The 2009 Syracuse Germanfest Friday-Sunday, July 10-12, is the silver anniversary of the start of the celebration of the Syracuse area’s German heritage.

The Nebraska City Jaycees' fireworks display is July 4 at Steinhart Park. (Interactive map inside)

New security measures for the issuance of a driver’s license in Nebraska has the state Department of Motor Vehicles looking for more space in Nebraska City.

Formerly, photographs for the license were taken and fees were paid at the Otoe County treasurer’s office.

That procedure left a security gap, state officials said, because the person who showed up to take the photograph did not necessarily have to be the same person who showed proof of identification and took the test.

Ameritas representatives offered Otoe County commissioners a snapshot of the county's property tax climate as part of a $2.5 million bond issue for road projects.

The snapshot included debt obligations for school districts and  cities and the county's top taxpayers.

Eight charges of securities fraud against former Nebraska City stockbroker Rebecca Engle were bound over to district court Friday.

Prosecutors say Engle did not provide relevant information to investors, who would ultimately lose about $20 million due to the failure of a Florida company. Engle's attorney, however, presented contracts executing the sale of securities where investors allegedly checked boxes acknowledging they had received sufficient information.

District Judge Randall Rehmeier ruled Monday that Syracuse’s annexation of nearly a mile of land north off the city limits along Highway 50 is valid.

The judge said the property qualifies for annexation because it is suburban or urban in nature, adjacent to the city limits and will allow the city to continue to grow northward.