LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has made good on his promise to veto a proposed 6-cent-per-gallon gas tax increase.

The Republican governor rejected the measure shortly after lawmakers gave it final approval Thursday. Ricketts argues in his veto message that measure contradicts the public’s desire for tax relief.

The bill would incrementally raise the tax over four years to help pay for road and bridge repairs, generating an estimated $76 million a year once fully implemented.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion, a conservative who normally opposes tax increases. Smith casts the measure as a “user fee” for motorists and argues that good roads promote economic growth.

Smith has said he has enough support in the Legislature to override the veto.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Farmers and ranchers who open their property to tourists could be shielded from certain lawsuits under a bill advancing through the Nebraska Legislature.

Senators gave the proposal first-round approval Thursday with a 33-1 vote. Sen. Ken Schilz of Ogallala says he introduced it to promote rural tourism and give farmers and ranchers another potential revenue source without the fear of lawsuits.

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

Schilz says the bill would not allow property owners to be careless. Landowners would only be protected if an injury was due to an “inherent risk” of the land, unless the owner knew of a danger and failed to disclose it.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — New research suggests the measles shot comes with a bonus: By preventing that disease, the vaccine may also help your body fight off other illnesses for years.

Scientists have long known contracting measles weakens the immune system for weeks or months. That puts people, especially children, at increased risk for potentially fatal infections.

A new study released Thursday by the journal Science finds that this vulnerable period goes on much longer than thought, up to three years. So the benefit of avoiding measles also extends longer than was appreciated.

The study also found that measles vaccination campaigns were followed by a drop in deaths for other infectious diseases.

Experts say the work is a wake-up call to parents who don’t vaccinate their children for personal reasons.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Opposition to a planned wastewater well in northwest Nebraska has prompted lawmakers to introduce legislation.

Lawmakers took the rare step Thursday of suspending their rules so they could consider new regulations for wastewater wells.

A bill by Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha would require companies to disclose the chemicals in wastewater generated from oil and natural gas well production.

The Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission approved a well last month that would allow a Colorado company to discard such wastewater underground on a ranch in northwest Nebraska. The project drew opposition from landowners, environmental groups and others.

Ken Winston of the Nebraska Sierra Club says he understands the bill won’t pass this year, but it sends a message that lawmakers take the issue seriously.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraskans on opposite sides of the state are likely to see vastly different weather conditions this weekend.

Omaha National Weather Service meteorologist Josh Boustead says the eastern half of the state can expect strong storms with heavy rain, hail and high winds starting Saturday afternoon into Sunday. He says those storms will also bring a possibility of tornadoes and flooding throughout the region.

But in western Nebraska, residents should be prepared to break out their snow shovels by Mother’s Day.

Meteorologist Rob Cox with the weather service’s Cheyenne, Wyoming office says the Nebraska Panhandle is expected to get between 3 inches and 5 inches of snow by Sunday evening — and those at higher elevations in far northwest Nebraska could see up to 8 inches.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — The cases against a 24-year-old man accused of crimes in two separate incidents have been consolidated and sent to Lincoln County District Court for further review.

Jerry Kindle appeared in county court Wednesday. He was arrested April 3 on suspicion of beating and shooting another man at the Blue Spruce Motel in North Platte and partaking in an assault at a local grocery store.

Officers who were called to the motel found a 31-year-old man who’d been beaten and grazed by a bullet. During Wednesday’s preliminary hearing, police said tests determining whether the suspected weapon inflicted the man’s wounds hadn’t been conducted.

Kindle’s arraignment in district court hasn’t been scheduled. He faces charges of second-degree assault, attempted first-degree murder and three other crimes.

LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska man has been accused of stealing a riding lawn mower from a Wal-Mart store and driving it off the lot.

A sheriff’s deputy found a man driving the mower Wednesday about 10 miles from the store where it was stolen during the weekend.

Forty-nine-year-old Gursham Gillett, of Cozad, was arrested and charged with one count each of theft by shoplifting and criminal mischief. He’s accused of stealing the mower from a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Lexington.

Security footage shows a man entering the store, fueling up the lawn mower, cutting a chain link fence where the mower was stored and taking off on it. The video shows the man cutting another fence on Interstate 80 before driving out of the camera’s view.

This week will be one of celebration at Mid-Plains Community College. Every final puts students one step closer to summer break, and for some, a step closer to earning a college degree, diploma or certificate.

Their hard work, dedication, and perseverance will be recognized Friday at both McCook Community College and North Platte Community College.

Activities will begin at 10 a.m. with commencement at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center in McCook. This year, the student speaker is Amber Madigan, of Peyton, Colo.

At noon, attention will turn to the South Campus of NPCC in North Platte. The Nursing Department will conduct a pinning ceremony in the McDonald-Belton Theater for the 2015 Associate Degree of Nursing Class.

That will be followed by the NPCC commencement at 3 p.m. in the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium. Amy Taft, of North Platte, will be the student speaker.

People unable to attend the commencement ceremonies can watch them online at:

https://coachesaid.com/videos_live_watch.aspx?id=6984 for the MCC event and

https://coachesaid.com/videos_live_watch.aspx?id=6985 for the NPCC event.

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 68. North northwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a slight chance of showers between 1am and 5am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. North northeast wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Northeast wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. East northeast wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 59. Breezy, with an east northeast wind 14 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 45. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 53. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Breezy.