Weather permitting; construction will begin May 11 on the interstate overpass bridges on Highway US-83, according to the Nebraska Department of Roads.

Work will be performed on both the northbound and southbound bridges.

The bridges will receive required preservation applications, which include expansion joint replacement, new guardrail, and a thin epoxy polymer overlay. Other work includes concrete repair of girders and abutments.

This work will be accomplished in two phases and is anticipated to be completed by early summer. Traffic will be reduced to one lane with reduced speed zones. The work will require 12 foot width restrictions.

Minor delays should be expected.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill designed to attract more wind farms to Nebraska has stalled in the Legislature.

Conservative senators mounted a filibuster Tuesday to block the proposed tax credit, arguing that the state shouldn’t subsidize wind energy. Senators voted 30-12 to bring the bill to a vote, but supporters needed 33 to overcome the filibuster.

The bill by Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha would have provided up to $75 million in tax credits over a decade for wind farms. The program would have ended on Dec. 31, 2021, unless renewed by lawmakers, and required companies to invest some of their money in Nebraska goods and services.

Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte led the filibuster, saying the turbines are an eyesore and government shouldn’t subsidize them.

Today: A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 70. Breezy, with a southeast wind 14 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. South southeast wind 11 to 16 mph becoming light and variable. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 68. West northwest wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. North wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. North northwest wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 58. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 45. Breezy.

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — A drone large enough to carry tanks of fertilizers and pesticides has won rare approval from federal authorities to spray crops in the United States.

Steve Markofski of Yamaha Corp. U.S.A. said Tuesday that the Federal Aviation Administration’s approval is a first. He says drones are already used to take pictures to help farmers identify unhealthy patches of crops, but this is the first time they’ll be able to carry a payload.

Markofski says Yamaha’s 207-pound (94-kilogram) RMAX looks like a small helicopter and is remotely piloted. It received FAA approval Friday.

Markofski says farmers in Japan and other countries have used the large drone for years.

University of California, Davis, professor Ken Giles says it’s best suited for precision spraying on California’s rolling vineyards and hard-to-reach places.