LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Briefings have been scheduled for public entities in Nebraska seeking grants to help them recover from flood damage.

The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency briefings are for state agencies, counties, cities, towns, sanitary improvement districts, public power districts, natural resources districts and their subdivisions.

The first briefing is set to begin at 9 a.m. Monday at the Dodge County Courthouse in Fremont. Tuesday’s is set to begin at 9 a.m. at the Sarpy County Board Room in Papillion.

There are sessions next week in Grand Island, Lincoln and O’Neill.

Virtual applicant briefings for those unable to attend in person are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Friday and April 9. Those planning to attend one of the virtual applicant briefings will need to send an email to register.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Ag producers in Frontier, Furnas, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, and Red Willow counties are eligible to receive $61.20 per acre assistance for planting multispecies cover crops.

Cover crops can be planted in the spring for a full growing season or after wheat or other summer-harvested crops, and grazing is allowed.

“Cover crops can be established on whole fields, partial fields, or as field borders,” said Eric Zach, ag program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “Cover crops planted as a field border can help with weed suppression and provide high-quality forage when gleaning stocks.”

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program’s Cropland Cover Initiative provides financial and technical assistance to ag producers who adopt multispecies cover-crop mixtures for improving soil health and wildlife habitat. Cost share is available for cover crop seed and planting.

“Cover crops provide a supplemental forage source, suppress weeds, improve moisture infiltration, boost soil organic matter, and provide habitat for wildlife,” Zach said.

The application deadline is May 3.

This Cropland Cover Initiative is a partnership between the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Game and Parks, Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever and Nebraska Environmental Trust.

Interested producers can find more information at ne.nrcs.usda.gov or contact their local office to apply.

LINCOLN, Neb. – While most state park areas across the state are open, some state parks, state historical parks, state recreation areas and wildlife management areas located along rivers and streams in eastern and central Nebraska remained temporarily closed following recent flooding.

Game and Parks staff have been working diligently to assess the damage and develop recovery plans for affected areas. A list of parks that are closed, partially closed or accessible only by alternate route is available on the Commission’s website at OutdoorNebraska.org/weatherclosures. Visitors to the page will also find a list of park areas unaffected by flooding.

Staff have been proactively assessing conditions at state park and recreation areas. Safety and the serviceability of the facilities is the agency’s main priority before access to temporarily closed areas will be allowed. Game and Parks is optimistic that portions of affected areas will be open in the near future.

The Cowboy Trail from Norfolk to Valentine will remain closed until repairs can be made to the trail surface and bridges. The public is advised to stay off the trail until it has reopened.

Access to some wildlife management areas may be difficult because county roads and bridges have been washed out in some areas. For information on specific wildlife management areas, contact your local Game and Parks district office. Contact information is available online at OutdoorNebraska.org/locations.

Questions about specific park closures should be directed to Game and Parks headquarters at 402-471-0641.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A new report says a March survey of business supply managers is signaling solid economic growth over the next three to six months for nine Midwest and Plains states.

The report issued Monday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index hit its highest level since August, 58.2, compared with 57.9 in February. The January figure was 56.0.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says even stronger growth was hampered by international trade disputes and the global economic slowdown.

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth. A score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

The suspect of a double-homicide that occurred in Douglas, Nebraska last Saturday has been taken into custody in California.

Brindar H. Jangir, 36, of Sioux City, Iowa, was arrested Saturday afternoon, March 30, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in California. Jangir was in Mexico and attempting to regain entry into the United States on foot. He was arrested without incident at the Otay Sentri border crossing approximately 40 miles southeast of San Diego.

Jangir was wanted for the murders of Randal and Annette Grimes, of Douglas, Nebraska. Both victims were found deceased in their home after the Otoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunshots at 100 Otoe Street in Douglas at approximately 6:00 a.m. Saturday, March 23.

In addition to an Otoe County warrant for murder, Jangir also has a warrant from Lancaster County for a stolen firearm, which was used to commit the murders.

Nebraska State Patrol investigators are traveling to California to continue their investigation.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — In the wake of disastrous flooding in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa earlier this month, officials have created an on-demand webinar to help people deal with the serious health dangers that remain after major flooding.

The Central States Center of Agricultural Safety and Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health collaborated with the AgriSafe Network to create the webinar.

Major safety concerns include chemicals released from barns, homes and other on-farm sources and businesses; contaminated well water; human and animal communicable diseases; and mold.

More farm and ranch flood-related resources are available on the Central States Center website.