LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Bicycling advocates say Nebraska needs to change its reputation as a state unfriendly to riders by repealing an outdated law.

Cyclist groups on Monday urged the Legislature’s Transportation and Telecommunications Committee to advance a bill that would abolish the 1968 statute, which requires cyclists to use a bike path if one exists next to the roadway.

The measure by Sen. Rick Kolowski of Omaha would also clarify that when a designated bike trail crosses a street, cyclists and pedestrians who follow traffic signals have the right-of-way.

Advocates say too many cyclists have been hit by drivers who fail consider the bike trail traffic.

No one at the hearing spoke against the bill.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gambling opponents are fighting a bill that would allow fantasy sports websites to operate in Nebraska, even though the industry estimates that 300,000 people in the state are already playing.

Both sides argued their case Monday to the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee. The committee is considering a measure to pave the way for sites such as DraftKings and FanDuel.

The bill by Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill would declare that the games are predominantly based on skill and not illegal games of chance.

Paul Charchian, president of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, says the state shouldn’t “criminalize” the people in Nebraska who currently play.

Pat Loontjer, director of Gambling with the Good Life, says her group views the game as an expanded form of gambling.

A garage in North Platte was completely destroyed in a Monday afternoon fire, and three people were transported to the hospital.

The North Platte Fire Department responded to the fire at 2001 East 2nd Steet just after 4:00 p.m.

Officials say three people were working in the detached garage when some gasoline spilled and was ignited by a propane heater.

The fire then spread to a home next to the garage.

The three people who were in the garage when the blaze started were transported to Great Plains Health with non-life threatening injuries.  Their conditions are unknown.

The garage and several vehicles were completely destroyed in the blaze and the house sustained significant damage.

The fire was completely under control by 4:35 p.m.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The latest U.S. Supreme Court ruling banning life sentences without the possibility of parole for juveniles is likely to have a limited effect in Nebraska.

That’s because the state Supreme Court had already ruled that a similar 2012 ruling on juvenile sentences should apply retroactively.

Jeff Pickens, who leads the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy, said Monday that most of the roughly 25 individuals in the state who would qualify have had their sentences reviewed.

The commission defends indigent people accused of capital crimes and serious violent offenses statewide.

The Nebraska legislature already changed laws to create a sentence of between 40 years and life for juveniles convicted of first-degree murder.

The Nebraska Attorney General’s office didn’t immediately respond to questions about Monday’s ruling.

The number of U.S. children victimized by abuse and neglect increased by nearly 3 percent in the latest annual reporting period, according to new federal data.

According to the report released Monday by the Department of Health and Human Services, the estimated number of victimized children in the 2014 fiscal year was 702,208 — up from 682,307 in 2013.

The report estimated fatalities attributable to child abuse and neglect at 1,580 — up from 1,530 in 2013.

HHS said Rafael Lopez, commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, had sought input from child welfare officials in states with the increases in reported abuse and neglect. According to Lopez, the officials cited substance abuse, mental health issues and domestic violence as factors contributing to the increased maltreatment.