Omaha Local News

Omaha, Nebraska - The Omaha City Council, under the leadership of President Pete Festersen, disclosed the names of the applicants vying for the District 4 Council seat. A total of 12 individuals have put forth their applications for this vacant position. The candidates are as follows: Andrew Adams Rebecca Barrientos-Patlan Terri Blackburn Samuel Canova Garry Gernandt Ron Hug Margo Juarez Mark Martinez Anita Rojas Ben Salazar Erik Servellon Joseph Velasquez The council will review these applicants and subsequently select those who will be invited for interviews. These discussions are scheduled to take place during a special City Council assembly on September 7,...

Omaha, Nebraska - The Sarpy County Correctional Center's grand opening event, initially set for public attendance, has been postponed due to an unfortunate incident involving the death of an inmate the previous week. The joint decision to cancel the Aug. 18 unveiling of the center was reached by the Sarpy County Board of Commissioners in conjunction with the Sarpy County Department of Corrections. Although the scheduled public tours on Aug. 19 have been canceled, the department confirms the continuation of the planned operational transfer to the new facility. The reason for the event's cancellation revolves around the recent inmate fatality, as outlined...

Omaha, Nebraska - The Omaha Clinic is collaborating with The Street Dog Coalition once more in a laudable endeavor to offer complimentary veterinary services for the pets of individuals facing homelessness or those at risk. This session will be held on Sunday, Aug 20, between 10am and 11am at the Timberlake Outreach Center, situated at 2107 E Locust St, Omaha, NE. The Street Dog Coalition, together with Omaha SDC, organizes this event on every third Sunday monthly, emphasizing essential vaccinations and consultations for minor health issues. Both canine and feline companions are eligible for these services, emphasizing comprehensive care irrespective of...

Omaha, Nebraska - The Omaha Police Department is currently conducting an investigation into a shooting incident that resulted in injuries to one individual. Based on the official statement, officers were dispatched to D Street in the vicinity of South 42nd Street at approximately 3:40 p.m. on Sunday. Upon their arrival, authorities identified a single victim, Mr. Angel Mata, 20 years of age. He was subsequently transported to a medical facility in a critical state by paramedics from the Omaha Fire Department. Furthermore, Mr. Manuel Ponce, aged 23, was located at the incident site. He was taken to the Omaha Police Department Central Headquarters...

Omaha, Nebraska - Two separate accidents occurred this morning in Omaha resulting in significant traffic disruptions. The initial accident took place around 7:30 a.m. in the westbound lanes between the 50th and 60th Street exits. First responders on the scene identified that approximately six vehicles were involved in the collision. Footage from the Nebraska Department of Transportation camera revealed that a dump truck and a large box truck were caught in the mishap. This caused the box truck to change course in the wrong direction, and other vehicles were subsequently affected as well. Shortly after the first crash, a second accident was...

Omaha, Nebraska - An individual involved in the death of a 46-year-old man at Benson Park appeared in Omaha court yesterday. Lavell Cutler faces multiple charges, among them second-degree murder and evidence tampering. During the court session, a bond of $2 million was set for Cutler. Furthermore, he opted not to proceed with a preliminary hearing, leading to the progression of the case to the district court. Phillip Kuhn, the victim, was discovered in Benson Park early in the morning on August 2. Preliminary findings suggest he suffered gunshot wounds. Subsequent police investigations connected Kuhn's last known whereabouts to Benson Towers. Surveillance footage...

Omaha, Nebraska - On September 3rd, Nebraska will implement a new legislation permitting concealed weapon carry without a requisite permit. This change mandates significant modifications to Omaha's city code, necessitating the removal of nearly 24 sections. These sections, which were integral to combating criminal activity, include the city's firearm registration directive. The city council is presently consulting with legal experts to explore potential legislative measures to safeguard public safety. City council president Pete Festersen commented, "In our pursuit of enhancing public safety, we are considering alternate strategies to aptly manage these concerns and diminish criminal activities." Mr. Festersen has directed the city's legal...

Omaha, Nebraska - Metro Transit continues to prioritize the accessibility of transportation for K-12 students with its "K-12 Rides Free" initiative. This commendable program ensures that students, spanning from kindergarten to 12th grade, can avail of complimentary rides on any Metro Transit bus, ORBT, or MOBY, unrestricted by time or destination. Launched in May 2021, the initiative has successfully facilitated transportation for approximately 600,000 students in its two-year tenure. Metro CEO, Lauren Cencic, commented on the program's significance: “Students in the metro area have shown us how important it is to have options when it comes to connecting them to the opportunities, people,...

Omaha, Nebraska - In the early hours of Friday morning in Omaha, a vehicular accident resulted in an individual being trapped against a wall, as confirmed by Omaha's Fire Department. Local authorities arrived near the intersection of 82nd and Howard Streets at approximately 1:45 a.m., where the incident took place. The injured party was immediately transported by paramedics to a nearby medical facility due to the severity of their injuries. At this time, further details regarding the accident have not been disclosed to the public. Once we learn more information about this accident, we will update this article. Check back for more details.

Omaha, Nebraska - The Omaha Police Department has announced an upcoming "amnesty day" specifically focused on the collection of fireworks and firearms. This initiative is set for August 12th, and will be active from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The department has designated two primary drop-off locations for this purpose: Seymour Smith Park, situated near 72nd and Harrison streets, and Omaha Fire Station 43, positioned close to 103rd and Fort streets. In an official statement from the Omaha Police Department, they assured, "Citizens may drop off fireworks and guns, no questions asked." The objective is to provide a safe environment for residents...

Omaha, Nebraska - Schools grapple with the challenge of teacher staffing shortages. Specifically, Omaha's OPS has recently made the decision to eliminate special education services at three elementary institutions: Martin Luther King Elementary, Walnut Hill Elementary, and Central Park Elementary. This decision posed a dilemma for Alicia Garcia, whose daughter Rylee was a student at King Elementary. Presented with two options — either transferring her nine-year-old or continuing her education at King Elementary without special education support — Garcia chose the former. Given Rylee's individual education plan and her ADHD and ODD diagnoses, a transfer seemed the most prudent option. Garcia...

Omaha, Nebraska - As schools across the state welcome students in the coming weeks, drivers are urged to exercise heightened caution on the roads. Brian Ortner, the Public Affairs Specialist with AAA the Auto Club Group, emphasizes the significance of adhering to speed limits, especially in school zones. He remarks, "Speed limits in school zones are there for a reason. There's a big difference between someone getting hit by a vehicle traveling 25 mph compared to 35 mph. That 10 mph difference could save a life." Furthermore, he advises drivers to minimize distractions, suggesting, "You should also eliminate distractions by turning down...

Omaha, Nebraska - An individual sustained significant injuries following a collision involving a motorcycle in Omaha on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred approximately at 7:15 a.m. at the intersection of 75th and Blondo streets. Subsequent to the crash, the injured party was transported to a local medical facility in serious condition. The reasons behind the accident remain undisclosed as of the current reporting time. Once more details become available, we will update this article.

Omaha, Nebraska - The Douglas County Board of Equalization has formally sanctioned property assessments, following a series of valuation protests. This year witnessed approximately 7,400 assessment protests, marking it as the second most substantial influx since 1995. It's imperative to note that some of these valuations will remain unaltered, notwithstanding the protests. After a decisive vote of 6-1 on Tuesday, the board is obligated to communicate the results to the taxpayers by August 18.

Omaha, Nebraska - Omaha Police are currently looking into a shooting incident from Tuesday evening in which an 18-year-old sustained injuries. The Omaha Police Department (OPD) reports that their officers were dispatched to the specified location at 9:28 p.m. Upon arrival, they identified signs of the shooting in an alley situated to the west of 1817 North 33rd. Subsequently, an 18-year-old individual, having sustained gunshot wounds, presented himself at CUMC-University Campus. He was later moved to the CUMC-Bergan Mercy Medical Center for further medical attention. The authorities have clarified that the victim's injuries are not of a life-threatening nature. It was also noted...

Omaha, Nebraska - As the beginning of the school year approaches, Omaha Public Schools (OPS) has provided insights into its initiatives to counteract the nationwide deficit of bus drivers. OPS acknowledges the possibility of route delays but believes that the enhancement of their call center will facilitate improved communication with parents. Chris Phillips, Chief Operating Officer of North End Teleservices, commented, "We have access to the transportation systems that also give us the opportunity to provide as much information that can during that first initial experience." Given a reduction by 60 routes, OPS predicts a surge in call volume as the...