LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The head of Nebraska's Department of Correctional Services received a 30% raise this year.

Director Scott Frakes saw his salary increase to $250,000 in January from his previous $192,000 salary.

Nebraska's governor defended the large raise for Frakes even as two state senators criticized the move as unjustified.

"Six years ago Gov. Ricketts took over a corrections department in crisis," said Gov. Pete Ricketts' spokesman Taylor Gage. "Now that the department is trending in a positive direction with increased capacity, reduced staff turnover, and more rehabilitative outcome...