(AP) — A large brush fire in eastern Nebraska forced the evacuation of a farm and educational complex that houses dozens of animals.

Fire crews from Omaha and Bellevue spent hours on Saturday fighting the blaze, which had flames that reached 20 to 25 feet high. Crews brought the fire under control, but were still working Sunday morning to tamp down smoldering hot spots.

The fire Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue was between a Missouri River levee and nearby railroad tracks. It forced the evacuation of the Gifford Farm, an educational complex that houses dozens of animals. Bellevue firefighters were expected to meet with farm employees Sunday to determine when the workers and animals can return.

The fire’s origin has not been confirmed.

(AP) — Lincoln city officials have hired a local law firm to handle union contract negotiations for the second bargaining season in a row.

John Hewitt, an attorney with the Cline Williams law firm, will act as the city’s chief negotiator in bargaining with the five unions whose contracts end this summer.

Hewitt will also help the city develop goals and proposals, and advise on strategy and state law. The $125,000 contract with his firm also requires that he be available to talk with the council or at news conferences.

The city has paid Cline Williams $146,021 over the past two years for similar services.

Mayor Chris Beutler says the city uses a private-sector negotiator to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

(AP) — Kevin Sharp, a country music singer who recorded multiple chart-topping songs and survived a well-publicized battle with cancer, has died. He was 43.

His sister Mary Huston says Sharp died in Fair Oaks, Calif., at 10:49 p.m. Saturday of complications from past stomach surgeries and digestive issues.

Sharp gained fame with the release of “Nobody Knows,” a single on his 1996 debut album “Measure of a Man.” He released two other albums, “Love Is” in 1998 and “Make A Wish” in 2005.

Born in 1970 in Redding, Calif., Sharp was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, which he overcame after two years of chemotherapy and radiation.

Sharp became a motivational speaker, a spokesman for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and wrote “Tragedy’s Gift,” a 2004 book about fighting cancer.

(AP) — A team of University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers is examining part of a 110-year-old sod house.

The researchers are working with a 4-foot-by-8-foot section of a wall from a house built in Custer County in 1902 or 1903.

Professor Dave Wedin says the sod house section offers a rare chance to study plant and soil samples from more than 100 years ago.

Other researchers will try to learn more about the bugs and other pests that bothered pioneers.

Several students from schools in Custer County have also been able to participate in the research. Ansley Public Schools teacher Brandon Grosserode says the project taught students about the history of the area.