WASHINGTON (AP) — The days of the census taker with clipboard in hand may be numbered.

The Census Bureau plans to test going digital in preparation for the 2020 census.

Instead of asking people to send the traditional census form by mail, officials are asking those in the Savannah, Georgia, area and in Maricopa County, Arizona, to submit their sample census forms on the Internet this year.

And rather than sending census workers out with clipboards and paper to do follow-up, officials will have them input information directly on smartphones.

Census Director John H. Thompson says that most of the money spent during a census goes to getting people to participate. He says going digital works could save millions of dollars.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Republican Pete Ricketts has been sworn into office as the 40th governor of Nebraska.

The Omaha businessman took the oath of office on Thursday in the Capitol’s legislative chamber. The 50-year-old replaces Gov. Dave Heineman, who served a record 10 years as the state’s top executive.

Republican Mike Foley, Nebraska’s outgoing state auditor, will serve as Ricketts’ lieutenant governor. Foley replaces former state Sen. John Nelson, who was appointed as Heineman’s lieutenant governor in September.

Ricketts defeated Democrat Chuck Hassebrook, of rural Lyons, in the November general election.

Ricketts has said his focus in the 2015 legislative session would be on reducing property taxes. The session began Wednesday.

GERING, Neb. (AP) — An attorney for a Wyoming teenager convicted of the 2014 strangulation of a Scotts Bluff County jailer will argue in court this week for a new trial, alleging jury misconduct.

Sixteen-year-old Dylan Cardeilhac, of Torrington, Wyoming, was convicted in November of second-degree murder in the Valentine’s Day attack on 24-year-old jailer Amanda Baker. Security video shows Cardeilhac choking Baker after she entered his detention center cell. She died two days later.

On Friday, a hearing will be held in Scotts Bluff County District Court on Cardeilhac’s motion for a new trial. His attorney, Jim Mowbray with the Commission on Public Advocacy, tells Scottsbluff radio station KNEB (https://bit.ly/14zObHH ) that a juror acted out the strangulation, leading another juror to find the teen guilty of a more serious crime.

It’s easier than ever to receive an education from North Platte Community College. That’s because NPCC is increasing the number of night classes it typically offers in an attempt to work around people’s busy lives.

“For the most part, Mid-Plains Community College is about the ‘As’ – accessibility and affordability,” said Chuck Salestrom, area associate vice president of public information and marketing for MPCC. “Classes, both academic transfer and technical, taught at night are a viable option to learning for the love of learning or the completion of a degree or certificate.”

A variety of night classes for academic credit are available. They include those in the accounting, arts, business, chemistry, computer science, education, medical laboratory and information technology fields among many others.

Emergency medical personnel have the chance to learn about patient assessment, airway management and ventilation, instructor training and emergency medical technician skills.

Fire prevention and investigation and Hazmat awareness and operations are some of the things discussed during fire science technology night classes.

Classes for the technical trades are also offered. They include training in refrigeration and air conditioning, automotive preventive maintenance and minor repair, welding and auto body painting and refinishing.

Introduction to coaching, power sculpting and prevention and care of athletic injuries are among the physical education classes featured.

Numerous hobby classes such as furniture upholstering, furniture repair and cabinet making are also available.

Many of the night classes start Jan. 12 and run through April or May. Sessions last approximately three hours. Scholarships and tuition waivers may still be available for those who qualify, and people 62 or older can take advantage of a senior discount.

Registration can be done online at mpcc.edu, or by calling 800-658-4308 ext. 3774.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have introduced the first bills of this year’s session, including a voter identification measure and an attempt to repeal the state’s motorcycle helmet law.

Those proposals were among 113 that were submitted Thursday, the session’s second day. Each is guaranteed at least a committee hearing, in a Legislature where more than one-third of the members are new.

Lawmakers introduced a series of tax measures, including income tax deductions and a tax credit for owners of farm- and ranchland.

A committee will also review a bill that would change Nebraska to a winner-take-all system when awarding its electoral votes in presidential elections. Nebraska awards three votes by congressional district and two on a statewide basis.

In 2008, President Barack Obama won the electoral vote from Omaha’s second congressional district.