LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers and Gov. Pete Ricketts will continue to face budget problems in next year’s session, based on new estimates of state tax collections.

The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board revised its forecast downward on Friday by $217.2 million, essentially lowering the amount of money available for the 2018 legislative session.

Under the new estimates, lawmakers will face a projected shortfall of roughly $195 million in the current two-year budget cycle.

State officials caution that the numbers could change dramatically, especially if President Donald Trump and Congress pass a major tax overhaul. Nebraska’s tax system is closely linked to the federal system, so changes at the federal level can influence state revenue.

Sen. John Stinner of Gering, the Appropriations Committee chairman, says lawmakers will once again have to set priorities.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is working to change underrepresentation of women in all levels of politics, particularly local government.

The Omaha World-Herald interviewed 11 women serving in elected and appointed offices in Sarpy and Douglas counties. Most of the women say they felt respected by their male colleagues and had positive experiences with them. None say being a woman prevented them from doing their jobs. But most had more than one example of being treated differently.

The women cite times they were interrupted or talked down to, times it was assumed they were a secretary, criticism for their appearance and scrutiny for being assertive.

Gretna Councilwoman Angie Lauritsen says the solution to women being underrepresented in public office is reaching out to women to encourage them to run for office.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Congressman Adrian Smith, who represents Nebraska’s vast, rural 3rd District, is a new father.

The Nebraska Republican and his wife, Andrea, announced the birth of their son, Ezekiel Stephen Smith, on Friday afternoon. It is the couple’s first child.

Smith posted a picture of the newborn on Twitter, and tweeted Friday that “Mom and Zeke are both doing well.”

The 46-year-old Smith was first elected to Congress in 2006. Smith serves on the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means, and is chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Resources. He’s also a member of the Subcommittee on Health.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officials say an unauthorized, secret waiting list for psychotherapy appointments at Omaha’s VA hospital delayed care for 87 veterans this year.

The Omaha World-Herald reported Saturday that letters addressed to Iowa Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley and Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse blamed the unauthorized list on “training deficiencies” involving the hospital’s medical support assistants.

The VA’s response to Sasse said no employees were fired, but one employee who was involved retired and another resigned. It also said no bonuses were paid based on performance data implicated in the investigation of the secret lists.

Officials said the investigation is continuing into whether lower-ranking employees in the VA’s Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System were responsible. That should be completed by the end of the month.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska wildlife officials are asking the public to keep an eye out for rare whooping cranes over the next several weeks.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says the continent’s entire population of whooping cranes is expected to migrate through Nebraska over the coming weeks. Information on sightings is used for whooping crane conservation and recovery efforts.

The rare cranes have features that distinguish them from the more common Sandhill crane. Whooping cranes are approximately 5 feet tall and fly with their neck outstretched. Adults are all white with the exception of black wing tips and reddish-black facial pattern.

Whooping cranes were near extinction in the early to mid-20th century. Through conservation efforts, the birds’ numbers in the wild have increased slowly, now ranging from around 430 to 500.