Adam Byers didn’t have “a fraction of the support” he feels he should have as a first-year teacher in his Omaha Public Schools classroom this year. That’s why he’s resigning from the district, he told the board of education in a meeting Monday night. “A single school year in this environment has destroyed the 20 […]
Posted inTheatre
Experts Say Students Need Help, Not Punishment as They Cope with Pandemic
While suspensions dropped in OPS schools during the pandemic, disproportionate suspension rates for Black students persisted.
Posted inEducation
OPS Board Approves Revisions to Code of Conduct to Address Serious Fights, Gender Neutral Language
Students in the Omaha Public Schools will have a revised code of conduct in the next school year. In an hour and a half long meeting at the OPS Teacher Administration Center Monday night, all nine members of the OPS Board of Education approved the second reading of the code of conduct. Under the revised […]
Posted inMultimedia
Building “The Good Life” For All Nebraskans, Not Just Some
Cammy Watkins and Maggie Wood believe honest conversations about equity and inclusion in Nebraska’s schools and businesses — and in everyday life — can help create The Good Life for all Nebraskans, not just some. They are the co-executive directors of Inclusive Communities, a nonprofit organization providing advocacy and education around diversity and equity in […]
Posted inNews
In Caring For Omaha’s Most Absent Kids, Many Still Fall Through the Cracks: “Everybody Should Have the Resources I Have.”
The GOALS Center addresses attendance and truancy issues for students in metro schools. But advocates say the absentee interventions aren’t reaching the students who need them most.
Posted inNews
How One Omaha High School Addresses Chronic Absenteeism
Editor’s note: The Omaha Street School refrained from sharing students’ last names to protect their privacy. For the first half of her freshman year, Mercy had her routine down at Omaha South High School. She’d go to one class to be marked ‘present’ for attendance, leave school, come back for lunch, then skip classes the […]
Posted inNews
Omaha Public Schools Board Makes Masks Optional
The Omaha Public Schools Board of Education approved a resolution to drop the district-wide mask mandate at Thursday night’s board meeting, making it optional to wear masks in OPS buildings as of Friday. Teachers, students, parents and OPS staff sat in the Teacher Administration Center building, 3215 Cuming St., on Thursday to hear the board’s […]
Posted inNews
White Student Enrollment Slides in OPS, Nearby Districts
This story is part of (DIS)Invested, an ongoing series from The Reader and El Perico investigating the solutions and obstacles to solving system inequality in Omaha through housing, education, criminal justice and family issues. When the pandemic shut down in-person and virtual classes for Omaha Public Schools in March 2020, Jenelle Emory would sit in […]
Posted inNews
Photo Collection: We Made Ourselves at Home in Memorial Park
Among lawn chairs and picnic blankets spread across Memorial Park at last Saturday’s City of Omaha Celebrates America summer concert, one seat stood out— a couch. Our team at The Reader set up our “living room” and invited concert goers to stop by for a free portrait and a copy of our August issue. With […]
Posted inMusic
Fiery Music Forecast
Héctor Anchondo’s first trip to Memphis for the 2015 International Blues Challenge was the inspiration for In the Market for Blues, an Old-Market-based, multi-venue, multi-band event that has grown exponentially each year. The festival is now supported by the Blues Society of Omaha and a variety of sponsors. After a year off with pandemic closures, […]
Posted inNews
Ital Becomes Vital In North Omaha
In June, 22 year old Imani Murray opened Ital Vital Living, a drive-thru smoothie and juice store at 2323 N. 24th St., with her mother and sister by her side.
Posted inDining
Reimagine What Food Can Do: For These Omahans, It’s About Community
The pandemic pushed restaurant owners to their financial, emotional and mental limits. But from that same chaos rose a young, diverse slate of Omahans who either opened their own food businesses after March 2020, or found new meaning behind why they make their meals while in the COVID-19-induced solitude. Throughout the month of July, The […]
Posted inDining
A Battle Where You Win, and One Burger Chef Gets a Trophy
Omaha Burger Battle This Saturday from 12pm to 4pm, the best burgers in town will have a throw down. The 21 and older event will take place at Stinson Park at 2285 S 67th St, and will feature music, drinks, games, and a Burger Battle to settle the “best burger” debate for another year. If […]
Posted inNews Briefs
Out-of-Town Landlord, Worker Sues JBS, State Abortion Ban?
Read past Reed Moore daily newsletters HERE’S YOUR RUNDOWN Happy National Lucky Penny Day Reed Moore will gladly give a penny for your thoughts. Today’s news: An Ohio-based private corporation has been quietly buying up Omaha-area homes over the last three years. The Nebraska Supreme Court rules in favor of a meatpacking worker in a lawsuit against […]
Posted inMultimedia
1st Sky Omaha in the Morning, Reader guest: Arjav Rawal, 5/23/22
Reader guest: Arjav Rawal Live from Webberized studios in the Mastercraft building, 1st Sky Omaha is on air every Monday, Wednesday and Friday talking about the issues that matter to its listeners. The show features features Paul Beeee, Buddi3 Da Gawd and Star Trek Rich. 1st Sky Omaha partners with The Reader in print and […]
Posted inNews
New Equipment for Fire Department and More ARPA Spending: What’s Happening in Your Local Government on May 24
Every week, The Reader picks out noteworthy agenda items from the Douglas County Board of Commissioners and the Omaha City Council. Visit the county and city’s websites to view the full agendas. New Equipment for OFD: The Omaha City Council will meet Tuesday to vote on an $11 million purchase of new vehicles and equipment for the Omaha Fire Department. The […]
Posted inNews
Being Poor Is Pricey
This story is part of a series, published in The Reader and on omahajobs.com, that spotlights the experiences of low-income, working families in Omaha. This is also part of a larger series about inequity in Omaha, titled “(Dis)Invested.” When Melissa Connelly, a 40-year-old single mom who lives in Fremont, was barred from housing assistance last year, she […]
Posted inMusic
Belle and Sebastian with Divino Niño at The Admiral
Belle and Sebastian with Divino Niño May 28 8 p.m. show | $35 The Admiral Two world-class bands are visiting the revitalized Admiral, previously Sokol Auditorium. Many celebrate Scottish band Belle and Sebastian for three vital late Nineties indie rock records (especially “If You’re Feeling Sinister”) and their softer approach – reflecting well-read garage rock […]
Posted inVisual Arts
Cirque du Zodiac
The Garden of the Zodiac Gallery brings the circus to town, with “Animals: Photography and Painting” in its three rooms opening Thursday, May 26 from 6-8 p.m. Organized by Berliner Christian Rothmann, this creature feature includes an array of international artists who have approached the subject of animals with perspectives ranging from candid observation to […]
Posted inMovies
Folk Misogyny
Quick question before we start: Does the agent for Rory Kinnear, the guy who porked a pig in “Black Mirror,” secretly hate him? “Men” further ensures that the only human touch the actor will ever have is “purely accidental.” Honestly, after watching writer/director Alex Garland’s folk-horror treatise on the repetitive monstrosities inflicted by dudes, maybe […]
Posted inNews Briefs
72nd/Dodge Library, Rare-Earth Mining, Astronaut Comes Home
Read past Reed Moore daily newsletters HERE’S YOUR RUNDOWN Happy National Rescue Dog Day In Reed Moore’s humble opinion, there is nothing more touching than a four-legged friend wagging its tail and slobbering its new human with love. Today’s news: Designs are in the works for an Omaha Public Library branch at 72nd and Dodge. Southeast Nebraska […]
Posted inMusic
Big Dreams, Tiny Desks: The Wildwoods
NPR Tiny Desk Since 2008, NPR has hosted an eclectic range of artists in its Tiny Desk concert series—from superstars like Adele and Lizzo to Broadway casts and international bands. NPR launched the Tiny Desk Contest in 2015 to offer a chance for undiscovered artists to showcase their work at the eponymous desk. Several artists […]