Nebraska still trying to recruit state prison workers

By GRANT SCHULTE

Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Despite a campaign to hire more workers in Nebraska’s short-staffed prison system, many of the jobs remain vacant and the corrections department is struggling to fill them.

Corrections officials ran radio and online ads last year to recruit more workers, reached out to Nebraska National Guard members and networked at high schools throughout the state. Facing a shortage of mental health professionals, the department offered internships to

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Nebraska agency issues reminder about health insurance enrollment deadline

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The Nebraska Department of Insurance is reminding the public about the fast-approaching deadline to buy a health insurance plan.

Individuals who want coverage to begin on Feb. 1 should purchase their policy on or before Friday. Those who buy policies after Friday can expect their policy to begin on March 1.

Department of Insurance Director Bruce Ramge says customers should shop around for a policy that fits their needs. People who forego insurance for the 2016 plan year

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State hands out over $1.6M in recycling, litter grants

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska has awarded grants worth more than $1.6 million to encourage recycling and reduce littering.

The state Department of Environmental Quality recently announced the 54 grants.

Fees charged to certain manufacturers and retailers of products that contribute to litter pay for the grants.

Nearly $917,000 of the grants is earmarked for recycling programs.

Public education programs will receive $609,545.

Twelve grants are for cleanup programs are worth $108,483.

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Nebraska AG backs bill to combat identity theft, fraud

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The Nebraska attorney general is backing a piece of legislation he says is crucial to protecting consumer information.

Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha introduced a bill Friday on behalf of Attorney General Doug Peterson that would allow parents to place a freeze on a minor’s credit report in cases of identity theft. It also expands the definition of deceptive solicitation on behalf of a charity.

Mello says the bill will help modernize Nebraska’s consumer protection laws and

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Nebraska senator proposes paid leave for family caregivers

By ANNA GRONEWOLD

Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A Nebraska senator says the state should provide more resources and stability for caregivers who choose to provide in-home treatment for ailing family members or take leave to care for themselves.

Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue introduced two bills Friday to support voluntary caregivers, calling families a critical part of a state’s health care system. One measure would create an insurance plan for unpaid sick leave and the other would

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Ricketts embraces infrastructure package to promote roads

By GRANT SCHULTE

Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts will ask lawmakers to pass a new infrastructure package this year to accelerate long-delayed construction work on bridges and roads.

Ricketts announced his support Thursday for a comprehensive roads bill that will be introduced in the Legislature next week and said he will advocate for it in his annual State of the State address.

The proposal would create a transportation infrastructure bank, financed with

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Nebraska lawmaker proposes bill to allow ballot selfies

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A Nebraska senator wants to tweak a law that prohibits voters from taking selfies with their marked election ballots.

Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln introduced a bill Thursday that would allow voters to snap photos of their ballots after voting. Current law prohibits voters from showing their marked ballot to others.

Secretary of State John Gale said last year that the law also applies to photographs. Violations are a misdemeanor punishable by a $100 fine.

Morfeld says the

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University establishes Nebraska State Climate Office

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is establishing a facility that will focus on providing the state detailed pictures of the state’s weather and historical climate data, university officials said.

The new Nebraska State Climate Office will operate under the wing of university’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The office will identify and provide the climate recording and reporting services needed most by Nebraska users, especially those engaged in

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Nebraska lawmaker proposes dismemberment abortion ban

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A Nebraska lawmaker is proposing a new ban on a common procedure used for second-trimester abortions.

Bellevue Sen. Tommy Garrett introduced a bill Wednesday that would prohibit ``dismemberment abortions,’’ a dilation and evacuation procedure often used for women who are more than 12 weeks pregnant. The only exemptions would be if the procedure could prevent death or extreme physical harm to the woman.

Nebraska already prohibits most abortions after 20 weeks based on the

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