LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts and a trade delegation are in Canada to promote business relationships with Nebraska.

Ricketts announced the trade mission in June. During the five-day trade mission, delegates will meet with government, agricultural, and manufacturing officials in Toronto and Ottawa.

Ricketts describes Canada as the state’s best customer and hopes the mission will identify “ways to expand our positive trade relationship with Canada.”

Joining Ricketts on the mission are Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Greg Ibach and Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director Courtney Dentlinger, as well as other agriculture leaders from around the state.

Ibach says that in 2016, total agricultural exports from Nebraska to Canada equaled an estimated $468 million.

EDISON, Neb. (AP) — Officials estimate a grain bin collapse in southern Nebraska left between $4 million and $5 million worth of corn on the ground.

The collapse happened Sunday night in Edison at the Ag Valley grain elevator site.

Nearly 1.1 million bushels of corn formed a mountainous pile noticeable from about a half mile away on Highway 136.

Company officials say no one was injured, noting that an employee who checked the bin around 8:30 p.m. Sunday said all was fine. A half-hour later, a passerby noticed the damage.

Officials say the cause of the collapse won’t be known until some of the corn and debris is removed.

Robert E. “Bob” Schmidt, 90, Hays, Chairman of the Board of Eagle Communications in Hays, died early Tuesday morning at his home.

He was preceded by his wife Patricia A. “Pat” Schmidt, who passed away in August 2015.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.

Schmidt was raised in La Crosse and served in the Navy in the Philippines in World War II. He then began a career in radio while at Fort Hays State University as a sportscaster. Upon graduation from FHSU in 1950, he was appointed General Manager of KAYS Radio. He was elected Vice President and Director in 1952 of KAYS, Inc.

In 1989, he purchased control of the corporation and was elected President/CEO. While leading the corporation, the company built or purchased 24 Radio and Television stations and 12 Cable Systems in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Colorado. Eagle currently owns and operates 28 award-winning community radio stations and serves 60 communities with broadband service including internet, video and voice service.

Schmidt retired as President/CEO of Eagle Communications in 1998 and sold the majority interest in the company to its employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Nearly 300 Eagle Employee Owners continue to build the company and share in the value of ownership.

Among many other honors, Schmidt was named a member of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2000 and was named to the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame in 2003.

(Source: www.greatbendpost.com)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Marine officials say the Corps for the first time is eyeing a plan to let women attend combat training in Southern California. If approved by Marine leaders, the change could happen next spring.

It could be the first step in a broader campaign to give male Marines who go through training on the West Coast the chance to work with female colleagues early in their career.

Officials say Marine leaders are also considering allowing women to attend boot camp in San Diego. Currently women attend boot camp and combat training in South Carolina. Men go there or in San Diego.

The proposal was described by officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly.