johnson County Jail.

LINCOLN&nbsp; — Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a Johnson County man after locating multiple controlled substances at his residence in rural Johnson County.Wednesday morning, October 28, investigators served a search warrant at the residence of 61944 724 Road in Johnson County, as part of an investigation in conjunction with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. During the search, investigators located 83 pounds of marijuana, .5 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, 11 grams of methamphetamine, and cash.&nbsp;The resident, Kevin Golden, 50, was arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, possession of money during a drug violation, and no drug tax stamp. Golden was lodged in Johnson County Jail.

Search warrant leads to drug arrest in Johnson County

FILLEY, Neb. (AP) — The state Fire Marshal's office has identified a woman killed in a southeastern Nebraska house fire last week. 

Investigators say an autopsy identified the woman as 20-year-old Courtney Knepp, of Beatrice. Preliminary results indicate the cause of death was smoke inhalation related to the fire in Filley. 

Two others injured in the fire, 21-year-old Jayden Maguire and 20-year-old Tyler Reed, both of Filley, are being treated a Lincoln hospital, and both remain in critical condition. 

The State Fire Marshal Agency confirmed in a news release Thursday that a propane leak caused the fire early Saturday.

FILLEY, Neb. (AP) — The state Fire Marshal's office has identified a woman killed in a southeastern Nebraska house fire last week. Investigators say an autopsy identified the woman as 20-year-old Courtney Knepp, of Beatrice. Preliminary results indicate the cause of death was smoke inhalation related to the fire in Filley. Two others injured in the fire, 21-year-old Jayden Maguire and 20-year-old Tyler Reed, both of Filley, are being treated a Lincoln hospital, and both remain in critical condition. The State Fire Marshal Agency confirmed in a news release Thursday that a propane leak caused the fire early Saturday.

Officials identify woman killed in southeast Nebraska fire

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A Rapid City man has pleaded not guilty to fatally shooting his girlfriend in a death that police say was staged to look like a suicide. 

Twenty-five-year-old Dion Bordeaux entered the plea this week to first-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old Jeanette Jumping Eagle, a mother of three found fatally shot in a hotel room on New Year’s Day. 

The defendant’s 24-year-old brother, Giovanni Bordeaux, is charged with being an accessory to the crime and pleaded not guilty earlier this month. 

If convicted, Dion Bordeaux would receive the death penalty or life in prison. He’s being held on $1 million cash bond.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A Rapid City man has pleaded not guilty to fatally shooting his girlfriend in a death that police say was staged to look like a suicide. Twenty-five-year-old Dion Bordeaux entered the plea this week to first-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old Jeanette Jumping Eagle, a mother of three found fatally shot in a hotel room on New Year’s Day. The defendant’s 24-year-old brother, Giovanni Bordeaux, is charged with being an accessory to the crime and pleaded not guilty earlier this month. If convicted, Dion Bordeaux would receive the death penalty or life in prison. He’s being held on $1 million cash bond.

Rapid City man pleads not guilty to killing girlfriend

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Hospitalizations from COVID-19 in South Dakota have reached new heights for the fourth straight day. 

The number of daily new cases also set a record, with 1,270 people testing positive for the virus. 

The virus has surged in the state and region, sending South Dakota to the nation’s second-worst ranking in new cases per capita over the last two weeks. 

Johns Hopkins researchers report that one out of roughly every 77 people in the state has tested positive in the last two weeks. 

The wave of cases has resulted in 412 people who are currently hospitalized with the virus.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Hospitalizations from COVID-19 in South Dakota have reached new heights for the fourth straight day. The number of daily new cases also set a record, with 1,270 people testing positive for the virus. The virus has surged in the state and region, sending South Dakota to the nation’s second-worst ranking in new cases per capita over the last two weeks. Johns Hopkins researchers report that one out of roughly every 77 people in the state has tested positive in the last two weeks. The wave of cases has resulted in 412 people who are currently hospitalized with the virus.

South Dakota sees record virus hospitalizations, cases

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Federal agencies warned that cybercriminals are&nbsp;<a href="https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/alerts/aa20-302a" target="_blank">unleashing a wave of data-scrambling extortion attempts</a>&nbsp;against the U.S. healthcare system designed to lock up hospital information systems, which could hurt patient care just as nationwide cases of COVID-19 are spiking.

In a joint alert Wednesday, the FBI and two federal agencies warned that they had “credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers.” The alert said malicious groups are targeting the sector with attacks that produce “data theft and disruption of healthcare services.”

The cyberattacks involve ransomware, which scrambles data into gibberish that can only be unlocked with software keys provided once targets pay up. Independent security experts say it has already hobbled at least five U.S. hospitals this week, and could potentially impact hundreds more.

The offensive by a Russian-speaking criminal gang coincides with the U.S. presidential election, although there is no immediate indication they were motivated by anything but profit. “We are experiencing the most significant cyber security threat we’ve ever seen in the United States,” Charles Carmakal, chief technical officer of the cybersecurity firm Mandiant, said in a statement.

Alex Holden, CEO of Hold Security, which has been closely tracking the ransomware in question for more than a year, agreed that the unfolding offensive is unprecedented in magnitude for the U.S. given its timing in the heat of a contentions presidential election and the worst global pandemic in a century.

The federal alert was co-authored by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services.

The cybercriminals launching the attacks use a strain of ransomware known as Ryuk, which is seeded through a network of zombie computers called Trickbot that Microsoft&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-malware-elections-crime-cybercrime-913ee5d56affa97fc5d9c639c4a284ab">began trying to counter</a>&nbsp;earlier in October. U.S. Cyber Command has also reportedly taken action against Trickbot. While Microsoft has had considerable success knocking its command-and-control servers offline through legal action, analysts say criminals have still been finding ways to spread Ryuk.

The U.S. has seen a plague of ransomware over the past 18 months or so, with major cities from Baltimore to Atlanta hit and local governments and schools hit especially hard.

In September, a ransomware attack&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/media-archive-21ebb97dc7b9e2a7c06244069a35b7e6">hobbled all 250 U.S. facilities</a>&nbsp;of the hospital chain Universal Health Services, forcing doctors and nurses to rely on paper and pencil for record-keeping and slowing lab work. Employees described chaotic conditions impeding patient care, including mounting emergency room waits and the failure of wireless vital-signs monitoring equipment.

Also in September, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-hacking-europe-cf8f8eee1adcec69bcc864f2c4308c94">first known fatality related to ransomware</a>&nbsp;occurred in Duesseldorf, Germany, when an IT system failure forced a critically ill patient to be routed to a hospital in another city.

Holden said he alerted federal law enforcement Friday after monitoring infection attempts at a number of hospitals, some of which may have beaten back infections. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

He said the group was demanding ransoms well above $10 million per target and that criminals involved on the dark web were discussing plans to try to infect more than 400 hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities.

“One of the comments from the bad guys is that they are expecting to cause panic and, no, they are not hitting election systems,” Holden said. “They are hitting where it hurts even more and they know it.” U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed concern about major ransomware attacks affecting the presidential election, even if the criminals are motivated chiefly by profit.

Mandiant’s Carmakal identified the criminal gang as UNC1878, saying “it is deliberately targeting and disrupting U.S. hospitals, forcing them to divert patients to other healthcare providers” and producing prolonged delays in critical care.

He called the eastern European group “one of most brazen, heartless, and disruptive threat actors I’ve observed over my career.”

While no one has proven suspected ties between the Russian government and gangs that use the Trickbot platform, Holden said he has “no doubt that the Russian government is aware of this operation — of terrorism, really.” He said dozens of different criminal groups use Ryuk, paying its architects a cut.

Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder and former chief technical officer of the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, said there are “certainly lot of connections between Russian cyber criminals and the state,” with Kremlin-employed hackers sometimes moonlighting as cyber criminals.

Neither Holden nor Carmakal would identify the affected hospitals. Four healthcare institutions have been reported hit by ransomware so far this week, three belonging to the St. Lawrence County Health System in upstate New York and the Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Sky Lakes acknowledged the ransomware attack in an online statement, saying it had no evidence that patient information was compromised. It said emergency and urgent care “remain available” The St. Lawrence system did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

Increasingly, ransomware criminals are stealing data from their targets before encrypting networks, using it for extortion. They often sow the malware weeks before activating it, waiting for moments when they believe they can extract the highest payments, said Brett Callow, an analyst at the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft.

A total of 59 U.S. healthcare providers/systems have been impacted by ransomware in 2020, disrupting patient care at up to 510 facilities, Callow said.

Carmakal said Mandiant had provided Microsoft on Wednesday with as much detail as it could&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/10/kegtap-and-singlemalt-with-a-ransomware-chaser.html" target="_blank">about the thr</a>eat so it could distribute details to its customers. A Microsoft spokesman had no immediate comment.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Federal agencies warned that cybercriminals are&nbsp;<a href="https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/alerts/aa20-302a" target="_blank">unleashing a wave of data-scrambling extortion attempts</a>&nbsp;against the U.S. healthcare system designed to lock up hospital information systems, which could hurt patient care just as nationwide cases of COVID-19 are spiking.In a joint alert Wednesday, the FBI and two federal agencies warned that they had “credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers.” The alert said malicious groups are targeting the sector with attacks that produce “data theft and disruption of healthcare services.”The cyberattacks involve ransomware, which scrambles data into gibberish that can only be unlocked with software keys provided once targets pay up. Independent security experts say it has already hobbled at least five U.S. hospitals this week, and could potentially impact hundreds more.The offensive by a Russian-speaking criminal gang coincides with the U.S. presidential election, although there is no immediate indication they were motivated by anything but profit. “We are experiencing the most significant cyber security threat we’ve ever seen in the United States,” Charles Carmakal, chief technical officer of the cybersecurity firm Mandiant, said in a statement.Alex Holden, CEO of Hold Security, which has been closely tracking the ransomware in question for more than a year, agreed that the unfolding offensive is unprecedented in magnitude for the U.S. given its timing in the heat of a contentions presidential election and the worst global pandemic in a century.The federal alert was co-authored by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services.The cybercriminals launching the attacks use a strain of ransomware known as Ryuk, which is seeded through a network of zombie computers called Trickbot that Microsoft&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-malware-elections-crime-cybercrime-913ee5d56affa97fc5d9c639c4a284ab">began trying to counter</a>&nbsp;earlier in October. U.S. Cyber Command has also reportedly taken action against Trickbot. While Microsoft has had considerable success knocking its command-and-control servers offline through legal action, analysts say criminals have still been finding ways to spread Ryuk.The U.S. has seen a plague of ransomware over the past 18 months or so, with major cities from Baltimore to Atlanta hit and local governments and schools hit especially hard.In September, a ransomware attack&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/media-archive-21ebb97dc7b9e2a7c06244069a35b7e6">hobbled all 250 U.S. facilities</a>&nbsp;of the hospital chain Universal Health Services, forcing doctors and nurses to rely on paper and pencil for record-keeping and slowing lab work. Employees described chaotic conditions impeding patient care, including mounting emergency room waits and the failure of wireless vital-signs monitoring equipment.Also in September, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-hacking-europe-cf8f8eee1adcec69bcc864f2c4308c94">first known fatality related to ransomware</a>&nbsp;occurred in Duesseldorf, Germany, when an IT system failure forced a critically ill patient to be routed to a hospital in another city.Holden said he alerted federal law enforcement Friday after monitoring infection attempts at a number of hospitals, some of which may have beaten back infections. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.He said the group was demanding ransoms well above $10 million per target and that criminals involved on the dark web were discussing plans to try to infect more than 400 hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities.“One of the comments from the bad guys is that they are expecting to cause panic and, no, they are not hitting election systems,” Holden said. “They are hitting where it hurts even more and they know it.” U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed concern about major ransomware attacks affecting the presidential election, even if the criminals are motivated chiefly by profit.Mandiant’s Carmakal identified the criminal gang as UNC1878, saying “it is deliberately targeting and disrupting U.S. hospitals, forcing them to divert patients to other healthcare providers” and producing prolonged delays in critical care.He called the eastern European group “one of most brazen, heartless, and disruptive threat actors I’ve observed over my career.”While no one has proven suspected ties between the Russian government and gangs that use the Trickbot platform, Holden said he has “no doubt that the Russian government is aware of this operation — of terrorism, really.” He said dozens of different criminal groups use Ryuk, paying its architects a cut.Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder and former chief technical officer of the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, said there are “certainly lot of connections between Russian cyber criminals and the state,” with Kremlin-employed hackers sometimes moonlighting as cyber criminals.Neither Holden nor Carmakal would identify the affected hospitals. Four healthcare institutions have been reported hit by ransomware so far this week, three belonging to the St. Lawrence County Health System in upstate New York and the Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, Oregon.Sky Lakes acknowledged the ransomware attack in an online statement, saying it had no evidence that patient information was compromised. It said emergency and urgent care “remain available” The St. Lawrence system did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.Increasingly, ransomware criminals are stealing data from their targets before encrypting networks, using it for extortion. They often sow the malware weeks before activating it, waiting for moments when they believe they can extract the highest payments, said Brett Callow, an analyst at the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft.A total of 59 U.S. healthcare providers/systems have been impacted by ransomware in 2020, disrupting patient care at up to 510 facilities, Callow said.Carmakal said Mandiant had provided Microsoft on Wednesday with as much detail as it could&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/10/kegtap-and-singlemalt-with-a-ransomware-chaser.html" target="_blank">about the thr</a>eat so it could distribute details to its customers. A Microsoft spokesman had no immediate comment.—-

FBI warns of cyberattack on U.S. hospitals, facilities

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former Omaha TV weatherman and mayoral spokesman has been sentenced to two years of probation for emailing death threats to a local health department director over her handling of the coronavirus outbreak. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that Ronald Penzkowski was sentenced Tuesday. He had earlier this year pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts of third-degree assault.

 Investigators have said he sent more than a dozen emails in March to Dr. Adi Pour, threatening to “lynch” her and slit her throat. 

Penzkowski once worked as a spokesman for former Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and as a weatherman for Omaha television stations under the name Ron Gerard.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former Omaha TV weatherman and mayoral spokesman has been sentenced to two years of probation for emailing death threats to a local health department director over her handling of the coronavirus outbreak. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Ronald Penzkowski was sentenced Tuesday. He had earlier this year pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts of third-degree assault. Investigators have said he sent more than a dozen emails in March to Dr. Adi Pour, threatening to “lynch” her and slit her throat. Penzkowski once worked as a spokesman for former Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and as a weatherman for Omaha television stations under the name Ron Gerard.

Ex-weatherman who threatened health director gets probation

KEARNEY, Neb. (NSP)-Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP), working with the Fairbury Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), have arrested a Kansas man following an investigation into reports of child enticement.

The collaborative investigation culminated in the arrest of Bradley Burris, 24. Burris was arrested by NSP Troopers Tuesday in Wood River.

The investigation began with a report to the Fairbury Police Department. During the course of the investigation, NSP, KBI, and several other agencies became involved. Investigators obtained search warrants for social media accounts connected to Burris, and discovered multiple sexually explicit videos involving a juvenile.

Burris was lodged in Buffalo County Jail on suspicion of two counts of enticement of a child by electronic communication device. The investigation remains ongoing.

The Fairbury Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Nuckolls County Sheriff’s Office, Republic County (KS) Sheriff’s Office, Cloud County (KS) Sheriff’s Office, Concordia (KS) Police Department, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and Nebraska State Patrol have assisted in this investigation.

KEARNEY, Neb. (NSP)-Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP), working with the Fairbury Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), have arrested a Kansas man following an investigation into reports of child enticement.The collaborative investigation culminated in the arrest of Bradley Burris, 24. Burris was arrested by NSP Troopers Tuesday in Wood River.The investigation began with a report to the Fairbury Police Department. During the course of the investigation, NSP, KBI, and several other agencies became involved. Investigators obtained search warrants for social media accounts connected to Burris, and discovered multiple sexually explicit videos involving a juvenile.Burris was lodged in Buffalo County Jail on suspicion of two counts of enticement of a child by electronic communication device. The investigation remains ongoing.The Fairbury Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Nuckolls County Sheriff’s Office, Republic County (KS) Sheriff’s Office, Cloud County (KS) Sheriff’s Office, Concordia (KS) Police Department, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and Nebraska State Patrol have assisted in this investigation.

Kansas man arrested in Wood River following child enticement investigation

The Chase County Sheriff's Office is seeking information from the public as to the whereabouts of Anthony W. Hansen.

Hansen is wanted in Colorado for dangerous crimes. He is believed to have ties to the Chase County area and recently ran from authorities in southwest Nebraska.

Hansen has been known to carry firearms. For your safety, please do not approach him.

Anyone with information as to where he might be found is asked to please call our office any time of the day or night at 308-882-4748.&nbsp;

The Chase County Sheriff's Office is seeking information from the public as to the whereabouts of Anthony W. Hansen.Hansen is wanted in Colorado for dangerous crimes. He is believed to have ties to the Chase County area and recently ran from authorities in southwest Nebraska.Hansen has been known to carry firearms. For your safety, please do not approach him.Anyone with information as to where he might be found is asked to please call our office any time of the day or night at 308-882-4748.&nbsp;

Chase County Sheriff seeking information on man wanted for 'dangerous crimes'

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - An Iowa man has been convicted of murder in the 2018 stabbing death of a Bellevue man during a botched robbery.

Raymond Davis, 31, of Des Moines, Iowa, was convicted Tuesday of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and a weapons count in the death of 39-year-old Brent Quigley, the Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/des-moines-man-convicted-of-first-degree-murder-in-2018-stabbing-of-bellevue-man/article_df9f9309-aa2a-5c39-bf6f-4b68bd9db140.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.

Davis is one of five people charged in Quigley's death. Police have said Davis and another man, 47-year-old Christopher Reagan, fatally stabbed Quigley at his home in June 2018 as part of a plan to steal drugs and money from Quigley. Officers found Quigley lying near the front door of his Bellevue home with at least 20 stab wounds.

Reagan was sentenced to 100 years to life in prison in June. Davis faces life in prison when he's sentenced at a later date.

Alisia Cooke, 30, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and awaits sentencing in November. Jonathan Riesgaard, 34, has pleaded guilty to being an accessory to a robbery and also awaits sentencing in November.

Krystal R. Martin, 22, awaits trial on a charge of being an accessory to murder.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574122756866.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - An Iowa man has been convicted of murder in the 2018 stabbing death of a Bellevue man during a botched robbery.Raymond Davis, 31, of Des Moines, Iowa, was convicted Tuesday of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and a weapons count in the death of 39-year-old Brent Quigley, the Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/des-moines-man-convicted-of-first-degree-murder-in-2018-stabbing-of-bellevue-man/article_df9f9309-aa2a-5c39-bf6f-4b68bd9db140.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.Davis is one of five people charged in Quigley's death. Police have said Davis and another man, 47-year-old Christopher Reagan, fatally stabbed Quigley at his home in June 2018 as part of a plan to steal drugs and money from Quigley. Officers found Quigley lying near the front door of his Bellevue home with at least 20 stab wounds.Reagan was sentenced to 100 years to life in prison in June. Davis faces life in prison when he's sentenced at a later date.Alisia Cooke, 30, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and awaits sentencing in November. Jonathan Riesgaard, 34, has pleaded guilty to being an accessory to a robbery and also awaits sentencing in November.Krystal R. Martin, 22, awaits trial on a charge of being an accessory to murder.

Iowa man convicted in Nebraska man's 2018 stabbing death

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska Democratic congressional hopeful has tested positive for the coronavirus and will switch to virtual campaigning from home in the final days before the election. 

State Sen. Kate Bolz, of Lincoln, says she will work remotely while her network of supporters continues to campaign on her behalf.

 Bolz announced Monday that she had placed herself in quarantine and was awaiting results of a virus test after her fiancee, Lancaster County Board Chairman Sean Flowerday, tested positive for the virus.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska Democratic congressional hopeful has tested positive for the coronavirus and will switch to virtual campaigning from home in the final days before the election. State Sen. Kate Bolz, of Lincoln, says she will work remotely while her network of supporters continues to campaign on her behalf. Bolz announced Monday that she had placed herself in quarantine and was awaiting results of a virus test after her fiancee, Lancaster County Board Chairman Sean Flowerday, tested positive for the virus.

Nebraska congressional candidate tests positive for virus

LINCOLN, Neb.-The Judicial Nominating Commission for the Separate Juvenile Court Judge in Lancaster County provided the following two names for the Governor’s consideration: Michelle D. Sabata and David P. Thompson, both of Lincoln.

The vacancy is due to the retirement of Judge Linda S. Porter.&nbsp;

LINCOLN, Neb.-The Judicial Nominating Commission for the Separate Juvenile Court Judge in Lancaster County provided the following two names for the Governor’s consideration: Michelle D. Sabata and David P. Thompson, both of Lincoln.The vacancy is due to the retirement of Judge Linda S. Porter.&nbsp;

2 names forwarded for Juvenile Court Judge in Lancaster County

WASHINGTON (AP) — Throngs of people who attended a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at a Nebraska airport had to wait around in frigid weather for hours after it ended before they could get back to their cars.

Thousands attended the Tuesday night rally at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield. Most parked in designated lots a mile or two from the airport and were shuttled into the 7:30 p.m. event on buses. Social media and police scanner reports indicate shuttle buses were unable to return to the airport as traffic snarled and hundreds of people wandered into the streets around the airport as they tried to walk to their cars.

The last of the rally-goers left the area by around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Police tried to clear traffic and respond to medical emergencies including some people who suffered adverse effects from the cold weather, around 30 degrees.

An Omaha police spokesman says he doesn't know the size of the crowd or the number of people who waited for the buses.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Throngs of people who attended a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at a Nebraska airport had to wait around in frigid weather for hours after it ended before they could get back to their cars.Thousands attended the Tuesday night rally at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield. Most parked in designated lots a mile or two from the airport and were shuttled into the 7:30 p.m. event on buses. Social media and police scanner reports indicate shuttle buses were unable to return to the airport as traffic snarled and hundreds of people wandered into the streets around the airport as they tried to walk to their cars.The last of the rally-goers left the area by around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.Police tried to clear traffic and respond to medical emergencies including some people who suffered adverse effects from the cold weather, around 30 degrees.An Omaha police spokesman says he doesn't know the size of the crowd or the number of people who waited for the buses.