News Archive

By Cheril Lee

Omaha, NE – The Omaha Public Library is presenting an exhibit called "In a Nutshell: The Worlds of Maurice Sendak."

Gary Wasdin is the Executive Director for the Omaha Public Library. He says the exhibit is a celebration of one of the most beloved children's authors of all time.

Sendak has illustrated more than 100 picture books including "Where the Wild Things Are" and "In the Night Kitchen." Wasdin says the exhibit focuses on Sendak's work, life and influences.

By Katie Schubert

Omaha, NE – Nebraska and Iowa play the first "Heroes Game" Friday morning, and it'll mean a new house for a needy family in Omaha or Council Bluffs.

Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan met on the pedestrian bridge last week to wager on the game. If Iowa wins, Mayor Suttle and his staff will build a house in Council Bluffs with Habitat for Humanity. If Nebraska wins, it'll be Mayor Hanafan and his staff building a house with Habitat for Humanity in Omaha.

By Cheril Lee

Omaha, NE – Third quarter statistics for the 2-1-1 Call Center showed an increase in areas of need in Nebraska and Southwest Iowa.

Karen Brickelmyer is the President and CEO of the United Way of the Midlands. She says the 2-1-1 line is a source for information, with the goal of connecting individuals who have needs with service providers in the community.

By Cheril Lee

Omaha, NE – The Keystone XL Pipeline was the primary focus of Senator Mike Johanns' weekly conference call last Thursday.

Senator Johanns said he was pleased to hear that TransCanada had agreed to work with state government to reroute the pipeline. Johanns previously expressed concerns about the original route.

By Charlie Litton, Nebraska News Service

Lincoln, NE – It took less than 45 minutes for the 15th day of the Unicameral's special legislative session to pass four bills and then Gov. Dave Heineman to sign them into law.

Following unopposed votes on the floor, members of the Natural Resources Committee hand delivered the bills to the governor, who quickly signed them during a five-minute ceremony in his second-floor office. "Our work is done," Heineman said before signing the bills while flanked by the eight- member committee.

By Cheril Lee

Omaha, NE – The manager of campus security at UNO says the university will have a new text messaging system that allows anyone to send texts directly to campus security.

Paul Kosel says individuals on and off campus may use the new system to report an emergency or a crime, as well as share tips anonymously with campus security. The process to find an affordable text system took several years, but Kosel says UNO will finally implement the new system on Tuesday.

By Katie Schubert

Omaha, NE – November is National Family Caregivers Month.

The National Family Caregivers Association estimates 65 million Americans are caregivers for an aging loved one. Brian Petranick, president and COO of Omaha-based Right at Home Inc., estimates there are 240,000 family caregivers in the Omaha metro.

By Katie Schubert

Omaha, NE – The Omaha Public Schools board has set April 9, 2012 date to name a new superintendent.

Board members set a timeline last week for the selection of the new superintendent. Dr. John Mackiel is retiring from OPS at the end of this school year after 39 years with the school district. OPS hired Illinois-based consulting firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates to assist with the search.

The timeline is as follows:

Online survey: December 1-13

Leadership profile interviews: December 8-10

By Cheril Lee

Omaha, NE – The VA of Nebraska-Western Iowa is providing free services for homeless veterans tomorrow from 9 until Noon at the Omaha Civic Center.

VA Public Affairs Officer Will Ackerman says the event, called Stand Down, is intended to give back to the veterans who have served and sacrificed honorably. He says this event is one part of the Department of Veterans Affairs' goal to end veterans' homelessness by 2015.

Ackerman says Stand Down is one way for the VA to reach veterans that may not yet be connected with services.

By Katie Schubert

Omaha, NE – OPPD is proposing a 5.9 percent rate hike in 2012 for residential customers.

Utility officials discussed the proposed rate hike at a meeting Thursday. If it's approved, residential customers will pay an additional $5.30 per month for electricity starting in January.