OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An eastern Nebraska man has been given four years in prison for sexually assaulting on a drunken 17-year-old.

Federal prosecutors say Gabriel Rice, of Winnebago, must serve five years of supervised release when he leaves prison and pay restitution of more than $1,000.

Prosecutors say Rice had been drinking with the teenager at a friend’s house on Nov. 26 last year and had sex with the teen while the teen was passed out.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale has approved a proposal to open more than two dozen polling places in the Omaha area ahead of the November general election.

The proposal to open another 27 polling places and 30 more precincts was submitted to Gale last month by Douglas County Election Commissioner Dave Phipps. Phipps created a firestorm of controversy by closing dozens of polling places and nearly half the county’s precincts earlier this year before the May primary in an effort to save money.

Critics charged that the changes would make it difficult for the poorest residents to vote.

On Tuesday, Gale called the new proposal opening more polling places and precincts “a commendable and thoughtful proposal.”

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nine people have applied for an open judgeship on the Nebraska’s workers’ compensation court.

The state Judicial Nominating Commission will hold a public hearing on the applicants Aug. 20 at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln. Commission members will review all applicants for the office and take testimony from the public.

The applicants are Hobert B. Rupe, Shirley K. Williams and Anne E. Winner of Lincoln; and William J. Birkel, Dirk V. Block, Matthew J. Buckley, Steven S. Chase, Daniel R. Fridrich and Julie A. Martin of Omaha.

The vacancy is due to the resignation of Judge Ronald L. Brown.

JOHNSON, Neb. (AP) — Pavement work has been scheduled for state Highway 105 in southeast Nebraska.

The work is scheduled to begin Aug. 8 and take two days. It will affect motorists on a stretch north of Johnson.

The Nebraska Roads Department says traffic will be reduced to one lane, and flaggers and a pilot car will be employed.

(AP)-The drought affecting Midwest and Plains states has put a further drag on the regional economy.

A report released Wednesday says July’s Mid-America Business Conditions Index plunged below growth neutral for the first time since 2008. The index hit 48.7, compared with 57.2 in June.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the drought has already harmed ethanol and food processors in the region.

The survey of business leaders and supply managers uses a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Any score above 50 suggests growth while a score below 50 suggests decline for that factor.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Another report on the health of the economy in nine Midwest and Plains states should show whether business is continuing to slow down.

Creighton University will release the latest monthly report on the region’s economy on Wednesday morning.

In recent months, the survey of business leaders suggested the economy was slowing down because of global economic concerns even though farm income had remained healthy.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A Platte County judge has ordered a Columbus man to trial on charges that he created a false paper trail for a classic muscle car to pump up the asking price.

A judge sent Mickey Dush’s case to district court for trial on charges of theft by deception and a sales tax violation.

Prosecutors say he bought a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle from a Florida dealer in 2011 for $37,500 and misrepresented its origins when he sold it to an Iowa buyer for $87,000

The Chevelle SS 396 was a mass produced model. The Chevelle LS-6 454 model was a limited edition and is highly prized. Prosecutors claim Dush swapped engines and created false documents.

Dush’s defense attorney declined to comment on the state’s case.