LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two state agencies that serve Nebraska veterans would merge under a new proposal backed by Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Ricketts unveiled the measure as one of his top priorities on Monday, saying it would serve veterans in a more efficient and effective manner.

The legislation would combine the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the state’s Division of Veterans Homes, which operates under the Department of Health and Human Services. Ricketts says combining the two would create a one-stop shop for veterans.

Nebraska has more than 143,000 veterans, many of whom are served by both agencies.

Sen. John Murante, chairman of Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, is expected to introduce the bill Thursday after Ricketts delivers his annual address to lawmakers.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — All Nebraska lawmakers younger than 40 have joined a bipartisan group with a goal of recruiting and retaining more young people in the state.

The Legislature’s 11 senators under age 40 announced the group Next Generation Nebraska. They make up nearly a quarter of the 49-member body.

The effort is part of a national effort called the Millennial Action Project.

The issue is especially important in Nebraska, where people with college degrees are significantly more likely to leave than move into the state.

Sen. Adam Morfeld, who will lead the group with Sen. Brett Lindstrom, says group members will listen to young professional groups across the state before introducing legislation based on their feedback.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A lack of health care in rural Nebraska is prompting a new push by lawmakers to expand telehealth services.

Two bills introduced last week would encourage more providers to adopt the technology, which lets doctors and patients connect through webcams and smartphones.

Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward says the bills would help smaller communities that have clinics but no full-time doctors.

One proposal would require insurance companies to cover any service offered through telehealth that’s already covered for an in-person consultation.

The other would require Nebraska to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, an agreement that offers expedited licensing for doctors who want to practice medicine in other member states.

Doing so would allow out-of-state doctors to treat Nebraska patients remotely, and Nebraska doctors to examine patients in other states.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Star Wars” is still dominating the movie universe, with “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” topping the box office for the fourth straight week.

Studio estimates Sunday show the intergalactic adventure just edging out the NASA drama “Hidden Figures,” which expanded by more than 2,000 theaters Friday after opening in limited release. “Rogue One” brought in $21.97 million over the weekend. “Hidden Figures” collected $21.8 million.

The animated animal musical “Sing” comes in third, taking in another $19.5 million for a three-week haul of $213.3 million.

“Underworld: Blood Wars” debuted in fourth place with $13.1 million, followed by “La La Land” with $10 million.

Final figures will be released Monday.

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average price of regular-grade gasoline has surged 12 cents nationally over the past three weeks, to $2.38 a gallon.

Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday the hike mostly results from the gasoline market catching up with rising crude oil costs.

Lundberg says the current price is 33 cents a gallon above what it was one year ago.

Gas in San Francisco was the highest in the continental United States at $2.78 a gallon on average Friday. The low average was in Denver, at $2 a gallon.

The U.S. average diesel price is $2.56, up 8 cents from three weeks ago.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — A former defense attorney has joined the prosecutor’s office in Lincoln County, so now she’ll have to start getting used to sitting at a different table in the courtroom.

Kortnei Hoeft had been working for a local firm in North Platte as a defense attorney since she graduated from Creighton University law school in 2015.

Monday will be Hoeft’s first time in the courtroom as a deputy county attorney.

Hoeft says she’s excited about the new opportunity.

New defense attorneys have been appointed to represent all of Hoeft’s former clients, and she won’t be involved in any of those cases as a prosecutor.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Checking your home for radon is important to protecting your family’s health.

The Environmental Protection Agency is trying to raise awareness about radon.

The odorless colorless radon gas is the nation’s second-leading cause of lung cancer, behind smoking, and is the most common cause in nonsmokers.

Nebraska has the nation’s third-highest prevalence of radon, the cancer-causing gas that seeps into buildings from the surrounding soil. Iowa and North Dakota are the only states where the odorless, colorless gas is more widespread.

The EPA’s Jon Edwards says everyone should test their homes for radon, and if there are high levels of the gas, homeowners should consider installing a radon mitigation system.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Teams and hardy individuals are invited to compete in the second Cowboy Ultra run next May.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says the runners will be covering the entire 191 miles of the Cowboy Trail from Valentine to Norfolk. The May 20-21 race will be limited to 75 entrants.

The commission says the Cowboy Trail is the longest former stretch of railroad to be converted into a trail in the United States. The trail allows for biking, horseback riding and hiking, and it passes through many small towns.

Call 402-432-3622 or go online to http://bit.ly/2ht7CLe to register or obtain more information about the run.

BRIDGEPORT, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska man accused of killing another man and hiding his body in a barrel has been found guilty of first-degree murder.

The Nebraska Attorney General’s office says in a statement that a jury on Friday convicted 25-year-old Zachary Mueller, of Bridgeport.

Mueller was accused of shooting 33-year-old Pedro Adrian Dominguez, of Greeley, Colorado, in the back of the head while riding in a car in Bridgeport on Nov. 22, 2015.

The body of Dominquez was discovered in a barrel on a Morrill County farm in December 2015.

Mueller was arrested on Dec. 6, 2015, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, after he stole a vehicle and engaged police in a pursuit.

The trial began on Tuesday.