(AP) — The lingering effects of drought across the Great Plains in recent years have led to another decrease in the U.S. cattle herd.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service reports that the U.S. inventory of cattle and calves totaled 87.7 million animals as of Jan. 1. That was down by about 1.6 million cattle, or 2 percent, compared with this time last year.

The agency says this is the lowest January inventory since 1951.

A bright spot was a 2 percent increase in young, female cattle retained for breeding. One expert says that factor could allow the herd’s seven-year contraction to stabilize.

Totals in Texas, the nation’s leading cattle producer, decreased 4 percent.

The January report had been anxiously awaited because the agency didn’t issue a report in July due to sequestration.

(AP) — A natural gas utility is warning its customers in Nebraska about a phone scam.

Black Hills Energy says fraudulent callers are contacting customers and telling them they have a small window of time to pay an outstanding bill. They threaten to discontinue service within a half hour.

The company says the callers are targeting certain communities and customers who may not fully understand traditional billing and marketing practices.

Black Hills Energy serves 197,000 natural gas customers in Nebraska. It is a subsidiary of Black Hills Corp., an energy company based in Rapid City, S.D. Aside from Nebraska it has customers in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming.

(AP) — An Omaha man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for distributing child pornography.

U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Gilg said in a news release Friday that 44-year-old Michael Partain will receive five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

Prosecutors say Partain distributed child pornography videos to undercover FBI agents on two separate occasions.

A search of his home turned up more than 100 files of child pornography. Dozens of videos involved kids under the age of 10.

(AP) — A February sentencing has been scheduled for a Columbus man who police say stole ornamental vases and military veteran nameplates from graves at three local cemeteries.

41-year-old Steven Bequette earlier this week pleaded no contest to drug possession and to attempted theft. Sentencing is set for Feb. 21.

A prosecutor says at least 40 families were victimized by the graveyard thefts. Police say a scrap metal yard worker said the yard bought more than 200 pounds of brass from Bequette last summer.

(AP) — A state lawmaker wants Nebraska to join a national effort to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed unrestricted political ad spending by corporations, associations and labor unions.

Sen. Bill Avery of Lincoln has sponsored a resolution that would have the state call for a constitutional amendment to the court’s 2010 ruling, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Supporters gathered at the Capitol on Thursday to make their case to lawmakers.

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group says 16 states and 500 local governments have passed similar proposals. The group Common Cause Nebraska argues that the ruling has given big-money donors greater influence in national elections.

Fred & Friends is recalling 200,000 pacifiers because of a risk that a baby using one could choke.

No injuries have been reported.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says three different pacifiers are involved. The Chill Baby Artiste Pacifier has an attached mustache and beard, which can break off. The Chill Baby Volume Control Pacifier has a volume knob that can detach and the ventilation holes are smaller than federal regulators require. The Chill Baby Panic Button Pacifier also has vent holes that are too small.

Fred & Friends has received one report of the knob on the volume pacifier coming off.

Consumers should stop using the pacifiers and return them for a $12 refund.

(AP) — A man has been given 55 to 85 years in prison for the slaying of a 16-year-old Omaha boy who was wearing red, the color of a rival gang.

Court records say 24-year-old Joshua Vanackeren was sentenced Tuesday. Vanackeren was given 45 to 65 years for second-degree murder and 10 to 20 years for using a firearm. The sentences are to be served consecutively.

Police say Vanackeren and other Crips gang members were driving around in a minivan on Oct. 21, 2012, seeking revenge for the slaying of a cousin of a gang member. They spotted Montrell Wiseman and two girls standing outside a house. All three were wearing red.

Shotgun blasts killed Wiseman and wounded one of the girls. Police say Wiseman wasn’t a gang member.

(AP) — A 25-year-old Norfolk man was arrested after he went to the city police station and reported that he’d just sexually assaulted a woman.

Norfolk police say Leonardo Rivas went to the station a little after 1 a.m. Wednesday, told an officer what had happened and gave the officer the woman’s name.

Police say Rivas was taken into custody after officers talked to the woman, who knew Rivas.

Online jail records say Rivas remained in Madison County custody on Thursday. Online court records don’t list the name of Rivas’ attorney.

(AP) — A man who stabbed  a little boy  to death 40 years ago in northeast Nebraska has been paroled for a third time.

55-year-old Antonio Laravie’s parole was approved Wednesday on a 3-2 vote by the Nebraska Parole Board in Lincoln.

Laravie was convicted of second-degree murder in the 1973 death of 2-year-old Chad Wilson in Niobrara. Laravie, from South Dakota, had broken into the Niobrara home and stabbed the little boy in his bedroom.

Chad’s mother, Denise Wilson, appeared at the parole hearing and asked the board to keep Laravie behind bars.

Laravie has been paroled twice before. But he was sent back to prison each time, for drug and alcohol violations and for not complying with travel restrictions.

(AP) — The Cuming County Sheriff’s Office says a 33-year-old northeast Nebraska woman has died in a single-car rollover crash.

Investigators say Peggy Svatos, of Wisner, was on a county road less than four miles west of Wisner late Wednesday afternoon when she lost control of her car and rolled.

Officials say Svatos was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the car as it rolled.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.