LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — Trial for a man charged with murder has been scheduled for June in Lexington.

Court records say a plea of not guilty was entered Monday for 40-year-old Jose Regalado-Mendez. The records say the remains of 37-year-old Jose Hernandez were found Dec. 12 near a farmhouse north of Lexington. Investigators say in a court document that Regalado-Mendez shot Hernandez in early October.

A judge set a trial date of June 13 and approved a defense request to send Regalado-Mendez to Lincoln for a competency evaluation.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is ready to celebrate its 150th anniversary as a state with a series of events in Lincoln.

The festivities on Wednesday include the dedication of a new Nebraska statehood stamp and actor portrayals of author Willa Cather, Ponca Chief Standing Bear and William “Buffalo Bill” Cody.

An official statehood day ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Nebraska Capitol with singer Hannah Huston, a Grand Island native and former finalist on the television show “The Voice.” Gov. Pete Ricketts will speak along with Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican, Secretary of State John Gale and Speaker of the Legislature Jim Scheer.

The Nebraska History Museum is set to open an exhibit at 6 p.m. that will feature paintings of scenes from each of the state’s 93 coutnies.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have given initial approval to a bill that would let drivers display opposition to abortion on their license plates.

Senators voted 37-7 on Tuesday to advance a bill that would require the state Department of Motor Vehicles to design “Choose Life” license plates. It still needs two more votes.

The plates would cost $5 more than standard license plates, and revenue would supplement federal funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse, says the plates would signal support for all children.

Senators who oppose the measure say political language should not be on state-issued license plates. They offered amendments to change the message to phrases including “Stop Child Abuse” and “Rape Is No Laughing Matter.”

YORK, Neb. (AP) — A Kearney man has died after crashing while being chased by a Nebraska state trooper on Interstate 80 in York County.

Authorities say the incident began about 5:20 p.m. Monday at a rest stop when the trooper spotted a vehicle that matched the description of a vehicle that had been weaving in and out of interstate traffic. York County Attorney Candace Dick says in a news release that the vehicle drove off and soon crashed into a median guardrail just east of York.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Dick identified him as 40-year-old Anthony Emmons.

An autopsy has been ordered. A grand jury will investigate Emmons’ death, because state law requires such whenever someone dies in custody or in the process of being taken into custody.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lobbyists for auto manufacturers and dealers say Nebraska should be careful not to over-regulate self-driving vehicles as technology continues to develop.

They testified Tuesday on a bill brought by Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill that would create provisions allowing for autonomous vehicles. Eleven states and the District of Columbia have similar laws, but most states don’t govern self-driving cars.

Several companies are testing autonomous vehicles, and auto manufacturers estimate they could be seen widely across the U.S. by 2020.

Uber opposes the bill because of concerns it would restrict future autonomous vehicles. The ride-hailing app has begun testing self-driving cars in Pittsburgh and Tempe, Arizona.