LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln brewery owner wants to reopen Robber’s Cave and use its local lore to help sell some beer.

Legend has it that outlaw Jesse James used the cave as a hideout, but a local historian says there’s no evidence of that. In 1869 Lincoln Brewery enlarged the cave and stored barrels of beer and beer ingredients there.

Brian Podwinski, who owns Blue Blood Brewing, said he has a deal to buy the property and construct a building above ground to house his brewery and an expanded taproom and restaurant.

He was drawn to the site because of its history, and he says the Jesse James tale — true or not — is a perfect marketing peg for Blue Blood’s Outlaw line of beers.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Board members for a natural resources district are considering action on a colleague who wants to remain on the board despite being out of the country until June, teaching in China.

Steve Larrick represents west Lincoln on the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District board. He won a third four-year term in November.

Laws governing the districts say that if a director has more than two consecutive unexcused absences from monthly meetings, the board can declare the seat vacant. The board granted Larrick excused absences for its October and November meetings but not for December and January. If the board at Wednesday’s meeting denies Larrick an excused absence for February, that kicks in the public hearing process required before declaring the seat vacant.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Fifty Shades of Grey” raked in the Valentine’s Day dollars, earning an estimated $81.7 million from 3,646 theaters in its first three days, distributor Universal Studios said on Sunday. The chart-topping erotic drama could be on track to earn over $90 million during the four-day holiday weekend.

This total includes the $8.6 million from showings late Thursday night.

Internationally, the R-rated adaptation of E L James’ book is projected to earn a massive $158.3 million from 58 territories.

Director Matthew Vaughn’s “Kingsman: The Secret Service” also exceeded expectations with an estimated $35.6 million across the three-day for a second place debut, according to box office tracker Rentrak.

Animated children’s film “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water” came in third with $30.5 million

FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — Fremont police are investigating a man’s death after his body was found lying in a street Sunday morning.

Police Chief Jeff Elliott says the body was found around 7:30 a.m. Sunday near 8th and Broad streets.

Elliott says the circumstances of the death are suspicious, but he didn’t release many details of the 52-year-old man’s death.

The man’s identity also wasn’t released immediately because his family had not been notified.

An autopsy is planned for Monday.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The first 531 phone numbers in Nebraska’s new area code will soon be activated.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports (http://bit.ly/1JivDxZ) the small towns of Atkinson and Oakland are where the new area code will get its start.

State regulators sent the first 531 numbers to CenturyLink, and the company plans to use them in the two small towns.

The new 531 area code was overlaid on top of the 402 area, so 402 customers won’t be forced to switch phone numbers. The new area code was needed because phone companies were running out of numbers in the existing 402 area code.

All calls in the area will require the area code plus the seven-digit telephone number.

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) — South Sioux City is still waiting for nearly $1.4 million in reimbursement from state and federal agencies almost four years after extensive flooding along the Missouri River.

City officials are still working to finish up the last paperwork needed to obtain reimbursement for flood-related expenses. Then an inspector from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency will have to check out the work.

City Treasurer Nanci Walsh says she didn’t think it would take this long to secure reimbursement, but South Sioux City didn’t finish its last project until December 2013.

The city has received $3.4 million from the federal government, but nothing from Nebraska. It expects to receive $678,974 from FEMA and $676,148 from NEMA.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is looking into the recent death of a captive bald eagle at the Pioneers Park Nature Center in Lincoln.

The bird, named Hali, died Jan. 25. Nature Center coordinator Andrea Faas says the eagle suffered from twisted intestines.

The bird was about 12. Eagles can live as long as 30 years in captivity.

Hali had been on exhibit at the nature center since 2003, when she was rescued after being injured near Valley. The bird could not be returned to the wild because part of her left wing was amputated.

Bob Harms, a Fish and Wildlife biologist in Grand Island, says it is policy to look into any death of an eagle or migratory fowl.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Economists from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will discuss tax policies in Nebraska and other Plains states in an upcoming seminar.

The free lecture will kick off the Paul A. Olson Seminars in Great Plains Studies. The event is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Great Plains Art Museum in Lincoln.

Economists Eric Thompson and John Anderson will talk about tax debates in Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota and Colorado. They will focus on how the states balance popular demands for tax cuts against the need for social services.

Another seminar on March 18 will focus on drought management, food and water security. A third on April 15 is titled “The Civil War in the Great Plains.”

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) — Two South Sioux City residents escaped unharmed from a fire that destroyed their mobile home.

The fire was reported around 3 p.m. Thursday.

Fire Chief Toby English says the fire started when a cleaning product was spilled on the kitchen counter next to the stove, which was turned on. Heat from the stove ignited the cleaning product.

English says the residents were able to call 911 and leave the home without injury. He says the home was a total loss.

The American Red Cross is helping the residents find other living arrangements.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A 52-year-old Grand Island man has been arrested on suspicion of a fourth-offense of drunken driving following a crash that sent a teenage girl to the hospital.

The man’s pickup rear-ended another pickup stopped at a stop sign Friday afternoon.

Police say a 12- or 13-year-old girl who was a passenger in the stopped truck was taken by ambulance to a hospital for head and foot injuries.

The man is being held in the Hall County Jail awaiting formal charge