General News

The City of Bellevue has been selected to represent Nebraska in the SC Johnson Green Choices Challenge.

The city with the biggest percentage of sustainable participation during the 6-month contest period, will win a $100,000 environmental grant.  The competition began July 2nd and runs through December. 

An open forum called “Gang Violence and Prevention Awareness” takes place this evening at the South Omaha Public Library.

L.D. Richardson, Senior, Teen Specialist with Completely KIDS, says the teens in his program helped put the forum together.  Richardson says tonight’s forum will bring the community together and offer them information to improve the safety of South Omaha. 

The evening includes a presentation by the South Omaha precinct gang unit, former gang members and a victim of gang violence.  Richardson says prevention starts in the home.

Project Interfaith is taking its Ravel/UnRavel initiative to the streets starting this Sunday. Volunteers will be parking a classic Bel Air Wagon around the city, drawing attention to the project. 

The idea for Ravel/UnRavel unfolded in the spring of 2010 during the first week of a student project. 

For six weeks, kids took flip cameras and a list of questions concerning service, spiritual identity and beliefs, into the community. These interviews were then uploaded to a video blog on Project Interfaith’s website. 

Omaha’s 2013 budget proposal contains no property tax increase, and estimates sales tax revenue will grow 1 to 3 percent.

Mayor Jim Suttle introduced the 2013 budget at Tuesday's City Council meeting. The general fund budget is $319.8 million, a 2.76 percent increase over the 2012 spending plan. Most of the growth in the 2013 plan is due to Omaha Public Works’ budget.

The budget plan accounts for 1.75 percent raises for police, fire, and civilian personnel in 2013. It also includes a police department recruit class.

On July 1st, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed a new law into effect.  Under the new “Move Over” Law, motorists who are ticketed and convicted for not moving over for emergency vehicles will face increased penalties. 

Kim Snook is with the Iowa Department of Transportation. She says the purpose of the law is to keep emergency vehicles and highway personnel safe while they do their work.  Snook says there are two simple rules everyone should follow.