CHADRON, Neb. (AP) — A New Zealander has won the World Championship Buffalo Chip Throw during the 40th annual Fur Trade Days celebration in Chadron.

28-year-old Kingi Snelgar, of Oakland, New Zealand, on Saturday tossed a piece of dried bison dung 110 feet, 10 inches to win the men’s 18-and-older division.

Snelgar’s toss fell far short of the individual competition record of 186-7 set by Gary Lackey of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, in 2000 and the 204 feet thrown by Kail Bowman in 1990 during a since-discontinued team event.

The women’s title this year was won by 43-year-old Nicole Bottsford-Miller, of Billings, Montana. Her heave went 84 feet, 2 inches.

The competition drew 111 participants.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A ballot measure that could reinstate Nebraska’s death penalty has survived a legal challenge before the state Supreme Court.

The court on Friday rejected arguments that the ballot petition drive was invalid because Gov. Pete Ricketts wasn’t listed as a sponsor, even though he helped bankroll the effort.

The lawsuit alleged that Ricketts should have been named because of his donations to the Nebraskans for the Death Penalty campaign and his close ties to its managers.

Ricketts denied the allegations, saying his support for the campaign didn’t make him a sponsor. The sponsor requirement is designed to ensure the public knows who is behind a petition drive.

Lawmakers abolished the death penalty in May 2015, overriding Ricketts’ veto and prompting supporters to begin the petition drive.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha taxpayers would subsidize the construction of a new University of Nebraska Medical Center training facility under a new funding plan.

Under a plan approved Wednesday, the city would pay $10.7 million toward the expected $102 million cost of the university’s Global Center for Advanced Interprofessional Learning.

The Omaha Planning Board voted unanimously, with no questions or debate, to recommend that the Omaha City Council approve the proposal. The center would, among other things, offer health care training, education and research with cutting-edge simulation technology. It would be built at 42nd and Emile Streets on the UNMC campus.

Public redevelopment bonds would go toward such costs as demolition of an existing building, extending utilities to the location and adding sidewalks and street lights.

RIVERTON, Neb. (AP) — A former Riverton village clerk has been charged with theft after authorities say she stole almost $16,000 from the village in 2013 and 2014.

31-year-old Kelly Jackson faces up to four years in prison if she’s convicted.

According to court documents, an audit by the Nebraska State Auditor’s office alleges that Jackson paid herself $15,830 more than her monthly approved income of $400.

Several former and current board members told investigators that a village official signed blank checks so Jackson could pay city bills. Officials say that Jackson instead wrote checks to herself.

Jackson is free on $2,500 cash bond. Her arraignment is set for Monday in Franklin County Court.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Ten years after term limits started booting Nebraska senators out of office, the Legislature has changed dramatically and debate still rages over how long they should be able to serve.

Critics say lawmakers spend more time reinventing the wheel and less time developing a long-term agenda or reaching compromises on state policy. Supporters say they helped break a good old boy system in Lincoln that gave too much power to entrenched senior senators.

Voters approved term limits in 2000 with a constitutional amendment that went into effect in 2006, restricting senators to two consecutive four-year terms. Because Nebraska has a one-house Legislature, lawmakers can’t run for office in another chamber as their counterparts in other states do.