LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — After years of failed efforts to reduce overcrowding in Nebraska’s prisons, some lawmakers say a recent federal lawsuit may be the only way to force state officials to fix the problem.

The lawsuit filed by civil liberties groups didn’t surprise senators or other state officials, who were repeatedly warned they could face legal action if they didn’t address the issue themselves.

Nebraska lawmakers and Gov. Pete Ricketts have worked with national consultants and passed several laws designed to lessen the crowding, but the problem has persisted.

Some lawmakers say the state still isn’t spending enough to address a lack of prison mental health services to keep inmates from reoffending, and they doubt anything will change in next year’s session.

VALENTINE, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the names of two people killed and one person injured in a northern Nebraska collision.

Cherry County Attorney Eric Scott says Monday morning’s crash west of Valentine fatally injured 20-year-old Marcos Alvarado, of Alliance, and 64-year-old John Strinz, who lived in Eagen, Minnesota.

Scott says Alvarado was driving east on U.S. Highway 20 when his vehicle collided with a westbound vehicle driven by 63-year-old Kathryn Rice, who also lives in Minnesota.

Alvarado and Strinz were pronounced dead at the scene. Scott says Rice was taken Cherry County Hospital in Valentine.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Fair is set to open with a host of new events and attractions.

The 148th annual fair begins at 10 a.m. Friday and will continue through Sept. 4 in Grand Island.

Attendance has grown consistently every year since the fair moved from Lincoln to Grand Island in 2010, except for 2014, when severe weather reduced turnout on Labor Day weekend. Last year’s fair attracted more than 361,000 people, up from about 352,000 the prior year.

This year’s fair will include performances by country music singers Brad Paisley, Dustin Lynch, Chase Bryant and Lindsay Ell. Ronnie Milsap, for KING & COUNTRY, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and Cole Swindell are also scheduled to play. Fair-goers will encounter a variety of displays and games.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two Nebraska senators say now is not the time to disband a state committee that’s been working with a national state government group to handle prison crowding.

The committee of about 25 met for the last time on Tuesday, with its coordinator and the Council of State Governments concluding work within the next month.

Sens. Bob Krist of Omaha and Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln believe the group shouldn’t disband because of questionable progress made on crowding in county jails and a pending Nebraska ACLU lawsuit against the Department of Correctional Services.

Krist also says the group hasn’t addressed the impact of people with mental illnesses on the jails.

Gov. Pete Ricketts says work will continue with a permanent group of stakeholders in the state.

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