MINDEN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 35-year-old woman found unresponsive in Minden has died at a hospital.

Minden police say Ruth Ehrke died Monday night at Good Samaritan hospital in Kearney. She’d been taken there after officers found her and another woman badly beaten Sunday at the Minden residence.

Police are looking for a 39-year-old suspect, Chad Carlson, who’s been charged in an arrest warrant with assault and criminal trespass. Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have kicked off a contentious debate over a proposed $8.9 billion, two-year budget package in the midst of a projected revenue shortfall.

The measure debated Tuesday would balance the budget using a combination of tactics. The list includes drawing money from state cash funds, cutting money to agencies including the University of Nebraska, and relying on an increase in federal Medicaid dollars.

The package would increase funding for K-12 public schools and ongoing efforts to reduce prison crowding.

The budget could see more cuts depending on the outcome of a new state revenue forecast slated for Wednesday.

Sen. John Stinner of Gering is the chairman of the Appropriations Committee. He says the budget-crafting effort was one of the most difficult ones that longtime legislative staff members have seen.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has signed a series of bills intended to benefit the state’s veterans.

Ricketts on Tuesday approved legislation to merge the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the state Division of Veterans’ Homes in an effort to streamline services. It’s not expected to generate savings, but is intended to provide veterans with a one-stop-shopping experience.

Another bill signed will eliminate a regulatory hurdle for military spouses with occupational licenses. A third measure would allow a hiring preference in government for spouses of active duty service members. The preference would also apply to those who are returning to employment with a government body.

Nebraska already provides a hiring preference for qualified veterans to work in state government.

LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — Trial for a Nebraska woman charged with felony accessory to murder has been moved to August.

34-year-old Melissa Callahan, of Elm Creek, appeared Monday in Dawson County District Court, where a judge granted her attorney’s motion for more time to gather information and seek depositions.

Her trial is now set for Aug. 8.

Authorities say Callahan was present when Jose Regalado-Mendez shot to death 37-year-old Jose Hernandez in October, and then helped move the body and conceal the slaying. Hernandez’s remains were found Dec. 12 near a farmhouse north of Lexington.

Regalado-Mendez has been charged with first-degree murder and a weapons count

LINCOLN, Neb. – With summer approaching, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is reminding water lovers to be mindful of the state’s education requirements for boating.

Nebraska law requires any motorboat or personal watercraft operator born after Dec. 31, 1985 to complete one of the two types of boating safety courses and be in possession of a course certificate. Operators must be at least 14 years old to drive motorboats and personal watercraft in Nebraska.

The Commission has scheduled required boating safety courses at locations throughout the state in the coming months. The home-study option of the course allows participants to download and study materials online before attending a three-hour review and test-out session. The other option is a six-hour classroom course.

In May, classroom courses will be offered at Sidney, LaVista, Lincoln, Broken Bow, Bridgeport, McCook, Hastings, Ogallala, Scottsbluff, Woodcliff Lakes, Kearney, Alliance, North Platte, Grand Island, Chadron, Columbus, Norfolk, Beaver Lake, Lexington, Johnson Lake, and Omaha.

To find a schedule of course offerings, as well as a wealth of other boating information, visit boatsafenebraska.org. The course schedule and registration information may be found in the “boater education” section.

During the evening hours of Saturday, April 22, 2017, the Nebraska State Patrol conducted alcohol compliance checks at retail outlets in Lincoln County.

20 businesses were checked, with one of them, Holiday Plaza Conoco, 102 Holiday Frontage, found to be non-compliant after selling alcohol to a minor.  The retail outlets checked included convenience stores, liquor stores, restaurants, and bars.

Law enforcement performs compliance checks to ensure businesses are complying with the state’s alcohol laws and to decrease youth access to alcohol. The compliance checks were conducted thanks in part to a grant from Region II Human Services.