LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is kicking off a series of planning sessions within his administration to try to deliver services that people expect at a lower cost.

The review process in state agencies began on Monday, after this year’s legislative session ended. Ricketts says he has directed his department heads to dig into their budgets.

Ricketts says he plans to continue his focus on lowering the growth of state spending and finding ways to lower property taxes. He also says state income taxes need to be reduced.

Lawmakers concluded their session Friday after adding $64 million annually to the state’s property tax credit fund, for a total of $204 million each year to offset local property taxes. The two-year budget will grow spending by a lower-than-average 3.5 percent per year.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A report on a May survey says slower economic growth likely is ahead for nine Midwestern and Plains states.

The survey report issued Monday says the overall Mid-America Business Conditions Index dropped to 50.4 last month from 52.7 April.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he highlighted drops in economic activity for companies linked to energy production and agriculture.

The survey results from supply managers are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth, while a score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

A North Platte woman has been charged with numerous crimes after she allegedly ran from police.

At around 9:00 p.m., on May 31, an officer with the North Platte Police Department was on patrol and observed a silver Pontiac Grad Prix traveling northbound on Willow Street at approximately 80 mph.

The officer attempted to catch-up to the vehicle, which had turned off of Willow Street and was heading eastbound.

The vehicle then went south on Jeffers, and reportedly began weaving in and out of traffic, in what police believe was an attempt to evade them.

According to police, the vehicle was forced to slow down to around 58 mph because of the construction on the Interstate 80 overpass.  After the vehicle cleared the construction zone, authorities say it continued to flee southbound on Highway 83, reaching estimated speeds of 90 to 100 mph.

Due to the danger created by the high speeds, the officer terminated the pursuit.

Then, at around 9:30 p.m., a deputy with the Frontier County Sheriff’s Office observed the vehicle speeding and conducted a traffic stop just south of the Lincoln County line.

The deputy made contact with the driver, 26-year-old Brandi Paz, who he believed to be under the influence.  However, Paz refused to submit to a breath test.

The Frontier County Deputies were transporting Paz to the Lincoln County Detention Center when she allegedly damaged the rear window of their patrol car.

They eventually arrived at the LCDC, where Paz was booked on Lincoln County charges of willful reckless driving and operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest and Frontier County charges of felony criminal mischief, refusal to submit to a chemical/breath test, driving under the influence and two counts of assault on an officer.