NEWS Local report lists top jobs for families
Positions in maintenance and repair, business and administrative, and health care occupations are the best jobs for supporting a family in Nebraska, according to a report released Dec. 2. The Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest based its findings on wage rate, projected growth potential, benefit eligibility and accessible education requirements. The report projects that 66...
entered on 12/02/10 at 11:01 AM | read more »
Lack of judges and two-state case load contribute to immigration wait times
A recent report by the TRAC Immigration project showed that immigrants in Nebraska have the third longest wait in the country for immigration hearings. We asked local immigration lawyer Amy Peck why the average case in Nebraska takes nearly a year and a half to come to court. “The Omaha immigration court serves cases from both Iowa and Nebraska and the case load is very high,” she says. And...
entered on 12/01/10 at 10:24 AM | read more »
Report: Nebraska immigration wait times third longest in the U.S.
The most recent report from Syracuse University's TRAC Immigration project shows that Nebraska immigrants wait longer for their day in court than immigrants in all but two other states. The report shows the average wait time for an immigration hearing in Nebraska is 519 days — 13 percent higher than the national average of 456 days. Only California and Massachusetts have longer average wait...
entered on 11/29/10 at 08:25 AM | read more »
Irrigation innovator, Omaha entrepreneur dies
Robert Daugherty, the man who was instrumental in opening the Great Plains to large-scale agriculture through center pivot irrigation, died Nov. 23 at 88, following a brief illness. Daugherty acquired the patent for center pivot irrigation equipment in 1953 and used the revolutionary machine to found Omaha-based Valmont Industries, one of the largest suppliers of farm machinery in the world.
entered on 11/24/10 at 11:55 AM | read more »
Siena-Francis House to feed 400 on Thanksgiving
Nebraska's largest homeless shelter will serve more than 400 Thanksgiving meals to Omaha's homeless community on Thursday. Mayor Jim Suttle and players from the two teams playing in the United Football League Championship game on Nov. 27 will be on hand at the Siena/Francis House to help serve meals and sign autographs.
entered on 11/24/10 at 10:56 AM | read more »
Public parks get private foundation
Mayor Jim Suttle announced on Nov. 18 the formation of a new non-profit organization devoted to helping the city maintain and improve its public parks. The Omaha Parks Foundation, staffed by citizens, will seek private donations to support the city's 250 parks. Similar private-public partnerships have been used in New York, Seattle and Vancouver.
entered on 11/19/10 at 07:25 AM | read more »
Buffett wins Medal of Freedom
Omaha's most famous citizen can now add the nation's highest civilian honor to his already distinguished resume. The White House announced Nov. 16 that Warren Buffett is among 15 honorees who will receive the Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama at a ceremony early next year. The award is presented annually for "especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests...
entered on 11/18/10 at 08:25 AM | read more »
Child advocacy groups: Privatization not sustainable
Funding, accountability and data: Those are the three main concerns stakeholders have regarding child welfare privatization in Nebraska, representatives said at a press conference Wednesday at the Lincoln downtown YWCA. The event was hosted by Voices for Children in Nebraska and Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest. The reform “shows no evidence of succeeding or being...
entered on 11/16/10 at 06:43 PM | read more »
Public Hearing this Thursday on Election Commissioner Changes
Senator Sara Howard's LB 235 will have its public hearing this Thursday, February 14th at 1:30 in the Government, Military, ... more »
Calculations for the cost of extending Medicaid in Nebraska as a critical piece of the Affordable Care Act have been ... more »
As federal deficits were the rage in the recent presidential election and both major political parties jockey for ... more »
With 1,457 members according to its website, Voice Omaha is blazing a path for civic participation outside the normal ... more »
First, a primer on how to pronounce “Schmaderer,” the new police chief’s last name: “SHMA’ der.” Rhymes with water. “Some ... more »
As winter takes hold the number of homeless moving into shelters is on the rise. Winter is the toughest time of the year ... more »
Alberto Gonzales didn’t enter the meeting room at the South Omaha Library on March 15 so much as the room opened up and ... more »
Police reviewing gun policy following school shooting
The Omaha Police Department is reviewing its gun policy for off-duty officers after Robert Butler Jr. used his father's ... more »
