LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is off to a death star-sized start at the box office. Disney says Friday that the eighth installment in the space franchise has earned an estimated $45 million from Thursday night showings.

It’s the second-highest Thursday night preview tally following the $57 million start for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which kicked off this modern trilogy in 2015.

“The Last Jedi” is expected to net around $200 million throughout the weekend, which would make it the fourth-biggest opening of all time. It’s set to play on 4,232 screens in North America.

Rian Johnson wrote and directed “The Last Jedi,” which stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Adam Driver.

LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — A Dawson County Sheriff’s deputy has been honored for his work in helping capture a man suspected of being the so-called “AK-47 Bandit.”

In a ceremony Monday, Deputy Chad Byrne was presented with a plaque in recognition of his “outstanding service and attention to detail on June 20, 2017.”

That was the day Byrne was on patrol when heard the bulletin that a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper had been shot by a man in a stolen pickup. Byrne stationed himself south of Lexington on Highway 238 in case the fleeing truck drove that way. He later spotted the suspected truck, called for backup and helped arrest Richard Gathercole, suspected of robbing banks in Nebraska, California, Idaho, Iowa and Washington state. Gathercole got the nickname “AK-47 Bandit” because that’s the weapon police believed he carried in the robberies.

He’s in a Colorado federal prison awaiting trial.

HOLDREGE, Neb. (AP) — The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District will again provide eagle-watching sites to the public this winter.

The regular viewing season will begin Dec. 23 at the district’s J-2 Hydroplant south of Lexington and its facility below Kingsley Dam on the east side of Lake McConaughy. The sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through the last weekend in February.

The best viewing time is normally earlier in the day. There is no charge to visit the facilities.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Taxpayers who have avoided filling a return in Nebraska in recent years could face greater scrutiny thanks to new technology adopted by the state revenue department.

The Nebraska Department of Revenue is ramping up its efforts to go after non-filers and others who are suspected of owing a large tax debt, using a data analysis service that helps auditors decide where to focus their efforts.

The department contracted with a Maryland-based data analytics firm as part of a 2014 law to help identify residents and businesses with an outstanding tax liability of at least $5,000.

Nebraska State Tax Commissioner Tony Fulton says the technology is particularly important given state government’s recent revenue shortfall and hiring freeze, which has forced his department to adapt.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — A western Nebraska natural resources district is raising funds for a solar-powered, geothermal-heated greenhouse to grow oranges, lemons and other tropical fruit.

The North Platte Natural Resources District’s greenhouse project would include an outdoor learning facility to promote the district’s research and education goals.

Solar panels on the greenhouse would provide the $500 worth of electricity needed to maintain the temperature at 54 degrees.

The greenhouse would measure 126 by 17 feet and stand 14 feet high. It’s expected to have room for up to 21 trees.

More than 20 local donors have contributed to help match a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust. The project is expected to cost about $75,000.

Construction would begin in the spring, pending expected approval of the grant.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A construction and engineering company is moving its new headquarters to downtown Omaha.

Kiewit Corp. reached a “memorandum of understanding” with Mayor Jean Stothert on Tuesday. The city will vacate the area near the development and help the company acquire the rest of the land it needs. Officials say the company is working to purchase one more parcel of land.

The downtown location is near the company’s training center that opened in February.

The office building and parking garage will be able to hold up to 650 people. The project may cost as much as $76 million.

Kiewit Corp. has hired Noddle Development Co. and architecture firm HDR Inc. for the project. The company may be able to move into the facility as early as 2020.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s 911 director is proposing a plan that would enable emergency reporting via text, photo or video.

Director David Sankey updated Nebraska lawmakers Wednesday on a plan to implement an upgraded 911 system statewide in 2019.

The system would cost an estimated $6.5 million annually and be funded through an existing monthly surcharge on wireless phones. Sankey says the Public Service Commission has a $12 million reserve which would be used for the upgrade.

The system would also link to geographic information system mapping, which would help dispatchers pinpoint a call location if callers can’t talk or don’t know their addresses.

About 80 percent of emergency calls in the state are made on mobile phones, many of which have multimedia functions.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — A western Nebraska zoo is getting ready to display two orphaned bear cubs from Wyoming.

The cubs arrived at the Riverside Discovery Center a few months ago, and staff members have been working to reinforce an existing closure for them.

The public can view the bears when the zoo opens for its regular hours on Saturday. The zoo is also hosting special bear talks throughout the day.

The cubs were orphaned in the spring when a Wyoming black bear hunter illegally killed their mother. Wildlife officials had hoped the cubs would survive in the wild without their mother, but it became clear after several months they would not. Officials then captured the cubs to find them a new home.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — The largest solar farm in Nebraska has started operations.

The 53-acre solar farm in Kearney was dedicated Monday. The system’s nearly 22,500 solar panels will generate 5.8 megawatts of renewable energy, which is about 5 percent of the city’s electrical demand.

The $11 million project is a partnership between the city, Nebraska Public Power District and Chicago-based SoCore Energy.

SoCore will sell energy to the power district, which will sell it to customers in the area. The University of Nebraska at Kearney has already contracted for half of the farm’s solar power.

Other communities pursuing solar projects include Callaway, Gothenburg, Lincoln and South Sioux City. Nebraska Lt. Gov. Mike Foley says there’s 25 megawatts of solar power capacity planned or in progress statewide.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will continue to train state child welfare workers under a renewed agreement with a state agency.

The university announced Monday that it has won a $12 million award from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to prepare newly hired child welfare workers.

The university’s Center on Children, Families and the Law has partnered with the state since 1987. The new award extends the program for three years, with the possibility of an additional two years.

Eve Brank, the center’s director, says child welfare workers serve a critical role of caring for many of the state’s most vulnerable children. Child and family services specialists serve as caseworkers for children and families that need intervention because of abuse and neglect.