The Nebraska State Patrol can now release the identity of the pilot who died in Monday’s plane crash in Knox County. The pilot has been identified as Joseph Rudloff, 73, of Norfolk. The crash was reported at approximately 9:30 a.m. Monday. The location was approximately 4 miles southwest of Crofton, Nebraska. A second plane crash occurred a short time later near Wayne, Nebraska. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigating agency on that incident. Details will be released by the...

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested a Tennessee man after locating 40 pounds of suspected methamphetamine during a traffic stop on I-80 near Gretna. Friday morning, a trooper observed a Ford F-150 failing to maintain its lane and driving on the shoulder as it was traveling eastbound on I-80 near mile marker 432. During the traffic stop, the trooper detected that the driver was impaired by drugs. A Ralston Police Department K9 was then utilized and detected the odor of a controlled...

Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol have conducted alcohol compliance checks in Hall and Red Willow Counties in recent weeks. During the afternoon and evening hours of Thursday, February 29, investigators conducted alcohol compliance checks in Hall County. This project was supported by grant #2447 from Tobacco Free Hall County. In total, 10 businesses were checked. Two of those businesses sold alcohol to a minor for a compliance rate of 80%. One business failed to check the minor’s ID...

Troopers have arrested a Hastings man after he fled a traffic stop Wednesday evening near Grand Island. At approximately 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, a trooper observed a Chevrolet Silverado speeding on Highway 34, just north of the I-80 Interchange in Grand Island. During the traffic stop, a passenger of the vehicle fled on foot, jumping over a fence and running toward the Platte River. Additional troopers traveled to the scene. After approximately 90 minutes, a trooper saw the subject crawling across...

The Nebraska State Patrol, working with several public safety partners, is investigating the deaths of four people, at two different scenes in Laurel, Nebraska. The first incident occurred shortly after 3:00 a.m. Thursday, when an explosion was reported at a residence in the 200 block of Elm Street in Laurel. Local volunteer firefighters responded and located an individual inside the home. That victim was found to be deceased. At that point, the Laurel Police Department and Cedar County Sheriff...