LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A faculty leadership group has voted against a legislative proposal that would eliminate gun-free zones on college campuses.

The Faculty Senate vote Tuesday is aimed at showing the teachers’ opposition to a proposal by state Sen. Tommy Garrett. He says he intends to introduce legislation that would remove gun-free zones in schools, churches, hospitals, sports venues and college campuses.

Nebraska is one of 19 states that prohibit carrying concealed weapons on college campuses.

Court documents show that the original felony assault charge against 33-year-old Christopher Murrillo has been amended to murder in the slaying of Abraham Crane. Scottsbluff police say Crane was severely beaten and kicked and found in an alley on Nov. 16. Police say Crane died on Sunday at Regional West Medical Center.

Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney for Murrillo who could be contacted to comment on his behalf. Murrillo has been in custody since his arrest Nov. 24 in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska legislative committee has released a report recommending more oversight of how the state addresses access and funding issues with mental health services.

The Performance Audit Committee released the report Monday. The audit was authorized in February after concerns about identifying service gaps were raised after the state’s 2004 transition to community-based services.

Mental health regional administrators have cited several problems in services, including gaps in care for people with more than one mental illness, insufficient help for people to find appropriate homes and a lack of psychiatric emergency systems in some areas.

The committee said it will draft a bill to reinforce a requirement for the behavioral division of the state Department of Health and Human Services to complete a needs assessment.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska officials have agreed to give an old state veterans’ home property to the city of Grand Island, which is losing the facility to make way for a replacement in Kearney.

Gov. Pete Ricketts announced the deal Tuesday along with Grand Island Mayor Jeremy Jensen, state Sen. Mike Gloor and members of his administration.

The property includes a veterans’ cemetery that the city will maintain, and feature green space and a cybersecurity training firm that works with veterans.

The veterans’ home has been located in Grand Island since 1887. Former Gov. Dave Heineman announced in 2013 that Kearney had won the project through competitive bidding with Hastings, Grand Island and North Platte.

Grand Island officials must approve the transfer. The property is worth an estimated $4 million to $5 million.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Figures have plunged in a fourth straight monthly survey of supply managers in nine Midwest and Plains states, providing more evidence of a slowdown in the region’s economy.

A report issued Tuesday says the overall Mid-American Business Conditions Index dropped to 40.7 last month from 41.9 in October, 47.7 in September and 49.6 in August.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he again cites the strong U.S. dollar among the reasons for the region’s economic slide.

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth. A score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Seven co-workers at the Baldwin Filters plant in Kearney have claimed shares of a $1 million Mega Millions prize.

The seven have been pooling their money to buy Mega Millions tickets over the past four years. They bought a ticket at Thirsty’s on the west side of Kearney for the Nov. 24 drawing. One play matched five numbers but not the Mega Ball number or the Megaplier.

Each of the seven will receive a share just under $143,000.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A joint legislative committee has failed to reach a consensus on ways to reduce Nebraska’s reliance on property taxes to pay for schools.

But some senators said Monday that hearings and testimony over the last few months gave them ideas to address the problem in next year’s session.

The committee discussed several ideas during its final work session at the Capitol. Several lawmakers focused on changes to the school-aid formula that would give districts more incentives to lower their property tax levies without losing state aid.

Senators also expressed interest in proposals that would limit the growth in the taxable value for agricultural, residential and commercial property. Agricultural property taxes have soared in recent years because of skyrocketing prices for farm and ranchland.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is boosting the amount of corn-based ethanol and other renewable fuels in the U.S. gasoline supply. That’s despite sustained opposition by an unusual alliance of oil companies, environmentalists and some GOP presidential candidates.

The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced a rule to increase production of ethanol to be blended with gasoline through 2016, a decision that could reverberate in Iowa’s crucial presidential caucuses. While some candidates have supported higher levels of renewable fuels, conservatives like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz call the government’s longtime support for ethanol “corporate welfare.”

The decision doesn’t necessarily mean a higher percentage of ethanol in an individual driver’s tank, and isn’t likely to have much effect on gas prices. But it does mean there will a higher supply of the home-grown fuel overall.