SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — Bass Pro Shops’ chief executive said he will match donations by former Cabela’s executives and owners to a severance fund for some Cabela’s workers who are losing their jobs after Bass Pro bought the rival outdoor retailer.

Bass Pro Shops has said some employees in Sidney, Nebraska, where Cabela’s was headquartered, will likely lose their jobs as a result of the $5 billion deal that closed in September. Bass has said it will keep its headquarters in Springfield, Missouri.

Cabela’s has been headquartered for decades in Sidney and employed as many as 2,000 people in the town of about 6,700 people that’s some 365 miles (585 kilometers) west of Omaha. The largest city in the Panhandle region where Sydney is located is Scottsbluff, a community of about 15,000 people that’s about 80 miles (130 kilometers) to the northwest.

Bass Pro said it has already committed an additional $10 million on top of its normal severance program to help the Sidney employees. Bass Pro CEO Johnny Morris has asked former Cabela’s executives who got large “golden parachutes” or profits from their Cabela’s stock sale to contribute to the severance fund.

“While I know the former owners and executives are under no obligation to lend this additional support, I hope they consider doing so,” Morris said in a statement.

One of the former Cabela’s executives joining Bass Pro is chief financial officer Ralph Castner. He told the newspaper he would discuss the issue with Morris. The other executives and family members couldn’t be reached.

Bass Pro hasn’t said exactly how many Cabela’s workers will lose their jobs. The company will keep open all Nebraska retail stores, call centers and the distribution center in Sidney, according to a document sent to employees. It also will retain 125 Cabela’s information technology employees and some accounting and finance staffers.

Bass Pro also has said it will donate empty Cabela’s buildings to Sidney to help recruit new businesses to the city.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts unveiled a new tax package Wednesday that would boost credits for Nebraska residents who own homes and farmland, lower the state’s top income tax rates and expand job-training programs.

The Republican governor outlined a proposal in his State of the State address that would focus more property tax benefits on in-state residents by excluding out-of-state landowners who don’t file income tax returns but still receive property tax credits.

The new initiative follows complaints from farm and ranching groups that their property tax bills have soared.

“We must help our farmers and ranchers with crushing property tax bills,” Ricketts said in his annual address. “We must help all Nebraskans keep more of their hard-earned money and attract more people to come to our state.”

The plan presented to lawmakers, the Property Tax Cuts and Opportunity Act, would use money from the state’s current property tax credit program. The current credit is applied directly to property tax bills, resulting in millions of dollars in benefits each year to landowners who don’t live in the state.

Ricketts’ proposal would shift the money into a refundable income tax credit, ensuring that only property owners who file a Nebraska income tax return can qualify. The new credit would only apply to residents who own homes or agricultural land. Renters and commercial property owners would see no direct benefit from the credit.

The property tax plan would also cap residential tax credits at $230, regardless of a property’s value. The maximum would rise after years when revenue exceeds projections. Ricketts said the limit was designed to benefit “the average Nebraska homeowner,” rather than owners of more expensive houses. Agricultural landowners would see a roughly 14 percent boost in the tax credit they receive, while residential property owners would get a 6 percent increase.

The second piece of the plan would use existing tax credits to lower Nebraska’s top personal and corporate income tax rates to 6.69 percent by Jan. 1, 2020. The current top personal rate is 6.84 percent and the top corporate rate is 7.81 percent.

“Cutting and reforming taxes is key to growing Nebraska,” Ricketts said. “Over the years, together, we have done the hard work needed to hold the line on taxes, but Nebraskans need and expect more.”

Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion, who introduced the proposal on the governor’s behalf, said the plan is designed to make the state more attractive to businesses while also responding to farm and rancher concerns. Smith said the new bill seeks to address concerns from last year’s tax package, which stalled in part because farm groups argued that it didn’t do enough for them.

“It makes better use of the dollars that were allocated for the property tax credit relief fund, because it’ll go toward resident taxpayers,” Smith said. “It makes those dollars stretch farther.”

The third piece of the plan calls for an additional $10 million for job-training programs over two years. Ricketts said the funding was important to help the state economy.

The plan is likely to face resistance. Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln disputed the governor’s argument that lower taxes would help attract more residents to the state.

“We need LGBT protections, lower tuition, higher paying jobs and forward thinking policies and investments,” said Morfeld, whose district includes a large number of University of Nebraska-Lincoln students.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts says his proposed budget to lawmakers will prioritize K-12 public education, the state corrections department and services for people with developmental disabilities.

Ricketts says the budget he will present to lawmakers on Wednesday would leave the state’s K-12 funding formula unchanged. It also would increase the number of corrections officers to address staffing shortages and use $5.8 million in unspent money to pay for 100 new prison beds to ease overcrowding.

Ricketts says his expected budget cuts won’t affect services for people with developmental disabilities.

Lawmakers face a projected $173 million revenue state revenue shortfall in the current two-year budget cycle, which is expected to rise to $200 million due to a reduction in federal funding.

The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) is urging motorists to be prepared for the potential of hazardous conditions with an expected winter storm this week. The storm could make driving difficult in various parts of the state.

“The storm forecasted for this week could make for dangerous driving conditions across a large portion of the state,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Drivers should be prepared by staying up-to-date on the forecast and plan ahead if you need to travel.”

Travelers are urged to stay up-to-date on travel conditions with information available through Nebraska 511, Nebraska’s Advanced Traveler Information System. The system is available at all times via phone by dialing 511, online at www.511.nebraska.gov, or Nebraska 511’s smartphone app.

NSP also issues the following reminders for motorists traveling in extreme weather conditions:

• Always wear your seat belt and never drive faster than conditions allow.
• Blowing and drifting snow can reduce visibility. Travel only when absolutely necessary.
• If you must travel, use well-traveled routes and give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. Let others know where you are going, your route, and when you will arrive.
• If you do become stranded while traveling, stay in your vehicle until help arrives. Wind chill and freezing temperatures can be life-threatening.
• If your vehicle becomes stuck, run your motor sparingly and keep a window cracked to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide.
• Carry a red flag or bandana in your car and attach it to the outside to signal for help.

Be sure to keep a winter weather survival kit in your vehicle as you travel. Some basic items to include are: First Aid Kit, phone charger, ice scraper, shovel, small bag of sand, flashlight with extra batteries, blankets or sleeping bags, extra clothing and winter accessories, jumper cables, tow rope, tool kit, matches, candles, red flag or bandana, high energy or dehydrated foods, and bottled water.

The NSP Highway Helpline is available 24 hours per day for motorists in need of assistance. Drivers can reach NSP by dialing *55 from any cell phone. Call 911 for any emergency.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have advanced a bill that would give former prisoners and jail inmates the chance to have a judge set aside their conviction once they’ve served their time.

The measure won first-round approval Tuesday with a 37-1 vote.

Nebraska already allows people who have spent time on probation to petition a judge to set aside their sentences.

The bill by Sen. John McCollister of Omaha would expand eligibility to include those who served time in prison or jail. It would not apply to people with pending criminal charges, sex offenders, those with traffic misdemeanors or felonies or those who have applied within the last two years.

McCollister says giving people the chance to set aside their convictions would help them move beyond their criminal pasts.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would raise the cost of a handgun permit from $5 to $25 is stirring debate among Nebraska lawmakers.

Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue presented the measure to the full Legislature on Tuesday, describing it as a user fee that’s necessary to help counties cover their costs. Blood says Nebraska’s three largest counties have seen a sharp increase in the number of permit applications that need to be processed.

Blood says the Legislature’s reluctance to allow such fee increases creates pressure on county boards to raise property taxes.

Gun-rights groups argue that the increase is too large and question whether it reflects the actual cost of processing permits.

In 2015, a measure that raised the cost of marriage license fees triggered a contentious and drawn-out debate among lawmakers.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Planned Parenthood of the Heartland is criticizing Gov. Pete Ricketts’ attempt to end funding for any health care provider that also offers abortions.

A spokeswoman for the group issued a statement calling the governor’s Tuesday announcement “a blatant attack on Planned Parenthood” and part of an extreme agenda to dismantle reproductive health care access.

Ricketts is attempting to cut funding through his budget proposal to lawmakers. He included a provision in his proposed budget last year that would have prevented Planned Parenthood of the Heartland from receiving any family planning money, but lawmakers removed it.

Planned Parenthood says roughly 8,000 Nebraska residents could lose access to its health care services, even though the federal money in question doesn’t subsidize abortions.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is taking agenda on the road after he delivers his annual State of the State address to lawmakers.

Ricketts will deliver the speech Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the State Capitol in Lincoln, followed by additional public statements in the governor’s hearing room. He will then travel to Grand Island, North Platte and Scottsbluff.

Ricketts is expected to outline a legislative package that includes income and property tax measures and his proposals to balance the budget in the face of a state revenue shortfall.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts says his budget plan to lawmakers will seek to end state funding for any health clinic that offers abortions.

The Republican governor announced the proposal Monday afternoon. Ricketts included a provision in his proposed budget last year that would have prevented Planned Parenthood of the Heartland from receiving any family planning money, but lawmakers removed it.

Health care providers that also perform abortions are currently eligible for federal funding through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. President Donald Trump signed a law last year that gave states greater latitude when distributing Title X funding.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska state veterans’ care workers are receiving a 20 percent pay raise after recent surveys found their wages are lagging their peers in other states.

Gov. Pete Ricketts and the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs announced the increase Monday. The governor’s office says in a news release that the new pay rate is more competitive for people with similar roles in government and the private sector.

Staff care technicians provide basic nursing care, administer medications and perform a variety of other tasks for Nebraska veterans. Ricketts says the raise is intended to increase recruitment and retention. There are 135 in the state’s veterans’ homes.

A spokesman for the governor’s office says the starting wage for the care workers is increasing from $11.71 per hour to $14.05 per hour.