CHAPPELL, Neb. (AP) — A Deuel County sheriff’s deputy who lost his family health insurance after he was shot four times while serving arrest warrants will get $1,500 from the county.

Mike Hutchinson was injured Dec. 3 while trying to arrest a suspect in Big Springs. He’s left a hospital and has been recovering.

He lost his group plan coverage May 31 after the county’s new third-party provider determined that he wasn’t working the required number of hours. Officials say coverage rules aren’t set by the county.

The county commissioners voted Tuesday for Hutchinson’s one-time stipend. Hutchinson says he’ll use the money to obtain coverage through the Affordable Care Act.

Officials say his medical bills from the shooting have been covered by workers’ compensation insurance.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska will become one of the nation’s first states to offer special tax-free savings accounts to people with disabilities.

The state is set to launch its Enable Savings Plan on June 30. The plan allows adults with disabilities and their families to save as much as $100,000 without losing Social Security benefits.

Supporters say the plans will help them save for medical, housing and educational needs. Under previous state law, adults with disabilities could lose Medicaid coverage and Social Security if they accumulated more than $2,000 in assets.

State Treasurer Don Stenberg says Ohio and Tennessee launched similar accounts earlier this month, but Nebraska’s is among the first. Residents from other states can also sign up for Nebraska’s plan.

First National Bank of Omaha will manage the program.

CHICAGO (AP) — A new report says nearly 12 million Medicare beneficiaries received at least one prescription for an opioid painkiller last year at a cost of $4.1 billion. Federal data show how common the addictive drugs are in many older Americans’ medicine cabinets.

With an overdose epidemic worsening, nearly one-third of Medicare beneficiaries received at least one prescription for commonly abused opioids such as OxyContin and fentanyl in 2015. Those who did received an average of five such prescriptions or refills.

The report was released Wednesday to The Associated Press by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Medicare spokesman Aaron Albright says agency officials are reviewing the report closely.

CHADRON, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska grand jury has cleared officers involved in a chase that led to the death of a South Dakota woman.

The Dawes County jury said officers broke no laws in the Feb. 23 chase that ended with a collision between a police cruiser and the vehicle being pursued. Thirty-four-year-old Kerry Peters, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, died at the scene. Two of her passengers and a tribal police officer were injured.

Authorities have said Peters refused to pull over near Oelrichs (OHL’-rihks), South Dakota, and led pursuing officers into Dawes County. Authorities say Peters made a sudden U-turn, striking a police cruiser.

Nebraska law requires a grand jury investigation whenever a person dies while in custody or in the process of being arrested.

A North Platte woman is facing charges after she allegedly assaulted her husband and scuffled with police.

At around 10:50 p.m., on June 20, officers responded to the report of a domestic assault in the 200 block of Baytree Avenue.

Officers met with a male victim who alleged that his wife, 35-year-old Holly Larsen, had hit him in the face after he confronted her about drinking alcohol.

According to Investigator John Deal, the victim had an injury to his eye which was consistent with the his account.

Larsen was placed under arrest and charged with 3rd-degree domestic assault.

As officers attempted to place her in handcuffs, Larsen allegedly began kicking at them.  According to reports, Larsen nearly struck one officer in the groin, but narrowly missed.

As a result, she was also charged with resisting arrest.  Additionally, Deal said the couple’s small child was present during the assault, which resulted is a misdemeanor child abuse charge.

Larsen was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new report says Nebraska isn’t yet taking all the steps it could to keep inmates from reoffending and contributing to the state’s prison crowding problem.

The Council of State Governments Justice Center report released Tuesday says the state corrections department doesn’t have enough staff to provide rehabilitation programming in a timely manner and lacks a system to determine which offenders need it the most.

Nebraska Corrections Director Scott Frakes says his department plans to implement the group’s recommendations and will start using a new tool to assess inmates next month. He says he also plans to seek additional state funding in his department’s next budget request.

Gov. Pete Ricketts says the report provides a roadmap for the department as it works to reduce recidivism.

Charlie Puth, the multi-talented vocalist, musician, producer and songwriter will grace the stage on Sunday, September 4, at the Nebraska State Fair. Tickets are available at Etix.com for $18 plus gate and fees.

Chelsey Jungck, events and entertainment director said, “Charlie is going to appeal to a much younger audience than what state fair fans are accustomed to.  He has just released his debut album “Nine Track Mind” with his first single release “One Call Away” on sale now.   Charlie is already known for “Marvin Gaye” featuring Meghan Trainor and Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” on which Charlie co-wrote, co-produced and sang on the song.”

Charlie credits his mom and dad for his early music education, citing his idol James Taylor as his primary influence.  His mom would play James Taylor through headphones while Charlie was still in the womb.  His dad later introduced him to R&B featuring the likes of Barry White, The Isley Brothers and Marvin Gaye.

Jungck said, “Charlie has already received a lot of accolades with two Teen Choice Europe Award nominations, and a Golden Globe nomination for “Best Original song”. As if that weren’t enough, Charlie received an impressive three GRAMMY nominations including the coveted “Song of the Year” category that specifically recognizes song writers.”

Jungck said, “We’re very excited to bring entertainment to the Nebraska State Fair that’s targeted to a younger audience.  It’s something we hear a lot about from our younger fair fans each year, and we’re pleased to deliver.”

A nationally known artist will be giving a presentation at the Prairie Arts Center in early July.

The works of Jenny Raymond are being featured in the main gallery at the PAC.  Raymond has received many awards at the International Quilt Festival, in Houston, and is a National instructor.  Raymond also received an award to attend the Quilt Expo in Den Hague, the Netherlands.

Raymond will give a power point presentation at the Center on July 7.  Organizers say the event is open to the public and admission will be a free-will donation to the PAC.

Due to construction on Jeffers Street, visitors are asked to use the West entrance.  The PAC is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more information, visit www.prairieartscenter.org.