NEW YORK (AP) — McDonald’s says it’s raising pay for workers at its company-owned U.S. restaurants, making it the latest employer to sweeten worker incentives in an improving economy.

The company owns about 10 percent of its more than 14,300 U.S. restaurants. The rest are run by franchisees.

The change comes as McDonald’s faces protests over pay and labor practices at its restaurants. McDonald’s and other franchisors say they don’t control pay or hiring practices at franchised locations.

Starting in July, the company says wages will be a dollar more than the local minimum wage. By the end of 2016, the average hourly wage for McDonald’s workers at company owned stores will be more than $10 an hour.

In addition to wage increases, McDonald’s says workers at company-owned stores will get paid time off.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A proposed gas-tax increase has won first-round approval from Nebraska lawmakers.

Senators voted 26-10 on Wednesday to advance the measure. Two more votes are required before it advances to Gov. Pete Ricketts, who opposes the increase.

The measure would phase in a 6-cent increase over four years, raising the total gas tax to 31.6 cents per gallon.

Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion says he introduced the bill to help pay for maintenance for the state’s aging bridges and roads. Opponents in the Legislature say the tax increase will disproportionately affect the poor because many spend a larger proportion of their incomes on gas.

If Ricketts vetoes the bill, supporters will need at least 30 senators for an override.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — An 18-year-old Scottsbluff woman has been accused of forging stolen checks.

Jesika Gillett is charged with forgery and possession of stolen property. Police say a man reported that several checks were stolen from his home while he was at work. His bank says two of the checks had been cashed for a total of $1,275.

Police say both checks were made out to Gillett and endorsed by her. She told officers that she was asked to cash some checks for a friend’s stepfather.

Online jail records said Gillett remained in Scotts Bluff County custody on Wednesday. Online court records don’t list the name of a defense attorney who could be contacted to comment on Gillett’s behalf.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A judge has granted class-action status to a lawsuit alleging that Nebraska consistently failed to process food-benefit applications and renewals in a timely manner.

The ruling this week allows all recipients affected by delays to challenge the state’s practices.

The 2014 lawsuit was filed on behalf of Tami Leiting-Hall, a single, working mother in Lincoln. Leiting-Hall is represented by the Lincoln-based Nebraska Appleseed and the National Center for Law and Economic Justice in New York.

The plaintiffs allege the Department of Health and Human Services created unlawful delays for low-income residents who requested benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Department officials have said they don’t comment on pending lawsuits.

Molly McCleery, a Nebraska Appleseed staff attorney, says the ruling recognizes that the problem isn’t isolated to a few cases.

The Police Officers Association of Nebraska (POAN) has responded to comments made by Nebraska Senator Ernie Chambers, comparing the police to a terrorist group.

At a committee hearing last week, Chambers said “my ISIS is the police” because they’re licensed to kill and pose a threat to his Omaha neighborhood. He said if he carried a gun, he would use it as protection against police and would want to shoot first and ask questions later.

North Platte Police Lieutenant Rich Hoaglund, who is also President of POAN, said police officers across the state are disappointed by Chambers’ comments.

“We are disappointed in the disparaging remarks from Senator Chamber,” Hoaglund said.  “Thousands of women and men in law enforcement risk their lives on a daily basis to improve the quality of life for the citizens we serve.”

Hoaglund said the Association applauds the support displayed by 16 state senators who signed a letter of support and trust for law enforcement.

Despite calls for an apology and even a resignation, Chambers has refused to apologize for the remarks.

Chambers says he’s used to criticism, and accused lawmakers of showing a “mob mentality” but seeking his help when they need it.

Several senators have gone on the record saying Chambers’ comments are protected by his right to free speech.

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer called the comments “reprehensible.”

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new report suggests slow economic growth is ahead for nine Midwestern and Plains states.

The survey report issued Wednesday says the overall Mid-America Business Conditions Index dropped to 51.4 in March from 57 in February. The January figure was 54.8.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says manufacturers of nondurable goods reported that sales, production and employment have weakened over the past several months.

The survey results from supply managers are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth, while a score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Longtime University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman plans to step down in 2016 after more than 15 years leading the state’s largest campus.

On Wednesday, Perlman announced his plan to leave the chancellor job after the 2015-2016 school year and return to working as a professor in the law college.

The 73-year-old Perlman says he believes the university could benefit from new leadership.

Perlman was appointed chancellor on April 1, 2001 after spending nearly a year as interim chancellor. He’ll have one of the longest tenures although former Chancellor Samuel Avery led the university for 19 years starting in 1908.

Perlman oversaw UNL’s transition to the Big 10 Conference and the creation of a new research facility just north of campus on the former home of the Nebraska State Fair.

Four-time Grammy Award winner and American Idol judge Keith Urban will bring his “Raise ‘Em Up Tour 2015” to the Nebraska State Fair on Saturday, August 29th at 8:00pm.  

Tickets are on sale now for $90 for the stage pit and $60 for general admission (plus gate and fees) available at Etix.com.

“This is the largest concert in our history,” Joseph McDermott, executive director of the Nebraska State Fair said, “the biggest artist and the biggest venue as we take the concert out of the Heartland Events Center and into the infield of the Fonner Park Race track making way for 14-thousand concert goers. It’s going to be a party under the stars.”

“We’ll be pulling out all the stops so Keith Urban fans throughout the state will be able to stay abreast of the latest updates including ways to get into the concert before everyone else to pick their spot on the grass” said State Fair events and entertainment director, Chelsey Jungck.

Urban will be singing all of his previous hits, in addition to music from his #1 album FUSE. FUSE is one of the most celebrated albums of Urban’s career.  Besides its debut atop the all genre charts in the U.S., Canada and Australia (a first for a male Country artist), it has received 20 award nominations including two from the recent 2015 Grammy Telecast.  One nod was for Best County Duo/Group Performance for “Raise ‘Em Up” and the other for Best Country Solo Performance for FUSE’s platinum selling single, “Cop Car.”

Urban was the first Country artist to be named an American Idol judge, a role he is reprising in the show’s 14th season.  He returns along with host Ryan Seacrest and fellow judges Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick, Jr.

“Country newcomer Kelsea Ballerini, featuring her debut release “Love Me Like You Mean It” will open for Urban at 8:00 to get the party started.  It’s going to be a night we won’t soon forget, and really opens the door to other top name concert entertainers at the Nebraska State Fair in the future,” Jungck said.

Gates open at 6:00pm with concessions and other amenities available.

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. South wind 9 to 16 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.
Tonight: Isolated thunderstorms before 10pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms between 10pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. North northeast wind 13 to 18 mph decreasing to 7 to 12 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57. North wind 6 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: A slight chance of rain before 10pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow between 10pm and 1am, then a slight chance of snow after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. North wind 8 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 68.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A proposed fuel tax increase is drawing support and criticism from Nebraska lawmakers, who remain divided over whether it’s necessary to pay for roads and bridges.

Lawmakers began debate Tuesday on a measure that would phase in a 6-cent increase over four years, bringing Nebraska’s total gas tax to 31.6 cents per gallon.

Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion says he proposed the measure as a “user fee” because it only applies to motorists when they fill their tanks. Smith says the fuel tax is pro-commerce and gives the state a pay-as-you-go option to pay for infrastructure.

Other senators say the tax hits hardest the motorists who can afford it the least. Gov. Pete Ricketts also opposes the bill.