Something, but is it enough?

by Kietryn Zychal

Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale approved the Douglas County Election Commissioner's polling place restorations this week. The addition of polling places follows an unprecedented removal, far exceeding any changes in the two previous U.S. Census, after which redistricting is implemented.

From an initial cut of 88 polling places, 28 are slated to be added, leaving 208 polling places for...

The Woody Allen of Indie Folk

by Tim McMahan

Continuing with Simon Joyner. If you read that story, you may wonder how he’s managed to continue to release records when listening to them can be, for the most part, rather dismal exercises.

There isn’t a lot of dancing happening when Simon is on your record player. What he does ain’t exactly “pop music.” In fact, I would argue that Simon is anti-pop. His motivation for writing music has...

Researchers Stand Up for Report

by Kietryn Zychal

While violence in Omaha, particularly among young males, continues at an alarming rate, the only recent examination of gang violence is being buried by the stakeholders who commissioned it, and who are tasked foremost with addressing this issue – North Omaha’s Empowerment Network and the Omaha Police Department. 

UNO professors Pete Simi and Dennis Hoffman spent 14-months on the 2011-2012...

Searching for Reasons in the Dark

by Tim McMahan

As we sat in the upper tier of the movie theater Sunday afternoon waiting for the previews to begin, I turned and asked: What would you do if a guy dressed in long coat and mask came through that exit, tossed a couple smoke bombs, and then started shooting?

She pointed to the floor.

I looked to the exits. It would be a struggle to get through the frantic crowd to safety, especially since...

Another Day at the Races

by Tim McMahan

The last time I wrote about Horsemen’s Park's live racing meet, about a half decade ago, the money people behind the track got so pissed that they pulled their advertising from The Reader. In retrospect, the article was as complementary as a writer could be describing what essentially was and is a family-friendly indoor-outdoor celebration of gambling and booze.

So I have little faith that...

Bringing in new light

by Amanda Hayward

The new 12-story TD Ameritrade Tower compliments the sky scape as you head into Old Mill on interstate 680.  The “ticker-tape” design on the building, an idea on the architect’s part, is homage to what they do and according to Kim Hillyer, director of communications and public affairs, it incorporates a little of their past into the building as well as their future.

TD Ameritrade is putting...

It’s not about the flood … it’s about the safety culture 

by Kietryn Zychal

On December 13, 2011, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission put Omaha Public Power District’s Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant under special oversight -- the first plant in 10 years to be placed under such close supervision. The finding was due to significant operational concerns and the crisis caused by the historic flood of 2011. Fort Calhoun cannot go back online until it completes a...

A synergy in North Omaha harkens a new arts-culture district for the city

by Leo Adam Biga

The days when North 24th Street jumped with folks out on the town, strolling the main drag, hitting one live music spot after another, are decades past.

Aside from biennial homecoming activities, North 24th is a drive-through artery on the way to somewhere else. Few souls trod its walkways. If people do stop it's for Sunday sanctification, a haircut, a fill-up or some social service business....