LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Labor Department says the state’s preliminary unemployment rate has dropped a tenth of a point, hitting 2.9 percent in May, compared with 3 percent in April.

The department said in a report released Friday that the May rate was three-tenths of a point under the year-ago rate of 3.2 percent. The new rate also remained well below the U.S. rate of 4.3 percent in May.

State Labor Commissioner John Albin says the state and all three metropolitan areas showed job increases month to month and year to year and that the total number of Nebraska’s nonfarm jobs in May was a record.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — At least one health insurer plans to sell individual policies in Nebraska next year that meet Affordable Care Act standards.

Medica Health announced Thursday that it expects to file a rate request next week for statewide insurance for 2018 with the Nebraska Department of Insurance.

The decision affects nearly 100,000 people who had individual policies in Nebraska this year. Medica currently insures about 36,000 people in the state.

The insurance company would likely be the only one offering individual policies in Nebraska that are compliant with the federal health care law’s rules requiring maternity, routine checkups, hospital stays and a variety of other coverages.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska and Aetna Health announced two weeks ago they would drop their Affordable Care Act-compliant plans for 2018.

PERU, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s first college is celebrating its 150th birthday.

Peru State College is kicking off its string of campus events with an “All-College Reunion” this weekend.

Returning alumni will represent classes as far back as the 1940s.

The university was originally named the Nebraska State Normal School. It was established by the Legislature in 1867, three months after the state was admitted into the Union.

The University of Nebraska in Lincoln was founded two years later.

Peru State history professor Sara Crook says state funding and fundraising by the Peru State College Foundation have helped to remodel historic buildings and build a new entrance.

Total enrollment for the past school year was more than 2,600.

ELWOOD, Neb. (AP) — A woman has been accused of stealing from her employer in southern Nebraska.

Court records say 48-year-old Sandra Flint, who lives in Smithfield, is charged with two felony counts of theft. Court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for her.

Court records say she faked making payments to Lofquist Welding for a van she’d purchased from the Elwood business. The records also say she withdrew nearly $5,000 in cash from Lofquist’s bank account and deposited nearly $2,800 in her account on corresponding dates.

She worked for Lofquist as bookkeeper and office manager from September 2015 through Feb. 20 this year.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Tuition will be going up this fall at Chadron, Peru and Wayne state colleges in Nebraska.

The system’s board of trustees Friday approved raising the tuition rate $12 an hour, making the undergraduate resident rate $172 per credit hour at each college.

The system had requested $54.9 million in state support for the coming year, $2.8 million more than the $52.1 million finally approved. Officials say closing the gap meant raising tuition and cutting some expenses.

The system serves more than 9,000 students.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Residents in four western Nebraska counties who rely on food stamp benefits can apply to replace food that was lost because of electrical outages caused by recent storms.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said Friday that the offer extends to people who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in Morrill, Box Butte, Scotts Bluff and Banner counties.

Recipients whose food was spoiled because they lost electricity for four hours or more on June 12 can apply. They must contact the department within 10 days, or by June 23. They can call ACCESSNebraska at 800-383-4278 or visit a local department office.

Once a recipient’s address is verified, it could take up to four working days for clients to receive their replacement benefits.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Summer brings on new hazards related to bug bites and stings, fireworks and fuels that the Nebraska Regional Poison Control Center must prepare for.

The Poison Center says the type of calls it receives changes with the seasons.

The experts there say it’s a good idea to wear insect repellant with DEET in it during outdoor activities to protect against bug bites. Observing someone after a bee sting is important to spotting allergic reactions.

The Poison Center also recommends that all fuels should be stored up and out of children’s reach to avoid problems.

And when grilling out, remember to use a food thermometer to ensure that meats are cooked thoroughly to 165 degrees.

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — An inmate is accused of setting a fire during a deadly uprising at a southeast Nebraska state prison earlier this year.

Johnson County Court records say 26-year-old Eric Ramos is charged with felony arson in the March 2 uprising at the Tecumseh prison. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Ramos’ attorney didn’t immediately return a call Thursday from The Associated Press.

Ramos’ charge is the first filed in relation to the riots that left two inmates dead. Prison officials have said inmates became violent after prison staffers confiscated 150 pounds (68 kilograms) of homemade alcohol.

Ramos is serving eight to 10 years on convictions for criminal mischief, domestic assault and weapons.

Tecumseh is 62 miles (100 kilometers) south of Omaha.

HARRISON, Neb. (AP) — The National Weather Service has confirmed that an EF-2 tornado churned into western Nebraska from Wyoming, killing horses, injuring two people and damaging buildings before dissipating.

The service said Wednesday evening that the twister formed around 5:10 p.m. Monday about 15 miles (25 kilometers) north of Torrington, Wyoming, and ended 52 minutes later about 8 miles (13 kilometers) south-southwest of Harrison, Nebraska. It packed winds ranging from 111 to 135 mph (179 to 217 kph).

It killed and injured horses and injured one person while damaging a ranch north of Torrington and injured one person while damaging a homestead 13 miles southwest of Harrison.

The service says it’s still reviewing survey team findings and other information about tornadoes reported to have struck Bayard (behrd) and Alliance in Nebraska.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska state senator says special training should be available to lawmakers and staffers who want to carry concealed weapons outside the state Capitol.

Army veteran and Republican Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon says he intends to propose a bill next year that would provide armed-defense training for legislative employees and state senators.

The decision was prompted by Wednesday’s shooting at a GOP congressional baseball practice near Washington, D.C. Brewer said that without Majority Whip Steve Scalise’s security detail, the shooter could have killed everyone on the field “and they could have done nothing but run.”

The lawmaker says that Capitol security protects lawmakers in the building, but the state can’t afford security details as lawmakers travel in their districts.