GERING, Neb. (AP) — A Gering woman accused of defrauding her grandfather and the families of music students has been sentenced to prison.

Stacia Keener was sentenced Friday to four to eight years for two counts of felony theft and another year for five misdemeanor theft counts. The sentences are to be served at the same time.

Keener pleaded guilty to the charges in July.

Prosecutors say Keener took money from the parents of her students to pay for a Disney World trip, but never bought tickets or scheduled it. Officials say she also scammed her 84-year-old grandfather out of more than $250,000 over a four-year period.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s population is aging, and lawmakers want to know what to do about it.

A demographic shift over the next few decades could mean a surge of retirees relying on public services and a slow-growing number of workers to drive the economy and generate tax revenue. That’s according to a report presented to the Legislature’s Planning Committee.

Some lawmakers say the state isn’t doing enough to prepare for changes that could become a major drag on the state budget and economy. Those worries have prompted them to try to take a long-term view of how state officials should respond.

Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus says the change could force lawmakers to drastically raise taxes or cut services for those who need it.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is opening a lottery to allow hunters access to lands in the central Platte River Valley.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says 56 hunters will be chosen from a random drawing in early October and allowed to hunt on designated Platte River Recreation Access lands Nov. 16-19.

Applications are limited to one per person. They’ll be accepted by mail or in person at the Game and Parks service center in Kearney through Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. Hunters can apply to hunt three areas but will only receive permission on one area if their name is drawn. Lottery winners will be notified by Oct. 20.

Hunters are required to obtain the appropriate deer permit and habitat stamp to hunt.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An assistant professor is working on creating a new regional and community forestry degree program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Eric North says he’s trying to coin the term ‘Treehuskers’ for the students who participate because UNL students are known as Cornhuskers. North is working in a position funded through the U.S. Forest Service and the School of Natural Resources.

North says faculty are busy designing courses and curriculum. It’ll train everyone from urban arborists to conservationists to scale trees safely and efficiently.

North says Nebraska will need trained arborists as the emerald ash borer continues to spread across the state. Lincoln and Omaha also seek experienced arborists or consultants to help manage the hundreds of thousands of trees the cities maintained.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska grandparents are being invited to participate in a contest that could help them provide for their grandchildren’s college costs.

The NEST 529 College Savings Plan and First National Bank of Omaha will celebrate National Grandparents Day on Sunday with the kickoff of the annual Dear Grandchild scholarship drawing.

Participating grandparents write letters of no more than 500 words to their young loved ones expressing their hopes and the importance of higher education.

Ten grandparents will be selected to each win a $529 contribution to a new or existing NEST account for the beneficiaries of their choice.

Submission deadline is Nov. 30. Winners will be selected by random drawing in December.

• Tyler Jordan Blake, 28, North Platte and Amy Rae Medley, 29, North Platte

 

• Dillon Michael Johnson, 25, North Platte and Crystal Lynn Shortall, 26, North Platte

CHADRON, Neb. (AP) — Officials say Chadron police are investigating a report alleging hazing involving Chadron State College students.

A letter dated Wednesday from College President Randy Rhine tells student and staffs that police are focusing on an off-campus incident that was portrayed as an initiation rite between members of the wrestling team. He also says the college is conducting its own probe.

Rhine says the alleged actions would violate team rules, college and system policies and perhaps even state law. His letter didn’t provide specifics or names.

The Chadron police chief and other college and law enforcement officials have declined to comment. No arrests or citations have been reported.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Republican Rep. Adrian Smith says he doesn’t fault President Donald Trump for reaching out to Democrats on immigration issues but says he’s not ready to back a proposal that would give legal protections to immigrants illegally brought to the country as children.

Smith, who represents Nebraska’s vast, rural 3rd District, said Thursday he’s “not offended that the president is reaching out.”

But he criticized Democratic leaders for prematurely releasing details.

Asked if he would back a proposed bill that would extend legal protections to immigrants known as “dreamers,” Smith said he has concerns about “an amnesty-type of vote,” adding “if we take folks here today — technically illegally — and we all of the sudden say they’re legal, that does send some messages that I have a hard time with.”

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska law approved last year without debate has set the nation’s highest hurdle for independent candidates to qualify for races such as governor and U.S. Senate, contradicting the state’s history of downplaying partisan politics.

Republicans hold every statewide office and critics say the measure was quietly inserted to an omnibus elections law to maintain that stranglehold.

The law gained attention after Republican Sen. Bob Krist on Wednesday quit the party to launch an independent run against incumbent Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts in 2018. A lesser-known independent, Doug Whitmore, hopes to run against Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer.

The law requires independents in partisan statewide elections to collect signatures from at least 10 percent of registered voters. That’s a tall order in a rural state with only two major cities.

LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a woman was taken to a hospital after a fire that damaged a home in Lexington.

Firefighters were dispatched around 3:45 p.m. Tuesday to the home.

Police Capt. Paul Schwarz says a man who is a partial amputee was rescued by first responders who entered through the back of the home. He was not injured. The woman ran out the front door to safety but received minor injuries. She was taken to Lexington Regional Health Center.

The two people’s names haven’t been released.

Fire officials suspect the fire was ignited by smoking materials on the front porch.