OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The federal government says insurers owe Nebraskans more than $1.5 million in refunds because of a provision in the Affordable Care Act.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday that nearly 16,600 Nebraska residents will be getting refunds, averaging $108 per family.

The law requires insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of the premiums they collect on medical care and quality improvement or return the difference to consumers and employers.

Employers can apply refunds in ways that benefit workers or take a discount on future premiums. Individual policyholders owed refunds will get checks, reimbursements to their credit card accounts or see reductions in future premiums.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new group has formed to connect Nebraska educators with the state’s business community. The goal: Better prepare the state’s students for their careers.

The group is called Accelerate Nebraska. It is led by Greg Adams, outgoing speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, and Catherine Lang, former director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and commissioner of labor. Support comes from Mutual of Omaha, Mutual of Omaha Bank and Nebraska philanthropists. Mutual of Omaha Bank President Jeff Schmid will head the group’s board of directors.

Adams says in a news release that Accelerate Nebraska will focus on education improvement and talent development “that provides essential and relevant skills to better prepare students for careers.”

GIBBON, Neb. (AP) — The city maintenance building in Gibbon is a total loss after a fire started in a pickup and spread.

City Administrator Chris Rector in the city of 1,800 people says the building was reported in flames at 9:20 p.m. Tuesday. The fire was extinguished about four hours later.

Awire in the engine compartment in one of the city pickups is the suspected cause.

Rector says four pickups, a street sweeper, and the city’s front end loader was a total loss.

A road grader and a dump truck also have extensive damage and could also be totaled.

Rector said the building is also likely a total loss. He estimates damage from $400,000 to $500,000.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale has rejected a request that he remove a proposed constitutional amendment authorizing machine gambling on “historic horse races” from the Nov. 4 general election ballot.

The request by Omaha attorney Steve Grasz suggested that the proposal violates the state constitution by containing more than one subject.

Although the language of the amendment contains more than one subject, Gale says, it “connects its subjects together to be part of one general subject.”

Gale says his authority is limited to whether the alleged defect is patently unconstitutional. He says it’s possible his decision may be challenged in court.

The proposed constitutional amendment would allow machine gambling on “historic horse racing” only at licensed horse race parks.

Charges have been dropped against a Hershey man accused of sexually assaulting a female juvenile earlier this month.

According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, a 1st degree sexual assault of a child charge against 19-year-old Casey Mitchell has been dropped.

On July 6, a female juvenile arrived at the Great Plains Health emergency room, reporting that she had been sexually assaulted.

The female claimed that she had been visiting Mitchell at a home on Oregon Trail Road, south of Hershey.

She alleged that Mitchell had indicated that he wanted to have sex with her throughout the evening, a request she said she denied.  At one point, she said Mitchell forced her to have sex with him.

Deputies executed a search warrant on the residence and collected several pieces of evidence.

Mitchell was arrested and charged later that day.

On Wednesday, officials with the LCSO announced that the charge was being dropped due to lack of evidence.

 

• Today: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98. South wind 9 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
• Tonight: Isolated thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 7 to 14 mph becoming west northwest in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 92. West wind 8 to 15 mph becoming north northeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.
• Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. East northeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming southeast after midnight.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. South southeast wind 6 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the morning.
• Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61.
• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 85.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers may have to add money to the state’s general fund when they convene next year.

A legislative report released Wednesday says the state faces a projected shortfall of nearly $4.6 million for the new budget year that began this month.

The estimate represents the difference between the amount of money the state is expected to have it its general fund by June 30 and the amount that’s required by law. It’s likely to change once the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board meets in October to predict the state’s future revenue.

Despite the estimate, state officials say Nebraska’s overall finances are in good shape. The state is expected to see a record-high cash reserve of $707.8 million.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The United Way of the Midlands says its CEO has been hospitalized with a serious heart condition.

The Omaha-based organization says Karen Bricklemyer was admitted to Creighton University Medical Center on Tuesday and is undergoing treatment.

Senior vice presidents are handling day-to-day operations, including work on the annual fundraising campaign that kicks off in August.

The organization says the executive committee of its board of directors will meet later this week to discuss an interim leadership plan.

Bricklemyer’s family has requested privacy. The organization says it will provide additional information as it becomes available.

ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) — Box Butte County’s public defender has resigned to become the top prosecutor in neighboring Scotts Bluff County.

The Box Butte County commissioners have accepted the resignation of Dave Eubanks, which is effective July 31. Commissioners have 45 days to fill the vacancy.

Eubanks has been appointed to fill the remaining term of Scotts Bluff County Attorney Doug Warner, who’s taken a job with the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office. Eubanks is running unopposed for the position in the Nov. 4 election.

Eubanks was appointed Box Butte County public defender in 2009 and ran unopposed for the position in 2010.

CHADRON, Neb. (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration has given its final approval to a nearly $8 million grant for repairs at a Nebraska airport.

The grant will help pay for repairs and repaving of runways and taxiways at Chadron airport. It will also go toward building a new taxiway at the airport.

The city’s public works director expects work to start shortly, with most of it to be done next year.

Chadron awarded a construction contract in April to Upper Plains Contracting of Aberdeen.

The federal agency had announced a $7.5 million grant to the city last August, but later scrapped it after asking the city to include the additional taxiway.