LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The son of the Rev. Billy Graham is urging Nebraska Christians to run for public office and support candidates who follow biblical principles.

Franklin Graham spoke to a crowd of thousands Wednesday on the Capitol’s front steps, including Lt. Gov. Mike Foley and numerous state senators.

Nebraska was the 24th stop on the Decision America Tour, a series of prayer rallies scheduled in all 50 states.

Franklin Graham says Christian voters should participate in this year’s election even if they have to vote for “the lesser of two evils,” and should look closely at local races. He says Christians need to insert God back into politics and fight against secularism in all levels of government.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds is proposing a budget that includes a 2.5 percent tuition increase as well as additional money for financial aid, employee salaries and economic development projects.

Bounds unveiled the package for the upcoming fiscal year on Wednesday. The university’s Board of Regents will consider it at a May 25 meeting.

The 2.5 percent tuition increase was approved by the regents last June as part of a two-year tuition plan. The university’s tuition and fees are still below the average of Big Ten public institutions.

The budget includes $2.5 million for investment in areas where the university can become a national leader. It also offers a 2.5 percent increase in the salary pool for non-unionized employees.

Bounds says the budget will help the university distinguish itself.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A civil liberties organization has sent a letter to 30 youth group homes in Nebraska after it said it received complaints that some children have been turned away from homes for being gay.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska said in the letter sent Wednesday that it has recently fielded complaints from probation officers and legal representatives who have had children rejected for placement solely based on the child’s sexual orientation.

The letter, addressed to group home directors and CEOs, urges them to provide clear guidelines to front-office staff to treat all children equally and not turn away gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender youth.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said it has informed group homes of its policy not to discriminate based on race, color national origin or disability, but did not answer questions about whether its nondiscrimination policy includes sexual orientation.

Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley announced that at least 16 lives have been saved in the year since Nebraska emergency medical services and hospitals received the Physio-Control LUCAS® 2 chest compression system.  The lifesaving equipment came from a grant of almost $6 million from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.  The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is in the second year of administering the three-year grant which is being used to purchase LUCAS 2 to increase the chances of survival for Nebraskans having a heart attack.

“One hundred and fifty LUCAS 2 devices have been distributed to EMS services and hospitals across the state,” said Lieutenant Governor Foley.  “LUCAS 2 gives communities an additional resource in their arsenal to improve cardiac patient care and save lives.”

“Partnerships play a critical role in patient care. This equipment helps strengthen Nebraska’s cardiac care systems and enhances the connections between EMS providers and hospital networks and ultimately it’s the patient who benefits,” said Judy Martin, Deputy Director of Public Health for DHHS.

DHHS’ Emergency Medical Services program coordinates purchase and distribution of the devices as well as the appropriate training.  Approximately 340 ambulance services and 85 hospitals in Nebraska will receive LUCAS 2 by the end of 2017.

LUCAS 2 is an external, mechanical device that provides automated chest compressions to an adult in cardiac arrest.  The device is a consistent and effective way to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). LUCAS 2 is designed for use by first responders and hospital personnel and it enhances opportunities to improve outcomes for heart attack patients.

See the story about a Nebraska City resident whose life was saved and the role LUCAS 2 played in the emergency care he received by clicking here.

LUCAS 2 enhances existing cardiac care efforts and continues to build on the good work already being done in Nebraska.

In 2013, the state Legislature appropriated $150,000 which helped move Nebraska’s cardiac care systems ahead.  The funds were used to purchase or upgrade electrocardiogram devices for ambulance services.  The devices monitor and identify problems with the heart and increase communication between EMS providers and hospitals when a person is having a heart attack.   Additionally, LB 657, signed by the Governor in 2015, also included $160,000 to continue this effort.

In 2014, a $4.1 million Helmsley Charitable Trust initiative, Mission: Lifeline, was announced in Nebraska.  The American Heart Association Midwest Affiliate who is leading the initiative partnered with the Helmsley Charitable Trust and DHHS along with Nebraska hospitals and EMS services across the state to provide important training and equipment.

Just over 500 Nebraskans died from heart attacks in 2014. From cutting down on the amount of time to diagnose a cardiac event to getting patients to the proper facility and notifying the hospital cardiac team so they’re waiting and ready to go, cardiac care systems speed up the process which in turn increases chances of survival, achieves better outcomes and enhances life expectancy.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Death penalty opponents say the 10 men who were awaiting executions before lawmakers repealed the punishment last year will still spend the rest of their lives in prison.

A Democratic and Republican state senator and a retired judge spoke at the Capitol on Wednesday as part a campaign urging voters not to reinstate capital punishment. The Retain a Just Nebraska group will ramp up its efforts next month with cable and radio ads.

Republican Sen. Colby Coash says the group wants to make clear to voters that the 10 inmates will remain ineligible for parole. Democratic state Sen. Adam Morfeld says the only way they could qualify is if the state’s pardons board commuted their sentences.

The board is comprised of the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state.

AARP Nebraska today announced that the AARP Fraud Watch Network has launched an online Scam-Tracking Map, allowing Nebraska consumers to report instances of fraud and share the information with others in their community who may become targeted. The free interactive tool also includes alerts from law enforcement and other public agencies.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network is encouraging those who have been targeted or victimized by a scam to visit the map web page powered by Google Maps, where they can easily post a brief description of the scam. The scam-tracking map, www.aarp.org/fraudmap, allows users with one click to view current scam alerts posted by residents of their own community.

Users also may search for different types of scams via a keyword search. A pull-down menu displays the latest police and public safety notices, state by state. In 2015 Nebraska residents registered 7,648 complaints about identity theft with the Federal Trade Commission.

“Scammers have shown that they are highly adept at developing creative identity theft schemes, imposter scams and other types of fraud,” said Devorah Lanner, communications director for AARP Nebraska. “The scam-tracking map is another tool to help Nebraskans recognize and combat fraud – whether it happens online and by email, telephone or a knock at your door.”

The AARP Fraud Watch Network was launched in 2014 as a free resource for people of all ages. The website, www.aarp.org/FraudWatchNetwork, provides information about fraud and scams, prevention tips from experts, fun educational quizzes and video presentations featuring Fraud Watch Network Ambassador Frank Abagnale. Users may sign up for “Watchdog Alert” emails at the website to receive breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with trained volunteers.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new federal report says Nebraska’s uninsured rate for adults younger than 65 declined over a two-year period.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released survey results Tuesday showing the rate was 16.1 percent last year. The rate was 18.5 percent in 2013.

The percentage of residents using public health plans declined during that period, from 11.9 percent to 8.2 percent. The percentage relying on private coverage increased from 72.1 percent to 76.7 percent.

The report says the rate for Nebraska residents of all ages was 11.7 percent. The national uninsured rate was 9.1 percent, and federal officials say it’s the first time in the nation’s history when the national rate fell below 10 percent.

The following students qualified for the Dean’s List during the 2016 Spring Term at Mid-Plains Community College. To be eligible, they had to complete 12 or more applicable credit hours of college-level courses and maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 – 3.89 on a 4.0 scale.

Nebraska

Amherst – Sydney Taubenheim

Arnold – Hannah Magill

Aurora – Taylor Stettner

Axtell – Gabrielle Nickel

Brady – Taylor Bourge, Allison Hood, Eric Roe, Austin Widick

Brewster – Cory Guggenmos

Broadwater – Whitney Goeman

Cambridge – MiKayla Kent

Columbus – Ethan Lesiak

Cozad – Shawna Mast, Tysen Werner

Curtis – Grayce Jorgensen, David Nutt

Danbury – Abigail Daffer

Dunning – Joel Van Diest

Elsie – Amanda Osler

Farnam – Austin Boller

Geneva – Caroline Motis

Gothenburg – Haley Olsen-Cline, Cora-Leigh Seaman, Ashley Wilkerson

Grant – Michayla Prante

Halsey – Cord Hesseltine

Hayes Center – Alex Lawson

Hershey – Madison Seamann

Imperial – Jacob Christensen, Celeste Juarez

Indianola – Brooke Ruggles

Kearney – Victoria Johnson

Lexington – Isabel Arredondo, Austin Jacobs

Maywood – Dalton Littell

McCook – Brenda Aguirre, Kylie Allen, Madison Aufrecht, Samuel Backer, Brooke Cappel, Molly Hardin, Ashton Harpham, Christina Harrison, Chase Hurdle, Sarah Jones, Samantha Kalinski, Bailey Kool, Vincent Lyons, Summer Molitierno, Alicia Ricley, Colton Sis, Robin Suda, Kathryn Weisner, Frank Williams, Johsette Witt

Milford – Racquel Luethke

Mullen – Jessica Lovitt

North Platte – Danial Best, Tracy Blake, Carrie Boltz, Brittany Brooks, Roberta Eller, Jessica Fernandez, Gabriel Gonzales, Bobbi Gustason, Rachel Hanson, Shayla Hecht, Micaelia Hernandez, Amber Jones, Jennifer Keck, Stephanie Manka, Melanie Marshall, Charles Martin, Brianna Mason, Baylee Mendenhall, Jaedyn Michaels, Tori Miller, Samuel Montgomery, Jessica Moser, Velvet Nuzum, Michelle Olson, Emma Petersen, Orin Peterson, Ricki Reason, Jeffery Riggins, Brandon Rockwell, Brooke Rosales, David Rowe, Danielle Schiel, Justine Sowle, Sydney Standage, Rachel Stroup, Lindsay Swartz, Bradley Thompson, Samantha Zirnig

Ogallala – Anna Watts

Omaha – Brock Howery, Nicolas Jack, Alexis Ramirez

Sidney – Sarah Mahr

Stapleton – Megan Fiechtner, Ashley Starr

Stratton – Kyle Newcomb

Sutherland – Nichole Brenner, Timothy Cheever

Tryon – Duell Puttergill

Whitman – Charmane Macomber

Woodlake – Bree Hill

Colorado

Brighton – Kyle Hunter

Burns – Jacey Schlegel

Canon City – Madison Bosco

Colorado Springs – Lucia Archuleta

Del Norte – Adrionna Fresquez

Englewood – Lauren Pritchard

Frederick – Antonia Villani

Fruita – Makenzi DeCrow

Greeley – Shelby Clark, Samantha Smith

LaSalle – Samantha Gill

Wheat Ridge – Shelby Rae Belloni

Hawaii

Kailua – Kealiiaukai Kaai

Missouri

St. Joseph – Kylan Kuritz

New Mexico

Moriarty – Eileen Kugler

Nevada

North Las Vegas – Lindsey Fishman

New York

Watertown – Stacia Wallace

Oklahoma

Skiatook – Sara Villalobos

Texas

Arlington – DionTae Champion, Victor Lewis

El Paso – Zulema Viescas

Plano – Caroline Delatour

Utah

Centerfield – Sadee Sorensen

Wisconsin

Galesville – Timothy Wagner

Wyoming

Casper – McKinley Earnest

Australia

Gladstone – Melissa Hall

Liverpool – Mirjana Terzic

Canada

British Columbia – Robin Harrison

Ontario – Connor McCrea

Serbia

Pancevo – Sofija Pejcic

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A large group of independent physicians in Nebraska plans to enter the growing practice of telehealth.

The Midwest Independent Physicians Practice Association will begin using video-audio consultations for patients who need to see a specialist but live too far away to conveniently do so in person. The Omaha-based association is composed of about 450 primary care physicians and specialists in the state who aren’t tied to a specific hospital system.

The agreement between the association and technology company AET will give physicians a web-based platform for the appointments and the secure exchange of patient records and data.

The initiative is the latest example of the boom in the use of medical services that don’t require in-person appointments. The main Omaha and Lincoln hospitals systems offer similar services.