LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The man who agreed to sell lethal injection drugs to Nebraska is refusing to return a payment for one of the drugs, saying the state’s failure to import them wasn’t his fault.

Records released Friday show Nebraska corrections director Scott Frakes asked Harris Pharma to repay $26,700 for sodium thiopental that was never delivered. Frakes alleges in a January letter that the drug supplier violated its contract.

Harris Pharma CEO Chris Harris says in a Jan. 28 letter that his company tried shipping the drugs and is still willing to do so. But he says he was told the shipment was on hold until the state could renew its federal import license.

Gov. Pete Ricketts has halted efforts to import the drugs until voters decide whether to keep capital punishment.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska state agency has reached a settlement in a lawsuit alleging that it failed to process Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in a timely manner.

The Department of Health and Human Services says it has improved processing times as part of the settlement announced Friday.

The class-action lawsuit was filed by the groups Nebraska Appleseed and the National Center for Law and Economic Justice. Federal law requires states to process SNAP benefits in a timely manner to ensure that low-income people can buy food.

Department spokesman Russ Reno says his agency has taken several steps to speed up services, such as sending out renewal notices earlier and making sure paperwork is ready to be processed when workers arrive each day.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — With no publicized polling and limited experience in holding caucuses, Nebraska Democrats say predicting the outcome of Saturday’s Democratic caucuses is little more than a guess.

The campaigns of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are expressing optimism, but there’s no clear favorite to win the all-day event.

Vince Powers, chairman of the state Democratic Party, says he believes the contest is too close to call. But he added that Sanders’ visit to Lincoln two days ahead of the causes may have helped him.

Nebraska Democrats switched from a May presidential primary to an earlier caucus in 2008, in the hopes of having a say in the national race and in an effort to build the party.

Nebraska Republicans will vote for the GOP nominee in the state’s May 10 primary.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A legislative committee is shifting away from Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts’ tax proposals and toward alternative solutions as farmers and ranchers clamor for property tax relief.

The Legislature’s Revenue Committee voted Thursday to reject part of Ricketts’ plan that would prevent the combined taxable value of the state’s agricultural land from growing by more than 3 percent annually.

Chairman Mike Gloor of Grand Island says the concept was difficult to explain to the public, and committee members didn’t think it would steer money to where it is most needed.

Committee members are instead looking at legislation to slow property tax increases by using the average valuation over five years to calculate a property owner’s tax burden.

OGALLALA, Neb. (AP) — Officials say a fishing bridge at the north end of Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area will be replaced.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staffers assessed wind damage in late February and determined the bridge wasn’t safe to use. It will be removed.

The commission already was planning to replace it, and the new bridge is expected to be finished early next year.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An election official says a Nebraska public official can’t hold office on the Nebraska Board of Education and the Metropolitan Utilities District board at the same time.

Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse said last month that Pat McPherson, who was elected to a four-year term on the State Board of Education in 2014, could hold both positions if he were to win election to the Omaha utility company board this year.

But Kruse said Tuesday that he learned about an exception to a rule that allows the same person to hold one “high” office and one “low” office at the same time. The Omaha World-Herald (http://bit.ly/1OQa8Bd ) reports that the exception says a person holding an office “described” by the Nebraska Constitution can’t also hold a second elected office.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A measure to ban wage discrimination in small businesses has advanced in the Nebraska Legislature despite some opponents who say it would create unnecessary hurdles for entrepreneurs.

Lawmakers gave the bill first-round approval Wednesday on a 26-7 vote.

Nebraska’s Equal Pay Act already prohibits wage discrimination based on sex, but it only applies to businesses with 15 or more employees. Workers in smaller businesses must take complaints to the federal commission.

Advocates say the bill would allow all wage discrimination complaints to be handled through the state, which is less expensive and less arduous than a federal complaint.

Opponents say the bill would burden small businesses by requiring them to keep more records and hire lawyers.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Volunteer firefighters and paramedics in Nebraska could get a tax break under a bill advanced by a legislative committee.

Members of the Revenue Committee voted 8-0 on Wednesday to send the measure to the full Legislature for debate.

The bill by Sen. Al Davis of Hyannis would allow volunteer emergency responders to claim a $250 credit on their state income taxes. Davis says the bill is intended to recognize the work of volunteer emergency responders, who frequently have to sacrifice work, family and vacation time to be on call.

Rural Nebraska relies heavily on a patchwork of volunteer services throughout the state. Many departments have struggled to recruit younger volunteers to serve as firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians.