NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — Three Nebraska school districts will be testing out a new student data system that should make it easier to share information internally.

The North Platte, Hershey and Stapleton districts will be trying out the system for the Nebraska Department of Education.

The new Adviser software is based on online. School personnel will enter data in the system that can then be reviewed by administrators.

North Platte associate superintendent Tami Eshleman says the system is also supposed to speed up the process of sending performance reports and demographic information to the state.

HAYES CENTER, Neb. (AP) — Hayes County in southwest Nebraska has received the state’s “Livestock Friendly” designation for its support of the industry.

Gov. Pete Ricketts announced that Hayes County has become the 35th statewide to participate in the program administered by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

The program gives counties an extra promotional tool to encourage the expansion of current livestock operations and attract new businesses.

Counties that wish to receive the designation must hold a public hearing, and the county board must pass a resolution to apply. A completed application must be submitted to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new coalition of Nebraska lawmakers is considering options for expanding Medicaid that could gain majority support in the Legislature, which has rejected similar measures three times in as many years.

Supporters of the effort quietly convened last week for a “listening session” to hear concerns and questions about Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act from fellow lawmakers. They also are reaching out to chambers of commerce and hospital groups for evidence of the potential business impact on Nebraska. A second listening session is scheduled for October.

Sen. John McCollister of Omaha says he is looking at expansion combined with other reforms that could lower costs, such as incentives for healthier lifestyles. Nebraska is among 19 states that hasn’t expanded Medicaid.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The number of teen suicides in Nebraska doubled to 14 last year, so counselors want to redouble their prevention efforts.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youths ages 15-24, and the third leading cause for those 10-14 years old.

Experts say suicide is a complex issue, but it is preventable.

Don Belau co-chairs the Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition. He says young people have different risk factors because they are susceptible to bullying.

Belau says social media sites that teens frequent can reinforce suicidal thinking and feelings of isolation.

HOLDREGE, Neb. (AP) — Holdrege voters will be asked to decide the fate of a half-cent city sales tax via mail-in ballot in late October.

Residents learned of the upcoming renewal vote at a Friday morning coffee event at the Phelps County Development Corp. office.

The local-option sales tax has been in place since 2003 and has generated money for economic development, including construction of a local YMCA. The current tax expires in 2017, and development corporation volunteers and others are hoping voters will renew the tax to continue economic development projects for another 15 years.

Supporters say renewal of the city sales tax would generate about $8.1 million between 2017 and 2032.

GERING, Neb. (AP) — The western Nebraska city of Gering has agreed to let the neighboring town of Terrytown connect to its municipal water system.

The agreement was approved by the North Platte Natural Resource District.

Officials say the agreement will mean an enormous financial savings in potential mitigation costs for Terrytown after too-high levels of arsenic were found in Terrytown’s water wells.

Officials had estimated Terrytown might have to spend more than $1 million to come up with an alternate water plan. The new agreement with Gering will cost Terrytown a one-time fee of $56,000.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Skyrocketing costs have put the brakes on plans to build two central Nebraska reservoirs.

New estimates put construction of the dams and other work on the shallow reservoirs at $170 million — more than 2.5 times the original estimate of $63 million. The estimate does not include the cost if acquiring land for the reservoirs.

Mike Drain, a natural resources manager with the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, says much of the work is on hold, “in particular the negotiations with landowners.”

The reservoirs had been planned for the south side of the Platte River between Lexington and Overton to temporarily hold excess water for later release back to the river when needed for threatened habitat and endangered birds.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union wants a federal judge to order Nebraska to list both parents on birth certificates of children born to same-sex couples.

The nonprofit’s Nebraska chapter made the request Thursday on behalf of Nicole and Brooke Wagner and other same-sex parents. The couple’s baby is nearly two months old and still doesn’t have a birth certificate, because the Nebraska Office of Vital Records and Statistics only has offered to list Nicole Wagner as the “mother” and Brooke Wagner as a “friend.”

The group says the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has refused to provide gay couples with birth certificates for their children on the same conditions as straight couples.

The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office is reviewing the request.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has announced a new effort to boost research and support of early childhood development.

University officials announced the creation Thursday of the Nebraska Early Childhood Research Academy, which will promote research and collaboration on challenges that young children and families face.

The university is also adding nine new positions to the current 65 faculty members who work on early childhood issues. The university’s extension offices will hire 15 educators who will work with the early childhood community throughout the state.

Some of the work will take place in Brazil, China, Turkey and other international locations.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman says providing children with the resources they need is crucial to the long-term state economy.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker from Gretna has been chosen as one of two state legislators in the nation to serve on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

Sen. John Murante, a Republican, will serve on the national commission along with Mississippi state Sen. David Blount, a Democrat.

The independent, bipartisan commission was created as part of the Help America Vote Act, which made sweeping reforms to the nation’s voting process. The law requires that the commission test and certify voting equipment, conduct research and provide a national clearinghouse of information for voters.

Murante is the chairman of the Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, and much of his work has focused on voting and election issues.