LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — A new $4.8 million YMCA is set to open soon in Lexington.

The new facility will open Oct. 20.

Construction began two years ago, and the project is connected to the renovation of Lexington Middle School.

The current YMCA facility will close Oct. 15 so that equipment can be moved and staff can prepare to open in the new location.

The new facility features a large gymnasium shared with the school, an indoor track, a 5,000-square-foot wellness center and a spacious group exercise room. It also includes locker rooms, a child-care room and a social lobby with a fireplace and free Wi-Fi access.

It’s named the Orthman Community YMCA in recognition of a $2 million gift from Orthman Manufacturing in Lexington.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Corn and soybean crops are in good condition but the challenge for farmers is getting the crops harvested before the weather turns cold.

Late planting caused the crops to mature later than normal. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in its weekly update Monday that 60 percent of the corn crop is mature, well behind the five-year average of 70 percent. Soybeans are two percentage points behind the average.

Just 7 percent of the Nebraska corn crop is harvested far less than the 16 percent average. About 6 percent of soybeans are out of the fields, behind the 17 percent average.

Winter wheat farmers, however, have planted 78 percent of the crop better than the 68 percent average.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman has named state Sen. John Nelson of Omaha as his new lieutenant governor.

Nelson will be sworn into office at 1:30 p.m. on Monday at the Capitol. He will replace Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann, who resigned earlier this month after a judge approved his sister’s request for a protective order against him.

Nelson, a Republican, served in the Legislature starting in 2007 but couldn’t seek re-election because of term limits. He has been a private practice attorney since 1964. He also is a retired commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves.

Heineman is leaving office in January due to term limits.

• Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 14 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
• Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. West southwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
• Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming north northwest around 6 mph in the morning.
• Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. North northeast wind 6 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. North northwest wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
• Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 64.

LOOMIS, Neb. (AP) — A southern Nebraska man is in critical condition following an ATV crash.

The Phelps County Sheriff’s Office says 52-year-old Scott Kirby was driving his ATV on Sunday night near Loomis when he made a sharp turn while backing up. The ATV overturned, throwing Kirby out of the vehicle. It then partially landed on him.

Kirby is being treated at a hospital in Kearney. He is in serious condition, but additional information is not available.

• Dustin Lee Sauer, 32, North Platte and Shannon Marie Dockery, 26, North Platte

 

• Ryan William Westman, 25, North Platte and Connie Sue Wickstrom, 26, North Platte

 

• Aaron Michael Stephen, 21, North Platte and Kamie Jo Wheelock, 21, North Platte

 

• Joseph Kent Miller, 36, North Platte and Christine Ashley Poticher, 26, North Platte

 

• George Anthony Loving, 44, North Platte and Stacie Marie Pierce, 37, North Platte

 

• Dillon Ryan Junker, 22, North Platte and Mariah Josephine Carney, 21, North Platte

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A dispute over mandatory dues the Nebraska state bar association charges has ended with the settlement of a federal lawsuit that questioned whether those dues were constitutional.

State Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh of Omaha had sued the association in 2012 because he believed the $335 annual dues were improper because some of the money was used for political activities such as lobbying.

The association said Monday that the issue was resolved by a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling last year. That decision restricted mandatory dues to only those activities needed to regulate the legal profession. Dues that support lobbying and other programs are now voluntary.

The association’s mandatory fees dropped to $98 for most lawyers.

The settlement says Lautenbaugh’s 2013 dues and his legal expenses of less than $5,000 will be paid.

Road work will again force the closure of Interstate 80 at the Gothenburg Interchange.

According to the Nebraska Department of Roads, I-80 westbound will be closed between the hours of 11:00 p.m., on October 1, until 6:00 a.m., on October 2.

Traffic will be routed off of the Interstate at the Gothenburg off ramp, and back on using the on ramp.

Eastbound lanes will be closed from 11:00 p.m., on October 2, until 6:00 a.m., on October 3.

Again, traffic will be routed off using the Gothenburg off ramp and back on using the on ramp.

NDOR says the closures will allow for the setting of new girders on the Gothenburg interchange bridge.

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota says it is recalling 690,000 Tacoma pickup trucks because the rear leaf springs could break, puncture the gas tank and cause a fire.

The recall covers Tacoma Four-by-Four and Pre-Runner pickups from the 2005 through 2011 model years.

The automaker says the leaf springs can fracture due to stress and corrosion. They can move out of position and come into contact with surrounding components, including the gas tank. Toyota says it’s not aware of any fires, crashes or injuries from the problem.

Owners will be notified by mail and Toyota says dealers will fix the problem at no cost.

Owners with questions can call Toyota at (800) 331-4331.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is hosting its 60th annual tax institute for tax professionals at seven sites throughout the state.

The university will partner once again with the Internal Revenue Service and the Nebraska Department of Revenue to train tax professionals, preparers and adviser.

More than 1,200 tax professionals participate each year at institutes in Lincoln, Scottsbluff, North Platte, Kearney, Grand Island, Norfolk and Omaha.

The sessions will take place in November and December. Registration and location details are available at https://taxinstitute.unl.edu .