LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s social services agency is making a series of changes to become more responsive to its users under a plan unveiled by Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Ricketts on Monday announced a 25-part “business plan” for the Department of Health and Human Services. The plan is a list of priorities and goals for the agency through June 2017, many of which are already under way.

Some of the goals include reducing out-of-home placements for at-risk youth, expanding the use of a prescription drug monitoring program to prevent overdoses and starting construction on the new Central Nebraska Veterans Home in Kearney.

Department CEO Courtney Phillips says the changes are intended to increase the agency’s transparency and accountability.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts says “throwing money” at Nebraska’s prison system may not fix the problems that came to light after two inmates escaped earlier this month.

Ricketts said Monday he’s reviewing a request by lawmakers to approve emergency funding to hire more guards. But he notes that it appears the escape happened because employees forgot to follow security procedures, rather than a staffing shortage.

Nebraska’s corrections department has faced criticism for being short-staffed, with high rates of employee turnover and a large number of inexperienced workers. Director Scott Frakes has said he is working on those issues and will discuss pay with the state employees’ union during the next round of collective bargaining.

Ricketts says Frakes is taking a methodical approach to be a good steward of state tax dollars.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — After struggling through major droughts and legal battles over water rights, Nebraska is moving forward with an effort to keep the state’s water drinkable and abundant.

The Nebraska Natural Resources Commission tapped the state’s new water sustainability fund for the first time in April, awarding nearly $11.5 million to 16 projects throughout the state. The next round of applications runs July 16 through 31.

Lawmakers created the fund in 2014 and approved an initial $29 million investment, followed by $11 million a year. The money helps local governments deal with floods, water shortages and water quality issues. Senators also expanded the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission from 16 to 27 members.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — As New Hampshire stares down a heroin and opioid crisis, corrections officials and lawmakers are seeking new ways to keep drugs out of jail cells as visitors and inmates continually find ways to smuggle them in.

While drugs in jails have always been an issue, officials say the present crisis is bringing new challenges and, at some facilities, a higher volume of drugs.

Recently passed legislation funds six full body scanners in the state prisons, and officials are considering bringing drug-sniffing dogs into jails and prisons as well.

Drug smuggling, particularly of suboxone, is posing problems in county jails in New Mexico and Virginia. And in 2014 California’s state prison system began using dogs and implementing airport-style hand swabs for visitors and staff after seeing an increase in drugs.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Department of Education Nutrition Services has announced sites where children may receive free meals this summer.

The program provides meals and snacks to children at schools, churches, playgrounds and parks during school breaks.

It was created to ensure children in low-income areas can get meals when they don’t have access to the school lunch or breakfast. The program is sponsored and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program.

A list of the sites where meals will be offered this summer may be found at https://1.usa.gov/1tyYIzx .

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says fireworks will be allowed July 4 at seven state recreation areas.

The seven are Branched Oak State Recreation Area near Malcolm; Fort Kearny SRA near Kearney; Memphis SRA near Memphis; Fremont SRA near Fremont; Two Rivers SRA near Venice; Pawnee SRA near Emerald; and Wagon Train SRA near Hickman. Fireworks will be allowed from 8 a.m. until midnight.

Signs at the recreation areas will point the way to designated fireworks sites. Boundaries will be clearly marked.

Use of fireworks elsewhere in state areas or at other times is prohibited. Only fireworks approved for sale in Nebraska are permitted.

A park entry permit is required for all vehicles entering state recreation areas.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Outspoken oil pipeline opponent Jane Kleeb has been elected chairwoman of the Nebraska Democratic Party, beating out former University of Nebraska Regent and one-time candidate for governor Chuck Hassebrook.

Kleeb beat out Hassebrook by 42 votes Saturday during the party’s state convention in Kearney, where 410 delegates gathered.

The 43-year-old Kleeb, who founded the group Bold Nebraska to fight the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, is a supporter Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for president. She of rode a wave of support for Sanders to win the chairman’s seat. Hassebrook backs former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is the presumptive Democratic nominee for president but lost Nebraska’s March 5 caucus to Sanders.

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average price of gasoline has leveled off to $2.37 for a gallon of regular unleaded.

Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday that the price dropped nearly a penny since peaking two weeks ago. The slight decline came after nearly three months of rising prices.

Lundberg says the price of crude, ample supplies and a strong refining capacity will probably lead to further price declines at the pump.

The Lundberg Survey found the average price of midgrade unleaded was $2.63 a gallon and $2.85 for premium.

The highest average price for regular gasoline in the Lower 48 was $2.90 a gallon in the San Francisco Bay Area. The lowest was $1.99 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The U.S. average diesel price is $2.42 per gallon, up 3 cents from two weeks ago.

GERING, Neb. (AP) — A Scottsbluff man has pleaded no contest to manslaughter in the stomping death of another man.

33-year-old Chris Murillo entered the plea Friday in an agreement with prosecutors. By entering a no contest plea, Murillo does not admit guilt, but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him.

Murillo had earlier pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and assault in the Nov. 29 death of 36-year-old Abraham Crane of Scottsbluff. Prosecutors say Crane died 13 days after he was severely beaten and kicked and found in an alley.

Murillo could get up to 20 years in prison when is sentenced July 15.

Murillo will remain in the Scotts Bluff County Jail until his sentencing.