LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Attorney General Doug Peterson is taking new shots at a study that says Nebraska’s death penalty costs $14.6 million per year, but the economist who conducted it is standing by his work.

Peterson sought Wednesday to discredit the study, saying it inflated defense and housing costs of death row inmates and the number of court days spent on capital punishment cases.

The Republican attorney general supports the death penalty and criticized the Legislature’s decision to abolish it. Voters will decide whether to overturn that decision in November.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says his study is scientifically valid, based on census data from Nebraska’s 93 counties.

Goss was hired by death penalty opponents. He says they wanted a straightforward analysis because they believed the data would support their position.

DETROIT (AP) — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling more than 1.9 million vehicles worldwide because their air bags might not deploy in a crash.

The recall affects certain Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Lancia vehicles from the 2010-2014 model years. Most are in the U.S., but 224,860 were sold in Canada and Mexico and 284,051 were sold outside North America.

FCA says an air-bag and seat-belt control module with a certain wiring design may not deploy the air bags or tighten the seat belts if the vehicle is involved in a frontal crash. That could increase the risk of injury.

The automaker says three deaths and five injuries may be related to the issue.

FCA will contact owners and replace the defective parts for free.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new report is outlining a series of steps Nebraska’s beleaguered prisons can take to ensure better outcomes for inmates and staff members.

The report released Thursday by the Office of Inspector General of the Nebraska Correctional System highlights many of the lingering problems in the state corrections department, such as understaffing and crowding.

It also urges officials to hire more minority staff members, including those who speak Spanish and other languages that are prominent in the prison system.

The report notes that at least six Nebraska counties are interested in working with corrections officials on a program that would house work-release inmates in their home counties.

The report was released as prison officials prepare to present their official budget request to lawmakers and Gov. Pete Ricketts.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Officials are looking for someone to donate a tree to display at the Nebraska Capitol during the Christmas holiday season.

The Nebraska Capitol Commission is seeking a tree within a 70-mile radius Lincoln. The tree must be a blue spruce, Douglas or Concolor fir. It must be able to fit through the Capitol’s 7-by-6-foot north entrance doors but large enough to command attention in the rotunda.

Officials say the ideal tree would stand 20 to 25 feet tall with a maximum girth of 15 feet, depending on the size and thickness of branches. Taller trees could be cut to size.

Horticulturalist Supervisor Craig Kreiner says his staff sometimes needs to look at 10 trees before finding the right one. Donors may receive a tax deduction for their donation.

A 29-year-old North Platte man is facing multiple felony charges after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend at a Lake Maloney campground.

According to Chief Deputy Roland Kramer, at around 3:00 p.m., on September 14, deputies met with a female at the Sheriff’s Office regarding an assault that had taken place earlier.

The female told deputies that she and her boyfriend, Randolph Dye, had been sleeping in their car at the Outlet Campground when they got into an argument at around 4:00 a.m.  She alleged that the argument soon turned physical.

She then claimed that she got out of the vehicle, at which time Dye threw a rock at her.  The rock missed the victim, according to Kramer, and struck the windshield of the vehicle, causing it to crack.

The female said she attempted to run, but Dye tackled her and began to choke her.  He eventually stopped and threatened to strike the victim with a baseball bat that was in the vehicle.

At some point, the female was able to get away.

Deputies began to search for Dye, and were able to locate him at around 6:15 p.m.  He was taken into custody and transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

He’s been charged with felony terroristic threats, felony strangulation and 3rd-degree domestic assault.

According to jail records, Dye is being held without bond.