DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Egg prices surged to a record on Friday, a month after bird flu was first detected in the chicken flock in Iowa, the nation’s leading egg producer.

Midwest large eggs reached $2.32 a dozen.

Rick Brown, a senior vice president for Urner Barry, a commodity market analyst says that’s a 95 percent increase in the month since bird flu first hit Iowa chickens. He says the previous record was $2.27 set on Dec 4.

Eggs used to make ice cream, mayonnaise and other processed foods set a record Friday of $2.13 a dozen, up 238 percent from the selling price of April 22 around the date Iowa’s first chicken farm tested positive.

More than 21 million of Iowa’s egg-laying hens have been killed.

• Brandon Shane Gosnell, 36, Maxwell NE and Ane Marie Sandman, 37, Maxwell NE

 

• Joseph Floyd Sculley, 30, North Platte NE and Brita Marie Lehmkuhler, 25, North Platte NE

 

• CW Hobbs, 27, North Platte NE and Caroline Cae Droescher, 29, North Platte NE

 

• Marshall James Tabke, 29, North Platte NE and Courtney Lynn Pruett, 27, North Platte NE

 

• Willis Charles Gibbens, 44, Cozad NE and Candi Jo Lee, 40, Cozad NE

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The Hall County Board of Supervisors has called an emergency meeting to discuss legislation that would abolish the death penalty in Nebraska.

On Wednesday state lawmakers approved a bill abolishing capital punishment. Gov. Pete Ricketts has said he will veto the bill but has not said when he will do so.

Several media outlets say the board meeting is scheduled for Friday afternoon. County Supervisor Pam Lancaster said she wants the board to approve a resolution that would be sent to state senators, asking them to retain the death penalty by upholding Ricketts’ promised veto.

Nebraska has not executed a prisoner since 1997.

Today: Showers. High near 54. East southeast wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 1am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 1am and 4am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 47. East southeast wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Areas of fog before 1pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 65. Southeast wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 53. Breezy, with a southeast wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 8 to 13 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Southeast wind 8 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Memorial Day: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Monday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska residents suffering from intractable seizures could have one more treatment option under a medical cannabis study headed to Gov. Pete Ricketts’ desk.

Senators voted 44-2 on Thursday to commission a University of Nebraska Medical Center study on the effectiveness of cannabidiol, a cannabis extract, in treating severe epileptic seizures.

Nebraska would obtain cannabidiol from an England-based company authorized by the Federal Drug Administration for rare diseases.

Supporters say the study could provide immediate aid to patients who have exhausted other treatment options.

Ricketts’ spokesman says the governor supports FDA-approved studies of marijuana for medical purposes. Ricketts has five days to take action on the bill, sponsored by Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue.

After another full day of searching on Thursday, there are still no answers in the search for Lexi Wiezorek and Noah Ramos.

The search resumed on Thursday morning with renewed hope, after, late Tuesday afternoon, a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission boat armed with sonar equipment located a “suspicious object” in the river near where the car driven by Wiezorek entered the water.  However, when divers began a search of the area where the object was located, they were unable to find it.

Authorities say a private citizen arrived with a boat equipped with sonar equipment on Thursday and was able to locate an object that resembled a vehicle near the same area.  But the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office says they were not able to confirm if the object was indeed a vehicle without putting divers in the water, and the treacherous conditions of the South Platte River make that a risk too great to take.

At this point, officials say that they will have to wait until the waters in the river recede before they can inspect the object further, and that may take some time.  Meanwhile, rescuers will continue to weigh their options, and friends and family members will continue to wait for answers.

Lexi and Noah have been missing since Monday night when their vehicle drove off of a washed-out road and entered the water.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Farmers and ranchers who open their property to tourists could be shielded from certain lawsuits under a bill passed by Nebraska lawmakers.

The Legislature gave the measure final approval on Thursday with a 46-0 vote.

Sen. Ken Schilz of Ogallala has said he introduced it to promote rural tourism and give farmers and ranchers another potential revenue source without the fear of lawsuits.

The bill is aimed at sites such as working farms and ranches, hiking trails, lakes and hunting and bird-watching areas. It also could apply to hayrack or boat rides, vineyard tours and haunted houses.

A 2012 Nebraska Tourism Commission report found that liability and insurance concerns were a major roadblock to the tourism industry’s growth in the state.

GERING, Neb. (AP) — A 27-year-old Scottsbluff man who faces three drug charges also is accused of stealing from his father.

Online court records say a preliminary hearing is scheduled May 29 for Dustin Leonhardt. Jail records say he remained in custody on Thursday. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press, seeking comment on the allegations against Leonhardt.

Leonhardt is charged with forgery and unauthorized use of a financial transaction device in addition to the three drug charges.

A court affidavit says Leonhardt used his father’s check card three times earlier this month and wrote a check on his father’s account.

The affidavit says the drugs were discovered Friday on Leonhardt and in his father’s backyard shed, where officers found and arrested Leonhardt.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska farmers and business owners could get a property tax exemption under a bill passed by lawmakers.

Senators voted 47-0 on Thursday to give final approval to an exemption for personal business property.

The measure by Sen. Mike Gloor of Grand Island would allow business owners to exempt the first $10,000 worth of tangible property used in their operations, for an average tax savings of $162. The bill would apply to farm equipment such as irrigation pivots and tractors, and business equipment such as rail cars, pipelines and factory machines.

The bill would cost the state an estimated $19.6 million a year in lost revenue. It now heads to Gov. Pete Ricketts.