LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A committee tasked with investigating whether Nebraska’s longest-serving state senator lives in his district has decided to ask the full Legislature to dismiss the challenge against him.

The allegations against Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha came from John Sciara, who argued before the committee Thursday that the senator from north Omaha actually lives in Bellevue. Sciara says he has passed Chambers’ home at various times without seeing him. Sciara lost to Chambers in last year’s election.

Sciara says Chambers may live in Bellevue with his aide, who travels with him to the Capitol every morning. Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue lives on the same street as the aide and says Chambers does not live there.

The committee asked that a report with its recommendation go to the Legislature next week.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — After less than two months, former U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford has left his job as head of the Omaha development advocacy group Midtown 2050.

Ashford describes his departure as executive director of the group as amicable, saying he “wasn’t a good fit for the role.”

The group seeks to promote development in midtown Omaha, including a proposed streetcar line.

Ken Cook, chairman of the board, said in a statement Friday that he was sorry to receive Ashford’s resignation.

Ashford took the job soon after his one term as a congressman representing the Omaha area ended in January. A Democrat, Ashford lost his re-election bid to Republican Don Bacon in November.

___

• Richard Paul Goodwin Jr., 52, Hershey and Oksana Gridina, 48, Hershey

• Steven John Shantz, 51, North Platte and Cecelia Lynn Richardson, 44, North Platte

• Dustin Randal Eckhoff, 30, Sutherland and Randi Jo Munson, 32, Sutherland

• Kevin Darnell Hughes, 50, North Platte and Kashandra Monique Cole, 30, North Platte

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has rejected the state’s appeal of a ruling that struck down longstanding Nebraska policy banning same-sex couples from serving as foster parents or adopting wards of the state.

Friday’s opinion came in the 2013 lawsuit of three same-sex couples who sued over the policy. A judge ruled in the couples’ favor in 2015, declaring the policy unconstitutional.

The state appealed, arguing — among other things — that the matter was moot, because the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services had quietly stopped enforcing the policy in 2012.

But the state’s high court said the lower court’s ruling was necessary, adding that the department’s 1995 discriminatory policy was “legally indistinguishable from a sign reading ‘whites only’ on the hiring-office door.”

North Platte, Neb. – This week, Great Plains Health Care Foundation announced that over $3.6 million has been raised for the Minutes Matter emergency department fundraising campaign.  The campaign goal was to raise $3.5 million for an emergency department renovation and expansion at Great Plains Health.

Bill and Ruth Scott, philanthropists of Omaha, had offered a $5 million gift toward the project as gratitude for the quality care Bill received in the care of Dr. Jim Smith in 2005.   Their gift came as a challenge to our community and region to invest in our own local healthcare by raising an additional $3.5 million.  In order to receive the $5 million gift, the Foundation had to raise the funds by the end of 2016; however, an extension was granted until the end of the first quarter in 2017.

Foundation Director, Libby Lashley made the announcement today, prior to a celebration luncheon for the Foundation board, committee members, and hospital leadership.  Lashley explained that this project was one of the largest the Foundation has ever undertaken.  However, due to the generous involvement and partnership with the Scott’s, in addition to the potential use of the emergency department by anyone in the region, the board felt it had all of the elements of being a successful endeavor.

“During our initial meeting with the Scott’s, it was understood that this was a very unique, one- time gift to our organization.  Philanthropy is certainly a learned behavior and I believe the Scotts’ generosity sparked a lot of interest locally for this project.   Reaching our goal is a cause for celebration,” Lashley stated.  “Our success is honestly due to the generosity of donors throughout the region.  I can truly say that every dollar we received for this project made a difference.”  The final amount raised through gifts and pledges was $3,644,364.33.  “This is an example of our community collectively pulling together for a united cause,” Lashley added.

“My main message has been that we are fortunate to be a non-profit hospital, where decisions are made locally,” Lashley stated.  There have been changes in healthcare reform over the last few years as well as continuous advancements in technology.  The continued support of the Foundation is vital for Great Plains Health to remain a leader in healthcare.   “GP Health is a non-profit hospital.  Because of this, all patient revenue is reinvested back into the organization.  We have continuous needs and the Foundation can help in funding some of these important projects,” Lashley explained.

The Foundation board is committed to helping with those projects that truly enhance patient care and the patient experience. The most rewarding part for Lashley was hearing stories and sharing tears with people who had life changing experiences in the emergency room or the hospital.  Those experiences kept her motivated and encouraged throughout the year.  “These amazing patient stories reflect the commitment by our physicians and employees in providing exceptional patient care, but also reflect the mission of the Foundation in action,” Lashley stated.

The “Minutes Matter” project will provide much-needed improvements to Great Plains Health’s current emergency area to meet the needs of the region.  The next steps include the finalizing of construction plans by the Great Plains Health board of directors, opening the bidding process and finalizing the construction contracts.  Construction on the emergency department is slated to begin late fall of 2017 and is estimated to take 18 – 24 months to complete.

To learn more about current Foundation projects and giving opportunities, please contact Libby Lashley at 308.568.7411 or log on to gphealth.org/foundation.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lawmakers have begun debate on a measure that would protect Nebraska workers from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Senators adjourned for the week Thursday without voting on the bill. They’re expected to pick it up at a later date, though Speaker Jim Scheer of Norfolk has not yet decided when.

The debate comes two days after a federal appeals court in Chicago ruled that LGBT workers are protected from employment discrimination under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Senators who support the bill argue it’s a civil rights issue and an economic one. They say Nebraska needs to attract and retain young workers, who generally support diversity.

Opponents say the measure threatens the religious freedom of business owners who will be forced to hire LGBT people.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Kearney police officer charged for shooting a man after a traffic stop has been acquitted by a Buffalo County jury.

Suspended Kearney Police Department Officer Derek Payton was found not guilty Thursday of second-degree assault.

Payton had pleaded not guilty in September for the June 5 shooting of Jose Klich. Payton is accused of shooting three times at Klich, striking him once in the abdomen. Prosecutors said Payton was not in the path of Klich’s car when Klich began to drive off.

Prosecutors played audio recordings of officers’ radio calls, and when Payton was asked why he was pursuing Klich’s vehicle, he could be heard saying, “He hit me with his car.”

Payton had faced up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Three men are in jail, in connection to multiple thefts in Lincoln County.

On April 5, at around 7:00 p.m., a resident on North Sand Road, just north of Hershey, reported that there had been suspicious subjects at or near their home earlier in the day.

Deputies also met with a neighbor and determined that two individuals had been in the area and had possibly entered the home.

Following an extensive investigation, deputies determined that the two suspects were 21-year-old Zachary Mendenhall and 21-year-old Austin Myers, both of North Platte.

Investigators made contact with both Mendenhall and Myers and, following questioning, the duo was placed under arrest on suspicion of 2nd-degree trespassing and conspiracy to commit burglary.

On April 6, deputies continued their investigation, which included other crimes Mendenhall and Myers may be involved in.  As a result, deputies determined that Mendenhall and another man, 21-year-old Anthony Marquez, of North Platte, had allegedly stolen several car stereos and other items from vehicles in the Hershey area over the last couple of weeks.

The stolen items were reportedly recovered at a location in North Platte.

Additional theft charges were filed against Mendenhall, and Marquez was placed under arrest and jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.  He’s been charged with multiple counts of theft, criminal mischief, and trespassing.

The investigation is ongoing.

NEW YORK (AP) — Facebook is launching a resource to help you spot false news and misinformation that spreads on its service.

The feature is similar to previous efforts around privacy and security and is basically a notification that will pop up on top of your news feed for a few days. Clicking on it takes you to tips and other information on how to spot false news and what to do about it.

Tips to spot false news include looking closely at website addresses to see if they are trying to spoof real news sites.

Adam Mosseri, vice president of News Feed at Facebook, says he’s hoping people will become “more discerning consumers” of news.

The tool will be available in 14 countries, including the U.S.