WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s pick for deputy commerce secretary has withdrawn from consideration.

Todd Ricketts, a co-owner of the Chicago Cubs and son of TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts, was unable to resolve conflict-of-interest issues in taking the No. 2 job at the department.

Ricketts says in a statement that he is “deeply honored” that Trump nominated him for the post.

During the presidential campaign, Ricketts helped raise at least $66 million for outside groups called Future 45 and 45 Committee — a nod to Trump as the incoming 45th president.

But before helping Trump, Ricketts belonged to a super political action committee that spent more than any other trying to stop Trump from winning the Republican presidential nomination.

Ricketts’ withdrawal was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Several Nebraska lawmakers say the state Legislature should approve a bill that would let them regulate medical marijuana before voters legalize the substance.

Senators began debate on the measure Wednesday but are unlikely to vote unless supporters prove they have at least 33 votes to end a filibuster. Opponents of the measure say scientists, not lawmakers, should approve drugs.

A petition now circulating in the state would amend Nebraska’s constitution to give residents the use, buy and sell marijuana and prohibit any laws restricting it. The proposal could come before voters in 2018.

Twenty-nine states already allow marijuana for medical purposes.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State prison officials say an inmate found unresponsive in his cell at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution has died, and a criminal investigation into the death has been launched.

A news release Wednesday from the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says 22-year-old Terry Berry Jr. was found in his cell Saturday. He was taken to a Lincoln hospital, where he was declared brain dead on Monday. He was taken off life-support Wednesday.

Berry was serving a 3- to 4-year sentence for felony forgery and a jail assault conviction from Platte County. He was up for a parole next month and set for release in December.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska legislative committee has decided to take no action on expanding the state’s Medicaid program until it knows what course the federal government will take on health care.

The Health and Human Services Committee opted Wednesday not to kill or approve a bill that could give Medicaid coverage to about 90,000 low-income Nebraska residents. The state is one of 19 that declined to expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act.

An initial effort to repeal the Obama administration’s signature health care program failed, but Congress is continuing to work on a replacement.

State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward, a member of the committee, says he did not want to kill the Medicaid expansion bill outright because a Republican replacement could provide state block grants Nebraska could use for funding.

HALSEY, Neb. (AP) — Officials have predicted 100 percent containment later Wednesday of a fire that’s burned several dozen acres of trees and grassland in north-central Nebraska.

The U.S. Forest Service said in a news release Wednesday that rain and favorable weather conditions will aid the efforts.

The fire began late Monday afternoon about seven miles west of Halsey in the Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands. No injuries have been reported.

Officials think the fire was started by a person but haven’t been able to pinpoint what happened.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A nonprofit corporation has signed an agreement with federal officials to raise $30 million for a new veterans outpatient clinic in Omaha.

The corporation was created by Heritage Services, a nonprofit civic group that was instrumental in creating such projects as the Holland Performing Arts Center and TD Ameritrade Park. The agreement was announced Wednesday.

In December President Barack Obama signed a measure allowing a public-private partnership to build the clinic on the campus of Omaha’s Department of Veterans Medical Center. The $30 million from the local group will be added to $56 million already appropriated for the Nebraska/Western Iowa Health Care System clinic.

VA officials have said what will be called the Veterans Affairs Ambulatory Center will offer primary, specialty and ambulatory care and operate radiological and surgical facilities.