OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska man has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for hiring someone to set his struggling manufacturing business on fire in an attempt to obtain $4.3 million in insurance money.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Nebraska says 53-year-old Thomas Schropp was sentenced Thursday and ordered to pay $7.6 million in restitution. He was convicted in February of arson and insurance fraud.

Upon release from prison, Schropp must serve three years of supervised release.

Prosecutors say Schropp’s business, PK Manufacturing in Nashville, Nebraska, was purposefully set on fire in November 2008 after he asked an associate to burn it down for $20,000. They say Schropp then filed an insurance claim, which was denied.

Schropp’s attorney previously said he plans to appeal the verdict.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A deadly Nebraska prison riot may have caused half a million dollars in damage, and is believed to have started when inmates complained about a lack of rehabilitation programs.

Lawmakers said Thursday that damage to the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution could total $350,000 to $500,000, although insurance will likely cover the expense.

Inmates took control of part of the prison on Sunday, and two inmates were killed. The facility was still on lockdown Thursday, and one section of cells was considered an active crime scene.

Separate investigations are being conducted into the deaths of the inmates and the cause of the riots.

Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha, who was briefed on the incident, says the riot may have started when inmates complained about a lack of programming.

DENVER (AP) — Colorado is slogging through a wetter than normal spring, with heavy rains restoring much-needed moisture to parched rangeland and sending some rivers over the banks.

But the precipitation isn’t helping downstream states in the Southwest that rely on the Colorado River, which originates in western Colorado.

The U.S. Drought Monitor said Thursday a series of recent storms have dropped up to four times the normal weekly rainfall in some areas of the West. However, three-quarters of the region remains in a long-term drought.

Morgan County in northeastern Colorado reported up to a foot of rain in a 10-day period in May. Creek beds that were dry for the past 40 years were filled to overflowing.

The rain is helping pull grazing land in southeastern Colorado out of a years-long drought.

BEAVER CROSSING, Neb. (AP) — Bayer CropScience hopes its new $17 million research station in Seward County will create wheat and soybean varieties that are more resistant to disease and drought.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday for the 53,000-square-foot facility situated on 400 acres of farmland between Goehner and Beaver Crossing.

A company official says 14 employees work full-time at the station. It’s expected to have up to 25 people working full-time, plus interns and seasonal employees for harvest and planting.

Gov. Pete Ricketts spoke at the opening and thanked Bayer CropScience for investing in the state. He noted that Nebraska is the eighth largest wheat producing state, with around 1.5 million acres harvested in 2014.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man has been taken into custody, peacefully ending his standoff with officers about a mile east of the Capitol in Lincoln.

Officers were sent to the residence Wednesday afternoon after learning that the man was threatening to shoot others with a rifle and kill himself. No shots or injuries have been reported.

Lincoln police Capt. Mayde (MAYE’-dee) McGuire says the man gave up around 8 p.m., about four hours after officers arrived. His name hasn’t been released.

WINNEBAGO, Neb. (AP) — The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s council has expelled four members accused of corruption.

The council voted to remove Thomas Snowball Sr., Louis Houghton Jr., Larry Payer and Charles Aldrich from office after ethics hearings were held for them.

A tribal investigative committee released a report in February saying council members had given themselves large raises and bonuses. The report also said council members gave tens of thousands of dollars through loans and discretionary grants to tribal members, many of whom were likely voters.

Council members Travis Mallory and Morgan Earth and chairman John Blackhawk resigned after the release of the report.

BLAIR, Neb. (AP) — A 16-year-old from Blair has been given probation for the crash death of one of his friends last year.

On Monday the teen was sentenced to 30 months of probation and ordered to complete 150 hours of community. The boy had pleaded no contest and was convicted of three misdemeanors: vehicular homicide, careless driving and misuse of a learner’s permit. The Associated Press generally doesn’t name juveniles accused of crimes.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office says the teen was driving near Blair on Oct. 11 when the vehicle flipped. The teen’s friend, 15-year-old Trent Hill, was fatally injured.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police say University of Nebraska-Lincoln student reported missing last week may have fallen into a creek and been swept away in strong currents.

The Lincoln Police Department on Wednesday said a local business’ video surveillance camera contained footage of a woman who is believed to be 30-year-old Anwesha Dey. She was last seen leaving a friend’s house on foot about 7 p.m. on May 3.

The video obtained by investigators Tuesday shows her trying to cross Antelope Creek, falling in and appearing to struggle as she attempted to gain her footing. It then shows her being carried away by the current.

Chief Jim Peschong says crews have begun searching the area. He says heavy rainfall that hammered the Lincoln area last week could have carried her body further downstream.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 36-year-old man convicted of a hate crime in connection with an assault on a Marine in downtown Omaha didn’t show up to his sentencing hearing.

An arrest warrant was issued Wednesday after Missouri-native Gregory Duncan didn’t appear for his scheduled sentencing on a third-degree assault conviction. He was charged with punching Ryan Langenegger in the face after using derogatory names regarding the sexual orientation of Langenegger’ friends.

Duncan’s attorney says his client hadn’t informed him that he wouldn’t show up to his sentencing.

Jurors found Duncan guilty in February. During his trial, Duncan’s attorney accused his client’s friends of making the derogatory slurs. But prosecutors argued that Duncan had no other reason to punch Langenegger, who they say was peacefully defending his friends.