• Thomas Lee Jacobson, 53, North Platte and Ann Marie Jacobson,54, North Platte

• Garod Lee Remus, 31, North Platte and Danielle Renee Nichols, 29, North Platte

• Chris Gary Marshall, 50, Gothenburg NE and Mellisa Sue Millard, 38, Gothenburg NE

• Christopher Edward Naitvidad, 29, North Platte and Heather Lynn Hansen, 28, North Platte

• Eugene Patrick Grenier, 34, North Platte and Elizabeth Marie Inman, 35, North Platte

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is preparing a new push to lower income and property taxes in next year’s session, with arguments that the state can’t compete with its peers.

Ricketts told a Lincoln audience Thursday that he expects a lot of discussion in the Legislature about the state’s income tax, an issue that has taken a back seat to property tax reform. His comments came at a forum sponsored by the Platte Institute, an Omaha think tank that frequently advocates for lower taxes.

Lawmakers shifted their focus to property taxes following a 2013 tax modernization study which concluded that Nebraska’s tax code isn’t substantially different from its neighboring states.

Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion says Nebraska’s tax code hinders small businesses, many of which pay as individuals rather than corporations.

LINCOLN – Treat someone special to the gift that lasts a lifetime – a Nebraska lifetime permit.

It is the ultimate gift for any hunter or angler and an investment in the future.

Lifetime hunt, fish, and combination hunt-fish permits, as well as lifetime waterfowl and habitat stamps, are available for residents and nonresidents. Lifetime fur harvest permits are available to residents only. Hunt and combination hunt-fish permits allow for the hunting of small game, upland game and waterfowl. They are not valid for hunting turkey, big game or furbearers.

Resident permits are priced for the following age groups: 0-5 years, 6-15, 16-45, and 46 and older. Nonresident permits are available for ages 0-16 years and 17 and older.

Those who buy lifetime permits in 2015 will avoid the small price increases that take effect in January. In addition, starting in 2016, there no longer will be the 0-5 and 6-15 age groups for residents. They will be combined into a 0-15 age group.

Lifetime permits are great for conservation, too. The proceeds from the sale of lifetime permits go into escrow, with the interest used to help support wildlife and fisheries management programs. And in addition to a regular paper license, each permit or stamp comes with an engraved, enameled brass plate and carrying case.

Lifetime permits may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org, at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission permitting offices, or by calling toll-free at 800-742-0056. For more information, visit: http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/hunting/Types_Permits.asp.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — First National Bank of Omaha is reissuing debit cards to some of its customers in seven states in because of a data breach at an unidentified national firm.

Bank spokesman Kevin Langin declined to identify the business that experienced the breach because the problem is still being investigated by authorities.

Langin says the extent of the data breach hasn’t been determined.

Langin refused to say how many new cards the bank has issued to its customers in Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, Colorado and Texas.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska residents who rely on public benefits are spending less time on the phone waiting for someone to help them.

Gov. Pete Ricketts announced Thursday that average call-wait times for ACCESS Nebraska fell to less than five minutes in September, compared to more than 14 minutes in August. The September average is the shortest wait time for the long-troubled service in three years.

Ricketts says the system is also processing applications more accurately because of changes made by department administrators and Nebraska’s new chief operating officer, Felix Davidson.

Davidson says state workers are collecting application documents earlier, reducing the time call center employees spend trying to locate them.

James Goddard of Nebraska Appleseed, an advocate for low-income residents, praised the improvements but cautions that they need to be sustainable.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A group that opposes Nebraska’s death penalty says the state won’t be able to import lethal injection drugs without violating federal law and exposing itself to additional legal challenges.

The Nebraskans for Public Safety coalition took issue Wednesday with assertions that state officials are working with the federal government to try to obtain the necessary drugs.

The group released written comments from University of Nebraska law professor Eric Berger, noting that federal law makes it “very clear” that the drug sodium thiopental cannot enter the country legally for executions.

Berger says states will likely face more difficulty carrying out executions in the future.

Nebraska lawmakers abolished capital punishment in May, prompting a petition drive that suspended the repeal until voters decide the issue in November 2016.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it is spending $100 million to help install nearly 5,000 additional ethanol fuel pumps in 21 states.

The agency said Wednesday that matching grants bring the total public-private investment to $210 million to increase the availability of the corn-based fuel.

The USDA says a typical gas pump delivers 10 percent ethanol, but the grants will help install pumps that offer higher blends of ethanol for more recently made vehicles.

The largest grants are going to Texas, $17 million for 763 pumps, and Florida, nearly $16 million for 892 pumps.

Iowa, the nation’s top corn-producing state, will see $5 million for 187 pumps, and Nebraska will get $2.3 million for 80 new pumps.

Casey’s General Stores, Inc.  today confirmed that credit card skimming devices were discovered at six of its stores in Nebraska and one store in Iowa.  The stores are located at:

4150 W. US Highway 30, Grand Island, NE 68803

108 W. 8^th, Wood River, NE 68883

705 2^nd Avenue, Kearney, NE 68847

115 E. Nobes Road, York, NE 68467

15275 Weir Plaza, Omaha, NE 68127

13941 Highway 6, Waverly, NE 68462

11200 140^th St. Pl. Davenport, IA 52804

Upon discovery of the first device, Casey’s launched a company-wide examination of all fuel pumps at approximately 1,900 stores across 14 states, which subsequently led to the discovery of additional devices.  Casey’s immediately removed the devices and notified law enforcement authorities and credit card companies, and has instituted additional company-wide pump inspection procedures at all stores.

While it is currently undetermined if any credit card information has been compromised, Casey’s encourages customers who used credit cards (including debit and other payment cards) at fuel pumps at these Nebraska locations between October 2, 2015 and October 10, 2015, and the Iowa location between October 15, 2015 and October 21, 2015, to remain vigilant and closely monitor their financial accounts and credit reports.  Customers should promptly contact their financial institutions if they see any unauthorized activity.

“We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our customers and will continue to work with federal, state and local authorities in this investigation,” said Chairman and CEO Robert J. Myers.

Customers may contact the three major credit reporting agencies to purchase a copy of their credit report and obtain information about fraud alerts and security freezes: Equifax (800-685-1111, P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374, www.equifax.com); Experian (888-397-3742, P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013, www.experian.com); or Transunion (800-680-7289, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022, www.transunion.com).  A free copy is available once every 12 months at www.annualcreditreport.com, by calling 877-322-8228 or by completing an Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348.

To report incidents of suspected identity theft, and obtain information about fraud alerts and security freezes, Customers may contact the Federal Trade Commission by visiting www.consumer.gov/idtheft, calling 877-438-4338 or by mail at 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20580.  Customers may also contact their state attorney general or local law enforcement.

Additional details and other information are available at www.caseys.com, under the link entitled “Neb./Iowa Skimmer Alert.”  Customers having other questions may call 866-408-4551 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. (Central Standard Time).

Casey’s is headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa.