OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Figures from a survey of supply managers in nine Midwest and Plains states have risen for the second month in a row, suggesting more improvement in the regional economy.

A report issued Tuesday says the Mid-American Business Conditions Index climbed to 50.5 in February from 48.3 in January. The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth. A score below that suggests decline.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says a strong U.S. dollar and economic weakness among the nation’s chief trading partners remain a restraint on regional growth.

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

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld the 30-year sentence a Nebraska man received last year for making child pornography.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Billy Schrader’s argument that his sentence was unfair because his girlfriend was sentenced to 23 years in the same crime.

Schrader and Julia Thiemann, were arrested in December 2013 in North Platte on several porn allegations. Authorities say a child told investigators that Schrader had sex with her and that Thiemann participated and took pictures.

Both Schrader and Thiemann pleaded guilty to making child pornography.

The judge who sentenced Schrader said the longer sentence was supported by videos the couple made that showed Schrader performing most of the physical acts.

The appeals court said Monday the sentencing judge didn’t make a mistake.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The director of a commission organizing celebrations for Nebraska’s 150th birthday next year says events will be held within driving distance of every citizen.

Sesquicentennial commission director Regan Anson, Gov. Pete Ricketts and first lady Susanne Shore on Monday announced efforts to connect Nebraska communities with statewide initiatives for the Nebraska 150 celebration next year.

Anson says the commission is sponsoring 12 efforts so far, including a statehood day celebration March 1, 2017; a traveling children’s museum exhibit; a three-day whistle stop train tour sponsored by Union Pacific Railroad; and volunteering, physical activity and tree-planting opportunities across the state.

Shore says communities and organizations can apply to link their own activities to the statewide celebration.

Ricketts says the events will be an opportunity to draw tourists to Nebraska.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Entries are being accepted for the 26th annual Nebraska Handwriting Contest.

The contest is open to Nebraskans in four age categories: 12 and under, ages 13-16, ages 17-49 and age 50 and over. The entry deadline is March 31.

Entries will be judged on ease of reading, fluent rhythmic movement and technically correct performance of specifications such as the slope, space, size and shape of the letters.

Contestants will be provided text to copy for their entries, which must be written in any cursive style and not printed. Go online at http://coe.unk.edu/contest/ for contest rules and text to be copied. Entries will be judged in April.

Entries should be mailed to: Nebraska Handwriting Contest, Attention: Julie Agard, University of Nebraska at Kearney/Department of Teacher Education, Kearney, Neb., 68849.

A Stapleton man is facing a felony assault charge after he allegedly assaulted a woman with the butt of a rifle.

According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and rescue personnel were called to an address on North Classen Road, in northeast Lincoln County.

The caller reported that a female at the residence had been struck in the head with the butt of a rifle and a male at the residence had locked himself inside and was possibly barricaded.

Deputies met with the caller at a nearby residence who reported that her mother was still inside the Classen Road residence and had been assaulted.

Deputies then met with the victim outside the residence and found that she had sustained serious injuries from an apparent assault.

She reported that 54-year-old Sterling Kovanda has punched her, kicked her and struck her in the head with a rifle.

The victim was transported to Great Plains Health for the treatment of unknown injuries.

Deputies were able to make contact with Kovanda and take him into custody.

He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center and charged with felony domestic assault, use of a weapon to commit a felony and criminal mischief.

Deputies say the investigation is ongoing.

The North Platte Police Department is searching for a suspect who led them on a high-speed chase on Saturday night.

According to Investigator John Deal, at around 9:51 p.m., an officer on patrol observed a white 2005 Nissan Pathfinder speeding in the 200 block of Walker Road.

The officer clocked the vehicle traveling at 84 mph in a 35 mph zone.

When the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the driver, later identified as Shane Melton, failed to stop and fled.

Police say Melton went north on US Highway 83, west on Eugene Avenue, north on Buffalo Bill Avenue, east on Leota Street, north into Dent Court, back east on Leota and north on Carr Street. Deal says Melton then circled around 5th Street and traveled down alleyways between Sherman and Hayes Avenues before continuing northbound on Buffalo Bill.

The pursuit was terminated near 15th Street and Buffalo Bill, and the vehicle was found abandoned in the 1900 block of west 15th Street.

During the pursuit, Deal says Melton drove into some yards on Dent Court and caused property damage.

He says Melton was consistently travelling at double the posted speed limit and committed numerous other traffic violations, such as running stop signs.

A witness observed the pursuit and was able to identify Melton as the driver.  Police also learned that Melton did not have permission to drive the vehicle from the registered owner.

Authorities say Melton has an outstanding warrant from the Nebraska Department of Corrections as a parole absconder, and now has an active Lincoln County warrant for flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, criminal mischief and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

If you have any information on Melton’s whereabouts, contact the North Platte Police Department or local law enforcement.

A 42-year-old North Platte man is facing numerous charges after he allegedly stole a pickup from the Great Plains Health parking lot.

At around 12:39 a.m., on Monday, an officer conducted a traffic stop on a 2006 Dodge Ram for driving the wrong way on a one-way street in the 1500 block of South Jeffers.

The driver was contacted and identified as Jeremy Housman.

According to Investigator John Deal, the officer reported that Housman displayed several signs of intoxication, but refused to comply with the officers request for a field sobriety test or a preliminary breath test.

As a result, Housman was placed under arrest for DUI and refusal to submit to a chemical test, but officers say he was uncooperative and force had to be used to secure him.

Housman told the officer that he had just left the hospital after receiving treatment for an unspecified medical condition.

However, further investigation revealed that the pickup Housman was driving wasn’t registered to him

The officer contacted staff at the hospital, who advised that they had seen Housman get into the pickup, but said they didn’t believe it was his.

It was soon discovered that the owner of the pickup was in the hospital for treatment, and had left the pickup parked outside the Emergency Department with the keys in it.

A charge of vehicle theft was added to the initial charges from the traffic stop, and Housman was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

According to jail records, no bond has been set.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A training center in Omaha prepares police dogs and their handlers for their hazardous duty.

The dogs spend 16 weeks at the Gary and Mary West Regional Canine Training Center, learning how to lead the way for uniformed patrol officers, detectives, and even SWAT teams in many situations.

Omaha police Sgt. Steve Worley says a police dog is “the greatest tool an officer can have when it’s midnight and so dark that you can’t see five feet in front of you.”

Multipurpose dogs that will be trained to find suspects and evidence such as drugs, protect their handlers and respond under gunfire can cost between $9,000 and $11,000. Single-purpose dogs such as those only used to detect drugs or explosives cost about $7,000.