Nominations & Final Voting Based entirely on community participation, Omaha businesses are nominated as the best in their industry at TheReader.com, starting in January, running through the end of March, a month later than normal. Tens of thousands of nominations inform the top nominees in each category to appear on the final ballot, which ran […]
Search results
Our Stage Still Need Saving
It was the very beginning of the pandemic scare. We had already started wearing masks. It felt uncomfortably close standing next to each other at the Slowdown that Friday night, March 13, 2020. Virtuosic bassist extraordinaire, Thundercat had brought together people from many walks of life who had decided it was a big enough show to […]
Potential Family Dollar liquor license brings community ire, gets City Council disapproval
By Chris Bowling, Originally printed in the Omaha Star The overcast February day melted into cold night as hours passed inside the Omaha City Council’s Tuesday meeting. Some of the community members in attendance shift in their seats, others prop their elbows to hold their heads up, but all take notice when Cindy Gains grips […]
State Testing and Cases Spike: Weekly COVID-19 Roundup, Aug. 31.
Editors note: This is a weekly series from The Reader breaking down COVID-19 data from the state. In it, reporter Chris Bowling will look at the latest in COVID-19 numbers and news. See daily COVID-19 updates here Things were looking good. Douglas County finally had a mask mandate. Lancaster County had moved into risk-level “yellow.” Daily […]
Residents Discuss New Police Union Contract, Utility Assistance Still Available in Douglas County, Lincoln-Lancaster Health Experts Warn Concertgoers and More Top Local News for Thursday, November 12
11/12/20 • Day 60 of Phase IV • Nationwide case trends Support us by becoming a member and following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook Police Accountability Heard in Court, City Council Agenda on Monday Policing in Omaha, as well as across the nation, has come under intense scrutiny in recent months. From protests to the polls to policymaking of […]
Interview with Tony Vargas, Positive COVID-19 Cases in Boys Town, Nebraska Reports Lowest Unemployment Rate in U.S. and More Top Local News for Thursday, October 22
10/22/20 • Day 39 of Phase IV • Nationwide case trends Support us by becoming a member and following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook Campaign 2020: Interview with State Senator Tony Vargas Since 2016, Vargas has represented District 7 which encompasses downtown South Omaha. He is campaigning for re-election for the minority-majority district against Jorge Sotolongo, a political novice. For […]
Nebraska’s Reopening Push Forward Déjà Vu: The Reader COVID-19 Roundup, Sept. 14, 2020
Starting today, nearly every county in the state is no longer required to follow state-issued directed health measures. Under Phase 4, measures have been lifted that previously applied bars, restaurants, childcare facilities, churches, gyms, salons, barbers, tattoo parlors, weddings and more are lifted. Original guidance is still recommended, however. The only hard-and-fast limitation is that […]
Stothert in Favor of Mask Mandate, Questions Effectiveness, Whether City Council Has Votes
By Chris Bowling The Omaha City Council will consider an emergency ordinance for a proposed mask mandate on Tuesday, Aug. 11 after the Douglas County’s health director folded under state legal pressure on July 31. Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, who alone can not enact a mandate, said she’s in favor of one, but is not […]
A Traditional Feast
Survival of the fittest doesn’t necessarily mean the biggest and strongest will rise victorious at the end of every battle. Rather, those most capable of adapting to change. No amount of flexibility can limbo under the fact that 2020 was… difficult. But as we adapt, we find where we are and are not willing to […]
Public Outcry at City Council, Protest Ends Peacefully, Scurlock Grand Jury and More Top Local News for Wednesday, June 3
Wednesday, June 3 • 3 Days Under New DHM • At Least 27 Days to Go Support us by becoming a member and following us on Twitter and Facebook “We’re Tired and We’re Frustrated and We Are Demanding Change.” The Omaha City Council approved extending Omaha’s state of emergency and recognized reckless policing killed George Floyd. The council […]