• Today: Showers, mainly before noon. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 64. Breezy, with a north northeast wind 24 to 29 mph decreasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
• Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable.
• Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 79. South southwest wind 6 to 11 mph.
• Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. South southeast wind 9 to 11 mph.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 9 to 13 mph becoming east northeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.
• Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

UEHLING, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska farmers who sustained heavy damage in last week’s severe weather will face some tough decisions in the days ahead.

Farming and crop insurance experts say farmers will have to consider a number of factors when deciding whether to replant.

Dodge County Extension Educator Nathan Mueller says deciding to replant will depend on what insurance coverage farmers have, what herbicides they used this spring and how bad the damage is.

Significant damage is common in Burt, Cuming, Dodge and Washington counties after Tuesday’s large hail and strong winds.

Farmers can attend a meeting this Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Uehling Auditorium to get advice from experts.

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Public Power District plans to issue $250 million in bonds this week to pay for transmission line projects.

Some of the proceeds from the bonds that will be issued Monday will be used to repay some of its existing bonds.

The fixed-rate, taxable bonds will be sold to retail and institutional investors.

The bonds will be repaid over a 30-year period. Individuals interested in purchasing bonds should contact their broker.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Supporters of a higher minimum wage in Nebraska are wasting little time in gathering signatures to place the issue on the November ballot.

The group Nebraskans for Better Wages is aiming to have 83,000 verified signatures by July 3, the deadline to put the question before voters in the general election.

State Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha, a spokesman for the group, says organizers have met their initial targets for the petition drive, and he’s confident they’ll succeed.

The ballot measure would let voters decide whether to incrementally raise Nebraska’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $9 by January 2016.

The campaign has received major contributions from union groups. Business groups that oppose the measure are also considering a campaign that would challenge the ballot measure.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — The winner of the 2014 Miss Nebraska competition is Miss Douglas County Megan Swanson.

Swanson won the crown Saturday night at the pageant in North Platte.

She is a graduate of Millard North High School in Omaha, and is studying music at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Swanson impressed the judges and audience with her vocal rendition of “You Raise Me Up.”

Swanson says she hopes to set an example for others of what it’s like to live a balanced life as she promotes total body wellness.

Swanson will represent Nebraska at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City in September.

Swanson’s Court includes:

• 4th Runner Up-Miss Eastern Nebraska, Alyssa Howell
• 3rd Runner Up-Miss Heartland, Allison Tietjen
• 2nd Runner Up-Miss River City, Rachel Foehlinger
• 1st Runner Up- Miss State Fair, Aleah Peters

In the event that Swanson is unable to fulfill her duties, Peters would assume the title of Miss Nebraska 2014.