It’s a quintessential Omaha experience: You’re driving to the airport, and all of a sudden, you’re in Iowa. A half-mile later, you’re back in Nebraska. The well-traversed stretch of road is part of Carter Lake, a geographical oddity created by a course-altering flood along the Missouri River. Once a disputed territory, the Iowa exclave lies […]
Posted inNews
Native American organizations to host youth gathering event in Omaha
Two Native American organizations will host their first-ever Youth Gathering of Native Americans event in Omaha next month. The Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition is partnering with the Ponca Health Services Behavioral Health Program to reach Native American youths and provide cultural enrichment and positive mental health practices. The event is Sept. 5-6. Lestina Saul, […]
Posted inNews
New townhomes rise in North Omaha with more to come
Several nonprofit leaders and community members mingled near an active construction site Wednesday morning, their conversation and laughter competed with the sound of heavy equipment. Across the intersection of 25th and Corby Streets, long modular pieces of future homes sat in a grassy field. Within hours, a crane lifted those pieces onto a foundation that […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Douglas County Corrections $500K over budget in first month of fiscal year
In the first month of a new fiscal year, the Douglas County Department of Corrections is more than half a million dollars over budget. Department administrators are looking into the $568,766 overage. Director of Corrections Michael Myers said the timing of multiple invoices related to personnel medical costs is a likely factor. Douglas County typically […]
Posted inNews
‘Metropolitan mission’: UNO, MCC aim to make credit transfers easier
The University of Nebraska at Omaha and Metropolitan Community College announced a new initiative aiming to ease the burden for students to transfer between the two institutions. Those involved in the initiative, called Momentum, will look at ways to streamline processes for students who transfer between the two institutions. Garrett Gassman, the newly named executive […]
Posted inSports
Cause & Culture: How The Bay is helping kids grind past barriers to build self-confidence and community
As a parent, when I consider the types of enrichment activities I want my kids to be involved in, I’m drawn toward those that offer a sense of community, challenge them, grow their skills, broaden their perspective — and bonus points if they give access to mentors who will encourage them in ways that extend […]
Posted inHealth
Autism services expand west of Omaha to address resource gap and Medicaid cuts
Nebraskans on Medicaid recently faced a rate cut for the autism services including applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy. On top of that, the state lacks access to the clinics that provide these services, especially areas outside of the state’s largest cities. The new rates decrease ABA services by as much as 48%. One mother of […]
Posted inNews
Elkhorn elementary schools open despite ongoing construction
Hundreds of Elkhorn elementary students returned from summer break this week to find their new schools still under construction. Despite unfinished work and no certificate of occupancy, Iron Bluff and Stone Pointe elementary schools opened their doors to a combined 600 students Tuesday morning, raising concerns from parents and attention from the City of Omaha. […]
Posted inMovies
The apology that’s not coming
I don’t know how we fix where we are right now, standing at the point where admitting you were (or did something) wrong is a sign of humiliating weakness and not humbling, sacred strength. We are stuck in an objectively horrible moment, during which careless cruelty is celebrated or, perhaps worse, completely ignored. If there […]
Posted inNews Briefs
Omaha Metro Transit premieres new, on-demand ride share service to extend public transit reach
Omaha’s Metro Transit has premiered a new microtransit program called Metro Flex. The goal of Metro Flex is to fill gaps between areas where it is difficult to have regular and fixed public transportation. “If you think about neighborhoods or streets that aren’t connected, or where there’s some gaps in sidewalk access and walkability, those […]