Director Scott Frakes said Wednesday that the department will request an estimated $26.2 million for additional beds at community corrections centers in Lincoln and Omaha. The funding would cover a net increase of 148 beds and allow the department to place male and female inmates in separate facilities.

The plan also outlines specific measurements to track the department’s performance, such as staff vacancy rates and recidivism rates.

The plan was released as a legislative oversight committee began three days of hearings to look at various problems within Nebraska’s prison system. Frakes is scheduled to appear before the committee on Thursday.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Opponents of the Keystone XL pipeline in Nebraska are cheering the State Department’s decision to continue its review of the project despite the developer’s request for a delay.

Bold Nebraska director Jane Kleeb said Wednesday that residents who oppose the pipeline have waited more than six years for a decision from President Barack Obama.

The group wants the president to reject developer TransCanada’s request for a presidential permit, which is required because the route crosses an international border.

TransCanada says it requested the delay so the Nebraska Public Service Commission could review the project. Postponing the federal review could have left the permit decision to Obama’s successor.

TransCanada spokesman Mark Cooper says the company respects the decision and will work to show the project serves the nation’s interest.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Children and wives of fallen soldiers who served in Afghanistan and Iraq are being honored in a flight to Lincoln.

A plane carrying 22 mothers and 35 children is scheduled to depart from Omaha’s Eppley Airfield and arrive at the Lincoln Airport Saturday morning as part of the Gold Star Kids Honor Flight. The flight is organized by Patriotic Productions, an Omaha nonprofit that has organized trips to Washington, D.C., for World War II and Korean War veterans.

The children will be entertained and the mothers will be pampered at the Nebraska Guard’s Camp Ashland before departure.

Once in Lincoln, the passengers will then be taken Memorial Stadium, where they will watch the University of Nebraska’s football game against Michigan State University.

Bill and Evonne Williams, who run the nonprofit, hope hundreds of people turn up to greet the families.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska officials say they will receive more than $455,000 in a settlement with two pharmaceutical companies that were accused of overcharging state Medicaid programs.

The settlement announced Wednesday resolves allegations that AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP and Cephalon, Inc., overcharged for various drugs.

AstraZeneca has paid the states and the federal government $46.5 million, while Cephalon paid $7.5 million. A whistleblower complaint alleged that the companies used accounting techniques to reduce the average manufacturer price reported to the federal government, which resulted in the companies underpaying drug rebates to the states.

The Nebraska attorney general’s office says the state will receive more than $350,000 from AstraZeneca and another $105,000 from Cephalon.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prison officials say they’re still working to comply with the recommendations of a report that evaluated what went wrong during a May riot that left two inmates dead.

Corrections Director Scott Frakes announced Tuesday that prison officials have completed 13 of the 83 recommended actions, and are making progress on others.

The recommendations were outlined in a June 29 incident report detailing how the riot unfolded at the state prison in Tecumseh. The incident caused thousands of dollars in damage, and two convicted sex offenders were found dead once order was restored.

The recommended steps include an analysis for prison staff, additional training and drills, and reviews of responses to prison disturbances. Prison officials say they’ve ordered new “weapon resistant” mops and brooms as a safety precaution.

A North Platte man is behind bars on a burglary charge after he allegedly burglarized a home in the city.

On August 21, an officer with the North Platte Police Department responded to a residence in the 1800 block of West 3rd Street on the report of a burglary.

The officer met with the resident of the home, who indicated that they had returned home and observed a male subject leaving their house with some of the resident’s property.

The resident said the man told him that he worked for the landlord, and had been told to come repossess some of the resident’s property.

The suspect then allegedly went to a nearby residence in the 200 block of North Miles, and entered the house.

A short time later, the man was observed running from the scene.

The landlord was contacted and stated that they had not asked anyone to repossess the victim’s property and knew nothing of the situation.

Further investigation revealed that the landlord had been allowing Anthony Sandoval to stay at the residence on Miles Street.

The victim provided officers with an inventory of the items they were missing and they conducted a search of the house.

Inside, police say they located some of the victim’s property, including his wallet and identification.

Police were then contacted by a witness who stated that they had seen the man enter the Miles house and recognized him from a mugshot they had seen online.  It was confirmed that Sandoval was the suspect in the burglary.

On November 2, an officer on patrol observed Sandoval and Linda Trujillo walking near the intersection of G and York Streets.

The officer made contact with them and placed Sandoval under arrest on a warrant for felony burglary.  Trujillo also had a warrant and was placed under arrest.

The duo was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Weather permitting, the 6th and Jeffers Street intersection is anticipated to be closed for eastbound and westbound traffic as well as pedestrian traffic on Tuesday, November 3rd.

The 5th and Jeffers Street intersection will be opened for eastbound and westbound traffic and pedestrian traffic on this same date, according to the Nebraska Department of Roads.

Motorists are reminded to be extra careful in and near highway work zones, and to buckle up every trip.