LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Spring turkey season has opened for adult hunters in Nebraska.

Nebraska Game and Parks says the season opened April 9 for youths 15 and under and opened Saturday for hunters 16 and older. Hunters may use either shotguns or archery equipment through the season’s end, May 31.

Permits cost residents $23 and nonresidents $95. Youth permits for residents and nonresidents cost $5.

Permits may be bought at Nebraska Game and Parks permitting offices, at OutdoorNebraska.org or bought by mail. Turkey permits also may be purchased and displayed via a mobile app.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has signed contracts to offer three health plans under the state’s new integrated Medicaid managed care program.

The plans unveiled Friday are Nebraska Total Care, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan and Welcare of Nebraska. They will be part of Heritage Health, the managed care program run by the Department of Health and Human Services. All are expected to operate statewide beginning Jan. 1.

Nebraska currently contracts with three health plans: one for physical health services like doctor visits, one for behavioral health services and one to manage pharmacy services on the state’s behalf.

Under the new system, Nebraska Medicaid and children’s health insurance program enrollees will choose one plan that will be responsible for the full array of services.

Approximately 230,000 enrollees will be served by Heritage Health Plans.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has vetoed a bill that would allow immigrants granted temporary lawful status after coming to the country illegally to work in more than 170 professions.

The Republican governor’s announcement Friday sets the stage for a veto override vote in the Legislature next week. Lawmakers approved the measure 33-11, enough support to overrule Ricketts.

The bill would allow certain immigrants to receive professional licenses in health care, education and a variety of other fields.

It would apply to youths who came or were brought into the country illegally, but received lawful status under President Barack Obama’s executive action allowing them to stay in the country. Nebraska had nearly 5,200 youths with deferred-action status.

News Director Scott Carlson talks with Cherie Erickson from the Prairie Arts Center about their upcoming Herb Market, just in time for Mother’s Day. Have a listen!

The purpose of the 2016 North Platte Community College Honors Convocation may have been to recognize students and employees at NPCC, but it was a four-legged attendee who stole the show.

Nestle, the College’s therapy dog, was among those called to the stage to accept a Spirit Award on Thursday evening. She warmed hearts as she took the certificate in her mouth and gingerly carried it back to her seat in the NPCC South Campus McDonald-Belton Theater.

Spirit Awards are typically presented in the spring to those, who among other criteria, support and show enthusiasm for their job, college activities and the mission of the college.

Nestle has been the college’s therapy dog for about two and a half years. The yellow lab is based in North Platte, but travels to McCook Community College and has also visited MPCC’s extended campuses in Imperial and Ogallala.

“In general, Nestle’s job is to provide emotional support for students, faculty and staff to help them navigate through the challenges of college life,” said Holly Andrews, MPCC area assessment coordinator and Nestle’s handler. “She can’t solve students’ problems, but she can help calm them down so they have a rational perspective on the situation they’re dealing with.”

Nestle has her own fan club, trading cards and Facebook page. More information about her can be found at https://www.facebook.com/nestle.andrewsbritt?fref=ts.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new report says Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate remained 3 percent in March, matching the rates posted in February and January.

The Nebraska Labor Department said in the report issued Friday that the rate was two-tenths of a point higher than the 2.8 percent reported for March and February last year.

The new Nebraska rate remained well below the preliminary national unemployment rate of 5 percent in March — a tenth of a point higher than February’s 4.9 percent. The U.S. Labor Department says only Colorado’s rate of 2.9 percent, the 2.6 percent for New Hampshire and the 2.5 percent recorded for South Dakota were lower than Nebraska’s 3 percent.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s tax collections were nearly 5 percent below expectations in March.

The Department of Revenue reported Thursday that the state’s net receipts totaled $327 million for the month, well below the certified forecast of $343 million.

Net individual and corporate income tax collections came in lower than projected, as did net sales-and-use taxes. Net miscellaneous tax receipts were higher than expected.

Net tax collections for the fiscal year are less than 1 percent below projections so far.

The comparisons are based on the forecast made by the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board in October. The forecasts determine how much money lawmakers have at their disposal during legislative sessions.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts says he will veto a bill that would allow state employees to receive per diem reimbursement for travel costs instead of reporting their actual expenses.

Ricketts said Thursday that he will work with State Auditor Charlie Janssen on a compromise proposal to be introduced in next year’s session. Janssen’s office introduced the bill to make various changes to how his office works.

Ricketts says the bill includes several good-government provisions but needs additional vetting to achieve the auditor’s goal of reducing bureaucratic paperwork. He says additional vetting will help clarify how much the measure could cost the state.

The governor says he plans to veto the bill on Friday.

O’NEILL, Neb. (AP) — Construction of a wind farm in northern Nebraska is being held up by the spring wakeup of endangered beetles.

The American burying beetles make their winter homes in the soil of Nebraska and five other states. Some construction at the northeast Holt County site must wait until the weather warms sufficiently for the beetles to leave their winter homes and move away from the danger.

Seventy-one out of the 200 turbine foundations have been installed, and work on the 400-megawatt Grande Prairie Wind Farm is expected to be finished by late November.