LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska property tax bill championed by Gov. Pete Ricketts is headed to the full Legislature for debate.

Members of the Revenue Committee voted 7-0 on Thursday to advance the measure even though some senators continue to have reservations.

Farm and ranch landowners could receive a larger credit to offset some of their local property taxes if the measure passes, while the amount available for commercial and residential property owners would stay the same. The legislation would also impose new budget restrictions on community colleges, which rely partially on property taxes.

Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion abstained from the vote, saying he’s concerned that agricultural groups are expecting to remain “at the front of the line” next year while small businesses and residents ask for income tax reductions.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two more former bank executives have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a fraud scheme that led to Lincoln-based bank’s collapse.

Former TierOne president James Laphen was sentenced Thursday to 34 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of mail and wire fraud. Don Langford, the bank’s former chief credit officer, was also sentenced Thursday to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to similar charges.

Both men testified against their former boss and CEO Gilbert Lundstrom, who was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in prison after being convicted of 12 counts related to the 2010 failure of the bank.

Prosecutors have said that Lundstrom and bank officers hid losses from regulators and shareholders.

Regulators took over TierOne in 2010.

Severe weather including hail and at least one tornado have been reported in the Midwest as other areas dig out of a spring blizzard that shut down the Denver airport and closed hundreds of miles of roads.

Storms swept through northwest Arkansas late Wednesday, damaging or destroying several homes and severely injuring two people.

On Thursday, the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down on the southeast side of Lake Charles in Louisiana, damaging a home.

Elsewhere, a hailstorm broke windows in northern Texas, and snow fell in Minnesota. Forecasters predicted another 1 to 4 inches of snow across most of Wisconsin on Thursday.

Denver International Airport reopened Wednesday evening, but by then most of the day’s flights had been canceled. Travelers trying to fly out Thursday faced long lines during the already busy spring break travel week.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Speaker of the Legislature Galen Hadley is condemning state Sen. Ernie Chambers for a reference he made to gun violence.

Chambers made the comments during debate Wednesday over a bill to ban job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Chambers said some of the comments against the bill were so upsetting that, if he were a white man, he would have brought a semiautomatic weapon to “mow everybody down.”

Hadley did not respond at the time, but on Thursday he said on the floor of the Legislature that the remarks were “appalling.” He went on to cite numerous examples of gun violence around the world.

Chambers didn’t back down from his comment, saying he will continue to use metaphors and similes he finds appropriate for a situation.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska voters will not weigh in on a constitutional amendment restricting state influence in agriculture this November.

The Legislature agreed Thursday to kill a “right to farm” proposal at its sponsor’s request.

Sen. John Kuehn of Heartwell says he wants the issue to be discussed in a “deliberative and dispassionate manner” and debate the night before convinced him that would not be possible in the final days of the 2016 session.

Opponents say the broad measure could have unintentional consequences and is unnecessary in a state where agriculture is the largest industry.

In 2012, Nebraska voters added an amendment to guarantee hunting, fishing and animal-harvesting rights in the state constitution.

Nebraska lawmakers must approve a proposed amendment before it can appear on the statewide ballot.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Buffalo County commissioners have refused to provide $225,000 more to support The Archway in Kearney.

The board voted Tuesday against giving $75,000 a year for the next three years to the tourist attraction. The city of Kearney and Buffalo County each gave The Archway $75,000 annually for 2014, 2015 and this year. The Kearney Visitors Bureau provided $110,000 in 2014 and $150,000 annually since.

Commissioner Ivan Klein and others expressed concerns about the county’s budget situation in the face of pending state mandates.

The Archway features exhibits commemorating the Oregon, Mormon and California pioneer trails and the nation’s highway systems and railroads. It has struggled since opening in 2001 and was forced into bankruptcy in 2013 following years of disappointing attendance.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska would conceal names of all but one of the finalists for top administrative jobs under a bill passed by the Legislature.

Lawmakers sent the measure to Gov. Pete Ricketts’ desk with a 38-8 vote Thursday.

The bill by Sen. John Murante of Gretna would require the university to publicly identify just one finalist for president and chancellor positions. The finalist would be subject to a 30-day vetting period. Current law requires the university to release names and application materials for the top four finalists before a hire is made.

Ricketts has not said whether he will sign or veto the bill, but has noted he was “very comfortable” with his administration’s process to choose department leaders, which included naming three finalists.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have passed a funding boost for college and university facilities, behavioral health programs and the state’s beleaguered prison system.

Lawmakers approved the spending items Thursday as part of the new state budget.

Appropriations Committee Chairman Heath Mello of Omaha says the $8.7 billion budget package fulfills state obligations and invests in long-term projects. The plan would allow new construction on levee systems surrounding Offutt Air Force Base and provide $1.5 million for pay increases at the short-staffed Department of Correctional Services.

The sole dissenter on one of the bills, Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion, has said the state should be more frugal with its spending.

Gov. Pete Ricketts has five days to act on the bills.

Two longtime area financial institutions announced today that they will be merging as soon as the acquisition is approved by regulators.

In a news release, E. Dean Niedan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nebanco, Inc., announced the acquisition of Nebanco, Inc. by First Gothenburg Bancshares, Inc.

Nebanco, Inc. owns Farmers State Bank branches in North Platte and Wallace, as well as American Mortgage Company and Insurance Agencies.

Farmers State Bank will be merged with First State Bank of Gothenburg.  According to the release, First State Bank will continue to operate branches in Wallace and North Platte, and will also operate Wallace Agency in Wallace. Both branches will remain open and, according to Niedan, all employees will be retained after the merger is completed.

American Morgage Company and American Agency will operate as a separate unit at its current location, 422 North Dewey Street, after the merger is completed.

“First State Bank is committed to being a full-service community bank, serving agriculture and small business in their communities,” said Niedan.

Farmers State Bank has served customers in North Platte and Wallace for over 98 years, and First State Bank has been in operation for 110 years.

“Their bank’s culture will serve them well in serving our customers in Wallace and North Platte,” Niedan added.

Approval of the acquisition is expected to occur within 90 days.  In the meantime, Niedan says it will be business as usual.

After the merger, First State Bank’s assets will total approximately $450 million, and the bank will service customers in Gothenburg, Omaha, Mullen, North Platte and Wallace.

For more information on First State Bank, visit their website www.1ststatebank.com.

 

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — New U.S. Census data show that nearly a third of Nebraska’s 93 counties recorded growth over the previous five years, but the population continued to decline in rural areas of the state.

David Drozd of the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research analyzed the census figures released Thursday.

He says the state is seeing its most widespread growth since the early 1990s, but the long-standing trend of dwindling rural populations and urban growth continued.

More than 54 percent of Nebraska residents live in Douglas, Sarpy and Lancaster counties.

Twenty-nine of Nebraska’s counties grew between July 2010 and July 2015. During the previous five years, 25 counties grew and between 2000 and 2005, 18 counties recorded population growth.