GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln-based nonprofit dedicated to recycling and composting has recognized the Nebraska State Fair for its efforts to keep waste out of the Grand Island landfill.

WasteCap Nebraska has bestowed a GoZero zero-waste designation on the State Fair for its work recycling and composting during the 2016 event.

State Fair facilities director Jaime Parr says the fair saw nearly 1,047 tons of materials recycled or composted during the 10-day fair in August and September.

It’s the fair’s third zero-waste designation since 2014.

FRANKLIN, Neb. (AP) — Southern Nebraska officials have identified a woman whose body was found in a burning home earlier this week.

An autopsy identified the woman as 71-year-old Margaret Nielsen and said her cause of death was smoke inhalation.

Nielsen was found dead after firefighters extinguished the Monday morning fire. Adam Matzner with the State Fire Marshall’s Office says the fire was caused by an unattended candle.

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are investigating what caused the deaths of two people found in a western Nebraska home.

Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub said a man and a woman were found dead in a home in Sidney.

Schaub says investigators can’t yet rule out foul play. Law enforcement officials were called to the home early Friday after the woman’s employer called to report that she had not shown up for work in several days.

Schaub did not release a cause of death, saying autopsies had been ordered. Officials did not release the names of the two people.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has approved construction of two buildings on the Kearney campus at a total estimated cost of $36.4 million.

The board approved the move Friday to replace the aging Otto C. Olsen Building. That building houses several programs, including the College of Education Early Childhood Education Center.

The largest of the two-building project would house many of UNK’s science, technology, engineering and math programs. The building will be about 80,000 square feet and is projected to cost $30 million. It could be completed by October 2019.

The other building, proposed at $6.4 million and 17,800-square-feet, would house the Early Childhood Education Center and support 152 children — triple the capacity of the Olsen building.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Education Department is seeking sponsors to operate its Summer Food Service Program.

The program provides meals and snacks to children at schools, churches, playgrounds and parks during summer and other school breaks. It was created to ensure children in low-income areas can get meals when they don’t have access to school lunches or breakfasts.

Eligible sponsors include public or private nonprofit schools, residential camps and local or state government sites. Also, private nonprofit sponsors and sites are eligible. Program sponsors may apply for up to $15,000 a year for non-recurring expenses.

Grant applications may be downloaded from the Nebraska Department of Education Nutrition Services’ web page at: https://www.education.ne.gov/NS/SFSP/news.html.