LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts says he doubts the closure of four beer stores on the state border will fix the alcohol-related problems on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Ricketts said Monday that addressing the issue will likely require action within the reservation, which is home to the Oglala Lakota Nation.

The Nebraska Supreme Court issued a ruling on Friday that upheld a state commission’s decision not to renew the stores’ licenses in the village of Whiteclay. The stores had sold the equivalent of about 3.5 million cans of beer annually in the unincorporated town, despite having nine residents. Before the stores were closed, Whiteclay had served as a hangout for people to loiter.

Ricketts notes that Nebraska’s state government helped pay demolition costs for two abandoned buildings in Whiteclay.

A North Platte man is facing a felony domestic assault charge after he allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend.

On September 30, at around 5:37 p.m., officers responded to the 500 block of North Bicentennial on the report of an assault that had taken place earlier.

Officers met with a 49-year-old female who alleged that she had been assaulted by her ex-boyfriend, 33-year-old Marcos Escarsega.

According to Investigator John Deal, the female told officers that she had been in a vehicle with Escarsega when they became involved in an argument.

She told police that Escarsega had struck her in the face with his fist, then struck her in the face with an unopened can of beer.

Deal says the woman had a tooth knocked out and visible injuries to her face.

Officers located Escarsega at a residence in the 600 Block of South Sioux Meadow Lane and placed him under arrest.

He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center and charged with felony 1st-degree domestic assault.

LINCOLN – Today, Governor Pete Ricketts, in accordance with a proclamation from President Donald J. Trump, announced that all U.S. and Nebraska flags are to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims of the act of violence in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Please join Susanne and I in keeping the victims and families of the horrifying tragedy in Las Vegas in our thoughts and prayers,” said Governor Ricketts.

Las Vegas was terrorized by a shooter who opened fire on a country music festival late Sunday night, killing at least 50 people and injuring at least 400 others according to news reports.

Flags will be flown at half-staff until sunset on October 6, 2017.  The President’s proclamation can be found here.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — After dipping to No. 2 last weekend, “It” has regained control of the North American box office in its fourth weekend in theaters. The movie beat out the new Tom Cruise film “American Made.”

Studio estimates on Sunday say the Stephen King adaptation took the top spot at the box office with $17.3 million.

“It” edged out last weekend’s box office champ, “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” and newcomer “American Made,” which essentially tied for second with $17 million apiece.

While “American Made” is earning Cruise strong praise for his portrayal of the real life TWA pilot turned drug smuggler and CIA operative, it’s also a somewhat lukewarm debut for the star.

The “Flatliners” remake also opened this weekend to little fanfare and tiny earnings with $6.7 million.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A stagnant farm economy that has slowed Nebraska and Iowa’s income growth to the lowest levels in the nation is also contributing to state budget problems that could linger through next year, officials said.

Key lawmakers from both states said they’re concerned the agricultural downturn will persist, ripping through other sectors and putting additional strain on their budgets.

Declining farm income was the leading cause of the slowdown in many states, including Iowa and Nebraska, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The sluggish growth also hurt agricultural manufacturing, lending, land-rental income and other industries tied to farming, officials said.

“Our farmers have been hurting, and they’ve been hurting for some time now,” said Nebraska State Tax Commissioner Tony Fulton. “The fact of the matter is it’s a big deal in Nebraska.”

Nebraska and Iowa posted the slowest income growth in the second quarter of 2017, according to the bureau report released last week. Incomes increased by just 0.1 percent in both states, compared to a 0.7 percent average nationally.

Farm incomes have fallen because of a glut of corn and soybeans that lowered commodity prices. Agriculture is the largest industry in both states.

Iowa showed strength in other areas of its economy, such as finance, insurance and non-durable manufacturing, but those gains were offset by the farm slowdown, said John Fuller, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Revenue.

The nonpartisan Iowa Legislative Services Agency reported this summer that incoming revenue for the last budget year fell about $100 million short of projections, but cautioned that the number could fluctuate. Officials with Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds later announced the shortfall was closer to $14.6 million.

In Nebraska, lawmakers relied on a combination of cuts, spending delays and emergency funds to close what had been a projected $900 million budget shortfall. Senators cautioned, however, that the budget problems could persist into future years partly because of the farm economy and partly because of a series of tax cuts and exemptions for businesses approved in recent years.

Nebraska’s individual income and sales taxes are the state’s two largest revenue sources, and sluggish growth in either slows the flow of tax collections.

Many farmers padded their savings during the boom years to protect themselves, but aren’t generating as much income that can be taxed, said Sen. John Stinner, the Republican chairman of the Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations Committee.

“Obviously, our revenue is going to dictate what (bills) we prioritize,” said Stinner, of Gering.The decline follows several boom years with high commodity prices and rising farm incomes, triggering a surge in production as more farmers scrambled to take advantage. High oil prices at the time also increased demand for ethanol, creating an even greater global desire for corn, said Dan Corrin, an economist for the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

“You had farmers planting more and more corn and more and more soybeans, and the supply became saturated,” Corrin said. “Demand from other countries began to level off.”

Both states may have to endure the situation for the next few years.

“I don’t see any reason to expect a rapid recovery,” said Iowa State University economist Alejandro Plastina, who specializes in agricultural economics. “There’s strong demand for corn and soybeans, but worldwide there’s so just so much in stock that it keeps prices subdued.”

Plastina said Iowa’s revenue shortfall was driven by the agriculture and its ripple effect on other businesses such as seed and machinery dealers and local banks.

Agriculture accounts for less than 10 percent of Iowa’s overall economy, but when related industries such as equipment manufacturing and ag lending are included, it makes up nearly half of the state’s economy, Plastina said.

Iowa state Sen. Charles Schneider, a West Des Moines Republican, said the slowdown in his state demonstrates the need to reduce spending. Democratic lawmakers said have corporate tax credits are partially to blame for the budget problems.

“One of the lessons I hope we’ve learned is it’s important to manage the rate at which government spending increases,” Schneider said.

Fulton said Nebraska has seen sluggish revenue from capital gains as well, suggesting that some investors may be waiting to see what will happen with the Trump administration’s proposed tax package. “There’s a theory out there that folks are hanging onto their gains until they know how they’re going to get taxed,” he said.

LOUISVILLE, Neb. (AP) — Young hunters who have completed a hunter education course are invited to compete for prizes in a state contest.

The Nebraska Youth Hunter Education Challenge will be held at Platte River State Park near Louisville on Oct. 15. Participants must be over 11.

The simulated hunting competition includes six different events, including shotgun, muzzleloading and 3-D archery.

The setup is designed to reinforce what young hunters learned in their basic education courses.

Participants can register online . The event is sponsored by the National Rifle Association.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Rainbow trout are being stocked in ponds and lakes across Nebraska this fall.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says the stocking is intended to enhance fishing opportunities this fall and winter. The agency says trot fishing is a great way to introduce children to fishing, because simple and inexpensive equipment may be used.

The stockings began Sept. 19 with 1,000 trout put in Elm Creek east of Red Cloud. The stocked trout are approximately 10 inches long.

The stockings are planned at dozens of lakes and ponds through Nov. 1.

PONCA, Neb. (AP) — Ponca State Park’s annual Hallowfest celebration is set for two dates next month.

The celebration will be held Oct. 14 and Oct. 21.

Now in its 19th year, Hallowfest offers a variety of fall activities, including campsite and cabin decorating contests, a pumpkin roll, pumpkin carving contest, haunted hayrack rides, seasonal crafts and more.

Tickets are required for the spooky haunted hayrack rides through the park, which are one of the event’s most popular activities. Guests can reserve tickets by calling the park at 402-755-2284 beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 9. Tickets often sell out within two hours.

More information on Ponca State Park’s Hallowfest activities can be found online at http://calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has sent an order blocking a state prison policy that kept two inmates from marrying back to a lower court, citing a conflict in how the lawsuit was filed and then decided.

The ruling Friday came in the case of two inmates who had their request to marry denied because corrections officials have been unwilling to transport either of them to the other’s prison for a wedding ceremony, or allow them to marry via video.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued on their behalf, and last year, a Lancaster County District judge ruled the prison’s policy was “constitutionally flawed.”

But the state’s high court found the judge was wrong to grant injunctive relief based on prison employees’ official capacities, because the officials were sued as individuals.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Ten faculty members have called for a no-confidence vote in the leadership of the Doane University president.

A letter submitted to the faculty council Tuesday asks Doane’s teachers for a formal vote stating they do not support President Jacques Carter. He’s in his seventh year leading the liberal arts college in Crete.

The eight-page letter says Carter has failed to follow through on strategic initiatives to raise enrollment, expand the university presence in Omaha and complete fundraising campaigns. It also says Carter has mismanaged personnel, citing “incredible turnover in key academic leadership positions.”

Carter didn’t immediately return a call Thursday from The Associated Press. University spokesman Mike Lefler says Carter’s out of the country and unavailable. Lefler declined to comment for him.