DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Small businesses in 35 states are getting research grants from a federal government program designed to help develop products related to food security, natural resources and agricultural issues.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday that 76 businesses will receive $7.4 million.

Bugeater Labs in Lincoln, Nebraska, is getting help developing rice and pasta products from protein-rich bugs and Windcall Manufacturing in Venango, Nebraska, is developing a small handheld grain combine designed to gather grain samples for moisture level testing.

In Iowa, Accelerated Ag Technologies of Urbandale is developing methods for storing plant pollen to help in the development of new hybrids and Gross-Wen Technologies in Ames hopes to develop algae that removes nitrogen and phosphorous from wastewater and is then turned into a slow-release fertilizer.

Most grants are around $100,000.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Officials say the 2016 Nebraska State Fair attracted 2.5 percent more people than a year ago.

The attendance of 361,107 over the fair’s 11-day run is a record for the Grand Island version of the state fair, which moved to the city’s Fonner Park in 2010 from its home in Lincoln.

This year’s biggest crowd turned up on the Labor Day holiday Monday: 56,280.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Officials say this fall’s enrollment has set a record for the University of Nebraska system.

The office of university President Hank Bounds says enrollment at the four campuses and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis is 52,515. That’s a 1.3 percent increase over fall 2015. The new figure surpasses the system’s previous high of 52,108, set in 1992.

The Lincoln campus reported an enrollment of 25,897 — a 2.5 percent increase. The Omaha campus reported an enrollment of 15,627 — an increase of 0.7 percent. The Medical Center in Omaha reported an enrollment of 3,861 for an increase of 1.9 percent. The Kearney campus reported an enrollment of 6,788 — an increase of 0.6 percent. The College of Technical Agriculture reported an enrollment of 342 — a decrease of 33.2 percent.

A North Platte man is in custody, accused of intentionally setting a home, that was being used as storage, on fire.

On Monday night, the North Platte Fire Department responded to the report of a structure fire in the 600 block of East 5th Street.  Officials say the home was unoccupied and was being used as storage by Andersen and Sons NAPA, which sits directly south of the house.

Once the fire was extinguished, officers began interviewing potential witnesses.

According to Investigator John Deal, an officer spoke to a neighbor who said they had seen a shirtless man standing just outside the fence, near the back door, at the time of the fire.  Deal says it was discovered that the back door had been forcibly opened.

Additionally, Deal said it had rained that night and investigators discovered shoe prints in the area where the man was reportedly standing.

The owners were contacted and responded to the scene.  They told officers that, a few months ago, an employee, identified as 41-year-old Wade Wolf, had gotten upset and quit.  The owners said that Wolf had been inside the house during his employment and was familiar with its contents, which included a set of valve covers that Wolf allegedly wanted.

The owners said he was not allowed to have or buy the valve covers, and this was one of the reasons that he had gotten upset.

Because the residence was unoccupied, Deal says the owners had installed motion cameras, which were still in operation at the time of the alleged arson.

Officers reviewed the footage and observed a man they say looked like Wolf pouring liquid on the floor of the residence and setting it on fire.

The videos also allegedly show Wolf carrying what appears to be valve covers, which were missing.

Investigators determined that there was probable cause to arrest Wolfe and, on September 6, an investigator located him and placed him under arrest.

He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center on charges of felony burglary and felony arson to a business.

His bond has been set at ten percent of $100,000.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — Police in North Platte are searching for a suspect after they say a house was purposely set on fire earlier this week.

Police say the 11:30 p.m. Monday fire was started intentionally. Napa Auto Parts Andersen and Son’s was using the house as storage at the time of the fire. No one was injured.

Police say witnesses reported seeing a shirtless man walking around the area at the time of the fire.

No arrests have been made or suspects identified.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Investigators say a small fire in a Nebraska prison was set deliberately.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office said Tuesday that the blaze was an act of arson, but declined to comment further because the investigation is ongoing.

Two inmates and a staff member at the Lincoln Correctional Center were treated for smoke inhalation as a precaution after the fire around 10 p.m. Monday.

Lincoln Fire Department Battalion Chief Jeremy Gegg says the fire was extinguished by the time emergency crews arrived.

The fire comes after a disturbance with inmates last month sent nine employees to the hospital.

Corrections spokeswoman Dawn-Renee Smith says the fire was contained to one cell. She says fires in cells aren’t a common occurrence, but they have happened in the past.

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested 84 drivers for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) during the nationwide You Drink, You Drive, You Lose special enforcement campaign.

Troopers and communications specialist put in overtime hours during the more than two-week-long effort (Aug. 19 –Sept. 5), thanks in part to a $23,000 grant from the Department of Roads Highway Safety Office.

Encompassing the heavily traveled Labor Day holiday weekend, the special enforcement was designed to raise awareness of the dangers of impaired driving.

The following statistics are a reflection of statewide activity by the Nebraska State Patrol during the “You Drink, You Drive, You Lose” enforcement.