Read past Reed Moore daily newsletters
HERE’S YOUR RUNDOWN
Happy National Bingo Day
Despite online gaming, Reed Moore still goes to the Bingo hall and plays a dozen cards at one time.
Today’s news:
- The Omaha Public Power District proposes to keep a coal-fired power plant in North Omaha open for three more years.
- In the aftermath of a U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, legislative leadership will work with Gov. Pete Ricketts to call a special session to pass a ban on abortion.
- Nebraska awards $115 million in “shovel-ready” grants to 75 nonprofits across the state.
REED MOORE’S FEATURED STORY
Nebraska Abortion Advocates Ready to Combat Supreme Court Ruling
In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, we’re featuring this story from earlier in the month about Nebraska Abortion Resources, the first statewide abortion fund in Nebraska.
By Isa Luzarraga. Published in The Reader.
The Reed Moore newsletter is supported by:
COVID-19 UPDATE
‘Rona roundup:
COVID cases and hospitalizations are surging once again in the Omaha metro. As of Thursday, June 23, the Douglas County Health Department reports 100 hospitalizations and 355 new cases since Tuesday, June 21. It’s a trend that doctors attribute to lack of masking and not getting a booster shot. They also say that variants are becoming more transmissible, and vaccine immunity is waning (which makes that booster shot even more important).
If you’re not yet up to date on COVID vaccines, visit vaccines.gov to make your appointment today. To order more at-home COVID tests, visit CovidTests.gov.
By the numbers:
AROUND OMAHA
- The Omaha Public Power District proposes to keep a coal-fired power plant openin North Omaha for three more years. The utility originally planned to convert the plant to natural gas in 2023 but is proposing to do so in 2026 instead. OPPD’s board plans to vote on the delay in August.
- The Salem Baptist Church in North Omaha offers $25 QuikTrip cards to help with gas, which is approaching $5 a gallon in the area. The church handed out the cards in under 15 minutes.
- The inaugural Native American Arts and Crafts Fest takes place at Turner Park, with 30 vendors and Indigenous artists on hand to sell their pieces. Organizers hope to make the event an annual tradition.
- The Aframerican Bookstore closed its doors at the start of the pandemic, and when owner Marshall Taylor died, the shop remained closed. But Taylor’s wife, Annette, is reopening the store with the goal of preserving her husband’s legacy and keeping the community informed.
- Another portion of Iowa’s riverfront development is open. Belles’ Garden is a playground inspired by the ecology of the Missouri River. It’s a 2,000-square foot area with a view of the Omaha skyline.
AROUND NEBRASKA
- In the aftermath of a U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers will work with Gov. Pete Ricketts to call a special session to pass a ban on abortion. It’s unclear whether the legislative math is there to get the law past a filibuster.
- The special election in Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District will be the first election held in a post-Roe environment. It’s been a largely sleepy campaign until now, with both candidates using abortion access as a talking point.
- Nebraska awards $115 million in “shovel-ready” grants to 76 nonprofits across the state. The grants are aimed at helping projects delayed by the pandemic and consist of $100 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds and $15 million from the state.
- Scientists say Nebraska’s damaging and frequent hailstorms are on the rise, and they are expected to get worse as the climate crisis rages on.
REED MOORE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
This week:
- Highway Improvement Plan: The Douglas County Board of Commissioners will continue public hearing and vote on the One-and-Six Year Highway Improvement Plan Tuesday, June 28.
- ARPA: The County Board will also vote to allocate funding from the American Rescue Plan, including $500,000 to Charles Drew Medical Center for a mobile health care unit, and $50,000 to design a facility for the North Omaha Cultural Center.
- Streetcar Redevelopment Agreement: The Omaha City Council will vote on aredevelopment agreement with the Omaha Streetcar Authority, including authorizing the use of up to $356.4 million in tax increment financing. The City Council will also hold a public hearing on a $3.4 million agreement with the Omaha Development Foundation for engineering and design work on the proposed streetcar line.
- CHI Kitchen TIF: The City Council will vote on a $385,000 tax increment financing loan to expand CHI’s existing facilities at 1127 N. 20th St. for a community kitchen.
Every week, Anton Johnson picks noteworthy agenda items from the Omaha City Council and Douglas County Board of Commissioners. See the full Omaha City Council and Board of Commissioners agendas for Tuesday, June 28, and tune in here to the Douglas County Board at 9 a.m. and the Omaha City Council at 2 p.m.
FACTS OF THE DAY
From Harper’s Index
1. Percentage of U.S. workers who quit their jobs
in 2021 who cited disrespect as a reason for quitting: 57
2. Who cited overwork: 39
Source: Pew Research Center
DAILY FUNNY
Comic by Koterba. Support him on Patreon.