LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds is proposing a budget that includes a 2.5 percent tuition increase as well as additional money for financial aid, employee salaries and economic development projects.

Bounds unveiled the package for the upcoming fiscal year on Wednesday. The university’s Board of Regents will consider it at a May 25 meeting.

The 2.5 percent tuition increase was approved by the regents last June as part of a two-year tuition plan. The university’s tuition and fees are still below the average of Big Ten public institutions.

The budget includes $2.5 million for investment in areas where the university can become a national leader. It also offers a 2.5 percent increase in the salary pool for non-unionized employees.

Bounds says the budget will help the university distinguish itself.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A civil liberties organization has sent a letter to 30 youth group homes in Nebraska after it said it received complaints that some children have been turned away from homes for being gay.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska said in the letter sent Wednesday that it has recently fielded complaints from probation officers and legal representatives who have had children rejected for placement solely based on the child’s sexual orientation.

The letter, addressed to group home directors and CEOs, urges them to provide clear guidelines to front-office staff to treat all children equally and not turn away gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender youth.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said it has informed group homes of its policy not to discriminate based on race, color national origin or disability, but did not answer questions about whether its nondiscrimination policy includes sexual orientation.

Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley announced that at least 16 lives have been saved in the year since Nebraska emergency medical services and hospitals received the Physio-Control LUCAS® 2 chest compression system.  The lifesaving equipment came from a grant of almost $6 million from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.  The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is in the second year of administering the three-year grant which is being used to purchase LUCAS 2 to increase the chances of survival for Nebraskans having a heart attack.

“One hundred and fifty LUCAS 2 devices have been distributed to EMS services and hospitals across the state,” said Lieutenant Governor Foley.  “LUCAS 2 gives communities an additional resource in their arsenal to improve cardiac patient care and save lives.”

“Partnerships play a critical role in patient care. This equipment helps strengthen Nebraska’s cardiac care systems and enhances the connections between EMS providers and hospital networks and ultimately it’s the patient who benefits,” said Judy Martin, Deputy Director of Public Health for DHHS.

DHHS’ Emergency Medical Services program coordinates purchase and distribution of the devices as well as the appropriate training.  Approximately 340 ambulance services and 85 hospitals in Nebraska will receive LUCAS 2 by the end of 2017.

LUCAS 2 is an external, mechanical device that provides automated chest compressions to an adult in cardiac arrest.  The device is a consistent and effective way to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). LUCAS 2 is designed for use by first responders and hospital personnel and it enhances opportunities to improve outcomes for heart attack patients.

See the story about a Nebraska City resident whose life was saved and the role LUCAS 2 played in the emergency care he received by clicking here.

LUCAS 2 enhances existing cardiac care efforts and continues to build on the good work already being done in Nebraska.

In 2013, the state Legislature appropriated $150,000 which helped move Nebraska’s cardiac care systems ahead.  The funds were used to purchase or upgrade electrocardiogram devices for ambulance services.  The devices monitor and identify problems with the heart and increase communication between EMS providers and hospitals when a person is having a heart attack.   Additionally, LB 657, signed by the Governor in 2015, also included $160,000 to continue this effort.

In 2014, a $4.1 million Helmsley Charitable Trust initiative, Mission: Lifeline, was announced in Nebraska.  The American Heart Association Midwest Affiliate who is leading the initiative partnered with the Helmsley Charitable Trust and DHHS along with Nebraska hospitals and EMS services across the state to provide important training and equipment.

Just over 500 Nebraskans died from heart attacks in 2014. From cutting down on the amount of time to diagnose a cardiac event to getting patients to the proper facility and notifying the hospital cardiac team so they’re waiting and ready to go, cardiac care systems speed up the process which in turn increases chances of survival, achieves better outcomes and enhances life expectancy.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Death penalty opponents say the 10 men who were awaiting executions before lawmakers repealed the punishment last year will still spend the rest of their lives in prison.

A Democratic and Republican state senator and a retired judge spoke at the Capitol on Wednesday as part a campaign urging voters not to reinstate capital punishment. The Retain a Just Nebraska group will ramp up its efforts next month with cable and radio ads.

Republican Sen. Colby Coash says the group wants to make clear to voters that the 10 inmates will remain ineligible for parole. Democratic state Sen. Adam Morfeld says the only way they could qualify is if the state’s pardons board commuted their sentences.

The board is comprised of the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state.