(AP) — A 57-year-old Arizona man has been sentenced to 4 1/2 years in federal prison for hauling more than a ton of marijuana across Nebraska.

James Valimont, of Glendale, Ariz., was sentenced Friday in Omaha’s federal court.

Valimont pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 kilograms of marijuana.

Valimont told officials he believed he was being paid $3,000 to haul furniture to Iowa, but he began to suspect something criminal when he noticed people following him. It made him uneasy, he said.

A Nebraska state trooper stopped Valimont along Interstate 80 on Nov. 18, 2012, in York County, and search of the truck turned up 101 bundles of marijuana weighing 2,396 pounds and valued at more than $2 million.

(AP) — Some of Nebraska’s most vulnerable people who can’t make decisions on their own could soon be supported by a state guardian.

Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln introduced a bill to create the Office of the Public Guardian. The bill advanced from the first round of debate on a vote of 34-0 on Feb. 21.

Coash says Nebraska is the only state without this kind of office.

A county court can appoint a guardian or conservator to someone who is unable to make responsible decisions for themselves, due to reasons such as disability or mental illness.

If no one volunteers to serve, the court will ask an attorney to volunteer. Supporters say the need has outgrown the supply of volunteers and Nebraska needs a guardian program.

(AP) — It’ll probably be at least four more years before Nebraska’s new 531 area code makes its debut, years later than originally forecast.

On Feb. 26, 2011, the state Public Service Commission said eastern and central Nebraska phone users would have to dial all 10 digits (the 402 area code plus the local number), in anticipation of starting a new 531 area code.

But the demand for new phone numbers has ebbed as fewer and fewer people become first-time cellphone customers.

PSC communications manager Gene Hand says the state hasn’t gotten to its trigger for employing the 531 area code, which is 10 prefixes remaining for use in the 402 area. That’s expected to be at least four years away.

(AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has rejected a claim for compensation under the state’s wrongful conviction law for an inmate whose 1985 murder conviction was vacated, but who is serving a life sentence for an armed courtroom escape attempt more than two decades ago.

Troy Hess is serving life for kidnapping, assault and weapons counts for the 1993 escape attempt from a Lancaster County courtroom in which he briefly took a prison guard hostage.

Months after the standoff, the Nebraska Supreme Court vacated Hess’ 1985 second-degree murder conviction in another case because of a faulty jury instruction.

Based on that ruling, Hess sued for $500,000 under the state’s wrongful conviction act. The Nebraska Supreme Court denied his claim Friday, saying he had not shown he was innocent of the murder charges.

(AP) — A bill to keep kids younger than 16 out of indoor tanning beds is facing resistance in the Nebraska Legislature.

Lawmakers began debate Friday on a proposal intended to prevent skin cancer among youths. The legislation by Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha would also require tanning facilities to post warning signs about the risk in a conspicuous area. Supporters liken the proposal to youth restrictions on alcohol and tobacco.

Opponents are working to block the bill, which they view as government overreach. Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha says the measure is an affront to parental rights.

The original measure would have set the age restriction at 18 years old.

Lawmakers adjourned for the week before voting.

(AP) — A state board is predicting Nebraska will collect an additional $99 million in tax revenue, including $36 million for the government’s rainy-day fund.

The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board estimated Friday that the state will collect about $4.1 billion in the current fiscal year. The new projection is $36 million higher than previous forecasts. State law requires that it go to Nebraska’s cash reserve.

Board members predicted the state will collect more than $4.2 billion in the next fiscal year, roughly $63 million more than initially expected. Most of that money will go to the state’s general fund for future use.

The revenue projections could influence lawmakers as they finish proposed changes to the state budget. Gov. Dave Heineman is calling on lawmakers to use the money to lower taxes.

(AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld judgment in favor of a former cheerleader paralyzed in a tumbling accident who sued Nebraska-based insurance company Mutual of Omaha for refusing to pay his claim.

The lawsuit focuses on an insurance policy bought by Prairie View A&M University in Texas to cover its athletes. Wesley Patterson, of Houston, was a cheerleader at the school in 2008 when he was injured.

Wesley’s lawsuit says Mutual of Omaha reneged on a promise to cover serious injuries like his that result from the school’s negligence. The insurer argued it shouldn’t have to cover Wesley’s injuries because they occurred in a gym class taught by the cheerleading coach, not at an official cheerleading practice session.

On Friday, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Wesley.

(AP) — A judge has decided to not place the teenage driver in a fatal accident that killed her 15-year-old friend on probation.

Sarpy County Judge Lawrence Gendler said Friday that he won’t require probation because the 16-year-old girl’s family is taking appropriate steps to help her. She is in therapy and has taken defensive driving courses.

The Associated Press generally does not name juveniles charged with crimes.

The girl was driving a Jeep on Oct. 11 when it collided with a pickup truck. A passenger in the teen’s car, 15-year-old Nathaniel LaFave, was killed. The girl and another passenger in the Jeep were critically injured but survived.

(AP) — Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning says the state is getting more than $144,000 as part of a national settlement with a Pennsylvania drug maker.

Endo Health will pay almost $193 million to resolve claims that it improperly marketed the shingles treatment Lidoderm for unapproved uses such as treating lower back pain between 2002 and 2006.

The Malvern, Pennsylvania, drug maker will pay $171.9 million in civil false claims settlements largely to the U.S. government, with $34.2 million from that total going to 47 states and the District of Columbia. Endo also agreed to pay $20.8 million as part of a deferred prosecution agreement.

Endo said it was pleased to resolve the issue and has programs in place to help it comply with the agreement.

(AP) — A Grand Island man charged with trying to kill his estranged wife has been declared mentally incompetent for trial.

Forty-eight-year-old Jesus Parra already has pleaded not guilty to weapons charges and charges of assault, child abuse and attempted murder.

Officials say he attacked and injured Rosa Olivas de Parra at her home in April 2013. Police say the couple’s adult daughter was cut while trying to intervene. The Parras’ other daughter and their toddler granddaughter were in the home at the time, too.

Following a competency hearing, Hall County Judge Teresa Luther ordered Jesus Parra’s commitment to the state psychiatric hospital in Lincoln for treatment. Court documents say he’ll remain there until the “disability is removed.” Then he’ll return to Hall County Jail to await further court action.