LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new state program that goes into effect this fall will give Nebraska businesses an alternative to layoffs when economic times are tight.

The short-time compensation program will extend partial unemployment benefits to groups of people who are still working, but whose hours have been trimmed by cost-saving employers.

The program goes into effect on Oct. 1. It won’t replace workers’ lost wages dollar for dollar, but allows them to keep at least part of their regular paychecks and avoid having to search for another job.

Companies are also required to maintain their employees’ retirement and health insurance benefits.

The program is modeled after similar short-time compensation programs in at least 21 other states.

COZAD, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say an 82-year-old North Platte man has died from injuries he suffered when two pickups collided south of Cozad.

John Henderson died Sunday morning at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He had been flown to the hospital from Cozad Community Hospital, where he and two others were taken after they were injured in a Dawson County crash around 11:20 a.m. Friday. Injuries to the other people involved were not considered life threatening.

The Dawson County sheriff’s office says Henderson was driving a pickup on a county road and failed to stop at an intersection with Nebraska Highway 21. His eastbound vehicle collided with a pickup traveling south on the highway.

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0528 PM     HAIL             2 SW LAMAR              40.55N 102.01W
09/04/2016  E0.50 INCH       CHASE              NE   PUBLIC          

            IN ADDITION TO HAIL...WINDS WERE ESTIMATED AT 30-40 MPH

0558 PM     HAIL             4 N VENANGO             40.82N 102.04W
09/04/2016  E0.50 INCH       PERKINS            NE   PUBLIC          

            IN ADDITION TO HAIL...WINDS WERE ESTIMATED AT 40 MPH

0615 PM     HAIL             3 NE BIG SPRINGS        41.09N 102.03W
09/04/2016  E1.75 INCH       KEITH              NE   PUBLIC          

            HAIL TO QUARTER SIZE WITH AN OCCASIONAL GOLF BALL. WIND 
            SPEED EST 60 MPH

0615 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 ENE BIG SPRINGS       41.07N 102.02W
09/04/2016  M60.00 MPH       KEITH              NE   MESONET         

            MESONET OBSERVATION FROM NEAR BIG SPRINGS...UP938 AT 515 
            PM MDT.

0616 PM     HAIL             12 N HAY SPRINGS        42.86N 102.69W
09/04/2016  E0.88 INCH       SHERIDAN           NE   PUBLIC          

0625 PM     TSTM WND GST     7 W LEMOYNE             41.29N 101.94W
09/04/2016  E60.00 MPH       KEITH              NE   PUBLIC          

            EST 60 MPH WINDS WITH LARGE HAIL POSSIBLY TO QUARTER 
            SIZE. OVER ONE INCH OF RAIN WITH WATER COVERING THE ROAD

0625 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 NE BIG SPRINGS        41.09N 102.03W
09/04/2016  M1.00 INCH       KEITH              NE   PUBLIC          

            ONE INCH OF RAIN IN 20 MINUTES

0625 PM     HAIL             16 N HAY SPRINGS        42.91N 102.69W
09/04/2016  E1.25 INCH       SHERIDAN           NE   PUBLIC          

            IN ADDITION TO HAIL...WINDS WERE ESTIMATED AT 30-40 MPH

0631 PM     HAIL             14 N RUSHVILLE          42.92N 102.47W
09/04/2016  E1.00 INCH       SHERIDAN           NE   PUBLIC          

0700 PM     TSTM WND GST     6 NNW ARTHUR            41.65N 101.74W
09/04/2016  E60.00 MPH       ARTHUR             NE   PUBLIC          

0735 PM     TSTM WND GST     6 SE WHITMAN            41.98N 101.45W
09/04/2016  E60.00 MPH       GRANT              NE   PUBLIC          

            TREES BENDING OVER WITH SMALL LIMBS BROKEN OFF

0845 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 E TRYON               41.56N 100.91W
09/04/2016  E60.00 MPH       MCPHERSON          NE   PUBLIC          

            TREES BENDING OVER FROM THE WIND. PEA SIZE HAIL ALSO 
            REPORTED

0858 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     5 NE RINGGOLD           41.56N 100.70W
09/04/2016                   LOGAN              NE   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            TIME ESTIMATE

0908 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     6 NW STAPLETON          41.54N 100.59W
09/04/2016                   LOGAN              NE   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            TIME AND LOCATION ESTIMATED

0913 PM     HAIL             7 NW STAPLETON          41.55N 100.61W
09/04/2016  E1.25 INCH       LOGAN              NE   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0920 PM     HAIL             19 WSW TRYON            41.45N 101.28W
09/04/2016  E1.50 INCH       MCPHERSON          NE   PUBLIC          

            50 MPH WINDS ALSO REPORTED

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — A hot air balloon touched power lines after landing during a weekend festival in western Nebraska, but no one was hurt.

The incident happened Sunday morning at the Old West Balloon Fest.

Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Mark Overman says none of the three people on board the balloon was hurt.

The balloon involved is called the Good Morning Sunshine, and its pilot is Royce Clapp.

Colleen Johnson with the balloon festival called this a minor incident. She says a small change in wind can cause problems on landing or takeoff.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Humane Society is giving away cats free to clear up space in the shelter in Omaha.

The nonprofit says too many cats came in recently, so it is waiving its normal adoption fees. All the felines are spayed or neutered and microchipped.

All cats that are six months or older are free, and kittens will be adopted two for one for $75.

The nonprofit says anyone who has been thinking about getting a cat should visit the shelter.

More details are available online at www.nehumanesociety.org.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — While Nebraska honored punter Sam Foltz who died in a car crash this summer, someone broke into his brother’s home and car.

Greeley County Sheriff David Weeks says the burglary happened sometime after the Foltz family left home around noon to attend Saturday’s game in Lincoln and before they returned around 3 a.m. Sunday.

The thieves took items worth roughly $1,400, including a television and tools, from Jordan Foltz’s home and vehicle in the Greeley, Nebraska, area.

Sam Foltz, who would have been a senior at Nebraska this fall, died in a car crash in Wisconsin in July along with former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler.

Foltz’s parents presented a scholarship in his name and two of his nephews helped lead the team out before Saturday’s game against Fresno State.

GERING, Neb. (AP) — The new shooting range at the Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area in the Nebraska Panhandle is now open.

The facility located in the Wildcat Hills south of Gering along Highway 71 opened Saturday.

The range includes space for rifle, pistol and archery shooting. Plus, there is a trap-shooting range for shotguns and a 100-yard range for sighting in rifles.

An air rifle range will open soon.

More details on prices and hours are available online at www.OutdoorNebraska.gov/WildcatHillsRange.