LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts property tax plan is drawing praise from Nebraska’s farming community and opposition from school officials, who would face new restrictions on their budget authority.

Both sides argued their case Tuesday to the Legislature’s Education Committee, which is reviewing one of two bills introduced on the governor’s behalf.

Farmers testified that property taxes have increased even though the economy has weakened. School officials say the state should increase its funding for K-12 education.

Sen Kate Sullivan of Cedar Rapids says the measure she introduced is reasonable, doable and not overly intrusive.

Ricketts says the bill strikes a balance because some farmers and ranchers believe it doesn’t do enough, and some school officials say it’s too burdensome.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The director of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission says without substantive proof the agency cannot act on allegations that beer-sellers in Whiteclay are abusing their licenses.

Activists on Tuesday called on the commission to withhold liquor licenses from the town’s four beer stores, saying vendors sell to pregnant women, minors and customers who are already drunk, but agency director Hobert Rupe says the kind of action testifiers are seeking requires witnesses to go on the record.

Frank LaMere, a Native American activist from South Sioux City, berated the commission, saying prejudice and apathy prevent its intervention.

Whiteclay sold the equivalent of 3.9 million cans of beer in 2015, despite having only 14 residents. The town has been blamed for social problems on bordering South Dakota’s dry Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Court of Appeals has reversed a Scottsbluff man’s child abuse conviction and vacated his prison sentence, adding that he cannot be tried again.

Cody Olbricht was convicted last year of intentional child abuse resulting in serious injury, accused of severely beating his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter. He was sentenced to 18 to 30 years in prison.

On Tuesday, the appeals court said there was insufficient evidence presented at trial to convict Olbricht. The appeals court said prosecutors failed to provide evidence that the child was in Olbricht’s sole care at the time she received injuries that led to a brain bleed and lacerated liver.

The appeals court determined that double jeopardy applies, and that Olbricht cannot be tried again.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is once again raising cost concerns about a proposal to insure thousands of low-income residents with Medicaid funding under the Affordable Care Act.

The department on Tuesday released a consultant’s report that predicts the state would pay $978 million over a 10-year period under the newest Medicaid bill. The federal government would pay an estimated $13.8 billion.

Supporters say covering the uninsured would help boost the state economy.

According to the report, the legislation would cover more than 74,000 uninsured, low-income residents; provide premium assistance to nearly 35,000 with employer-sponsored insurance; and offer traditional Medicaid coverage to more than 15,000 who are deemed medically frail.

Nebraska Medicaid Director Calder Lynch says he will testify against the bill during a legislative hearing Wednesday.

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court will hear an appeal from Sidney’s former police chief who was convicted of obstructing government operations.

Byron Wilkinson was convicted after pleading no contest in July and was sentenced to 30 days. Prosecutors say Wilkinson failed to pursue a case against then-city Public Works Director John Hehnke, after Hehnke’s ex-girlfriend filed a criminal complaint in January 2014. Wilkinson instead handled the matter administratively and didn’t seek charges.

Wilkinson filed an appeal in December with the Nebraska Appeals Court. Wilkinson argues that he didn’t cause any serious harm to anyone and that putting him behind bars wasn’t necessary to protect the public.

The case has been moved to the Supreme Court docket and will be heard the week of March 28.

The North Platte Fire Department says nobody was injured in a house fire Monday evening.

Firefighters responded to the report of a possible house fire at 1216 East D Street, just after 7:00 p.m.

Officials say the occupants of the home were notified of smoke coming from the attic by a neighbor and were able to safely escape the blaze, but the home sustained significant fire and smoke damage.

A gas fireplace was in use in the home at the time the fire broke out.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.