LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts says fixing problems in Nebraska’s prison system ranks among his highest priorities as his administration prepares a new two-year budget.

Ricketts said Tuesday that he expects to make “continued investments” in the Department of Correctional Services to address long-term problems in the agency.

The prison system has struggled with persistent staffing shortages, high employee turnover rates and a spate of incidents including a deadly riot in Tecumseh last year and the June escape of two convicted sex offenders from a Lincoln facility.

Nebraska faces a projected $352 million shortfall in the next two-year budget cycle, forcing Ricketts and lawmakers to balance the budget amid competing requests for state funding. Ricketts says the state needs to ensure that corrections officers, inmates and the public are kept safe.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new report says Nebraska’s unemployment rate inched up to 3.2 percent in August — a tenth of a point higher than the July rate.

The Nebraska Labor Department said in the report issued Tuesday that the preliminary August rate remained well below the preliminary national unemployment rate of 4.9 percent, which matched the July rate and was down two-tenths of a point from 5.1 percent in August 2015.

Nebraska Labor Commissioner John Albin says the total number of people employed in August was up 3,160 over the year before.

The U.S. Labor Department says only South Dakota’s preliminary rate of 2.9 percent, New Hampshire’s 3 percent and North Dakota’s 3.1 percent were lower in August than Nebraska’s rate.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska counties with dilapidated bridges are one step closer to having a new funding source to cover some of the repair costs.

State officials outlined the selection criteria for their new match program on Tuesday and announced they will start seeking proposals in October. Gov. Pete Ricketts identified the program as one of his top priorities during this year’s legislative session.

Department of Roads Director Kyle Schneweis says roughly 40 percent of Nebraska’s 11,000 county bridges are at least 50 years old. Schneweis says state and county officials collaborated to create a program that meets both of their needs.

The match program will cover 55 percent of a project’s repair costs, up to $150,000 per bridge. The law passed this year provides up to $40 million through 2023.

COZAD, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 59-year-old woman has been killed in a Dawson County collision.

The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office says the accident was reported just after 7:35 p.m. Monday about nine miles south of Cozad on Nebraska Highway 21. The office says a northbound sport utility vehicle being driven by 64-year-old Monte Robertson was struck by a westbound car driven by 18-year-old Hailey Boutin, of Eustis.

The Sheriff’s Office says a woman in the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. She was identified as Mary Robertson, of rural Cozad. The Sheriff’s Office couldn’t say Tuesday how or whether she was related to the driver, Monte Robertson.

The office says Monte Robertson was taken to a Kearney hospital, and Boutin was taken to Cozad Community Hospital.

The North Platte Police Department says two people have been charged following a high-speed pursuit that began in North Platte on Monday night.

At around 8:27 p.m., on September 19, an officer on patrol observed a black 2015 Ford Edge with Utah plates driving the wrong way on South Dewey Street, near Philip Avenue.

The officer initiated a traffic stop, and the vehicle pulled into the Walgreen’s parking lot, 102 East Philip Avenue, but failed to stop.

According to Investigator John Deal, the vehicle exited the parking lot and traveled southbound on Jeffers Street.  Deal says the officer activated his light and sirens and pursued the vehicle.

The suspect vehicle then took the on-ramp and continued traveling westbound on Interstate 80, at speeds exceeding 100 mph.

At one point, the driver of the suspect vehicle turned off their headlights, forcing pursuing officers to slow down.  The vehicle was seen pulling into the westbound Rest Area near Sutherland, at which time the female driver and male passenger fled on foot.

Police contacted the Nebraska State Patrol and, a short time later, the Patrol had an aircraft in the air assisting with the search.  Troopers in the aircraft soon spotted an individual and led officers to her.  She was taken into custody and later identified as 30-year-old Bernadette Nugent.  Deal said, upon her arrest, Nugent indicated that she was having a seizure and was transported to Great Plains Health.  Deal said it was determined that the symptoms exhibited by Nugent were consistent with being under the influence of drugs, but not consistent with someone who is having a seizure.

As officers were interviewing Nugent, a passerby contacted law enforcement about a male subject running eastbound near Mile Marker 163.  Officers were able to contact the man and identify him as 37-year-old Larry Stone.

According to Deal, officers questioned Stone and were able to determine that he had been a passenger in the vehicle involved in the pursuit.  He was placed under arrest.

With both suspects in custody, officers turned their attention to the vehicle and conducted a thorough search and inventory of its contents.  During the search, officers located several small plastic baggies that contained a white crystal substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.

In the end, both Nugent and Stone were transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Nugent has been charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, willful reckless driving, flight to avoid arrest and numerous other traffic offenses.

Stone was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver.

Deal said neither subject was cooperative, and it remains unclear where the duo was from and where they were going.  He said Nugent had a revoked Idaho license, but it was unclear if that’s where she is currently living.  The vehicle was a rental car.

No law enforcement officers were injured in the ordeal.