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of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, but there has been little movement in Congress over the past two years. After Duncan warned that 82 percent of schools could be labeled "failing" -- a figure many said was inflated, but nonetheless agreed to be rising -- the Obama administration announced last year that states could apply for waivers. Republicans have charged that the president with overreaching his authority and imposing his vision for education on the states.
• The five states approved for waivers Friday were among 26 states that submitted requests for flexibility in February. The Education Department announced waivers for eight of those states in May. Another 13 are still under review. Waivers for the first 11 were granted in February.
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• OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- The U.S. Forest Service has imposed tougher fire restrictions for the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands because of extremely dry and hot conditions and the threat of wildfires.
• The Forest Service says the entire area is under what the service calls Stage II Fire Restriction Orders. That includes no campfires, no explosives, no welding and no smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building.
• The order covers the Nebraska and Samuel R. McKelvie National Forests and the Buffalo Gap, Fort Pierre and Oglala National Grasslands, which have been under lighter restrictions since late March.
• The Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands are situated in central and western Nebraska and western South Dakota. The area is made up of two national forests, three national grasslands and a tree nursery.
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• MADISON, S.D. (AP) -- The South Dakota Board of Regents says six faculty members at state public universities have been awarded competitive research grants totaling more than $438,000.
• Paul Turman, the regents' vice president for research, says the grants will advance individual projects and strengthen the state's capacity for research and technology development. He says the six winners were selected from 52 proposals.
• Turman says this is the eighth year the state has given financial support for

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