SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — An Iowa man has been hired to run the western Nebraska city of Sidney.

Officials announced Wednesday that Ed Sadler was chosen to become city manager from among three finalists. He’s the city manager of Webster City, Iowa, which has about 8,000 residents. Sidney has around 6,700 residents.

Sadler was assistant city manager for Aspen, Colorado, before taking the Webster City job. He’s held management jobs in state and local governments in Arizona, Missouri and Wyoming. Sadler earned a master’s degree in public administration and bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wyoming.

Sadler says moving to Sidney will get him and his wife closer to children and grandchildren in Colorado and Texas.

He replaces Gary Person, who resigned in August.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The state corrections director says transforming Nebraska’s prisons must begin by expanding and improving lower-security facilities.

Nebraska Department of Correctional Services Director Scott Frakes talked to lawmakers Wednesday about his $26.1 million budget request to renovate a coed community corrections facility in Lincoln. The facility was built for 200 people, but currently houses nearly 400 male and female inmates.

Frakes called coed custody a “failed experiment” and said Nebraska’s female inmates, many of whom have experienced physical and emotional abuse, need spaces they can feel safe.

The facility wouldn’t be completed for three years. Some lawmakers worry the plan is too cautious and question whether such changes could be implemented quickly enough to avoid a possible federal lawsuit.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The newest attempt to expand health care coverage with Medicaid dollars has reopened an old divide in the Nebraska Legislature.

A coalition of doctors, hospitals, local governments and uninsured residents implored lawmakers Wednesday to advance the bill. Conservative groups and members of Gov. Pete Ricketts’ administration argued before the Health and Human Services Committee that the proposal is unsustainable.

The bill by Sen. John McCollister of Omaha would cover childless adults whose incomes are too high to qualify for regular Medicaid but too low to receive tax subsidies available through the federal health care exchange.

Attempts to expand Medicaid in Nebraska have stalled three times in as many years, and the newest bill is expected to face strong resistance once again.

The third show of the 2015/2016 season, Mary Poppins, opens at the North Platte Community Playhouse on February 19, 2016.

Everyone’s favorite practically perfect nanny takes the stage in this “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” musical adventure directed by Scott Carlson & John Hales. The jack-of-all-trades, Bert, introduces us to 1910 England and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane & Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic, common sense and many memorable adventures, Mary Poppins teaches the family how to value each other again.

Performances are February 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28.  Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8:00 p.m. with Sunday matinees beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Ticket sales begin Monday, February 15, and can be purchased at the NPCP Box Office Monday-Friday Noon-5:00 p.m., online at www.northplattecommunityplayhouse.com or at the door prior to each performance.  Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children and students.  Special pricing is available for groups of 10 or more.

The community can get involved in the production by sponsoring a character.  The cost to sponsor a character is $100, and the sponsor’s name will appear in the program with the actor’s bio.  This will help offset some of the expenses created with the elaborate costuming of this show.  Interested persons can contact the NPCP at 308-532-5889 for more information.

This production is made possible by the financial support of Nebraskaland National Bank, The Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment for the Arts.

The Cast

Bert-Adam Odle

George Banks-Scott Odle

Winifred Banks-Traci Sawyer

Jane Banks-Madeline Daup

Michael Banks-Jennings Greenfield

Katie Nanna-Val Hiser

Policeman-Seth Vapenik

Miss Lark-Shelly Deardoff

Admiral Boom-Roy Lawton

Mrs. Brill-Bea Webster

Robertson Ay-Matt Pederson

Mary Poppins-Mari Gesinski

Park Keeper-Darrell Drullinger

Neleus-Tanner Hood

Queen Victoria-Tia San Miguel

Bank Chairman-Roy Lawton

Miss Smythe-Kayla Turner

Von Hussler-Tyler Cronin

John Northbrook-Justin Morgan

Bird Woman-Anne Schmit

Mrs. Corry-Lou Cox-Fornander

Fannie-Ashley Aloi

Annie-Starla Arensdorf

Valentine-Daniel Wardyn

Teddy Bear-Justin Morgan

Mr. Punch-Morris Turner

Doll-Lindsey Mikkelsen

Miss Andrew-Tiffany Wood

Ensemble: Thomas Bartling, Phillip Ryan, John Petit, Lisa Hodgen, Toni Guthrie, Bailey Hiser, Shandell Sims, Becki Wardyn

Childrens Ensemble: Riley Aloi, Ashlyn Carlson, Kaylee Carlson, Evan Fidler, Rachel Fidler, Ellie Gaedke, Aspen Golter, Henry Smith, Dakota Guthrie, Ella Harmon, Emily Kammerer, Sam Mackley, Olivia Phillips, Ally Pierce, Story Rasby, Shaydyn Rasby, Taylor Rossell, Jessie Rudolph, Hallie Sexson, Alexandra Thompson, Rei Wood, Rachel Young, Nic Zurn

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska judges whose hands are tied by mandatory minimum sentences could have a way to overcome the restriction under a bill presented to a legislative committee.

Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus said Wednesday that his bill would create an “escape valve” in cases where a judge views a mandatory minimum as inappropriate.

The measure would allow the sentencing judge and two other judges to review the case.

Together, the three judges would determine whether to impose the mandatory minimum. If two or more view the sentence as inappropriate, the mandatory minimum would not be imposed.

The bill would create similar procedures for judges who believe a defendant should be classified as a “habitual criminal,” which carries stiffer penalties.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — The state’s tourism commission has selected two sites in western Nebraska to benefit from a new volunteer program.

The commission’s selection committee chose the Robidoux Trading Post near Gering and the Cowboy Trail near Chadron as the inaugural sites for the program, which will help maintain or improve sites that are popular with visitors.

Volunteers will help restore the historic trading post on May 6 and 7 by removing the chinking, an old form of weather-stripping material stuck between wooden boards to help keep structures watertight. They’ll replace it with a longer-lasting material.

On June 10 and 11, volunteers will clear old railroad ties on the Cowboy Trail, build simple bridges and do other tasks to prepare the first five miles east of Chadron for further development.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Passengers in getaway cars could have a tougher time collecting legal damages if they are injured during a police chase under a bill advanced by Nebraska lawmakers.

Senators gave the measure first-round approval Wednesday with a 34-6 vote after supporters overcame a filibuster.

The measure would clarify who qualifies as an “innocent third party” during a police chase.

Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse says he introduced the bill in response to a 2012 Nebraska Supreme Court case involving a man who was paralyzed during a police chase.

The passenger, Brian Werner, sued Platte County and was eventually awarded $1 million in damages even though he had been drinking in the car and was found with methamphetamine and drug pipes in his pockets.

LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — The city of Lexington has sued the local mosque, saying it’s been violating city zoning ordinances.

The lawsuit against the Islamic Center was filed Friday. The center wants to renovate the property it occupies and an adjacent building. The city says a certificate of occupancy hasn’t been obtained and a conditional use permit is required before the property can be used as a church.

On Wednesday the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska told the city that the City Council violated the religious rights of Muslim residents by voting Dec. 22 to deny a permit to expand the Islamic Center. ACLU of Nebraska says the permit denial also violates federal law.

The Islamic Center’s attorney, Claude Berreckman Jr., says his clients are disappointed by the city’s action and the lawsuit.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s net tax receipts were slightly higher than estimated in January.

The Department of Revenue said Wednesday that the state collected $372 million, which is nearly 2 percent higher than the certified forecast of $366 million.

Net individual and corporate incomes taxes were higher, as were net sales-and-use taxes. Net miscellaneous taxes were lower than projected.

The comparisons are based on the forecast made by the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board in October. During that meeting, the board revised its current fiscal year forecast down by $70.9 million.

The forecasts play a key role in the state budget, determining how much money lawmakers have at their disposal. The forecasting board will meet again near the end of this month.