OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded $8.3 million in contracts to restore the navigation channel along a nearly 120-mile stretch of the Missouri River in Iowa and Nebraska affected by last summer’s historic flooding.

The corps says the project is to repair a 300-foot-wide by 9-foot-deep channel between Sioux City, Iowa, and Rulo, Neb.

Dikes and other rock foundations are used to create the channel and prevent erosion along the bank. Many were damaged by the high water.

The repairs will take about 250,000 tons of rock and will involve cranes operating from barges. The project is in two sections — from Sioux City to Fort Calhoun, Neb., and from Fort Calhoun to Rulo.

Work is to begin within the week and be completed by September 2014.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Embattled Douglas County Election Commissioner Dave Phipps has announced a proposal to open another 27 polling places in the Omaha area for the November general election.

The move comes after Phipps endured scathing criticism for closing 180 of the county’s polling places before the May primary election.

The new plan announced Wednesday would also create another 30 precincts. Earlier this year, Phipps’ office had cut nearly half the county’s precincts to 185 from 354.

Phipps has said the cuts were made simply to save money, but critics charged that the changes would make it difficult for the poorest residents to vote.

Phipps’ office will gather public comment on the proposed changes through July 3.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two years after voters in Fremont approved a controversial immigration ordinance, the rule remains mired in court and residents are still split about whether it addresses a serious problem or needlessly tarnishes the city’s image.

Residents say little has changed in the city since the ordinance was approved in June 2010 with 57 percent support.

Supporters say they pushed for the measure to compensate for lax federal enforcement of immigration laws. Opponents say the rule has created a lingering, painful divide in a city that has grown steadily in recent decades.

A federal judge rejected part of the ordinance in February that would have denied housing permits to illegal immigrants. But she upheld a requirement that businesses screen employees with federal E-verify software. The case is being appealed.

ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) — Western Nebraska authorities continue investigating last week’s fatal standoff when a gunman wounded three officers and his pharmacist hostage before dying in a shootout with police.

Court documents say 27-year-old Andres Gonzalez told negotiators he killed 38-year-old Josh Bullock last December and told his girlfriend, 19-year-old Rose Siefke, he killed his father, 62-year-old Larry Gonzalez, before the June 12 standoff began.

Siefke is charged with helping conceal Bullock’s body. She appeared in court Tuesday, and is being held on $50,000 bond. Her attorney didn’t immediately respond to a message.

Box Butte County Attorney K.J. Hutchinson says autopsy results on Gonzalez and his father weren’t available Wednesday.

A grand jury will review Gonzalez’ death because police were trying to arrest him, but Hutchinson isn’t sure when that will happen.

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) — Police are searching for four men who were armed with machetes and guns who robbed a grocery store in South Sioux City.

The robbery at Seoul Foods happened late Tuesday night. No injuries were reported.

The robbers demanded money and fled the store with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The men jumped into a getaway car driven by another man.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Valero Energy has temporarily halted production at its ethanol plant in Albion in eastern Nebraska because shrinking margins, due in part to rising corn prices.

Local media says company spokesman Bill Day says a healthy supply of ethanol also played a role in the decision. He says it’s more economical to shut down than to lose money.

Corn prices are on the rise on worries that a hot, dry summer could burden crops.

Day says Valero expects to restart production sometime before the fall harvest, and there are no plans to lay off any workers.

Valero is the second Nebraska ethanol plant to temporarily stop production. NEDAK Ethanol shut down its plant in Atkinson last week to conduct regular maintenance and monitor the corn and ethanol markets.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — Residents in Scottsbluff and Gering in the Nebraska Panhandle are taking stock of the damage after a storm produced large hail that battered homes and cars.

Local media says the storm hit late Tuesday. Hail shattered windows and dented siding and vehicles.

Jeff Brock of Team Chevrolet in Scottsbluff says even with roofs over most their vehicles, about 50 cars were damaged.

John Massey of the J.G. Elliott Insurance Co. says some commercial properties were damaged by hail, and there are reports of crop damage.

The storm also brought strong winds of 60 mph and heavy rain.

(LEXINGTON)- Construction will begin in Lexington on June 27th on the Hwy 283 Jefferson Street bridge approaches. The work will include removal and replacement of the existing bridge approaches. The viaduct will be reduced to one lane with a 10th width restriction. Traffic will be controlled by temporary traffic signals during construction. Work should be completed early August 2012

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Former Nebraska Gov. Norbert Tiemann, who oversaw the implementation of the state’s sales and income taxes, has died. He was 87.

Tiemann’s daughter, Amy Tipton of Lincoln, confirmed Wednesday that her father died Tuesday night at his home in Dallas, where he had lived for more than two decades. Tipton says Tiemann had battled heart problems in recent years.

Tiemann, a Republican, served one term as governor from 1967 to 1971. As governor, he signed into law a new state tax structure that introduced sales and income tax collections into the state. He was also in office when state aid to schools was enacted, and he signed a bill designating “Beautiful Nebraska” as the state song.

He sought re-election in 1970, but was defeated by Democrat Jim Exon.