LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Businesses and organizations in Nebraska have been awarded more than $1 million in grants through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A release from the USDA says most of that money went to Knox County as part of a $750,000 loan program to help the business and community recover from Missouri River flooding. So far, five businesses have been identified as likely recipients of low-interest loans. More than $250,000 went to Nebraska through the USDA’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program. That money was distributed to four organizations to promote business development. Recipients include the University of Nebraska, the Panhandle Area Development District in Gering, the Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons and the Potter Historical Foundation.

ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) – An Alliance City Council member has announced he’s resigning after 15 years in office. KNEB-AM reports Dan Kusek submitted his resignation Thursday, citing family and work issues. His last day on the council will be Sept. 30, the last day of Alliance’s 2011 fiscal year. The four remaining council members will select a replacement to fill out the 14 months left on Kusek’s term.

TRENTON, Neb. (AP) – A southwest Nebraska school board has rejected an attempt to force a recall vote on three of its members. The Hitchcock County school board voted 5-1 this week to not call a recall election, even though the county clerk has certified the signatures. School attorney Karen Haase told The McCook Daily Gazette that that some signers claimed they were told the petition was to save an old school building, while others believed it was to lower their property taxes Haase says the man behind the petition, Shane Rippen, reportedly did not gather all of the signatures himself even though he signed the petition as the sole circulator. Haase says she advised the school board members against calling the election to avoid possible lawsuits.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) – “Dumpster diving” is now a no-no in Kearney. The Kearney Hub reports that the City Council on Tuesday adopted an ordinance banning people from scavenging in garbage cans. The move came after Kearney Police Department Chief Dan Lynch raised concerns. According to the memorandum from City Attorney Michael Tye, other communities have reported problems with people scavenging through trash receptacles looking for recyclable metal and other materials. Scavenging also has been a source of identity theft. The new ordinance makes digging through someone else’s garbage a
misdemeanor offense.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) – A summer traffic stop along Interstate 80 in central Nebraska is proving profitable for several Buffalo County agencies that will share $252,470 that was seized. The Kearney Hub reports neither of the men who were in the car when it was stopped on July 12 tried to claim the money in court. So Buffalo County Judge John Icenogle ruled the cash had been forfeited. Court documents say Nebraska State Troopers found the cash hidden in the lining of suitcases in the rental car’s trunk after the two men told conflicting stories about their travel plans. No drugs were found in the car, so the men were released. The money will be split between Buffalo County’s fines and licensing fund and the county drug law enforcement and education fund.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman says he’s frustrated with the state’s efforts to enact child welfare reforms, but he’s promising improvements after meeting with an agency director and other stakeholders. The Republican governor says he makes no excuses for the recent problems that have risen with the effort to privatize services. He says he met this week the director Nebraska Department of Health and Human services, a non-profit service provider, and the Lancaster County Attorney’s office, which has clashed with the state before. Heineman’s comments came one week after State Auditor Mike Foley released an audit of the state’s child welfare services. The agency dispute parts of the report, and says it has made improvements to address others. Heineman says he still supports privatization of Nebraska’s child welfare services.