LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is hosting a cover crop field day to help improve soil and produce forage.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 25 in Boelus, a central Nebraska village. It begins at the Boelus Civic Center, and participants will travel to a field site at 12:30 p.m.

University experts will be on site to answer questions along with soil health specialists from U.S. Natural Resources and Conservation Services.

Producers can reserve a spot by calling the Nebraska Extension office in Custer County at 308-872-6831 or emailing Troy Walz at twalz1@unl.edu. Registrations are needed by Aug. 18.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farm field surveys reflecting excellent spring planting conditions and favorable summer weather have prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to boost harvest expectations for corn and soybeans to record highs.

Ten states are expected to set new bushels-per-acre corn yields, including top U.S. producers Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska.

The USDA’s report Friday says overall, farmers are expected to harvest 15.2 billion bushels of corn — a billion more than 2014’s record 14.2 billion.

A record soybean crop of 4.06 billion bushels also is expected, beating 3.9 billion bushels last year.

But with a huge harvest comes a big problem: There’ll be the most grain in nearly 30 years to store.

That’s likely to push prices lower, which will make it harder for farmers who rent land to make a profit. It’ll also make for cheaper livestock feed.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says a number of large channel catfish have been stocked in certain urban lakes and state parks. The catfish are all at least five pounds.

Daryl Bauer with the commission’s fisheries outreach program says the catfish should provide a good test for young anglers who can then release the fish for others to catch.

About 60 of the large channel catfish were placed in Lake Halleck in Papillion, and another 60 went in Bowling Lake in Lincoln. Another 30 catfish were placed in Fort Kearny State Recreation Area’s Lake No. 6.

Bauer says lakes that provide easy fishing opportunities for kids were selected for the catfish.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a caseworker is recovering after being attacked by an inmate at the Lincoln Correctional Center.

A news release from the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says an inmate punched the caseworker Friday afternoon in the head and upper body with closed fists. Staff at the prison used pepper spray to subdue the inmate.

The caseworker was taken to a medical facility for treatment. Prisons officials declined to name either the inmate or the caseworker.

Officials say the prisons department will investigate and forward the results of the investigation to the Lancaster County Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether to file any criminal charges.

At least six prison employees have been assaulted by inmates this month, including three staffers at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln on Tuesday.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say an inmate at Nebraska State Penitentiary has died following a medical emergency at the prison.

60-year-old Rolland Jones died Friday after experiencing a medical emergency and being taken by ambulance to Bryan East Medical Center in Lincoln, where he died overnight.

Jones had been incarcerated since Feb. 6, 2004, and was serving a 27- to 40-year sentence for first-degree assault and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. Authorities say the cause of his death has not yet been determined.

As required by state law anytime someone dies in custody, a grand jury will investigate the death.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two different mentoring programs will be offered again this fall to help young Nebraska hunters learn more about the sport.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says both programs will pair recent graduates of hunter education courses with mentors who can teach them more.

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever offers one program for hunters ages 12 to 15, so they can learn shooting and hunting techniques.

The second program for hunters ages 12 to 17 focuses on bow hunting with programs near Omaha, Lincoln, Ashland, Plattsmouth and Grand Island.

More details about both programs are available online at https://outdoornebraska.gov/mentoredhunts.

• Jock Daniel Olsen, 33, North Platte and Jill Christine Sierks, 28, North Platte

 

• Anthony Ray Woodward, 20, North Platte and Aspen Nicole Weigel, 17, North Platte

 

• Joshua Jay Bedlan, 29, North Platte and Mollie Jo Golden, 28, North Platte

 

• Luke Alan Ostergard, 25, North Platte and Caelea Rachelle Fattig, 23, North Platte

 

• Stuart Jonathan Flessner, 53, North Platte and Anne Elizabeth Macchione, 56, North Platte

 

• Tristyn Scott Jefferson, 20, North Platte and Tena Marie Lynn Corter, 18, North Platte

 

• Nicholas William Maxcy, 38, Sutherland and Heather Renee Fast, 30, Sutherland

 

• Howard Raymond Simpson, 54, North Platte and Constance Lou Hood, 51, North Platte

 

• Matthew Monroe Stout, 28, North Platte and Heather Renea Helms, 30, North Platte

 

• Donald Ray Bristol, 30, North Platte and Malinda Ann Wood, 35, North Platte

 

• Justin Michael Clouse, 35, Stapleton NE and Jocelyn Rose Waker, 34, North Platte

 

• Derek Kyle Noehren, 28, North Platte and Kristin Kimberly Luedtke, 26, North Platte

 

• Blake James Baldwin, 31, North Platte and Courtney Kay Kuhlmann, 34, North Platte

 

• Nicholas Joseph Romeo, 25, North Platte and Rebecca Lane Faust, 23, North Platte

 

• Randall Jay Orvin, 45, Hershey and Jamie Ann Boettcher, 47, Hershey

 

• Theodore Allen Knox, 56, North Platte and Dee Anna Wilson, 49, North Platte

 

• Tyler James Meyer, 27, North Platte and KImberly Anne Forrest, 25, North Platte

LOUP CITY, Neb. (AP) — A former Loup City teacher accused of placing spy cameras in a girls locker room has made a plea deal on three counts and awaits a judge’s decision on a fourth.

On Thursday 25-year-old Anthony Rahe pleaded no contest to felony unlawful intrusion, misdemeanor unlawful intrusion and felony possession of a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct. A brief, nonjury trial was held on a fourth charge: felony manufacture of visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct. The judge’s decision won’t come until after closing arguments or briefs are submitted.

Prosecutors dismissed or amended the original 15 counts against Rahe in return for his pleas.

District officials say a student reported finding the camera at Loup City Public School on Oct. 8. Investigators have said school security camera footage implicated Rahe.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Economists from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City say more borrowers raising livestock and row crops in Nebraska and surrounding states are struggling to repay loans as commodity prices stay low.

Bankers surveyed for the regional Fed’s latest report on agricultural credit conditions indicated continued problems in the second quarter.

More lenders reported a growth in the volume of borrowers with repayment problems as well as a higher number of denied loan applications compared to last year.

Nebraska bankers say they haven’t denied more loans to borrowers, but that financial situations are definitely getting tighter.

Todd Adams, chief executive of Adams Bank & Trust in Ogallala, says it’s concerning that borrowers haven’t been profitable for two years in a row.