LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has fared well in a new national study of children’s education and economic well-being.

The Kids Count report released Tuesday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks Nebraska 10th overall.

The annual study ranked Nebraska fifth this year for children’s economic well-being, down from fourth place the previous year. The state placed ninth overall when it came to education, up from 17th place in 2013.

The report says 18 percent of children lived in poverty as of 2012, the most recent year shown. Carolyn Rooker, executive director of Voices for Children in Nebraska, says the report demonstrates the need for heightened attention on the issue of child poverty.

HEARTWELL, Neb. (AP) — Some old tractors have been deployed to help a south-central Nebraska farmer turn a hail-torn cornfield into a future field of winter wheat.

The tractors were among those registered for the 17th annual Heartwell Plow Day on Saturday. The Plow Day event is for tractors made in the 1960s and earlier.

Organizers had been planning to turn over a field of wheat stubble belonging to Glen Haselbarth. But the event location was moved to a field about four miles away, southwest of Heartwell. About 80 acres of corn there and 10 acres of alfalfa nearby were damaged during a hailstorm on July 9.

The old tractors pulled plows through the 90 acres on Saturday, preparing them for a fall planting of wheat.

The Nebraska State Patrol, conducted surprise commercial vehicle inspections today, Tuesday, July 22, in North Platte. The surprise inspections target commercial vehicles that might not travel outside the city or pass through weigh stations as part of their regular routes.

During the special enforcement effort, the Metropolitan Aggressive and Prevention Selective (MAPS) Teams conducted 59 inspections, discovered 168 violations, and took 21 vehicles out of service (not allowed to continue on the road). Vehicles are placed out of service for a variety of reasons relating to bad brakes or tires, or other problems that pose immediate safety risks. In addition, four drivers were taken out of service (not allowed to continue driving) for, Hours of Service Violation/No Log Book (1) No Operator’s License (1), No Commercial Driver’s License (1), and Driving Under Suspension (1).  Officers issued a total of $2,635 in fines.

“The MAPS Team ensures truck operators who rarely leave the city limits are maintaining their vehicles and abiding by safety regulations,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “While most truck owners and operators share our concern for safety, we know some think they can ignore safety standards as long as they avoid the weigh stations. The MAPS Team extends our reach into cities and towns across the state.”

This was the 7^th MAPS Team event of 2014. Inspections have also been conducted in Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, Columbus, Grand Island and Kearney this year. Surprise inspections are planned from spring through fall in cities and towns across Nebraska.

The MAPS Team is funded largely by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Troopers check for compliance with federal safety regulations and enforce laws pertaining to weight, size, registration, dyed fuels, and permits associated with commercial vehicles. The MAPS Team was implemented in 1998 and consists of 36 troopers from the Nebraska State Patrol Carrier Enforcement Division. On average, 20-24 troopers work each MAPS event.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal regulators have given Nebraska’s two biggest utilities more time to evaluate flooding hazards at their two nuclear power plants.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Monday that the Nebraska and Omaha Public Power Districts will now have until next Feb. 4 to complete their review.

The original deadline was March 12, but the utilities didn’t receive key flood data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers until earlier this year.

The utilities are re-evaluating unlikely flood risks at Cooper and Fort Calhoun nuclear power plants as part of the industry’s response to the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.

Both nuclear power plants in Nebraska sit on the banks of the Missouri River.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The recent cool, dry weather helped Nebraska farmers who are harvesting wheat.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says about 54 percent of the state’s wheat crop has now been harvest, which is slightly behind the average of 61 percent.

Nebraska’s two biggest crops of corn and soybeans appear to be in good shape.

The USDA says 76 percent of the corn crop is in good or excellent condition in the state.

And 73 percent of Nebraska’s soybeans are in good or excellent condition.

• Today: Sunny, with a high near 94. East wind 7 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. East northeast wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. East wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
• Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
• Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. South southeast wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
• Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 93.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s Natural Resources Commission is laying the groundwork for projects intended to preserve the state’s long-term water supply.

The commission received $21 million this month as part of a new state water sustainability law, and is expected to collect $10 million to $11 million annually for water management and flood-control projects. The state money will pay for projects related to water management and qualify, flood control, and compliance with interstate water compacts.

The law was passed in the midst of recent drought years and legal fights with Kansas over access to the Republican River, which runs through southern Nebraska.

The law also expanded the commission from 16 to 27 members to include new representation for cities, agriculture, manufacturing, public power districts and wildlife conservation, among others.

BRIDGEPORT, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man drowned after his car ran into a Nebraska Panhandle lake.

Morrill County Attorney Travis Rodak says pathologists have ruled that 50-year-old Brett Golden, of Redington, died of an accidental drowning last week.

Golden was pronounced dead Wednesday evening at Bridgeport State Recreation Area. Rodak says Golden’s car hit a tree before entering a small lake near the beach area of the recreation area’s main lake. A couple of campers spotted the car, which was almost totally submerged. Golden’s body was found inside.

The autopsy could not determine whether Golden’s medical condition contributed to the accident.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — One of the consultants for the movie “The Horse Whisperer” will demonstrate his techniques as part of the Nebraska Grazing Conference next month.

Curt Pate will demonstrate the low-stress techniques on Aug. 13 at the Buffalo County fairgrounds, on the second day of the two-day conference in Kearney.

The Aug. 12 topics will include water capture, transfer and storage; soil health and grazing; wildlife and grazing; managing during and after drought; and GrassSnap, a new mobile app for monitoring grasslands.

More conference information is available at online at https://bit.ly/1rolTGi , or from the UNL Center for Grassland Studies at 402-472-4101, email grassland@unl.edu, or your UNL Extension offices.

Investigators say alcohol appears to be a factor in a Friday evening crash near Wallace.

According to a news release, deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to an accident at mile marker 44 on Highway 23, near the Perkins/Lincoln County line, at around 9:40 p.m.

It was reported that a vehicle had rolled, and the driver was injured.

Deputies identified the driver as 32-year-old Moses Salgado Gomez, of Wallace.

An investigation showed that Gomez was traveling westbound on Highway 23, when his vehicle drifted off the road toward that north.  Authorities say it appears Gomez over-corrected and traveled into the south ditch, causing his vehicle to roll.

Investigators don’t believe Gomez was wearing a seatbelt, and they say alcohol appears to be a factor in the crash.

Gomez was transported to Great Plains Health by Wallace Rescue for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Officials say charges may be filed, pending the results of a blood test.