Government

Former Nebraska GOP Senator Chuck Hagel is President Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Defense.

LINCOLN, NEB. (AP) — Gov. Dave Heineman says he will request an increase in state aid that would allow for a two-year tuition freeze at the University of Nebraska and the State College System.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — About 10,000 state employees will see a 2.25 percent pay raise over each of the next two years, following a newly ratified union contract.

The fiscal cliff deal approved earlier this week by Congress also extended the farm bill.