LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts is recognizing the American Red Cross for 100 years of service in Nebraska, including its preparedness efforts and response to recent natural disasters.

Ricketts on Monday proclaimed March as American Red Cross Month during a news conference with organization officials and first lady Susanne Shore.

The American Red Cross is hosting events across the state this year to celebrate its 100-year anniversary. It’s also part of the Nebraska Impact Initiative, an effort to promote volunteerism during Nebraska’s 150th year as a state.

Ricketts says the group plays a pivotal role during disasters such as the tornado that devastated the town of Pilger in 2014.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska state senators are once again in a standoff over a bill that would repeal a law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets.

Supporters of the bill sponsored by Sen. John Lowe of Kearney said Monday that motorcyclists should have the freedom to ride without helmets. They contend Nebraska’s helmet law costs the state tourism dollars because motorcyclists avoid it.

Sen. Robert Hilkemann, a retired Omaha podiatrist leading a filibuster against the bill, says helmets help protect motorcyclists from death or serious brain injuries. He and other conservatives who oppose the bill argue motorcycle accidents cost taxpayers who end up paying for disabled riders’ health care.

Nebraska is one of 19 states that require helmets for all riders.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new report says Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate of 3.3 percent in January matched the revised December rate.

The Nebraska Labor Department said in a news release Monday that the state rate was a tenth of a point higher than the January 2016 rate of 3.2 percent. The preliminary state rate for December 2016 was 3.4 percent, which matched the revised November figure.

The state’s newest figure remained well below the preliminary national figure of 4.8 percent for January.

The report says Nebraska nonfarm employment also stayed above 1 million last month. The private industry segment with the most growth over the month was other services, which includes repair and maintenance, personal and laundry services and religious, civic and professional organizations.

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average price of a gallon of regular-grade gasoline rose 2 cents nationally during the past two weeks, to $2.35.

Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday that despite the rise, gas prices are poised to dip slightly because crude oil costs are falling and refinery production is strong.

The national average is up 51 cents per gallon over the price a year ago.

Gas in San Francisco was the highest in the contiguous United States at an average of $3.03 a gallon Friday. The lowest was in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at $2.03 per gallon.

The U.S. average diesel price is $2.58, up half a cent from two weeks ago.

According to GasBuddy.com, the average price for a gallon of regular in Nebraska is $2.31.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kong is the king of the box office this weekend.

Studio estimates say Sunday that “Kong: Skull Island” took in a strong $61 million in its first weekend in theaters. Starring Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson, the Warner Bros. and Legendary actioner cost a reported $185 million to produce.

King Kong outmuscled another beast to take the top spot. Fox’s Wolverine installment “Logan,” dropped 58 percent from its debut and earned $37.9 million, raising its total to $152.7 million.

In third place, “Get Out,” the buzzy horror directed by Jordan Peele added $21.1 million, pushing its sum to $111 million in just three weeks.

Rounding out the top five are the faith-based movie “The Shack,” with $10.1 million, and “The Lego Batman Movie” with $7.8 million.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lawmakers in the nation’s only nonpartisan legislature are considering several measures that would remove party politics from county-level elections.

A legislative committee will hear three bills this week that would make all county races nonpartisan or allow county residents to decide if they want nonpartisan elections.

Sen. Matt Hansen of Lincoln, who sponsored one of the measures, says party politics have no role in most county jobs. His bill would eliminate all partisan elections for county-level positions.

Measures sponsored by Sens. Sue Crawford of Bellevue and Dan Hughes of Venango would let county inhabitants vote on having nonpartisan county elections.

The Nebraska Association of County Officials opposes the bills. Association executive director Larry Dix says party labels help voters identify their potential county commissioners’ fundamental policy beliefs.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — It’s time to spring forward again, as the country makes the switch to daylight-saving time.

Like those in almost all other states, Nebraskans and Iowans will trade an hour of sleep starting Sunday morning for an extra hour of sunlight in the evening.

The government expanded daylight-saving time in 2007 in an effort to save energy. It now begins on the second Sunday in March and continues until the first Sunday in November.

The official change occurs at 2 a.m. Sunday, local time, although people often change their clocks before going to bed Saturday night.

Daylight-saving time ends Nov. 5.

Authorities say a man has been placed in protective custody after an outburst at the Lincoln County Courthouse.

According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the Lincoln County Courthouse at around 8:30 a.m. this morning on the report of a disturbance.

It was reported that a male subject was at the courthouse and was “very emotional and threatening to harm or shoot the first law enforcement officer he found.”

Chief Deputy Roland Kramer says, due to the size of the courthouse, deputies were unable to locate the man and he left the building.

Kramer says the man was located at a local gas station and taken into custody without incident.  It was determined that the man was suffering from a mental illness and he was placed into emergency protective custody.

The LCSO didn’t indicate that any charges were pending against the man.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg has formally asked for an audit of a state finance organization that he alleges is trying to hide information from the public.

Stenberg sent a letter to State Auditor Charlie Janssen on Friday, arguing that the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority has denied him information that should be posted on the state’s spending transparency website.

Tim Kenny, the authority’s executive director, says the organization has offered to provide a web link to its financial data but cannot place information on a server it doesn’t control. Kenny says doing so would violate the organization’s cyber risk insurance policy.

Kenny says Stenberg’s allegations are false and misleading.

The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority provides financing for certain first-time homebuyers, farmers and ranchers, among other duties.