Cartoonist Fundraiser, Palermo Custody Status, Sen. Hunt Complaint

Today’s Highlights:

Local cartoonist Jeff Koterba, regularly featured in The Reader, needs your support.
Vinny Palermo and his co-defendants are expected to hear their custody status.
Sen. Megan Hunt is the subject of a complaint over the proposal to ban gender-affirming care.

Things Are More Interesting When Koterba Draws Them

The Reader is the only Omaha-area outlet that regularly features local cartoonist Jeff Koterba’s work in print and online. Now, he needs your support to keep doing what he does best.

REED MOORE >>

Around Omaha

Omaha City Councilman Vinny Palermo and his co-defendants will likely hear Friday, April 28, if they will remain in custody. Palermo, former OPD officers Rich Gonzalez and Johnny Palermo (no relation), and fundraiser Jack Olson are facing 41 federal fraud charges.

Dodge Street heading eastbound will be restricted to one lane near 74th Street as the Crossroads redevelopment continues to take shape. The restriction is expected to last until May 7.

The metro area’s office vacancy rate sits at 7.6%, a slight increase but well below the nationwide rate of 12.5%. The Miracle Hills area has the highest vacancy rate at 14.5%, while the best-performing is Southeast Omaha at 3.6%.

Upcoming Events

Be sure to get the updated booster shot before heading to any of these events.

Around Nebraska

Legislature:

Omaha attorney Dave Begley files a complaint against Sen. Megan Hunt. Begley alleges a conflict of interest on the bill banning gender-affirming care for minors, because Medicaid could foot the bill for her trans son’s gender-affirming treatment.
The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce issues a statementcalling on the Legislature to pursue bills that are “supportive and inclusive,” something interim President and CEO Tim Burke says is a reference to the proposal to ban gender-affirming care for minors.
Sen. Teresa Ibach says she’s concerned about the proposed six-week abortion ban not including an exception for fetal anomalies. The bill is expected to receive second-round debate today, April 27.

Local Government

During the OPPD board meeting April 20, CEO Javier Fernandez announced that the Energy Efficiency Assistance Program will expand to include renters of single-family homes. Traditionally, this assistance has not been offered to renters. It will provide upward of $2,000 in energy-efficiency improvements. For more information about this meeting, click here.

Public Meetings Next Week: