LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Searching for information on businesses — past and present — has gotten easier on the Nebraska Secretary of State’s website.

The office says the website was upgraded last month to improve the effectiveness of searches and reduce time performing them.

Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale says users can now select from a variety of search options, like keyword, exact match, name, “sounds like,” or the business’ account number.

Entities are listed alphabetically, with additional options that allow the user to filter by active or inactive status and business type.

To perform a search, users can log onto www.sos.ne.gov.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A sharp downturn in state revenue will force Nebraska lawmakers to make tough decisions next year, but legislative leaders say they still have options available to balance the budget.

The possibilities include tapping the state’s emergency cash reserve and reducing the flow of money into state agencies, as Gov. Pete Ricketts proposed. Lawmakers and Ricketts will start sorting through their options in October, when the agencies submit budget requests.

Sen. Heath Mello, the outgoing chairman of the Appropriations Committee, says the upcoming budget will be one of the most challenging that senators have faced in the last decade.

Ricketts announced Thursday that he has ordered Nebraska agencies to tighten their spending after the state received $95 million less than expected in the last fiscal year.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Families of refugees from Syria have begun settling in Nebraska over the past two months.

48 Syrian refugees have quietly moved into Nebraska with the help of relief agencies. Just last month more than 2,400 Syrian refugees arrived in the United States.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts continues to question whether federal authorities are doing enough to check the backgrounds of refugees, but he acknowledges that he has no power to stop their arrival. Federal officials have defended the security procedures they are using.

The refugees that arrived recently are still adjusting to Nebraska. Faedah Karbouj says she has been impressed with how friendly the people of Omaha are.

The Mid-Plains United Way Board Members and Executive Director, Jenny Salestrom, presented a $30,000 check this week to help with the replacement of the North Platte Kids Academy roof.  The Kids Academy needs a new roof to keep the kids safe and protected.  It’s as simple as that and board members are spearheading an effort to raise $60,000 to complete the project.

A fundraiser was recently launched to raise funds to replace the aged roof.  The Kids Academy received the news last winter that the roof had to be replaced when a leak was detected in the Head Start room.  Weathercraft Roofing Company’s Manager, Joe Staroska, gently broke the news to the Kids Academy director and board members and provided the opportunity to complete the project in phases, allowing time to raise funds for the project.

According to Krystal Claymore, the North Platte Kids Academy Board Chairperson, the Mid-Plains United Way has been a long-time supporter of the Infant’s Room at the Kids Academy.  When the unfortunate news was received about the roof, the Kids Academy submitted an appeal to the Mid-Plains United Way board to help with the roof replacement.  “The leadership and board of the Kids Academy were initially very discouraged by the news about the roof.  It is very hard to provide advanced curriculum based early childhood education services at an affordable cost to parents because of the rising costs of wages. When the United Way board stepped forward with this incredible act of charity, we realized that all things truly are possible with the support of your community.  This gesture of support is what gave the Kids Academy board the incentive to embark on their first major fundraising campaign.  Vona has always been a talented grant-writer.  Local organizations and groups such as the Mid-Plains Community Foundation, Walmart Distribution Center, First National Bank, Pat and Kathleen Keenan, Bob and Margene Phares, the Chamber, Phares Financial Services, Great Plains Health, Nebraskaland Bank and many other individuals have generously supported the Kids Academy over the years, but this campaign is the first major fundraiser we have attempted since the current building was constructed in 2002.”

The fundraising campaign is being called “Raise the Roof.” It kicked off this month with its first donation from the United Way and will culminate in a fundraising dinner hosted at Harbor Lights on Thursday, August 4th at 5:30 pm.  Food, beverages, a silent auction, a specialty drink auction and a dessert auction will be the highlights of the event. Tickets are $25 in advance or you can buy them at the door. Please contact the Kids Academy at 308.534.9222 or stop by the office at 1210 Ash Street to purchase your ticket for the event.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The annual Great Plains Disaster Behavioral Health Conference has been scheduled for July 29 at the downtown Hilton hotel in Omaha.

The University of Nebraska Public Policy Center says this year’s theme is “Mitigating Violence for Resilient Communities.”

Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, public health officials, first responders and others are encouraged to attend. The conference will focus on assessing violence risk and threats.

Among the speakers will be Randy Otto, associate professor at the University of South Florida, who is an expert in forensic psychological assessment. He will explore the limits of assessing violence risk, given the tools available today.

Registration costs $75 before Friday and $85 after that. Go online at https://go.unl.edu/9mpx to register. Go online at https://go.unl.edu/pter for more information about the conference.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by an Omaha man seeking to ban the release of balloons at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp dismissed the case Friday. The judge found that the University of Nebraska was a state agency and, therefore, has sovereign immunity from such lawsuits.

In his lawsuit, Randall Krause sought an injunction to keep the university from promoting the balloon release, which marks the first score by Nebraska in a football game. The tradition has been a part of Cornhuskers’ football games since the late 1950s.

Krause said the mass release results in the open dumping, violating the 1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and puts endangered species at risk.