NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (AP) — A March trial has been scheduled for a 17-year-old girl who’s accused of fatally driving her pickup over a woman in the Nebraska City library parking lot.

The girl pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in Otoe County District Court to charges of murder, use of a weapon and leaving the scene of an injury accident. Her trial is set to begin on March 9th. The Associated Press generally doesn’t name juveniles accused of crimes.

Prosecutors say the girl and 22-year-old Amber Shipley got into an altercation outside the library on September 14th and say the girl drove toward Shipley and ran her over.

The girl’s attorney, Jerry Sena, said Wednesday that he’s planning to file a motion in the next two weeks to move her case to juvenile court.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Votes by Omaha Tribe members are encouraging tribal leaders to continue looking into the marijuana business and allowing recreational use on its northeast Nebraska reservation.

The Sioux City Journal reports that voters overwhelmingly approved measures Tuesday regarding recreational use, medicinal use and a proposal to grow industrial hemp.

The referendum votes merely provide guidance. The Tribal Council will make the final decision.

Indian tribal law expert Lance Morgan has said a Just Department memo issued last year on the subject doesn’t actually let tribes legalize marijuana. Rather, it lets them work with U.S. attorneys, and Morgan says U.S. attorneys in many states have been unwilling to let tribes move forward.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jan Sharp said Wednesday that nothing in the tribal vote changes federal law and that “it’s our intention to continue to enforce the law.”

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is defending his participation in a conference organized by a group that’s been called “anti-immigrant.”

Kobach gave a presentation last week in Washington for the Social Contract Press, which the Southern Poverty Law Center considers an anti-immigrant hate group. The SPLC, which tracks hate groups, accuses The Social Contract Press of publishing race-baiting articles.

Kobach told The Kansas City Star that criticism of the conference was “outrageous” in part because it included many minority presenters. Kobach also says opposing illegal immigration doesn’t mean an organization is anti-immigrant.

Kobach has championed Kansas’ strict voter registration law, which requires proof-of-citizenship documents.

The Social Contract Press is a publication of U.S. Incorporated, whose executive director, K.C. McAlpin, described the SPLC’s characterization of the group as “pretty ridiculous.

SHARON SPRINGS, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas high school football player who collapsed on the sideline during a game died Wednesday after being taken off of life support, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Luke Schemm had just scored the extra point after a touchdown when the 17-year-old ran to the sidelines and collapsed.

A spokeswoman for Swedish Medical Center in Colorado, Nicole Williams, told The Associated Press that Luke Schemm was “kept on life support so family and friends can pay their respects.” She later confirmed that life support was withdrawn Wednesday afternoon and the teen was declared dead.

Brian McVay, superintendent and principal of Wallace County schools, said he didn’t know why Schemm collapsed during the Eight-Man Division II game at Wallace County High in Sharon Springs, Kansas.

He said Schemm was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, then flown to the hospital in Colorado, about 220 miles west of Sharon Springs.

 

OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say six people have been arrested following a human trafficking sting in southern Iowa.

Osceola Police Chief Martin Duffus says the suspects were arrested following a sting Tuesday at a business. Additional information was not released.

The suspects’ ages range from 21 to 43. Several face a charge of prostitution.

Duffus tells Des Moines television station KCCI that other agencies assisted in the sting, including the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

The suspects have been taken to the Clarke County Law Enforcement Center.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A legislative study committee recommends that Kansas legislators hunt for state funds to boost the pay of corrections officers in state prisons.

The proposal Tuesday from the Joint Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight will go to the House and Senate budget committees once the full Legislature reconvenes in January.

The committee made the recommendation after Corrections Secretary Ray Roberts said turnover at prisons and juvenile correctional facilities is a serious problem.

Roberts said pay is the main issue, with officers at state prisons starting at $13.61 an hour. Each 1 percent increase in pay would cost nearly $1 million a year.

Committee Chairman and Republican state Rep. John Rubin of Shawnee said lawmakers take the money from elsewhere in the budget and suggested trimming aid to public schools.

ANDERSON, Mo. (AP) — Authorities say a man apparently shot and killed himself while fleeing from authorities in southwest Missouri.

McDonald County Sheriff Michael Hall told The Joplin Globe that a police officer responding to a call on a suspicious person, found the suspect who drew a handgun when he was being arrested on outstanding Arkansas warrants.

Hall says the suspect then stole a tow truck from the scene and fled on Interstate 49 before apparently shooting himself and crashing the truck.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says an autopsy will be conducted.

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. (AP) — Two suburban Kansas City teenagers are in custody in connection with the stabbing death of a 43-year-old woman.

Lee’s Summit police announced Wednesday that the suspects are 13 and 14 years old and live in Lee’s Summit. They were identified after surveillance video was released to the media.

Police say an officer tried to stop a vehicle at 1:15 a.m. Sunday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, but the vehicle pulled into an apartment complex parking lot and two males fled.

The officer chased the suspects but lost sight of them and returned to the vehicle, where he found Tanya Chamberlain of Lee’s Summit dead in the passenger seat.

Charges are pending with Jackson County Family Court. Police say they are confident everyone involved in Chamberlain’s death is in custody.

WEST PLAINS, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Department of Transportation is offering to hand over a historic bridge for free.

Shannon County Northern Commissioner Dale Counts says MoDOT offered the Sinking Creek Bridge on Highway 19 to the county where it’s located, but the county declined.

He says MoDOT closed the bridge, which was found in need of replacement, and built a temporary bridge next to it for public use.

The West Plains Daily Quill reports the state is offering the bridge to anyone who wants it. The 338-foot long concrete arch bridge was built in 1925 and has three 80-foot arch spans.

MoDOT says the historic bridge is available free for relocation and reuse. Anyone interested must submit a proposal by Dec. 15 to the Missouri Department of Transportation Historic Preservation Section.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Democrats have gained a seat in the Missouri House as a result of special elections held to fill several vacancies.

Three empty House seats were on the ballot Tuesday. Democrats won two of them, including one that had previously been held by a Republican.

In suburban Kansas City, Democrat Rory Rowland defeated Republican Brian DeMoss to pick up the seat vacated when Republican Rep. Noel Torpey resigned before the start of the 2015 session.

Elsewhere, Democrat Daron McGee defeated three other candidates to succeed former Democratic Rep. Kevin McManus of Kansas City.

In suburban St. Louis, Republican Dean Plocher defeated Democrat Al Gerber to succeed former Rep. John Diehl, the Republican House speaker who resigned after an intern scandal.

Republicans will hold a 117-45 House majority over Democrats.