DENVER (AP) — Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper met recently with authorities investigating the assassination of one of his cabinet members by the son of one of the governor’s closest friends.

Hickenlooper has said little about the case publicly in the three years since the murder of corrections chief Tom Clements. Gunman Evan Ebel was the son of Hickenlooper’s longtime friend.

Key questions remain unanswered even as the investigation winds down. That includes whether the killer — a recently paroled member of a white supremacist prison gang — acted alone. One recently released police report suggests the killing was a gang hit. Colorado investigators now overseeing the case say that didn’t happen.

In his newly released candid autobiography, Hickenlooper — a dark horse to be the Democratic nominee for vice president— recalled the first time he realized that he was the one who led the murderous son of one close friend to the doorstep of another.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Hall County entities will be forced to make due with $165,000 less tax revenue than expected this year because the assessor used inflated estimates for some business properties.

Hall County Assessor Jan Pelland apologized after she realized the error would reduce the amount of tax money collected.

Pelland says her staff used estimates for the value of property that owners hadn’t filed returns on. That practice is common, but some of the estimates used this year were outrageously inflated.

So the Grand Island school district will receive $95,665 less than expected. Hall County will have a $29,639 shortfall, and Grand Island will receive $24,249 less than expected.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska mom who was injured by a firework last year while shielding her 2-year-old daughter isn’t looking forward to this year’s barrage of fireworks.

Shannon Tellier has been experiencing panic attacks as this year’s fireworks revive memories of last year. Tellier is still recovering from injuries she sustained when an errant artillery shell struck her cheek.

Tellier’s jawbones were broken in three places, and she had a steel plate in her mouth for much of the past year. She continues to visit a dentist almost monthly and has pain in her mouth.

Tellier’s father, Dave O’Melia, says his daughter is coping with the injuries and the upcoming holiday as best as she can.

ASHLAND, Neb. (AP) — Eugene T. Mahoney State Park is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month.

On July 16 there will be a celebration from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Activity Center Outdoor Pavilion. There will be live music, a climbing wall and a bounce house.

Mahoney opened in 1991 and has served millions of visitors at its Family Aquatic Center, Owen Marina, ice skating rink, cabins and Peter Kiewit Lodge.

A valid park permit is required for all vehicles entering the park. Call 402-944-2523 or email ngpc.mahoney@nebraska.gov for more information.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha zoo welcomed its millionth visitor of the year on Sunday — earlier than ever before.

The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium says Morgan Owens of Minneapolis, Minnesota, became the attraction’s millionth visitor of the year Sunday afternoon.

Excitement about the zoo’s new elephant exhibit that opened this year may have helped the facility reach the milestone earlier. Previously, the earliest the zoo reached a million visitors was on July 11th in 2012.

Owens was visiting the zoo with his fiance and their three children. The family received a special zoo tour, a gift basket and a free zoo membership.

SCHUYLER, Neb. (AP) — Colfax County and the state disagree about which is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the roadway connecting Richland to U.S. Highway 30 in eastern Nebraska.

The state built the winding 1/3-mile stretch of asphalt when Highway 30 was expanded to four lanes from Columbus to Schuyler about 15 years ago.

Colfax County Highway Superintendent Mark Arps said the Nebraska Department of Roads contends the county took over ownership of the spur after it was constructed.

County Commissioners Jerry Heard and Gil Wigington disagree and say it’s the state’s responsibility to repair the road.

Both urged Arps earlier this week to meet with state roads officials on the matter.