LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has signed a series of bills intended to benefit the state’s veterans.

Ricketts on Tuesday approved legislation to merge the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the state Division of Veterans’ Homes in an effort to streamline services. It’s not expected to generate savings, but is intended to provide veterans with a one-stop-shopping experience.

Another bill signed will eliminate a regulatory hurdle for military spouses with occupational licenses. A third measure would allow a hiring preference in government for spouses of active duty service members. The preference would also apply to those who are returning to employment with a government body.

Nebraska already provides a hiring preference for qualified veterans to work in state government.

LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — Trial for a Nebraska woman charged with felony accessory to murder has been moved to August.

34-year-old Melissa Callahan, of Elm Creek, appeared Monday in Dawson County District Court, where a judge granted her attorney’s motion for more time to gather information and seek depositions.

Her trial is now set for Aug. 8.

Authorities say Callahan was present when Jose Regalado-Mendez shot to death 37-year-old Jose Hernandez in October, and then helped move the body and conceal the slaying. Hernandez’s remains were found Dec. 12 near a farmhouse north of Lexington.

Regalado-Mendez has been charged with first-degree murder and a weapons count

LINCOLN, Neb. – With summer approaching, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is reminding water lovers to be mindful of the state’s education requirements for boating.

Nebraska law requires any motorboat or personal watercraft operator born after Dec. 31, 1985 to complete one of the two types of boating safety courses and be in possession of a course certificate. Operators must be at least 14 years old to drive motorboats and personal watercraft in Nebraska.

The Commission has scheduled required boating safety courses at locations throughout the state in the coming months. The home-study option of the course allows participants to download and study materials online before attending a three-hour review and test-out session. The other option is a six-hour classroom course.

In May, classroom courses will be offered at Sidney, LaVista, Lincoln, Broken Bow, Bridgeport, McCook, Hastings, Ogallala, Scottsbluff, Woodcliff Lakes, Kearney, Alliance, North Platte, Grand Island, Chadron, Columbus, Norfolk, Beaver Lake, Lexington, Johnson Lake, and Omaha.

To find a schedule of course offerings, as well as a wealth of other boating information, visit boatsafenebraska.org. The course schedule and registration information may be found in the “boater education” section.

During the evening hours of Saturday, April 22, 2017, the Nebraska State Patrol conducted alcohol compliance checks at retail outlets in Lincoln County.

20 businesses were checked, with one of them, Holiday Plaza Conoco, 102 Holiday Frontage, found to be non-compliant after selling alcohol to a minor.  The retail outlets checked included convenience stores, liquor stores, restaurants, and bars.

Law enforcement performs compliance checks to ensure businesses are complying with the state’s alcohol laws and to decrease youth access to alcohol. The compliance checks were conducted thanks in part to a grant from Region II Human Services.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have given initial approval to a measure that could let appointed state senators serve more than two and a half years before they face an election.

The Legislature voted 37-0 Tuesday to advance the bill, but several senators say it needs more work to ensure voters can choose their representative.

Vacancies that occur earlier than 60 days before an election now are filled during the election. The proposal by Sen. John Murante of Gretna would instead require that vacancies occur before Feb. 1 of an election year to be filled in the next election.

Murante says elections commissioners and candidates need more time to have a full primary and general election.

Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha says voters should not be represented by someone they didn’t elect.