LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The outgoing head of Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services says she’s pleased with the agency’s efforts to streamline its services for vulnerable and low-income people and confident more improvements are on the way.

Courtney Phillips made the comments Wednesday as she prepares for a new job as executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Gov. Pete Ricketts appointed Phillips to the Nebraska agency in 2015 after a nationwide search. She previously served as deputy secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.

Phillips said she’s particularly proud of her department’s efforts to reduce public wait times for state benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps.

Lawmakers and public-benefit recipients had previously criticized the state’s system for enrolling in public benefits, known as ACCESS Nebraska, and the department later settled a federal lawsuit filed by an advocacy group. Average wait times to speak with a customer service representative have since fallen from 24 minutes to less than 5 minutes, according to the department.

“We’re constantly trying to make sure the services we provide create the results we’re looking for,” Phillips said.

The department also reduced the average turnaround time for nursing licenses, from an average of 96 to 37 days, in the face of a statewide nursing shortage.

The department has also faced criticism, however, after state auditors questioned more than $26 million in spending on child welfare services. Department officials acknowledged that some areas needed correcting, but disputed other findings in the auditor’s report.

Phillips’ last day on the job is Oct. 14.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska could take new steps to address violence against Native American women if two state lawmakers have their way.

Sens. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln and Tom Brewer of Gordon announced plans Wednesday to introduce a bill in next year’s session.

The proposal would require the Nebraska State Patrol to join forces with Indian tribes, the U.S. Justice Department and the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs to examine the problem and brainstorm solutions.

The bill was partly inspired by the unsolved 2016 murder of Sherry Wounded Foot, who was found unconscious behind an abandoned building in Whiteclay, near South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Activists plan to visit Whiteclay on Saturday, the one-year anniversary of a Nebraska Supreme Court’s ruling that prevented the town’s maligned beer stores from reopening.

Mid-Plains United will be kicking off its 2018-19 Campaign announced Tom Willnerd, Mid-Plains United Way Board President.  This is the twenty-fourth year that First National Bank will help us kick off our campaign with a Chili Cook-Off, said Willnerd. This is one of only two fundraisers that we hold to support 15 area non-profit organizations that serve North Platte and the surrounding areas.

Local business will be cooking up their favorite chili recipes to share with the community.  There will be voting tickets for everyone to vote for best chili and best-decorated booth.  The team with the best chili will get an award and bragging rights.   You will receive four voting tickets and try as much chili as you would like for only $6, additional voting tickets can be purchased.  We would like to invite the public to join us on October 5th from 11:30-1:30vPM at the Platte River Mall.

All proceeds will benefit the Mid-Plains United Way.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State College System trustees intend this coming Sunday and Monday to interview the four finalists to be the next system chancellor.

Chancellor Stan Carpenter is retiring after 18 years of service to the system, which has campuses in Chadron, Peru and Wayne.

Among the four is state Sen. John Kuehn, a veterinarian who represents District 38 in the Legislature. He teaches biology at Hastings College.

The other three are Thomas Chesney, president of Brookhaven College in Farmers Branch, Texas; Rusty Monhollon, who is assistant commissioner for academic affairs, Missouri Department of Higher Education; and Paul Turman, who is system vice president for academic affairs for the South Dakota Board of Regents.