SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The nonprofit organization behind the SAT college entrance exam is teaming up with a Silicon Valley pioneer in online education to make test-preparation materials available for free.

The College Board gave unprecedented access to the revamped SAT it plans to introduce next spring to Khan Academy, which has developed diagnostic quizzes and interactive practice tests that will be accessible to anyone with Internet access starting Tuesday.

College Board President David Coleman says the partnership aims to level the college admissions playing field by putting high-quality training within easy reach of students without the funds for commercial test-prep services or the family support often needed to stick with a self-paced practice book.

The redesigned SAT will be graded on a 1,600-point scale last used in 2004 and make the now required essay section optional.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The body of a U.S. Marine has arrived in Nebraska after he was killed while delivering relief supplies to Nepal villages devastated by earthquakes.

Capt. Dustin R. Lukasiewicz of Wilcox died last month when the helicopter he was flying crashed in Nepal. Five other Marines and two Nepalese soldiers were also killed.

Lukasiewicz is survived by his wife, Ashley, and daughter, Isabelle. He and his wife are expecting a son later this month.

28-year-old Lukasiewicz’s casket arrived at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield late Monday afternoon. His casket was met by firetrucks from the towns of Elba, St. Paul and Farwell, as well as two units from the Howard County Sheriff’s Office.

The casket then began the 135-mile journey by hearse to St. Paul, where services are to be held on Saturday.

HOLDREGE, Neb. (AP) — Unexpectedly high late-spring inflows from the North Platte River have changed the storage outlook for Lake McConaughy (muh-KAHN’-uh-hay), Nebraska’s largest reservoir.

The snowpack runoff was projected to be about 36 percent of normal this spring. But civil engineer Cory Steinke told directors at Monday’s meeting of the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District board that heavy snow and rain in the North Platte basin last month changed the outlook.

Steinke says McConaughy could be full in less than three weeks.

The similar high flow in the South Platte River had been expected.

General manager Don Kraus says the district will continue its plans to deliver 12 inches of water per acre to its irrigation customers because of the difficulty in altering irrigation schedules at such a late date.

(Lincoln, Neb.)- Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) issued 321 citations and warnings for violation of Nebraska’s seat belt law during the national “Click It or Ticket’ enforcement campaign (May 18-31) encompassing the heavily traveled Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Enforcement efforts designed to reduce the potential for serious injury and fatality crashes by getting motorists to buckle up every trip, every time, were paid for thanks in part to a $24,100 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS).

In addition to the 321 seat belt citations and warnings, troopers issued 47 child restraint citations and warnings, arrested 71 motorists for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and wrote 5,285 speeding citations and warnings. Roadway assistance was provided to 523 motorists during the special enforcement period.

The following statistics reflect statewide activity by NSP during the “Click It or Ticket” enforcement:

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Death penalty supporters have announced a new referendum campaign to place the issue before voters following last week’s legislative vote to abolish capital punishment.

Organizers announced the formation Monday of Nebraskans for the Death Penalty, which will gather signatures to try to overturn the new law. If approved, the issue would go before voters in the 2016 statewide election.

Campaign board members include Omaha City Councilwoman Aimee Melton, former State Board of Education member Bob Evnen, and Judy Glassburner, Nebraska Republican Party Third District Vice-Chair.

Supporters have until Aug. 27 to submit enough signatures for a referendum. At current voter registration levels, they will need at least 56,708 signatures. Spokesman Chris Peterson says the group is reaching out to supporters and will announce more details in the next few days.

BAYARD, Neb. (AP) — A man has been treated for smoke inhalation and burns he suffered in a fire at his home in the Nebraska Panhandle.

Firefighters were sent to the structure in rural Bayard about 8:15 a.m. Saturday. The man reported that he’d smelled smoke while talking on his cellphone. He got his dog out of the house and then drove to a neighbor’s house to call 911 because he’d left his phone inside the blazing structure.

The man was treated at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. His name hasn’t been released.

Bayard Fire Chief Mike Harimon says the fire was blamed on old wiring and a faulty ceiling fan.

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.

A North Platte woman is facing a felony assault charge after she allegedly assaulted a woman on Sunday evening.

At around 7:00 p.m., on May 31, North Platte Police responded to the report of an assault at a residence in the 2300 block of West 13th Street.

Officers arrived and met with the 55-year-old homeowner, who stated that 48-year-old Michelle Jones, who had been told not to enter the house, entered the house anyway.

Once inside, Jones allegedly began yelling at a 28-year-old female and began beating her with a cotton sock which contained numerous coins.

Following further investigation, officers located Jones and placed her under arrest.

She was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center and charged with felony 2nd-degree assault.