LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have kicked off a debate on a bill that would let state officials hide the identities of lethal injection suppliers in an effort to resume executions.

Sen. John Kuehn of Heartwell argued Wednesday that his bill would protect drug makers who would otherwise face public harassment from death penalty opponents. Commonly used lethal injection drugs have become scarce because many pharmaceutical companies refuse to sell drugs for use in executions.

Opponents say the state should keep its current transparent process that requires the Department of Correctional Services to disclose its suppliers. Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, a staunch death penalty foe, says the drugs were designed for legitimate medical reasons and shouldn’t be used for executions.

Lawmakers adjourned for the day without voting on the measure.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s pick for deputy commerce secretary has withdrawn from consideration.

Todd Ricketts, a co-owner of the Chicago Cubs and son of TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts, was unable to resolve conflict-of-interest issues in taking the No. 2 job at the department.

Ricketts says in a statement that he is “deeply honored” that Trump nominated him for the post.

During the presidential campaign, Ricketts helped raise at least $66 million for outside groups called Future 45 and 45 Committee — a nod to Trump as the incoming 45th president.

But before helping Trump, Ricketts belonged to a super political action committee that spent more than any other trying to stop Trump from winning the Republican presidential nomination.

Ricketts’ withdrawal was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Several Nebraska lawmakers say the state Legislature should approve a bill that would let them regulate medical marijuana before voters legalize the substance.

Senators began debate on the measure Wednesday but are unlikely to vote unless supporters prove they have at least 33 votes to end a filibuster. Opponents of the measure say scientists, not lawmakers, should approve drugs.

A petition now circulating in the state would amend Nebraska’s constitution to give residents the use, buy and sell marijuana and prohibit any laws restricting it. The proposal could come before voters in 2018.

Twenty-nine states already allow marijuana for medical purposes.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State prison officials say an inmate found unresponsive in his cell at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution has died, and a criminal investigation into the death has been launched.

A news release Wednesday from the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says 22-year-old Terry Berry Jr. was found in his cell Saturday. He was taken to a Lincoln hospital, where he was declared brain dead on Monday. He was taken off life-support Wednesday.

Berry was serving a 3- to 4-year sentence for felony forgery and a jail assault conviction from Platte County. He was up for a parole next month and set for release in December.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska legislative committee has decided to take no action on expanding the state’s Medicaid program until it knows what course the federal government will take on health care.

The Health and Human Services Committee opted Wednesday not to kill or approve a bill that could give Medicaid coverage to about 90,000 low-income Nebraska residents. The state is one of 19 that declined to expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act.

An initial effort to repeal the Obama administration’s signature health care program failed, but Congress is continuing to work on a replacement.

State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward, a member of the committee, says he did not want to kill the Medicaid expansion bill outright because a Republican replacement could provide state block grants Nebraska could use for funding.

HALSEY, Neb. (AP) — Officials have predicted 100 percent containment later Wednesday of a fire that’s burned several dozen acres of trees and grassland in north-central Nebraska.

The U.S. Forest Service said in a news release Wednesday that rain and favorable weather conditions will aid the efforts.

The fire began late Monday afternoon about seven miles west of Halsey in the Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands. No injuries have been reported.

Officials think the fire was started by a person but haven’t been able to pinpoint what happened.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A nonprofit corporation has signed an agreement with federal officials to raise $30 million for a new veterans outpatient clinic in Omaha.

The corporation was created by Heritage Services, a nonprofit civic group that was instrumental in creating such projects as the Holland Performing Arts Center and TD Ameritrade Park. The agreement was announced Wednesday.

In December President Barack Obama signed a measure allowing a public-private partnership to build the clinic on the campus of Omaha’s Department of Veterans Medical Center. The $30 million from the local group will be added to $56 million already appropriated for the Nebraska/Western Iowa Health Care System clinic.

VA officials have said what will be called the Veterans Affairs Ambulatory Center will offer primary, specialty and ambulatory care and operate radiological and surgical facilities.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 65-year-old Lincoln prison inmate has died.

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says Joe Rodriquez died at 11:55 p.m. Sunday at the State Penitentiary. His cause of death has not yet been determined, but officials say he was being treated for a long-term medical condition.

The department says Rodriquez had been serving a life sentence for two counts of first-degree murder in Hall County. His sentence began Sept. 12, 1988.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that seeks to reduce property taxes appears to have stalled in the Nebraska Legislature amid concerns from urban senators and coalitions of farm groups and schools.

Supporters said Tuesday they don’t believe the measure has enough support to overcome a filibuster. Lawmakers debated the bill for roughly three hours but stopped before reaching a vote. It’s unlikely to get debated again this year unless backers can show they have the 33 votes required to force a vote on it.

The bill by Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte would lower Nebraska’s school property tax levy cap and limit the percentage of district funding that could come from property taxes. Schools would have seen an increase in state aid.

Urban senators say it could increase costs for their constituents.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would prevent Nebraska from splitting its electoral votes in presidential elections is headed to the full Legislature for debate.

The Republican-backed winner-take-all proposal advanced out of a legislative committee on Tuesday on a 6-1 vote.

Supporters say the state should speak with one voice in presidential elections. Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Legislature say the bill would reduce the incentive for Omaha-area voters to participate in elections because conservatives hold a strong majority in the state.

Nebraska and Maine are the only states where it’s possible to divide electoral votes between presidential candidates in a general election.

Sen. John Murante of Gretna says he’s hopeful lawmakers will debate his bill this year. The bill hasn’t received a priority designation but could be amended onto another measure.