CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average price of gasoline has dropped 2 cents over the past two weeks to $2.83 a gallon.

Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg says that the decline comes amid lower crude oil prices.

The average national price for midgrade gas was $3.05, with premium going for $3.22.

The cheapest price recorded in the continental United States was $2.42 a gallon in Jackson, Mississippi.

The highest price was $3.66 a gallon in Los Angeles. Prices in California rose about 9 cents in the past 2 weeks and a continuing spike is expected this week.

Analysts say a shortage in oil and other components used in refining California’s unique blend of less-polluting gas will push prices past $4 a gallon in some areas of the state before they ease again.

EDITOR’S NOTE: In Nebraska, the average price for a gallon of Regular is $2.66 (SOURCE: nebraskagasprices.com).

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A federal judge whose public online writings have served as a lightning rod for controversy says he’s shutting down his blog.

Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf announced Thursday on his blog, “Hercules and the Umpire,” that he would no longer write for it.

Kopf has posted everything from videos of his grandkids to opinions on various court cases, telling Congress to “go to hell” in 2013 for allowing a brief federal government shutdown. His post last year suggesting that young women attorneys need to dress more conservatively in court drew a firestorm of criticism.

On Thursday, Kopf said he decided to stop publishing after learning that a majority of court employees at a retreat had indicated that the blog had become an embarrassment to the court.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts has named two division directors to serve in the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Ricketts announced Friday that Doug Weinberg will become the next director of the Children and Family Services division. Yolanda Webb will lead the Division of Developmental Disabilities.

Weinberg, of Fishers, Ind., runs his own child welfare and human services consulting firm for for-profit, nonprofit and government entities.

Webb, of New Orleans, La., is the executive director and CEO of the Metropolitan Human Services District, the planning and public policy body for Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes.

Weinberg will start on Aug. 3 at a salary of $140,000. Webb will start on Aug. 31 at a salary of $142,500.

The department has six divisions with a $3.5 billion combined annual budget.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has signed a new contract for card processing services that could save the state $550,000 over five years.

State Treasurer Don Stenberg says the new contract with U.S. Bank will go into effect on Oct. 1. The state’s current payment card processing provider is First National Bank and TSYS Merchant Solutions.

Stenberg says state officials expect to see greater volume as more Nebraska residents shift from using cash to credit and debit cards when making payments. The state processed more than $154 million in credit and debit card transactions last year, up from the $153.9 million in 2013.

All state agencies, including the University of Nebraska and state colleges, are required by law to process their card transactions under the state contract.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office says two North Platte teens who were pulled from the South Platte River earlier this week have been positively identified.

In a statement Friday, the LCSO said autopsies have been completed on the bodies of Lexi Wiezorek and Noah Ramos.

The sheriff’s office says the results of the autopsy positively identified both teens and ruled that their death was caused by drowning.

The statement said the investigation at the scene, examination of the vehicle and follow-up of all leads, along with the autopsy, show “without question” that the teens’ deaths were accidental.

The LCSO says the investigation into the case in now closed, and they thanked the community for their assistance throughout this ordeal.

They also offered their prayers to the families.

OAK BROOK, Ill. (AP) — McDonald’s says some customers have complained that a talking toy included in recent Happy Meals uses curse words.

The fast-food restaurant introduced a Happy Meal on July 3 with toys inspired by the movie “Minions.”

The Oak Brook, Illinois-based company has issued a statement saying the sounds the small yellow figures make are nonsense words, nothing offensive or profane.

The statement says “a very small number of customers” have been in touch with the company about the toy.

“Minions,” a prequel of the “Despicable Me” movies, premieres Friday.

Both the Nebraska Hemp Association and the Nebraska Chapter of the Hemp Industries Association today requested Governor Ricketts reject the industrial hemp regulations proposed by the Department of Agriculture and grant their previous requests for a meeting to discuss their proposals for industrial hemp research and development in Nebraska.

The organizations made their first joint request to meet with the Governor on May 15, 2015 to discuss the deficiencies of the proposed regulations and the economic development industrial hemp could provide rural Nebraskans and their communities. The Governor has not yet agreed to any meeting.

Bill Achord, President of the Nebraska Hemp Association, said, “At least 35 other industrial countries promote hemp. Congress and the Legislature authorized research plots over a year and 3 months ago. Nebraska still has no final regulations and those proposed would suppress development. We have a proposal consistent with the information given to the Department and 2 separate legislative committees. We are sending that proposal to the Governor and the Department today.”

“The Hemp Industries Association estimates that the value of retail sales of hemp products in America for 2014 was at least $620 million, up from $581 million in 2013. They forecast North American hemp industry annual earnings to surpass one billion dollars in 2015.  Cultivated acres in other North American countries are growing 24% annually,” said Jason Feldman, President of the Nebraska Chapter of the Hemp Industries Association.

“Nearly all the hemp products sold in Lincoln, and across the United States are imported from Canada, European countries or China.  Kentucky, North Dakota, Maine, and other states are now permitting hemp to be grown legally. Other states can see the potential and are preparing. Nebraska could be a national leader, given our climate, soil, and expertise. Planting needs to start next spring. But we can’t even get the Governor to listen.”