OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium says it has set an all-time attendance record.

Zoo officials say visitors in 2016 exceeded 2 million for the first time. The exact number was 2,046,171.

Zoo Director Dennis Pate says several activities during the year helped to attract visitors.

In March, the zoo rescued 17 elephants from Swaziland, Africa in partnership with two other zoos. Six of the elephants have made their home at Omaha.

Other popular attractions included a 28-acre African Grasslands with lions, cheetah, giraffe and kid-friendly interactive activities and an Alaskan-themed splash ground.

Pate says community support allows the zoo to continue its work in conservation and create cutting edge exhibits.

The previous high was 1.7 million visitors in 2014.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — School districts in Iowa and Nebraska are among the 88 across the country to receive federal funding to replace or modify school buses to reduce exhaust emissions.

The Environmental Protection Agency says it is providing $7.7 million to replace or retrofit 401 diesel engine buses to reduce pollutants the agency says are linked to health problems such as asthma and lung damage.

In Iowa, the Bondurant-Farrar district gets $70,000 for three buses, Lawton-Bronson district gets $80,000 for four and Sioux City schools will get $20,000 for one bus.

In Nebraska, Arlington Public Schools and Wahoo Public Schools each get $20,000 for a bus.

Applicants replacing buses with engine model years of 2006 and older will receive rebates between $15,000 and $25,000, depending on the size of the bus.

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — A 37-year-old Diller man has been given two years’ probation for punching a resident at the Beatrice facility for developmentally disabled people.

Court records say Shawn Ebeling also was sentenced Thursday to 180 days in jail in 30-day increments. Ebeling’s probation officer can waive the jail time if Ebeling abides by his probation terms.

Ebeling pleaded no contest to attempted abuse of a vulnerable adult. Prosecutors had lowered the charge from a felony in return for Ebeling’s plea.

Another employee of the Beatrice State Developmental Center reported that Ebeling punched a patient Aug. 24, and then manhandled the patient until the patient’s face struck the handle of a fuse box. Ebeling told investigators he got upset when the resident tried to bite him.

Ebeling no longer works at the center.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new state report says ride services haven’t hurt taxi businesses across Nebraska.

An estimated 500 people drove for either Uber or Lyft last year, with most operating in Omaha or Lincoln.

The Nebraska Public Service Commission issued the report as part of its regulation of ride-hailing and cab companies. Commission Executive Director Jeff Pursley says statewide data from cab companies shows the total number of rides given has been trending up over the past five years.

The report also notes that Lincoln has seen a decline in the number of cabs and cab drivers employed. Pursley says it’s not clear what’s causing the decline but also says the reduction in numbers occurred before the ride services began operating in Nebraska.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man was sentenced to a day in jail for poisoning four cottonwood trees on city property.

Court records say 44-year-old Donald Grenawalt was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to criminal mischief. He was credited with a day he’d already served. Grenawalt also must pay $10,000 in restitution.

Officials say they found four or five holes had been drilled into each tree trunk. Court records say Grenawalt told a city employee who knew him that he’d poisoned the trees because they were messy and he was sick of them. The documents say investigators found drills and bits at Grenawalt’s home and chemicals that could have been poured into the trees.

The dead trees were cut down Thursday.