KIOS News

KANEKO invites families to bring the kiddos to the KANEKO on Saturday mornings for exclusive family time to enjoy the exhibits and take part in some family activities.

KANEKO Education Manager, Katherine Scarpello explains on “Live & Local” how the times from 10:00 to 12:00 on Saturday mornings is set aside for parents and caregivers of small children (under 12) to move freely within the galleries and enjoy the current Community exhibits and the KANEKO- UNO Creative Library that has a dedicated space for kids!  KIDSpace at the K-UNO Library offers thoughtfully curated children’s books about creativity in a relaxed environment. 

More information can be found at https://thekaneko.org/family-admission/. 

A hundred years ago, two Omaha newspapermen – Leo Bozell and Morris Jacobs started the advertising firm Bozell & Jacobs.  A century later, three women own the legendary firm in an industry that at one time was male dominated.

Jackie Miller, one of Bozell's owners and the Chief Marketing Officer, joined Mike Hogan on “Live & Local” to discuss the rich history of Bozell which includes culturally iconic campaigns, (milk mustache campaign, “pork … the other white meat,” and Boys Town’s "He ain’t heavy, Father, he’s m’ brother” rebrand), decades of adapting to the changing culture of America, and an evolution to become a woman-owned business.

More information about the firm or the book “From Newsboy to Adman: The Story of Morris E. Jacobs, Co-founder of Bozell & Jacobs” can be found at https://bozell.com/.

During the pandemic, business faced closure while workers faced unemployment.  Two centers at UNO worked hard to provide the resources and data to help business owners stay afloat and provide civic leaders with the data necessary to make decisions that helped the citizens of Nebraska.

Cathy Lang, State Director of the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC), and Josie Schafer, Director of UNO’s Center for Public Affairs Research (CPAR), spoke with Mike Hogan during this two-part interview about how NBDC helped keep Nebraska businesses afloat in 2020 and how CPAR’s work (alongside the state of Nebraska) tracked the pandemic’s impact on Nebraska’s workforce, allowing for action to be taken to help the unemployed.

More information can be found at https://www.unomaha.edu/nebraska-business-development-center/index.php and https://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-public-affairs-and-community-service/center-for-public-affairs-research/index.php

Terry Streetman,  Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at Alzheimer's Association, Nebraska Chapter, chatted with Mike Hogan on “Live & Local” about several topics including a recap of what the Unicameral was able to accomplish to help the fight against Alzheimer’s, Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month, and the importance of brain health and early detection.

More information and caregiver assistance is available at https://www.alz.org/nebraska.

The Union for Contemporary Art's current round of Populus Fund grants are open.. 

Like last year during the initial Populus Fund cycle, many artists are still in need of critical financial support due to COVID, The Union has designated the available funds as unrestricted emergency relief for local working artists.  Funds can be used to support vital needs such as medical bills, rent, debts, and food. 

Patrick Mainelli, Communications Director for The Union for Contemporary Art, explains to Mike Hogan how the Populus Fund will award seventy-five $1,000 grants using a weighted lottery system for a total of $75,000 awarded to artists by the end of the year.

Like last years' cycle they will prioritize BIPOC applicants during this round of funding.  The goal is to give at least 55% of the awards to BIPOC artists.  Artists can learn more and apply at: https://www.u-ca.org/populusfund.

Deadlines for participation are as follows:

CYCLE 2: 7/9 deadline, 11:59p deadline

CYCLE 3: 8/1 deadline, 11:59p deadline

Imagine a college scholarship program that gives so much more than just financial assistance.  It also mentors, builds a community of students who go on to become doctors, educators, engineers, artists, and elected officials and they remain a member of that community. 

The Goodrich Scholarship program at UNO is one such program.  Troy Romero, the Chair of the Goodrich Program, joined Mike Hogan to explain how the program changed his life.  Troy was a first generation college student who needed the help the Goodrich Program provides.  Once a “Goodricher”, always a “Goodricher.”

More information can be found at https://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-public-affairs-and-community-service/goodrich-scholarship-program/index.php

Bellevue Little Theater is debuting a brand new play, a farce called "Temporary Insanity" by playwright Karen Schaeffer.   The show will run through June 27th.

Karen Schaeffer chatted with Mike Hogan on "Live & Local" about how the play came to be, the fun in writing a farce, and the magic that occurs when the actors bring the written words to life.

More information can be found at http://bellevuelittletheatre.weebly.com/

Kate McCauley is the CEO of Wounded Warriors Family Support.  Their mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured or killed during combat operations.  The families of our casualties suffer in many ways: some financially, some psychologically.

Kate joined Mike Hogan on “Live & Local” to talk about the mission and the many diverse ways that WWFS helps veterans and their families. 

If you need help or would like to “help the helpers” more information can be found at https://www.wwfs.org/.

O-pa Vice President of Human Capital and Inclusion, Gennean M Scott, chats with Mike Hogan about Music at Miller Park, a free event, kicking off this weekend with Enjoli & Timeless.

More information can be found at https://o-pa.org/on-stage/music-at-miller-park.

The Olympic Swim Trials are returning to Omaha June 4-7 and 13-20 at the CHI Health Center.  The Omaha Sports Commission (OSC) fills 6,500 volunteer shifts throughout the event, mostly with local support.  They have successfully filled this number of positions three different times (2008, 2012 and 2016) and they are once again looking for help from the local community for this year!

But as OSC's Director of Events, Lindsay Toussant explains to Mike Hogan during her "Live & Local" interview, there is so much more the OSC does for sports and the economy of the great city of Omaha!

More information is available at https://omahasports.org/get-involved#volunteer

Two installations open this Saturday, June 5, from 2:00 – 5:00 PM!  You can join the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts to celebrate the opening of All Together, Amongst Many: Reflections on Empathy and Charley Friedman: Soundtracks for the Present Future!

Chief Curator and Director of Programs, Rachel Adams chatted with Mike Hogan about this free event which includes live performances, libations, and a full afternoon of culture and discussion.  More information can be found at https://www.bemiscenter.org/events/summer-2021-exhibitions-opening-reception.

Performances will take place outdoors and stream live at twitch.tv/bemiscenter.

Rocker and local favorite Billy McGuigan is back at the Holland Center with his band in tow for a collaboration with the Omaha Symphony – this time at the brand new outdoor venue for a weekend of celebratory shows that are sure to bring the party and the hits! 

McGuigan talked to Mike Hogan on KIOS-FM about bringing his lineup of heavy-hitting band members to perform symphonic arrangements of hits from The Rolling Stones, Queen, Elton John, The Beatles, and more with original tunes in the mix.  The Omaha Symphony adds dramatic color to these crowd favorites, making for an incredible weekend of safe community gathering around the music we all love conducted by Maestro Ernest Richardson.  

Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5 at the Holland Center Outdoors.  More information can be found at https://www.omahasymphony.org/concerts/billy-mcguigan-2021

The pandemic introduced students and parents alike to the brand new world of remote learning.  Turns out, the Omaha Virtual School (OVS) has been providing a hybrid remote/in-person learning model for the past several years.

OVS is accepting applications, and Dr. Wendy Loewenstein, the Director of OVS chatted with Mike Hogan “Live & Local” about what it takes to succeed at OVS, how to apply, and what a family’s expectations should be when embarking on such a program.

More information can be found at https://www.omahavirtualschool.org/.

All ages are encouraged to participate in the free annual Summer Reading Program (SRP) at Omaha Public Library (OPL)!  This year’s theme is “Tails and Tales,” meaning there will be plenty of activities featuring fun animals and fantastic stories.

Emily Getzschman took the time to talk with Mike Hogan on KIOS-FM about the program and how to get involved. 

SRP takes place June 1-July 31.  To learn more about it and register at your local branch, go to omahalibrary.org, or by call 402-444-4800. 

Bellevue University is hosting a Young Nebraska Scientists Camp June 7-11 for 9th through 12th graders. The camp is focused on viruses and bacteria and features hands-on engaging activities.  

Dr. John Kyndt joined Mike Hogan on “Live & Local” to discuss this first of its kind camp and all the various technology the kids will get to use while attending.

Throughout the camp, participants will do things like collect soil samples for local tallgrass prairie sites; learn bioinformatics approaches to analyze microbial meta-genomics sequencing data; analyze how the immune system recognizes and responds to viruses; purify DNA from soil samples; run DNA sequencing and interpret results; set up experiments to stimulate cells with molecules that might be found in viruses; and experience field excursions involving modern laboratory techniques.

More information can be found at https://yns.nebraska.edu/camps/hs-viruses-and-bacteria.