'BEGINNING FARMER & SMALL BUSINESS BILL PASSES 1ST ROUND'

(Lincoln Journal Star) -- JournalStar.com reports that the Legislature voted 34-2 yesterday to give first-round approval to a "proposed loan program for beginning farmers and small businesses." According to the story, "The measure would divert up to $10 million in state funds over the next nine years to a loan program for beginning farmers and small businesses managed by local banks." The story noted that the bill (LB297) was "the first proposal with a price tag to gain even first-round approval this legislative session." See more at <http://www.journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_969f4d12-007a-11df-8aa3-001cc4c03286.html>.