LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers and Gov. Pete Ricketts are praising the progress made in this year’s legislative session.

Senators finished the short 60-day session Wednesday having passed a new property tax package that will provide $20 million in tax credits for farm and ranch land owners. They also created a new road-funding program intended to jump-start work on long-delayed highway projects.

The session was also marked by a record-high 24 filibusters, which were used to derail a Medicaid expansion proposal, a medical marijuana program and a bill that would have returned Nebraska to a winner-take-all system of awarding its electoral college votes.

The session is the last for 11 of the Legislature’s 49 senators, who are leaving office because of term limits. Senators are limited to two consecutive four-year terms.

THEDFORD, Neb. (AP) — A family ranch has sued Nebraska Public Power District in an effort to protect their ranchland in the state’s environmentally fragile Sandhills region.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Thomas County by Brush Creek Ranch LLC, which was started by Dan Welch and his wife, Barbara. The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensation for damage done to the land when it was entered April 14 by a surveying team. The team is checking land for eventual construction of a transmission line.

The lawsuit says the Welches barred the surveyors on April 13. But the next day the Welches learned the surveyors had gone onto the land but couldn’t get out because they’d been locked inside the gates.

A utility spokesman didn’t immediately return a call Thursday from The Associated Press.

A traffic stop for improper passing on Highway 6 in Hitchcock County led to the seizure of 240.5 lbs. of marijuana and one arrest.

Just before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, a trooper stopped an eastbound 2007 Saturn Outlook for improper passing just west of Culbertson in Hitchcock County.  A Red Willow County Sheriff’s canine (K9) indicated to the odor of drugs coming from the vehicle. A search of the SUV led to the seizure of 240.5 lbs. of marijuana. The marijuana, contained in two large duffel bags, was located in the cargo area of the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle, Christopher I. Carrillo (M), 32, of Phoenix, Arizona, was lodged in the Hitchcock County Jail on a charge of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. A female passenger in the vehicle was released.

What better way to round out the 2016 spring term than with some fun and upbeat music?

The music department at North Platte Community College is having a free “End of the Year Concert” on Tuesday, and it’s inviting the public to join in the fun.

The performance will begin at 7 p.m. in the McDonald-Belton Theater on NPCC’s South Campus.

“Not only will this concert put everyone in the mood for summer, but it will also allow us to recognize our graduating students,” said Elizabeth Peters, music instructor. “Those include Walker Baird, who composed a piece that will be performed by the chamber ensemble. Walker will be one of our first graduates to receive an Associate of Fine Arts degree in music this May.”

In addition to the chamber ensemble, NPCC’s concert choir, select choir and jazz band will perform at the concert.

The audience will hear everything from the classics “Over the Rainbow” and “Kiss the Girl,” from the movie, “The Little Mermaid,” to modern hits such as, “Shut Up and Dance With Me.”

Peters will direct both the concert and select choirs. Carmen Allen will serve as collaborative accompanist and also direct the chamber ensemble. The jazz band will be directed by Ron Daly.

The following students will perform. A * denotes performers who are also in select choir, and ** denotes guest performers.

Chamber ensemble:

• Holly McPheeters – flute
• Elizabeth Peters – clarinet **
• Malachi Murtaugh – trumpet
• Bob Allen – trumpet **
• Donna Pucket – alto saxophone **
• Bert Ogg – euphonium/bass clarinet
• Ryan Carey – trombone
• Walker Baird – tuba

Jazz band:

• Stephan Capal – alto sax
• Tori Daly- alto sax**
• Donna Pucket- tenor sax**
• Justin Morgan – baritone sax
• Malachi Murtaugh – trumpet
• Ryan Carey – trombone
• Walker Baird – tuba
• Logan Winters – piano**
• Tristan Winters – percussion**

Concert choir:

Sopranos:

• MaKenna Ketter*
• Jade Higgins*
• Brianna Mason*
• Valerie Most

Altos:

• Bailey Rickertsen*
• Katie Roessler*
• Amy Taft

Tenors:

• Walker Baird
• Ryan Carey*
• Jacob McNeel*
• Bert Ogg

Bass:

• Malachi Murtaugh*
• Justin Morgan*
• Trevor Pochop

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers will wrap up the 2016 session having passed a new property tax package and created a new infrastructure fund to accelerate work on roads projects.

Lawmakers were set to conclude an often contentious 60-day session Wednesday.

Senators used a record number of filibusters to block bills, such as a new Medicaid expansion proposal, a medical marijuana program and an effort to return Nebraska to a winner-take-all system of awarding its electoral college votes for president.

The session is also the last for 11 of the Legislature’s 49 senators, who are leaving office because of term limits. Nebraska senators are limited to two four-year terms.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Racehorses have been quarantined at Fonner Park in Grand Island because three horses there tested positive for equine herpes.

The Nebraska Agriculture Department says one of them has been euthanized, but the remaining two are getting better with treatment.

The 750 to 850 horses at Fonner Park can’t leave until the minimum 21-day quarantine is lifted. Fonner will continue racing through May 7, but the 150 or so horses in the same barn as the three that tested positive won’t be allowed to race.

Prairie Meadows Race Track in Altoona, Iowa, has quarantined and is monitoring horses that arrived from Fonner Park within the past week.

Symptoms of the disease include fever, decreased coordination, hind limb weakness, leaning against a wall to maintain balance, lethargy and the inability to rise.

North Platte Police have released the details that led to the quick apprehension of three suspects in an armed robbery on Tuesday morning.

According to Investigator John Deal, the North Platte 911 Center received a report of an armed robbery at the Kwik Stop, 101 Platte Oasis Parkway, at around 12:18 a.m.

The clerk at the store reported that a man, later identified as 21-year-old Joshua Collins, entered the store wearing a costume-type mask.  The clerk reported that he then brandished a handgun and demanded cash.  The clerk complied and handed over the nearly $100 that was in the cash drawer. Collins then allegedly left without incident.

Investigators viewed surveillance video and were to identify the vehicle used in the robbery, which Deal said had a few unique features which assisted in the identification.  Officers also found one unfired ammunition cartridge near the business.

On Tuesday afternoon, a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle’s description was located parked in an alleyway, behind a residence in the 400 block of West 1st Street.  An officer was able to look into the vehicle and see ammunition that was the same as the cartridge found at the crime scene.

Officers approached the residence where they made contact with two males, Collins and 21-year-old Rex Eby.

After getting consent to search the residence, officers located a mask and other items allegedly worn by Collins during the robbery.  They also located more ammunition the matched the unfired round found at the scene.

Collins and Eby were both transported to the police department for questioning.

During questioning, investigators learned that the handgun used in the robbery was in a vehicle owned by 21-year-old Nicholas Robison.  Officers made contact with Robison at his place of employment and located the handgun in his vehicle.

Robison was detained and taken in for questioning.

Based on the interviews, police allege that Collins was the suspect who entered the store and committed the actual robbery.  They say Eby provided the handgun that was used and Robison drove the vehicle used to transport Collins to and from the store.

According to Deal, one of the suspects indicated that the cash drawer taken in the robbery had been thrown in an area near the 1000 block of South Willow Street.  An officer responded to the area and recovered the cash drawer.

The three men were arrested and transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Collins has been charged with felony robbery, Eby has been charged with being an accessory to a felony and Robison has been charged with aiding and abetting robbery.

Deal said it is not believed that any other suspects are involved.