(Dis)Invested:
A New Reporting Project From The Reader
As social inequities bubble to the top of public conversation,
The Reader is investing more time to put these issues under a microscope.
By Chris Bowling, Lead Reporter
Reed Moore’s Daily Rundown
Happy National Compliment Day
Today’s news reminds us that a compliment has the remarkable power to boost someone’s happiness and confidence: $192,000 in grants will fund North Omaha small businesses, organizations and events, local leaders ask for $50 million of the state’s federal coronavirus relief funds to help with South O economic recovery, and the Catholic Church and business insurance companies don’t like a proposal to bar time limits on when lawsuits for child sexual abuse can be brought against churches and other organizations.
Harper’s Index Facts of the Day
- Percentage increase in the wealth of U.S. billionaires
since the start of the pandemic: 70 - Percentage increase since 2020 in the number of Americans who view the existence of billionaires as bad for the country: 26
Sources: 1. Institute for Policy Studies/Americans for Tax Fairness (Washington)
2. Pew Research Center (Washington)
Reed Moore’s COVID-19 Roundup
As announced in the Wednesday, Dec. 29, bonus newsletter, in light of the Omicron variant, Reed Moore will replace the “Thing To Do” section with a COVID-19 spotlight featuring coronavirus-related content. The Reader believes it’s irresponsible to promote events when hospitals are nearing capacity and some community members refuse to get vaccinated. As cases continue, The Reader won’t promote any events — be they concerts, plays, art-gallery openings or stand-up comedy — that don’t require
masks, vaccination and social distancing.
- Women’s and men’s Huskers basketball games are pushed back because of COVID-19.
- Local leaders ask for $50 million of the state’s federal coronavirus relief funds to aid South O economic recovery.
- Read about the six stages of critical coronavirus care, written by local critical care physician and anesthesiologist Shaun Thompson.
- Learn about a family’s four-day wait for a hospital bed.
- Shelters are short on staff as employees get sick with COVID-19.
- Here’s how one immunocompromised community member is coping with COVID-19.
For nationwide COVID-19 case
and vaccination trends, click here.
Around Omaha
- Around 53,000 Omaha Public Schools students can get free lunches for the remainder of the school year, plus three additional years, regardless of economic status.
- Catch the third episode of the third season of 1st Sky Omaha.
- Dive into the new written policies mandating that state sheriff office and police department employees intervene in and report instances of excessive force.
- Felony charges are dropped against local activist Bear Alexander.
- Check out the latest installment of Leo Adam Biga’s “Black Legacy Families” series, published in NOISE Omaha.
- $192,000 worth of grants will fund North Omaha small businesses, organizations and events.
- Tenants are kicked out of an apartment building deemed unlivable by a city inspection.
Around Nebraska
- Latest in the Legislature: The Catholic Church and business insurance companies dislike a proposal to bar time limits on when lawsuits for child sexual abuse can be brought against churches and other organizations, and Nebraska hasn’t applied for millions of federal dollars to aid with emergency rental and utility assistance, according to some lawmakers.
- Despite years of being hunted by humans, coyotes continue to thrive.
- Gov. Pete Ricketts and former Gov. Dave Heineman — two of the biggest Republican names in Nebraska — revoke their longstanding support of indicted GOP Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, who’s running for reelection.
- Landowners head to court to challenge the Lancaster County District Court’s approval of a 2,800-acre, 250-megawatt solar farm planned for east of Lincoln.
This Week in Your Local Government:
Crossroads Redevelopment
and New Library Leases
Presented by Reader government reporter Anton Johnson
- Crossroads Redevelopment: The Omaha City Council will hold a public hearing Tuesday and vote on several items for the redevelopment of the Crossroads at 72nd and Dodge streets. The public hearing was initially scheduled for Jan. 11, but the developer, KJ Crossroads Venture, requested a delay because of legal issues.
- Warhorse Casino: The controversial Warhorse Casino at 6303 Q Street is requesting approval of $17.5 million in tax increment financing. A public hearing was held on Jan. 11. Opponents argued it was a misuse of the development tool, and cited a bill introduced in the state Legislature to prevent casinos from receiving TIF funds.
- New Library Locations: The City Council will hold public hearings on lease agreements for two new library locations to replace the W. Dale Clark branch. The downtown branch would be moved to 1401 Jones St., and administrative services and storage would be moved to a former Shopko at 3020 South 84th St. The vote is scheduled for Feb. 1, coinciding with the vote for an agreement with Noddle Company to assist the city with the move.
- County Board: The Douglas County Board of Commissioners will meet Tuesday and receive a COVID-19 update from Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse, as transmission and hospital occupancy remain high.
Every week, Anton Johnson picks noteworthy agenda items from the Omaha City Council and Douglas County Board of Commissioners. See the full City Council and Board of Commissioners agendas for Tuesday, Jan. 25, and tune in here to the Douglas County Board at 9 a.m. and the Omaha City Council at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
The Daily Funny
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