By GRANT SCHULTE , Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — More than four months after Missouri became the first U.S. state to regulate the term “meat” on product labels, Nebraska’s powerful farm groups are pushing for similar protection from veggie burgers, tofu dogs and other items that look and, taste like real meat.

Nebraska lawmakers will consider a bill this year to prevent companies that package and sell food from advertising plant-based, insect-based and lab-grown products as meat. Similar measures are pending in Tennessee, Virginia and Wyoming.

The issue strikes a particularly strong chord in Nebraska, one of the nation’s top states for livestock production, where cars roll down the interstate with “Beef State” license plates and the governor each year proclaims May as “Beef Month.”

Farm groups have found an unusual ally in state Sen. Carol Blood, a city-dwelling vegetarian from the Omaha suburb of Bellevue. Blood, who grew up on a farm, said she introduced the measure because agriculture is Nebraska’s largest industry and needs to be protected for the good of the whole state.

“I’m not bringing this bill to tell people what they can and can’t eat,” she said. “All I’m asking for is truth in advertising. It’s clear that meat comes from livestock, and livestock is our livelihood in Nebraska.”

Nebraska led the nation in commercial red meat production in 2017 and had the most feed cows as of last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Livestock and livestock product sales generated an estimated $12.1 billion for the state’s economy in 2016, according to the USDA’s most recent available data.

The measure is certain to face resistance from food producers that sell plant-based alternatives, as well as those working with the emerging science of meat grown by culturing cells in a lab. Critics say the bill infringes on the free-speech rights of companies that produce vegetarian alternatives to real meat.

The Good Food Institute, the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, the Animal Legal Defense Fund and plant-based food company Tofurkey have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Missouri law . They argue the law unfairly stifles competition.

The Nebraska bill “would censor food labels and create consumer confusion where there is none,” said Jessica Almy, director of policy for the Washington-based Good Food Institute. “You can’t censor speech just to promote one industry’s financial success.”

Supporters of the Nebraska measure say they want to ensure people aren’t misled about what they’re eating.

Blood said she proposed the measure after seeing two women in a grocery store who couldn’t tell whether a product contained meat or a substitute. She said her proposal wouldn’t require inspections of product labels, as Missouri’s law does.

“I don’t want to be the meat police,” she said.

The Nebraska bill would ban “any misleading or deceptive practices,” including claims that a product is meat when it isn’t derived from livestock or poultry. Violating the law would bring a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

“Consumers have a right to know what they’re buying,” said John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union. “That’s the case whether it’s a vegetarian product or not. There ought to be clear, honest and accurate labeling, and then let the marketplace make the choices.”

Hansen said his group’s livestock producers are particularly concerned about whether consumers will be able to differentiate between meat grown in the lab and farm-grown beef, pork and chicken.

Pete McClymont, executive vice president for the group Nebraska Cattlemen, said his organization’s concern rises partly from the growth of products labeled as almond and soy milk, which have become an increasingly popular alternative to cow’s milk. McClymont said his group still needs to review specific details of the Nebraska proposal, but will push for any law that protects the state’s livestock producers.

“When I go out and speak to our membership, this is right near the top of what people are passionate about,” he said.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Latest on a winter storm sweeping across parts of the Midwest this weekend (all times local):

12:35 p.m.

Authorities in Kansas and Missouri have reported at least five killed in crashes as a winter storm sweeps across the Midwest.

The storm moved into Kansas and Nebraska from the Rockies on Friday, then east into Missouri and Illinois. Snow is covering roads and making driving dangerous. Up to 11 inches (28 centimeters) of snow was reported in St. Louis.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says that among those killed in crashes were a woman and her 14-year-old stepdaughter whose car slid into the path of a semitrailer on Friday in Clinton, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southeast of Kansas City. Another woman died when her car slid on U.S. 24 in northern Missouri and was hit by an oncoming SUV.

In Kansas, the Highway Patrol says a 62-year-old man died after his pickup truck skidded on the Kansas Turnpike and hit a concrete barrier. The patrol says another crash involving two semitrailers in snowy conditions killed a 41-year-old driver from Mexico.

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11:40 a.m.

A winter storm sweeping across parts of the Midwest has snarled traffic in several states and left thousands without power.

The storm moved into Kansas and Nebraska from the Rockies on Friday, then east into Missouri and Illinois, covering roads and making driving dangerous. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says nearly 300 vehicles had slid off roads across the state and more than 175 crashes had been reported by late Saturday morning.

By late morning Saturday, officials had reported nearly 11 inches (28 centimeters) of snow at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis, where most flights were canceled or delayed.

In central Missouri, officials said about 12,000 households and businesses were without power in Columbia and the surrounding area.

The National Weather Service has issued winter weather advisories for Missouri, as well as Illinois and Indiana.

As the snow began to fall last night, a Nebraska State Trooper was injured in a two-vehicle crash late Friday evening on Interstate 80 in Lincoln.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., the trooper had just finished responding to another crash near mile marker 399 on westbound I-80. The trooper was then traveling in the westbound lanes when a vehicle behind him lost control, spun out, and collided with the rear of the trooper’s cruiser. The collision then forced the cruiser into a concrete barrier.

The trooper was transported by another trooper to Bryan Medical Center – Bryan West Campus with non-life-threatening injuries. He has since been treated and released. The other driver was not seriously injured. The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office conducted the crash investigation and issued a citation to the other driver involved. The trooper’s unit was totaled in the crash.

With this incident, NSP issues a reminder to all drivers to never drive faster than conditions allow. Several inches of snow have already fallen in parts of southeast Nebraska with more expected throughout Saturday. Other areas of Nebraska have also received precipitation that may impact driving conditions on Nebraska roads.

As the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for parts of southeast Nebraska, NSP urges drivers to practice safe winter driving by maintaining safe speeds, increasing following distance, keeping attention on the road and away from distractions, and always wearing a seat belt.

Troopers have responded to dozens of weather-related incidents overnight and this morning. Crews with the Nebraska Department of Transportation are also out in force working to plow snow and improve driving conditions. Anyone planning to travel today should check Nebraska 511 for the latest driving conditions. Motorists in need of assistance can reach the NSP Highway Helpline by calling *55 from any cell phone.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The remains of a sailor from Nebraska killed in the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor have been identified.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said Friday in a news release that the remains of Navy Fireman 1st Class Grant Cook, of Cozad, had been accounted for on Aug. 27.

Cook was 20 and assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma when the ship was attacked by Japanese planes on Dec. 7, 1941. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Cook.

Cook was among the unidentified remains buried in 46 plots at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu. In 2015, agency personnel began exhuming the remains for analysis, using new DNA technology, to identify those lost.

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Canadian company has made a deal with Bass Pro Shops to buy one of Cabela’s corporate buildings in Sidney — a deal that could provide 150 or more local jobs.

The sales price and other financial details about the MMP Enterprises purchase have not been released. MMP is a logistics management company based in Toronto.

Sidney economic development director Melissa Norgard says MMP wants to have the sale wrapped up within 90 days and begin hiring. Norgard also says the number of MMP jobs in Sidney could grow as the company develops the business model for its first expansion outside of Canada.

Cabela’s employed more than 2,000 people at its sprawling Sidney headquarters before being purchased by rival Bass Pro Shops.

LINCOLN – Today, Governor Pete Ricketts and First Lady Susanne Shore were joined by Attorney General Doug Peterson, State Senators, members of the Nebraska Human Trafficking Task Force (NHTTF), and non-profit organizations to recognize January 11^th as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day and January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.  After signing a proclamation, Governor Ricketts highlighted the multi-disciplinary response developed and carried out by NHTTF and its many partners across the state.

“In Nebraska, the fight to end human trafficking has been an ongoing collaboration among local and state government, state agencies like the Attorney General’s Office and State Patrol, as well as local law enforcement, community partners, survivor leaders, and the non-profit community,” said Governor Ricketts.  “Thanks to this team effort, we continue to raise awareness and make progress towards ending the great evil of human trafficking, which is a modern form of slavery.”

The strengthening of laws by the Legislature, training across the state by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), as well as proactive operations and investigations by NHTTF, have integrated the building of an effective approach in combatting human trafficking.  More information about the AGO’s work can be found by clicking here.

“Citizens can help stop trafficking by being eyes and ears for the vulnerable in our communities,” said Attorney General Peterson.  “They can be ready to aid others by recognizing the signs of trafficking and reporting it.”

To prevent trafficking from happening in Nebraska, Governor Ricketts and Attorney General Peterson encourage Nebraskans to learn the signs of trafficking and to report concerns of trafficking to the Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888).

Nebraskans can also express their commitment to fight trafficking by sharing social media banners or displaying a poster which are available on the Nebraska Attorney General’s website.  More information regarding how Nebraskans can help stop human trafficking can be found by clicking here.