DENVER (AP) — The U.S. and Canadian military’s beloved Santa Tracker is facing something new this year — public criticism.

A children’s advocacy group says an animated video on the NORAD Tracks Santa website injects militarism into Christmas by showing fighter jets escorting Santa’s sleigh.

It’s a rare swipe at the popular Christmas Eve program that gives second-by-second updates on Santa’s global whereabouts.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command defends the video as non-threatening and safe for kids.

The kerfuffle erupted two weeks ago when the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood said the video brings violence and militarism to a beloved tradition. Blogs and Twitter lit up with volleys from both sides.

Coalition officials say it’s a “media-manufactured controversy.” They say they hadn’t even known about the video until reporters called.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Workers are expected to return soon to a 5-year-old overpass in Lincoln to install sheet metal that will keep pigeons out and protect people below.

City officials have accepted a $739,000 bid to install 22,000 square feet of sheet metal beneath the Harris Overpass. The 1,900-foot-long bridge carries O Street over railroad tracks.

The West Haymarket Joint Public Agency, which oversees Pinnacle Bank Arena developments, will vote Thursday whether to pay for half of the project.

Pigeons have flocked to the bridge since its completion, but their presence only became troublesome after the arena and related developments pushed the railroad to the west.

People going to the arena now pass beneath the overpass, putting themselves in danger of the bird droppings.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A judge has sentenced an eastern Nebraska man to up to 50 years in prison in the death of his infant daughter.

York County District Judge J.P. Mullen sentenced 32-year-old Ryan Kozisek (KOHS’-eh-sec) of Gresham to 35 to 50 years in prison.

A York County jury found Kozisek guilty of child abuse resulting in the death of his 4-month-old daughter, Kayley Kozisek. Kayley died at an Omaha hospital on Jan. 25, 2011, a day after Kozisek called 911 and said she wasn’t breathing.

Kozisek had claimed his 2-year-old daughter fell off a stepping stool and landed on the baby. A doctor says such an accident couldn’t have caused Kayley’s injuries.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Gretna couple with a winning ticket for last week’s $122 million Powerball jackpot will receive their award from Gov. Dave Heineman.

Heineman will present the award to David and Erica Harrig at the Capitol on Tuesday afternoon.

Another winning ticket was sold in Massachusetts, meaning the Harrigs are expected to split the jackpot with the Massachusetts winner.

The Harrigs told the Omaha World-Herald that they plan to take a lump-sum payment of $34.18 million when they claim the jackpot. Taking the annuity option would yield a total of $61.45 million paid out annually over 29 years.

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) — A man faces charges in connection with the death of a South Sioux City woman in northeast Nebraska.

22-year-old Raymond Frank Gonzalez made his first court appearance Monday in Dakota County Court. He is charged with a felony of terroristic threats and a misdemeanor of disturbing the peace.

Gonzalez is accused of being involved in the shooting death of 28-year-old Bonnie Baker. She was found Sunday in a mobile home park.

The Sioux City Police Department arrested Gonzalez Monday morning. The newspaper reports a judge ordered Gonzales to be held on a $ 1 million bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14. Court records do not list an attorney.

Officials say Baker’s autopsy is pending.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Northeast Nebraskans are being urged to return surveys that will be used in the state’s Northeast Nebraska Laborshed Study.

The state Labor Department says survey results will be used to help regional and community groups better train employees, target new and expanding businesses and develop niche marketing campaigns.

The study will factor in workforces in southeastern South Dakota and northwestern Iowa, locations employers may draw from to fill positions in Columbus, Fremont, Norfolk, South Sioux City, Wayne and West Point.

A final Nebraska report will be published in spring 2014.

Residents are encouraged to return their completed surveys in the postage-paid envelopes by Dec 31. Individual responses will be kept confidential.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A group of former state lawmakers is seeking public money to pay for fountains at the Nebraska Capitol.

The group has renewed its effort to raise $2.5 million for bronze fountains at the Capitol’s four open-air courtyards.

The fountains are the last unfinished design feature of the Capitol, which was built in stages between 1922 and 1932.

The Nebraska Association of Former State Legislators hopes to have the fountains installed over the next three years, in time for the state’s 150th anniversary.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Dave Heineman, the chairman of the Capitol Commission, says the governor believes that private donors should finance the fountains.

The fundraising campaign began about five years ago, but fizzled after brining in less than $4,000.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police are investigating a shooting outside an Omaha nightclub that killed a woman and injured two men.

Authorities say 24-year-old Janee Hadan died on Sunday at an Omaha hospital. The other shooting victims, 30-year-old Gary Lockett and 23-year-old Brandon Patterson, were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

A police spokesman says officers were called to Omaha’s Roxbury Plaza shortly before 2 a.m. The shooting took place outside the Passion Lounge, a club on the city’s southwest side.

The nightclub’s owner says it appears Hadan was shot while sitting in a car in the parking lot. He says he doesn’t believe anyone involved in the shooting had been in the club.

Police say the Passion Lounge recently had its liquor license taken away, but it was reinstated a few days ago.