CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average national price of a regular gallon of gasoline has jumped 13 cents in the past two weeks to $2.58.

Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday that higher crude oil prices caused the run-up at the pump. However, the price is $1.11 below the mark a year ago.

Los Angeles has the highest-priced gas in the Lower 48 states at $3.30 a gallon. The low average was in Tucson, Arizona, at $2.20.

The average price in California is up 17 cents, to $3.23.

Lundberg says pump prices could climb by a few more pennies as gasoline prices catch up to oil prices.

More than $70,000 was raised during Nebraska’s 6th annual Lymphoma Walk (formerly known as Lymphomathon) held Saturday, April 18, at Mahoney State Park.

Donations from an estimated 475 participants and sponsors will go towards the Lymphoma Research Foundation’s mission of eradicating lymphoma through research and serving those touched by the disease.

The event is a non-competitive three-mile walk that offers individuals and teams an opportunity to support those whose lives have been touched by lymphoma.

“It didn’t matter that is was cold and raining. There was a lot of enthusiasm and fun,” said Martin Bast, chair of the walk planning committee. “Every year we are amazed by the spirit and optimism we see among lymphoma survivors, their family and friends and those who come out to support the cause. We are grateful for their compassion for this cause.”

Bast said walks in the first five years raised $418,000.

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that occurs when white blood cells that help protect the body from infection and disease begin behaving abnormally. Lymphoma may develop in many parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, blood or other organs.

About 450 new cases of lymphoma are diagnosed in Nebraskans each year. Nearly 731,000 Americans are living with Hodgkin’s or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the 6th most common cancer in the U.S.

Major sponsors include: WOWT, Union Pacific Railroad, the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medicine, Essentials Natural Family Health, Huerter Orthodontics, Loess Hills Hideaway Cabins & Campground, Kohll’s Pharmacy, Metro Credit Union, Dingman’s Collision Center and Vantage Finance.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — With a little more than a month left in the session, Nebraska lawmakers still to have to take final action on some of the year’s largest and most contentious issues.

The list includes the budget, property taxes, medical marijuana and a death-penalty repeal effort. Lawmakers also must decide whether to grant driver’s licenses to youths in the federal deferred-action program, and whether all other motorists should pay a higher tax at the gas pump.

Also pending are proposed new protections for gay and lesbian employees, and an effort to freeze the state’s $8 an hour minimum wage for high school students.

Speaker of the Legislature Galen Hadley says he is still aiming to allow debate on every priority bill that has advanced out of committee.

KIMBALL, Neb. (AP) — Pavement repairs have been scheduled to begin the week of May 4 on Interstate 80 near Kimball in western Nebraska.

The Nebraska Roads Department says the work will begin at Exit 20 and extend east to Exit 22. There will be lane closures and 14-foot width restrictions.

The work is expected to be finished by mid-June.

 

CHADRON, Neb. (AP) — The National Grasslands Visitors Center in South Dakota is scheduled to close for renovations.

The U.S. Forest Service says the facility in Wall, South Dakota, will close starting May 4, and could remain closed until early July. Employees will be moved to the Wall District Ranger Office, and public services will be limited to visitor information and map sales.

Renovations are planned for both the visitors’ center and the Wall District Ranger Office. The renovations include an energy efficient ventilation system and windows. The building’s interior will get new drywall, finishes and lighting.

The National Grasslands Visitors Center will be reroofed with new cedar shingle roofing and the existing redwood siding will be refinished to return the wood to its original natural color.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska advocates are hosting a series of April events and have unveiled a website in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The 2nd Annual Pinwheels for Prevention event is scheduled for Saturday in Lincoln’s Railyard district from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will promote positive parenting with family activities, entertainment and educational materials.

The Nebraska Child Abuse Prevention Board has also launched a new website, BringUpNebraska.org, to provide information for parents, teachers, service providers, businesses and others.

In a statement, Gov. Pete Ricketts says it’s critical for communities to recognize ways to strengthen families at risk.

• Terell Westley Bruce, 25, Des Moines, IA and Ashley Mae Merritt, 24, Des Moines IA

 

• Hogan Jerome Mallory, 25, North Platte and Lauren Louise Rex, 22, North Platte

 

• Devon Michael Gibbons, 23, North Platte and Jennifer Marie Ortiz, 26, North Platte

 

• Jeremy Alan Jack, 24, Hershey and Raven Breyann Berggren, 23, Hershey

 

• Jon Tyler Thomasson, 30, Sutherland and Christie Janell Ray, 30, Sutherland

 

• Mitchell Taylor Doxon, 25, Maywood and Erin Mary Smith, 32, North Platte

 

• Zachary Stephen Carl Lewis, 25, Maxwell and Kayli Ray Paul, 22,  Maxwell

 

• Nery Grijalva, 31, Lexington and Florencia Morales, 30, Lexington

NEW YORK (AP) — PepsiCo says it’s dropping aspartame from Diet Pepsi in response to customer feedback and replacing it with sucralose, another artificial sweetener commonly known as Splenda.

The decision to swap sweeteners comes as Americans keep turning away from popular diet sodas. Coca-Cola said this week that sales volume for Diet Coke fell 5 percent in North America in the first three months of the year.

Executives at Coke and Pepsi blame the declines on perceptions that aspartame, first sold under the brand name Nutrasweet, isn’t safe. That’s even though the Food and Drug Administration says more than 100 studies support aspartame’s safety.

Still, PepsiCo says it wanted to listen to its customers.

Andrea Foote, PepsiCo spokeswoman, says the reformulated Diet Pepsi drinks will start hitting shelves in August.

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — A 33-year-old Sidney woman accused of threatening a drug case witness outside the Cheyenne County Courthouse in Sidney has been convicted of felony witness tampering.

Court records say Misty Beutler pleaded guilty on Wednesday. Prosecutors dropped a felony charge of terroristic threats in return for Beutler’s plea. In a plea agreement, attorneys for both sides agreed to recommend that Beutler be placed on probation.

The charges stemmed from an incident Jan. 22. Prosecutors say Beutler was a block away from the courthouse with the wife of a man charged in a marijuana case. A court document says Beutler shouted “You’re dead!” and “Dead!” at the witness.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — A regional agency that protects groundwater intends to install a monitoring well near a newly approved disposal well in western Nebraska for wastewater from oil and natural gas exploration and production.

The North Platte Natural Resources District says the monitor well will be located near the wastewater well site north of Mitchell that was approved Wednesday by the Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

The wastewater project has drawn objections from groups that worry that spills could contaminate the Ogallala aquifer or local groundwater. The production water is considered waste because of its high salt content and industrial chemicals.

The natural resources district’s executive director, John Berge, says the district knows from its work with wellhead protection and other programs that the district needs to keep watch for contaminants.