LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lawmakers have begun debate on a measure that would protect Nebraska workers from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Senators adjourned for the week Thursday without voting on the bill. They’re expected to pick it up at a later date, though Speaker Jim Scheer of Norfolk has not yet decided when.

The debate comes two days after a federal appeals court in Chicago ruled that LGBT workers are protected from employment discrimination under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Senators who support the bill argue it’s a civil rights issue and an economic one. They say Nebraska needs to attract and retain young workers, who generally support diversity.

Opponents say the measure threatens the religious freedom of business owners who will be forced to hire LGBT people.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Kearney police officer charged for shooting a man after a traffic stop has been acquitted by a Buffalo County jury.

Suspended Kearney Police Department Officer Derek Payton was found not guilty Thursday of second-degree assault.

Payton had pleaded not guilty in September for the June 5 shooting of Jose Klich. Payton is accused of shooting three times at Klich, striking him once in the abdomen. Prosecutors said Payton was not in the path of Klich’s car when Klich began to drive off.

Prosecutors played audio recordings of officers’ radio calls, and when Payton was asked why he was pursuing Klich’s vehicle, he could be heard saying, “He hit me with his car.”

Payton had faced up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Three men are in jail, in connection to multiple thefts in Lincoln County.

On April 5, at around 7:00 p.m., a resident on North Sand Road, just north of Hershey, reported that there had been suspicious subjects at or near their home earlier in the day.

Deputies also met with a neighbor and determined that two individuals had been in the area and had possibly entered the home.

Following an extensive investigation, deputies determined that the two suspects were 21-year-old Zachary Mendenhall and 21-year-old Austin Myers, both of North Platte.

Investigators made contact with both Mendenhall and Myers and, following questioning, the duo was placed under arrest on suspicion of 2nd-degree trespassing and conspiracy to commit burglary.

On April 6, deputies continued their investigation, which included other crimes Mendenhall and Myers may be involved in.  As a result, deputies determined that Mendenhall and another man, 21-year-old Anthony Marquez, of North Platte, had allegedly stolen several car stereos and other items from vehicles in the Hershey area over the last couple of weeks.

The stolen items were reportedly recovered at a location in North Platte.

Additional theft charges were filed against Mendenhall, and Marquez was placed under arrest and jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.  He’s been charged with multiple counts of theft, criminal mischief, and trespassing.

The investigation is ongoing.

NEW YORK (AP) — Facebook is launching a resource to help you spot false news and misinformation that spreads on its service.

The feature is similar to previous efforts around privacy and security and is basically a notification that will pop up on top of your news feed for a few days. Clicking on it takes you to tips and other information on how to spot false news and what to do about it.

Tips to spot false news include looking closely at website addresses to see if they are trying to spoof real news sites.

Adam Mosseri, vice president of News Feed at Facebook, says he’s hoping people will become “more discerning consumers” of news.

The tool will be available in 14 countries, including the U.S.