(AP) — Thousands of Nebraska homeowners face soaring flood-insurance premiums as the federal government prepares to end its decades-old subsidy program, despite Congress offering temporary relief for the worst of the price hikes.

An Associated Press analysis shows that 2,050 policies in Nebraska are expected to face a mandatory 25 percent annual increase, while 3,746 will grow by up to 18 percent yearly.

Rates will rise until they reflect the true flood risk. The National Flood Insurance Program is $24 billion in debt.

A public works employee in Lincoln says homeowners have expressed frustration with the increase, which will affect those who want to sell or refinance.

Lincoln leads the state with 1,041 affected property owners, followed by Omaha with 403, Fremont with 276, Sarpy County with 187 and Valley with 172.

A 19-year-old North Platte man who was charged with sexual assault of a child after he impregnated a 15-year-old girl, has made a deal with prosecutors.

Fortino Chavez appeared in Lincoln County District Court on Monday.

According to prosecutors, North Platte Police received a report that a 16-year-old female was eight months pregnant in January 2014.  It was alleged that Chavez was the father.

An interview was conducted with the victim at the Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center, and it was determined that Chavez had engaged in consensual sexual intercourse with the girl before she turned 16 and after he had turned 19.

Nebraska State law prohibits anyone 19 years of age or older from having sex with anyone 16 years old or younger.

Originally charged with 1st degree sexual assault of a child, Chavez pleaded no contest to an amended charge of felony child abuse.

Chief Deputy Lincoln County Attorney, Tanya Roberts-Connick, said the state was recommending 18 months probation, saying the County Attorney’s Office had been in regular contact with the victim’s family, and this is what they were asking for as well.

Judge Richard Birch ordered that a presentence investigation be conducted by the state probation office.

Chavez will be sentenced in May.  He will not be required to register as a sex offender.

 

(AP) — Some lawmakers are urging Nebraskans to enroll in a health insurance plan under the federal health care law by the end of the month.

Residents have until March 31 to enroll in health insurance this year through the federal health insurance marketplace. They can still sign up after the deadline if they get married, divorced or have another qualifying life event.

Those who are uninsured could face a fine of $95 or 1 percent of their income, whichever is higher.

Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha says obtaining coverage helps individuals and families avoid high medical expenses, and will drive down the cost of insurance.

The federal government says more than 25,000 Nebraskans enrolled between Oct. 1, 2013 and March 1.

Students in Central Nebraska will have an opportunity to improve their reading and math skills this summer.

Sylvan Learning Center in North Platte will be offering a summer reading and math program, with an informational meeting being held this Tuesday, March 25, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Organizers say the program is open to students of all ages with parents providing guidance to keep the kids engaged this summer and avoid summer learning loss.

Students will be able to earn special points that can be used for prizes.

For more information, call Sylvan at 308-532-4441, stop by at 1101 South Cottonwood or visit their website,  https://tutoring.sylvanlearning.com/centers/69101/.

 

 

(AP) — A 29-year-old Wyoming man has pleaded not guilty to several felony charges related to a nearly three-hour standoff that ended after an officer shot the man.

Matthew Schwab pleaded not guilty to three charges of terroristic threats at his arraignment on Friday.

Authorities say Schwab was shot twice by a Scottsbluff officer around 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 after holding officers at bay. Authorities say he refused to drop a handgun before officers fired.

Schwab never fired his weapon, but court documents say he put officers at risk during the standoff.

Schwab remains free on his own recognizance while the case moves forward. A pretrial hearing in the case is scheduled for June 26.

• Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. North northwest wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. North wind 7 to 11 mph.
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. North northwest wind 5 to 11 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
• Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
• Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 68. South wind 9 to 13 mph.
• Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.

(AP) — The average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. rose 5 cents, to $3.56, during the past two weeks.

That’s according to a survey released Sunday.

Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg says the increase stems from a jump in the price of ethanol used to make gasoline.

She says another reason for the rise is that U.S. refiners are starting to switch over to more expensive summer-blend gasoline.

The average prices of a gallon of midgrade and premium gas were $3.74 and $3.89, respectively. Diesel averaged $4.02 per gallon.

Of the cities surveyed in the Lower 48 states, Billings, Mont., has the lowest average price at $3.18 a gallon and Los Angeles has the highest average price at $4.

In Nebraska, the average price for a gallon of regular is $3.48.

(AP) — A proposal to strengthen Nebraska’s animal cruelty law has won first-round approval from lawmakers. Senators voted 25-0 on Friday on a bill that would allow longer ownership restrictions for people who have abused animals. The bill was inspired by a Malcolm woman who was convicted of animal cruelty and neglect.

A Lancaster County judge said the puppy mill owner, Julia Hudson, ran an “animal Auschwitz,” with dogs in cages that were crusted with feces and urine. Hudson was only prohibited from owning dogs and other animals during her two-year probation period, the maximum allowed by state law.

The bill by Senator Ernie Chambers would allow judges to restrict ownership in such cases for up to five years in misdemeanor cases and 15 years for felonies.

(AP) — Nebraska’s latest attempt to expand Medicaid may have died this year, but the issue is certain survive through the November elections and beyond.

Opponents succeeded last week in blocking the measure with a legislative filibuster. Supporters plan to regroup and look at other options.

Sen. Kathy Campbell of Lincoln is the bill’s the lead sponsor. She says she plans to talk with Nebraska’s next governor about Medicaid proposals, as well as the new state senators who will replace 17 term-limited lawmakers in 2015.

Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha says he believes pressure on lawmakers will increase once the state starts to experience the consequences of the decision, including possible hospital closures and federal tax penalties for small businesses.

Opponents say they’ll continue to fight any expansion efforts in Nebraska.

(AP) — Researchers say bugs are developing resistance to the widely popular genetically engineered corn plants that make their own insecticide, so farmers may have to make changes.

Cases of rootworms eating roots of so-called Bt corn have been confirmed in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota and Minnesota.

Iowa State University researchers say rootworms have developed resistance to two of the four genetic traits in corn plants that are engineered to kill rootworms.

Iowa State professor Aaron Gassmann says the problem isn’t widespread yet, but farmers and seed companies should consider changing their approaches to pest control.

In areas where Bt corn has failed to control rootworms, farmers turned to insecticides. The USDA says 76 percent of all corn planted last year was Bt corn.