Omaha Local News

Omaha, Nebraska - The State of Nebraska will apportion $50 million in federal transportation "alternative" grants to various bicycle and hiking trails, including ones in Omaha, Fremont, and the Sandhills village of Taylor. These funds represent a notable contribution from the Transportation Alternatives Project (TAP) Federal Grant, the largest to date since the program's inception in 1991. Omaha will use the grant to construct a bikeway linking Midtown and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Meanwhile, Fremont plans to leverage the funds for its "FEVR Rail to Trail" project. The village of Taylor, with a population of 140, will develop the "Kevin...

Omaha, Nebraska - The Omaha Police Department has reported the arrest of two individuals, Wayne Rolling, aged 29, and Keith Hill, aged 27, who are believed to be involved in a series of robberies that took place from July 15 through to early Friday morning. The latest incident occurred on Friday morning, just before 6:30 a.m., at a Scooter's outlet situated on 72nd Street. Law enforcement officers were called to the scene following a report of a robbery. After investigation, it was found that the suspects involved in the Scooter's incident matched the description of those involved in an earlier robbery...

Omaha, Nebraska - Beginning Tuesday, the VCA MidWest Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center, the only around-the-clock emergency animal clinic in the Omaha-Council Bluffs vicinity, will curtail its operational hours due to a widespread shortage of veterinarians. Hospital manager Laura Bates attributes the reduction in hours to the nationwide scarcity of vets. This deficiency has left the center with just four of its original nine doctors since the onset of the pandemic. Bates expressed her concern, saying, "We're now facing the challenging task of balancing our staff's workload with our community's need for our services. It's become apparent that we need to find...

Omaha, Nebraska - Mayor Jean Stothert has declared her intentions to transition the Omaha Police Mental Health Co-Responder Unit's funding source from grants to the city budget, beginning in the fiscal year of 2024. The Co-Responder Unit is composed of seven licensed mental health professionals, bolstered by experts in children's behavioral health. This specialized team has proven to be an indispensable resource in the Omaha community's mental health care provision. In the past year, 2022, the Omaha Police Department received more than 7,700 calls related to mental health crises. Mayor Stothert mentioned that the Co-Responder Unit was directly engaged in over 2,500...

Omaha, Nebraska - The Omaha Police Department has confirmed the arrest of three individuals in connection to an ongoing homicide and aggravated assault investigation The suspects, identified as Luis Hernandez-Melendez, Alvin Melendez, and Valeria Vasquez, have been apprehended in connection with a shooting that took place on Sunday evening at an Omaha apartment complex. Upon arrival at the scene, Omaha police discovered two gunshot victims within a vehicle. The victims were subsequently identified as Luis Romero Rodriguez, 28, and Jose Alfredo Lapop-Flores, 24. Tragically, Rodriguez was pronounced deceased at the Citadel Apartments, located in the vicinity of S 86th Parkway and Q...

Omaha, Nebraska - Authorities are in the process of investigating a vehicular collision that occurred on Wednesday morning in Omaha. The incident, which led to a vehicle overturning onto its side, occurred at approximately 9 a.m. near the intersection of 28th and Farnam streets. Despite the severity of the accident, as evidenced by the overturned vehicle, it has been reported that there were no injuries. Information provided by the relevant authorities has confirmed this. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is ongoing. The aim is to understand how the accident took place and to determine any necessary preventive measures for...

Omaha, Nebraska - In an effort to support survivors of domestic violence, the State of Nebraska has recently introduced a notification system that provides critical updates on protection orders. Available at ProtectionOrders.Nebraska.gov, the system sends alerts to survivors and their advocates, notifying them of when a protection order has been served and when it is 45 days from expiration. Katie Welsh, Vice President of Programs at the Women's Center for Advancement (WCA), shed light on the significance of protection orders. "Protection orders are quite prevalent because they're a very important step to achieving safety for survivors," she remarked, adding, "It's a...

Omaha, Nebraska - The Omaha Police Department (OPD) is currently investigating a robbery incident that took place in the early hours of the morning at a local business establishment. According to the information received from authorities, the OPD was alerted to an incident at the NP Mart, situated at the junction of 56th and Ames. The response team was dispatched and arrived on the scene around 2:55 a.m. On arrival, the police officers interacted with a staff member of the mart who relayed the series of events. According to the employee, a man of African American descent, attired in a light-colored shirt,...

Omaha, Nebraska - The Omaha Police Department is currently conducting an investigation into a homicide that took place in the vicinity of South 86th Parkway on Sunday evening. As per the information released by the Omaha Police Department, the officers were summoned to the area of South 86th Parkway at approximately 8:45 p.m. on Sunday, following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered two individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. The Omaha Fire Department personnel declared one of the victims, subsequently identified as Luis Romero Rodriguez, aged 28, deceased at the site of the incident. The second victim was conveyed by the...

Omaha, Nebraska - In anticipation of the imminent heatwave, The Salvation Army has announced the establishment of three cooling centers across Omaha. This measure comes in light of meteorological forecasts predicting mid to high 90-degree temperatures throughout the forthcoming week, with heat index values potentially escalating to around 110 degrees. The Salvation Army has clarified that these cooling centers will furnish air-conditioned surroundings and supply bottled water, serving as temporary sanctuaries for those seeking a brief escape from the intense heat. The operational timings of these centers, however, will fluctuate based on their geographical locations, as detailed below. Heritage Place at...

Omaha, Nebraska - The Nebraska Humane Society (NHS) announced that an unfortunate flooding incident within the shelter's medical department was triggered by a burst pipe. This pipe was an integral part of the facility's fire suppression system. Upon discovering the issue, the dedicated staff at the shelter took swift and efficient measures to secure the wellbeing of the animals under their care. They managed to promptly evacuate all animals from the affected medical department, while simultaneously curbing the spread of water towards the dog kennels, thus averting a potentially catastrophic scenario. As a result of the incident, it has been necessary...

Omaha, Nebraska - Law enforcement officials have reported an altercation involving several juveniles at the Gene Leahy Mall on Wednesday night, underscoring the growing need for enhanced public safety measures. Testimonies gathered from bystanders suggest the presence of weapons among the combatants. One juvenile was reported fleeing the scene with what appeared to be a firearm, while another was spotted brandishing a knife. In a separate, possibly related incident, a hospital reported admitting an individual with a stab wound. The victim professed to law enforcement officials that his injuries were self-inflicted, the unfortunate outcome of a skateboarding accident where he purportedly fell...

Omaha, Nebraska - A resident of Omaha, has been sentenced to serve 6.5 years in a federal prison for his involvement in an elaborate case of tax evasion and embezzlement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Omaha branch has termed this as a stark instance of unchecked greed. Presiding U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Jeffrey Stenstrom, 42, to 2.5 years for income tax evasion and an additional 6.5 years for conspiring to launder funds. The two federal sentences will run simultaneously, and it should be noted that there is no provision for parole within the federal prison system. Eugene Kowel,...

Omaha, Nebraska -The city of Omaha serves as a significant employment center in the Midwest, prominently within sectors such as insurance, financial services, and healthcare. Currently a considerable number of industries in the region are engaged in active hiring. The latest data available from the job search platform Indeed reveals that there are in excess of 21,000 job vacancies in the metropolitan area. Remarkably, an estimated twenty percent of these positions offer annual remuneration of $80,000 or more. To give an idea of the opportunities available, we present a list of 10 companies based in Omaha that are currently seeking to fill...

Omaha, Nebraska - Creighton University's Magis Clinic is organizing an event for the benefit of the community by providing costless pediatric sports physicals, immunizations, as well as vision and hearing assessments. Additionally, school supplies will be on offer. The clinic, which is part of the university's back-to-school initiative, is scheduled for August 12th. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be hosted at the CHI Health University Campus. Those planning to partake in the services provided must come prepared with their immunization documents and a duly filled out school physical form. Please note, the clinic will be operating...

Omaha, Nebraska - In their most recent meeting, the Omaha City Council unanimously agreed to redevelop a particular section in North Omaha. The council's decision, rendered on Tuesday, declared the vicinity around 60th Street and Sorensen Parkway as 'extremely blighted.' This classification will permit prospective projects within the region to be eligible for tax increment financing terms spanning 20 years. Don Seten, who is affiliated with city planning, remarked that this designation would extend the possibility for homeowners to apply for state credit. In the final tally, the proposal was given the green light without opposition, with a vote of 5 to 0.