GERING, Neb. (AP) — Work has begun on an expansion project at the Wildcat Hills Nature Center in western Nebraska.

The $2.4 million expansion will add more than 8,700 square feet to the building south of Gering. The facility serves as headquarters for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s educational programs in the area and the 700-acre Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area.

Project additions include an exhibit space and large multipurpose room to support events and educational activities. An upper level with an observation deck will be built to give visitors a view of the park and North Platte valley below. Groups will be allowed to rent the facility for events such as meetings, conferences and weddings.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A proposed wastewater dumping site in western Nebraska is prompting lawmakers to take a new look at the state’s oil and natural gas regulations, which opponents say are too lax.

The Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee will meet in Sidney on Sept. 22 to hear comments about a little-known state commission that approved a controversial disposal well requested by a Colorado energy company.

Sens. John Stinner of Gering and Ken Haar of Malcolm have both launched research studies to examine the state’s regulations and the role of the Nebraska Oil and Conservation Commission. Haar says he’s concerned that the commission is both a regulator and industry cheerleader.

Commission Executive Director Bill Sydow says the agency is independent, and all of its decisions can be overturned by the courts.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Authorities say there has been a sharp decline in the manufacture of methamphetamine in several Midwestern states that have had the most trouble with the drug, but it remains as popular as ever due to an influx of cheap Mexican imports.

Laws restricting the sale of an ingredient found in many cold medicines and key to making meth seem to have had their intended effect. The Drug Enforcement Administration doesn’t provide partial-year data on meth lab seizures, but drug fighters in several states that generally register the most meth lab busts say they’ve seen a startling decline.

Missouri is on pace for 40 percent fewer meth lab seizures this year, while Oklahoma’s are down 33 percent and Tennessee’s are down 48 percent.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — Livestock have been quarantined on a western Nebraska farm following the diagnosis of a disease that can hamper an animal’s ability to eat and drink.

The Nebraska Agriculture Department says a U.S. Department of Agriculture laboratory recently confirmed the diagnosis of vesicular stomatitis. The sample was taken from an infected horse on a farm in Scotts Bluff County.

The virus that causes vesicular stomatitis is spread by insects and from animal to animal through open sores and saliva. The virus causes painful oral blisters and sores and can affect cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, goats and other animals.

The USDA says vesicular stomatitis generally isn’t fatal, but it can cause economic losses to livestock producers. Humans can become infected when handling ailing animals, but the USDA says that rarely happens.

 

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lottery officials say time is running out to claim a winning $104,000 lottery ticket sold in Columbus.

The holder of the Nebraska Pick 5 ticket bought for the April 8 drawing at a local Super Saver has until Oct. 5 to claim the prize.

The ticket matched all five of the winning numbers — 8, 11, 30, 32 and 34 — for the $104,000 jackpot. Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing.

The jackpot must be claimed in Lincoln at Nebraska Lottery Headquarters.