(AP) — Members of a state water task force have proposed $50 million in yearly funding for water sustainability projects in Nebraska.

The measure introduced Wednesday by Sen. Tom Carlson was inspired by a series of task force meetings over the summer. The group was formed to find ways to ensure a sustainable water supply for drinking, crop irrigation, wildlife and interstate water compacts.

The funding would begin in October 2015. Carlson says the funding is important to help Nebraska develop a long-term plan to conserve more water for drought years.

(AP) — Abortion clinics in Nebraska would have to post signs telling patients that no one legally can force them to have an abortion, under a new bill in the Legislature.

Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion proposed the measure Wednesday for waiting and consultation rooms and admission areas.

The sign would say that it’s against the law for anyone to force a patient to have an abortion. It also would say that clinics can’t perform abortions without voluntary consent, and would notify patients of the right to contact law enforcement for protection against threats of violence.

The bill would impose a $10,000 penalty for violations. Abortion opponents say it’s intended to protect women and girls against coercion.

Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha called the measure “asinine” during legislative debate on Wednesday.

(AP) — A 22-year-old Beatrice woman has been accused of stealing prescription drugs that she picked up at a pharmacy for an acquaintance.

Authorities say Anika Pfannenstiel was arrested Sunday.

Gage County Court documents say Pfannenstiel was asked by Jason Young to go to the pharmacy and pick up his prescription for a narcotic pain reliever, Vicodin. She did so, but Young later told officers that she never turned over the 60 pills to him.

Officers say she had the pill bottle in her purse when she let them search her purse. Officers also she had other drugs in her purse.

A phone listed for Pfannenstiel is no longer in service. Online court records don’t list the name of her attorney in the case.

(AP) — An Omaha police officer fired following allegations of excessive force will be returning to work.

City officials said on Wednesday that an arbitrator in the case ruled that Officer Bradley Canterbury can return to work.

Canterbury was one of four officers fired in April after the March 21 arrest of three brothers, including 28-year-old Octavius Johnson. Johnson was grabbed from behind, thrown to the ground and later struck several times while on the ground by Canterbury. Police were unaware at the time that a neighbor was recording the arrest, and the footage surfaced online.

Canterbury, a Marine Corps veteran who was hired by the department in 2008, was the only officer to appeal his firing to an arbitrator.

(AP) — Anyone interested in learning more about effective giving from billionaire Warren Buffett and other prominent philanthropists can again sign up for a free online course.

Students in the class that’s scheduled to start in March will be able to help decide how to give away at least $100,000 of Buffett’s sister, Doris’, money.

The classes feature advice from prominent givers like the Buffetts, baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr., reporter Soledad O’Brien and others.

This will be the second time this class is offered. In the first class students helped pick 40 nonprofits to share $130,000 in grants.

The class is backed by Doris Buffett’s Learning By Giving Foundation and Northeastern University. Anyone interested in the course over the age of 13 can sign up now at www.learningbygivingfoundation.org .

(AP) — An Omaha businessman has been named to the Nebraska State College board of trustees.

Jess Zeiss is replacing trustee Bill Roskens, whose resignation was effective Dec. 31. Roskens served about 10 years on the board. Zeiss will finish the rest of Roskens’ second six-year term, which expires on Jan. 1, 2015.

The board oversees the state’s colleges in Chadron, Peru and Wayne.

Zeiss works at First National Capital Markets in Omaha. The office of Gov. Dave Heineman says Zeiss originally is from Wayne.