LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — More than 300 leaders who gathered to discuss a 2014 climate survey of Nebraska have concluded that the state must be more proactive in developing an action plan to respond to changes in climate.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln climatologist Don Wilhite and climate change resource specialist Kim Morrow published a 55-page summary report of eight round table talks last fall to discuss the university’s study titled “Understanding and Assessing Climate Change: Implications for Nebraska.”

The 350 leaders who gathered to discuss the study focused on what steps the university and state should take adapt to climate change in Nebraska.

Most notably, the group said Nebraska should begin drafting a plan to integrate outreach activities, research and teaching related to climate change across organizations.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska state agency says it has improved how quickly it processes applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program after it failed to meet federal standards last year.

The federal government reviewed a sample of applications and found that the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services processed nearly 92 percent in a timely manner between April and September. That’s up from nearly 63 percent in early 2014.

The federal government informed the department in January 2015 that its processing rate needed to be at least 85 percent, accounting for margins of error. The most recent average processing rate nationally was nearly 90 percent.

The program is now ranked 27th nationally.

Courtney Phillips, the department’s CEO, says the department will continue to make improvements.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency has launched a new website designed to be more user friendly.

The agency says the site’s new look should make it more intuitive and easier to navigate. Along with a new appearance, the site will offer more features to users including a sortable calendar, an email subscription service and online registrations for events.

NEMA Assistant Director Bryan Tuma says the website will provide “quality information in a user-friendly format.”

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has awarded several grants to enhance watchable wildlife and nature-based opportunities in the state.

The watchable wildlife grant program is administered by the commission, with support from the Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund. This year’s grants totaled more than $13,000. Groups awarded grants this year will benefit everything from bird watching to outdoor and agricultural learning and teaching naturalist skills.

Those interested can learn more about watching Nebraska’s wildlife or the grant by visiting OutdoorNebraska.gov/wildlifeviewing/ or contacting the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s watchable wildlife biologist at [email protected].

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — The Archway monument spanning Interstate 80 at Kearney will be closed for a week this month while improvements to the attraction are completed.

Archway marketing coordinator Jace Robinson says the attraction will be closed Feb. 20-26.

Robinson says visitor attendance is historically low during February, so officials don’t expect the closure to affect the attraction’s overall attendance numbers.

The main project will be centralizing the switches and breakers that start the exhibit’s audio and light show.

The Archway’s point-of-sale system will also be upgraded, and staff and volunteers will use the closure to clean the museum.

The Archway will resume normal operating hours on Feb. 27.

• Nathaniel Kent Most, 48, Brady and Wendy YaVonne Hunt, 45, Cozad

 

• Aaron Jay Fuoss, 19, North Platte and Shasta Marie Irwin, 17, North Platte

News Director Scott Carlson visited with new Executive Director for the North Platte Area Habitat for Humanity, Dalene Skates, to discuss their open application period which runs through February 29. Listen for the details and to hear about some of the amazing things this organization does.

https://soundcloud.com/eagleradio-1/dalene-skates-habitat-for-humanity

The Kearney Police Department responded to Casey’s Gas Station, 112 Talmadge Street, in regards to an assault/attempted robbery at approximately 12:16 a.m., on Friday.

An unknown white male with brown hair, approximately 25 years old, wearing a grey and white flannel shirt, light blue jeans, and black shoes had entered the store.

While in the store, he approached the clerk behind the counter in which he pulled out a sharp object and began to assault her.

The 56-year-old female employee received minor injuries and was treated at CHI Good Samaritan Hospital. The unknown male then departed the store and was last seen traveling north on foot.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.

If you have any information, contact the Kearney Police Department at (308) 237-2141.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Health officials say two travel-related cases of Zika virus have been reported in Nebraska.

A statement Thursday from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services says the cases in Douglas and Sarpy counties are the first in the state.

The department says the people infected are women in their 20s who recently traveled to Zika-affected countries. The outbreak has mainly hit Latin America and the Caribbean.

Neither woman was hospitalized.

The virus is mainly transmitted by mosquito. There has been one reported case in the U.S. of sexual transmission.

While most people infected with the virus do not get sick, health officials are investigating whether there is a link between Zika infections in pregnant women and a rare birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — City and county officials are voicing objections to Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts’ property tax plan, which was endorsed by the state’s largest agriculture groups.

Ricketts argued before a legislative committee Thursday that his proposal offers a balanced way to slow the growth of statewide property taxes.

The Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation and Nebraska Cattlemen Association support the plan. But Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler, La Vista Mayor Douglas Kindig and other officials say it would limit their flexibility.

The bill would prevent the combined taxable value of all the state’s agricultural land from growing by more than 3 percent annually. It also would prevent local governments from exceeding several levy and budget limits without voter approval.