(AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is surveying businesses statewide to learn more about how they use broadband Internet technology.

The Nebraska Broadband Initiative posted the survey online at www.tinyurl.com/BusinessAssessmentSurvey earlier this month.

Researchers hope to get a better idea of how Nebraska businesses are using broadband Internet at this point.

The survey takes about 20 minutes to fill out, and researchers hope a large number of businesses will respond.

The results will be presented at the Broadband Connecting Nebraska conference in Kearney on Oct. 16-17.

(AP) — The first public-input hearings of the Legislature’s Tax Modernization Committee are set to begin in western Nebraska.

Lawmakers will convene the first hearing on Monday at 4 p.m., at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff. The committee will hold a public hearing on Tuesday starting at 1:30 p.m. at North Platte Community College in North Platte. Its final hearing for the week will take place at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Northeast Community College in Norfolk.

The committee has been assigned to review Nebraska’s tax system for fairness, simplicity and stability, while helping to compete with other states. The panel is expected to release a report by mid-December.

Hearings in Lincoln and Omaha are scheduled in October.

(AP) — Record flooding continues in western and central Nebraska as the water that inundated Colorado flows east, but it appeared to cause few major problems because communities were able to prepare.

The National Weather Service says the South Platte River rose to 14.2 feet in North Platte to set a new record on Sunday. The previous record level of 14 feet was set in June 1935.

The river also set a record in Brady at 9.85 feet Sunday — eclipsing the previous mark of 9.6 feet.

Records were already set upstream in Roscoe, Neb., and Julesburg, Colo., late last week.

Meteorologist Shawn Jacobs says the river tends to remain high for several days after it crests in an area, so residents should continue to be careful.

(AP) — Flood worries are easing in western and central Nebraska as the swollen Platte River reaches its crest.

State and local officials continued to work Saturday after several close calls overnight. Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Dan Guenther says flood barriers helped avoid an evacuation order for 20 people in the town of Hershey. Guenther credited early warnings about the flood and assistance from state officials.

The river at North Platte peaked at 13.9 feet on Saturday, nearly 1 foot above flood stage.

Cory Martin, a National Weather Service meteorologist in North Platte, says the river flooded a local golf course and forced one street to close, but the town saw no significant flood damage. Martin says the river is expected to remain above flood stage until at least Monday.

(AP) — Nebraska residents are receiving state recognition for their emergency preparedness and response efforts.

Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann on Friday announced the winners of this year’s “Be Prepared,” awards. The awards are given to volunteers and community groups. They’re sponsored by the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency and the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center.

Heidemann says this year’s winners provided educational training and support to community volunteers to help them respond to emergencies.

The Excellence in Risk Communication award went to LincUP of North Platte

The Citizen Corp Council of the year award was presented to Hall County Citizen Corps of Grand Island

The 2013 Local Hero Award was given to Elaine Frasier and the Citizens of Dundee County.

The Excellence in Community Preparedness award was presented to Denise Kollath of Columbus.

The Citizens Corps Partner Program of the year was presented to Central Nebraska Medical Reserve Corps of Hastings.

The Citizen Corps Volunteer of the year award went to Patti Motl of Omaha

The Excellence in Preparedness Education and Outreach award went to Larry Mattson of Funk.