Ash Grove Cement Company has agreed to pay a $2.5 million penalty and invest approximately $30 million in pollution control technology at its nine Portland cement manufacturing plants to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, announced the Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A boater was rescued from Clear Lake after becoming exhausted swimming to his children who were tubing behind the boat early Saturday evening.

A questionable mailer that has made the rounds in several states is starting to show up in Nebraska. It’s prompted a flood of calls to the Secretary of State’s office.

A study by a University of Nebraska Medical Center researcher revealed that unauthorized immigrants have lower health care expenditures compared to legal residents, naturalized citizens and U.S. natives.

The overall water situation in Iowa continues to improve. Ninety percent of the state is free of drought. Stream flows are moving toward normal levels, although the majority of streams are still in the above normal stage. Rainfall has eased and, as of June 11, it looks like the foreseeable future will bring more typical summer weather.

State Auditor Mike Foley has completed an audit of the Nebraska Supreme Court and has found multiple accounting and financial deficiencies.

With the approach of June 14, Secretary of State John Gale is reminding all Nebraskan’s to fly their flags with pride on National Flag Day. “Most people remember to get their flags out on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July,” said Gale. “But we don’t always honor that on National Flag Day.”

The BTN Big10K is back for a second year. Following Big Ten Football Media Days on July 24 and 25 in Chicago, BTN will host thousands of Big Ten fans for a 10K or 5K option on Saturday, July 27.

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is asking the Social Security Administration to account for promised plans to reduce billions of dollars in improper Social Security payments each year. The improper payment rate for the last fiscal year was $7.9 billion.

Carlos Alvarez, 66, of Omaha died in a two vehicle accident June 5 at Highway 34 JEO 350th St. in Mills County.

Talmage begins its town festival Saturday at 6 a.m. with a sausage, biscuits and gravy breakfast served by the American Legion Junior Auxiliary.

MidAmerican Energy Company has completed its nuclear feasibility study. Based on the assessment’s results, no land in Iowa will be purchased by MidAmerican Energy at this time to develop a nuclear generation facility. MidAmerican Energy’s land options in Fremont County will expire

Attorney General Jon Bruning today announced John Oldson, 47, was sentenced life-to-life in prison for the 1989 death of Cathy Beard. He was convicted of second degree murder on February 8, 2013. The sentence requires Oldson to serve no less than life imprisonment.

Nebraska, June 3- Average retail gasoline prices in Nebraska have fallen 17.1 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.76/g yesterday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 1,150 gas outlets in Nebraska. This compares with the national average that has fallen 1.5 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.64/g, according to gasoline price...

Most of the public art tree sculptures have held up to the weather since their outdoor placement May 20, but the Enchanted Arboretum Committee has removed three trees for restoration.

Two candidates applied for the position of District Judge in the Second Judicial District, which includes Otoe County; however, only one was qualified. The state constitution, however, requires two candidates to be submitted to the governor, so a second round of hearings will be held. The vacancy is due to the retirement of Judge Randall Rehmeier.

Gov. Dave Heineman today signed into law legislation aimed at improving the juvenile justice system. LB 561e shifts the supervision of all juvenile offenders in the community to the state’s probation system which will reduce reliance on detention and focus on rehabilitation for youth while keeping families involved.

Investigators from the state, county and city working on the case of missing 15 year old Kathlynn Shepard have agreed that ground search efforts have been exhausted at this time. Ground searches have covered more than 250 square miles in three counties. Numerous areas where ground searches were previously preformed are now under water due to...

Demolition of the 47-year-old Northside Elementary School is underway.The school building was not a part of the school district's $23 million expansion and renovation program that included a new elementary school north of 14th Avenue.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October.

Nebraska is ranked 14th for senior health, according to the inaugural edition of United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings® Senior Report: A Call to Action for Individuals and Their Communities.

Average retail gasoline prices in Nebraska have fallen 13.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.93/g yesterday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 1,150 gas outlets in Nebraska. This compares with the national average that has fallen 2.3 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.65/g, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Nobody can stop a flood. But there are actions travelers can take before and during a flood to protect themselves, their families and property. Several Iowa roadways are currently impassible due to flood waters. The most current information on flooded roadways can be found at www.511ia.org or by calling 511.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA HAS ISSUED A * FLOOD WARNING FOR THE MISSOURI RIVER AT NEBRASKA CITY. * FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. * AT 9:00 AM MONDAY THE STAGE WAS 9.9 FEET... OR 8.1 FEET BELOW FLOOD STAGE. * FLOOD STAGE IS 18.0 FEET. * MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST. * FORECAST... RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE BY WEDNESDAY...

Groundwater levels declined last year in five wells assessed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Conservation and Survey Division.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioners approved 2013 big game hunting regulations at their meeting May 24 in Chadron.

Canadian Pacific Railroad successfully removed three ethanol cars Wednesday evening from the Little Cedar River east of Charles City and then found that more ethanol had leaked than previously estimated.