LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The developer of the Keystone XL pipeline has withdrawn its application for route approval through Nebraska, but a spokesman says the Canadian company reserves the right to reapply.

TransCanada made the announcement Wednesday, a day before it was scheduled to appear before the Nebraska Public Service Commission for a planning conference.

Before President Barack Obama rejected a federal permit for the project, Nebraska had been a major roadblock because of lawsuits filed by landowners and environmental groups.

The pipeline was projected to carry 800,000 barrels a day of crude from Canada and North Dakota to Nebraska, where existing pipelines would bring it to Gulf Coast refineries.

Company spokesman Mark Cooper says TransCanada may reapply in the future and is committed to completing the final leg of the Keystone pipeline system.

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — Campaign records show the founder of an investment firm that bought a 6 percent stake in the outdoors outfitter Cabela’s donated $35,000 to Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts’ election campaign.

Elliott Management founder Paul Singer gave Ricketts’ campaign $10,000 in November 2013 and $25,000 in September 2014.

Ricketts told the World-Herald Tuesday it was “absolutely not” a conflict to advocate for Cabela’s. He says he hasn’t talked to Singer or Elliott Management.

Ricketts told the newspaper last month that he’d talked to Cabela’s CEO following Elliott’s announcement, which raised fears about a possible sale or shake-up at Cabela’s, which employs 2,000 people in Sidney.

Ricketts said he offered assistance in talking to Elliott to see whether Cabela’s needed anything from Nebraska to be more competitive.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s courts and office of probation administration say a report that is critical of what was called a lack of progress on juvenile justice reform is inaccurate.

State probation administrator Ellen Brokofsky spoke to the Nebraska Children’s Commission Tuesday about Inspector General Julie Rogers’ report.

According to the report, the state’s courts did not follow state law on improving transparency and accountability in providing all case information to the inspector general’s office.

Brokofsky’s office says the report used assumptions and anecdotal information that was “not necessarily factual.”

Brokofsky says the probation office became involved in juvenile reform because it saw many low-income children becoming wards of the state and knew it was a large undertaking.

Earlier this month, Omaha Sen. Bob Krist said he was drafting legislation to move the juvenile justice program out of the judiciary branch.

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LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is seeking information involving the killing and wanton waste of 25 antelope. The antelope were illegally shot and left lay near Broadwater in Morrill County.

During the week of Nov. 12, reports of dead antelope lying in a winter wheat field northeast of Broadwater were investigated by Nebraska conservation officers. The investigation revealed 25 adult and fawn antelope that were shot and left in the field. Some of the animals were drug off the field and hidden in tall grass.

“Individuals involved with this crime have blatant disregard for wildlife and wildlife laws,” said Sean McKeehan, a conservation officer investigating the case.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call Nebraska Wildlife Crimestoppers at 1-800-742-7627 or call Conservation Officers McKeehan at 308-279-9133or Jim Zimmerman at 308-641-6138. Callers can remain anonymous and might be eligible for a cash reward. Wildlife Crimestoppers will pay up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any individuals involved in the case.

Winter weather was determined to be a contributing factor in a deadly crash Tuesday, Nov. 17, on Interstate 80 near Elm Creek in Buffalo County.

The Nebraska State Patrol responded to the crash involving a semi and a car just after8:30 p.m. on Tuesday night.  The driver of an eastbound semi-trailer truck lost control of his rig. The semi slid into the median and jackknifed. The driver of a westbound 2008 Saturn Ion hit the brakes and lost control of the car. The car slid into the median and hit the jackknifed semi. At the time of the crash roads were snow covered.

Irene Stierwalt, 55, Ogallala, a backseat passenger in the car was killed in the crash. The driver of the car, Bridgette Robinett, 19, Torrington, Wyo., and two other passengers, Sheldon Baltzell, 20, of Bayard, and Leslie Wray, 43, of Ogallala, were transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, with non-life threatening injuries.

The driver of the semi, Bryan Boyer, 55, of Eden, Ohio, was not injured.

A seat belt was in use by the semi driver. None of the occupants of the car were wearing seat belts.

The investigation into the crash continues. The Nebraska State Patrol was assisted by the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Elm Creek Volunteer Fire and Rescue and Good Samaritan Ambulance Service.

Motorists traveling during winter weather conditions are reminded to keep up-to-date with the changing weather and road conditions by utilizing 511, Nebraska’s Advanced Traveler Information System. The System can be accessed by dialing 511 or online at <www.511.nebraska.gov >. A Nebraska 511 mobile app is also available to download at no cost for smartphone users. Simply search your app provider for Nebraska 511.

As conditions change motorists are reminded to adjust their speed and never travel faster than conditions allow. Slick surfaces make it difficult to steer and stop. Do not drive in slick, wet, snowy weather with your cruise control on. Motorists are also encouraged to give themselves plenty of time and distance to react to others around them. Be sure to exercise caution on bridges and overpasses, keep your headlights on and make sure they are cleaned off.

Now is also the time to include a winter weather survival kit in your vehicle The following are some basic items to include in your kit should you become stranded in wintry weather.

Motorists in need of non-emergency roadside assistance can call the Nebraska state Patrol Highway Helpline when safe to do so by dialing *55 from any cell phone or 1-800-525-5555. Emergencies should be reported to 911.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln chancellor has acknowledged racism exists on his campus and is encouraging the campus community to attend a Black Lives Matter protest scheduled for Thursday.

Chancellor Harvey Perlman sent a campuswide email Tuesday that said the university is not “purposefully racist” but also says students of color experience racism there.

Perlman says he’ll attend the protest and wants students and staffers to join the Black Lives Matter movement Thursday in order to ensure “our university successfully supports equal opportunities and an inclusive environment for all students.”

Last week University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds wrote in an email to all 65,000 university system employees and students that “when one of us is mistreated, we all suffer.”

ALMA, Neb. (AP) — Two Nebraska natural resources districts have approved an operational agreement for diverting Platte River water into the Republican River, helping the state meet its obligations to Kansas and Colorado.

Last week boards for the Lower Republican and the Tri-Basin natural resources districts approved the agreement, which will guide what they’re calling the Platte to Republican Basin High Flow Diversion Project. That entity will be overseen by a board of directors that includes representatives from both districts.

The water will flow from the Platte to the Republican via an irrigation canal and Turkey Creek.

The three-state Republican River agreement allocates 49 percent of the river’s water to Nebraska, 40 percent to Kansas and 11 percent to Colorado. Nebraska has faced lawsuits from Kansas in recent years for allegedly overusing its supply.

NEW YORK (AP) — Tyson Foods Inc. is recalling more than 52,000 pounds of chicken wings after customers complained that they had a bad odor.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also says that some customers reported falling ill after eating the wings.

The recall is for its 28-ounce bags of fully-cooked Tyson Any’tizers Hot Wings prepared last month in a Buffalo style coated with a tangy sauce. The bags have “Best If Used By” dates of Oct. 24, 2016 and Oct. 25, 2016. They were sold nationwide.

The USDA says customers should throw out the recalled products or bring it back to where it was purchased.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Army National Guard is planning to offer new training and job opportunities to many of its soldiers as it launches the biggest overhaul of its services in 20 years.

Gov. Pete Ricketts announced Tuesday that roughly 1,100 of the Nebraska Guard’s 3,600 soldiers could be retrained for new jobs.

The charge is part of a larger reorganization taking place nationally throughout the Army National Guard.

Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, Nebraska’s adjutant general, says the number of soldiers will remain roughly the same. Bohac says many local transportation companies will shift to perform other duties, providing a greater diversity of services.

The changes will affect units in Lincoln, Omaha, Beatrice, Columbus, York, Hastings, Kearney, Grand Island, Mead, O’Neill, Broken Bow, North Platte, McCook, Sidney, Scottsbluff, and Chadron.