Beercade, and the Legend of ZED

by Tim McMahan

Could a legend be born at Beercade?

The new bar-arcade had its grand opening Friday night. Judging by the crowd, it was a crushing success. Located on the corner of 61st and Maple streets in the heart of Benson, Beercade is an achievement in building rehab and design. The facade has been brought back to its original brick grandeur capped with an ingenious neon sign that glows like a giant...

The Second Generation of Renewable Fuels

by Steve Brewer

The renewable fuels industry changes constantly.

Because the field is affected by politics, commodity prices, and high-tech research, it’s difficult to make long-term predictions about ethanol and other “renewable fuels,” but Omaha seem likely to be at the center of those developments.

Ethanol is a chemical produced by the fermentation of sugars found in grains and other biomass. According...

Omaha Girls Rock, V. 2.0

by Tim McMahan

Isa Luzarraga is nine years old. Her favorite bands are The Runaways, White Stripes, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Foster the People and Karmin, whose lead singer is her babysitter's cousin. Her favorite song is by 4 Non Blondes, and one of her favorite things to do is sing. So it should be no surprise that when Isa grows up she wants to be a rock star.

Either that, or a meteorologist. "Or...

Voting Updates

by John Heaston

As ethnic and progressive groups have galvanized in response to Douglas County Election Commissioner Dave Phipps' decision to shut down almost half of the polling places in Douglas County ahead of this year’s elections, a quick analysis of his decisions has raised serious concerns that this is another Republican Party attempt to suppress minority and lower-income voting. Phipps, a Republican,...

The High Cost of Transportation

by Jessica Clem-McClaren

Just twenty years ago, getting from the outer suburban edge of Omaha to downtown only took ten minutes. Now, in the time it takes a travel mug of coffee to get cold, an Omaha commuter will still be battling traffic on a typical workday. Coined by the Omaha Chamber of Commerce as the “Twenty Minute City,” most commute times in Omaha range between 24-25 minutes one way, with higher numbers during...

The Uncomfortable Uncertainty of Game of Thrones

by Tim McMahan

It took everything I had not to throw my copy of Game of Thrones across the room when I got to the part (quite early in the series’ first book) where King Eddard is beheaded. What the f**k?

I realized right then that this was not your typical sword and sorcery epic. I was in 3rd or 4th grade when I first read The Lord of the Rings, only understanding about half of it. Luckily, I had a friend...

Hang the DJ

by Tim McMahan

When Brent Crampton, DJ and co-proprietor of hot new dance club House of Loom, asked me to come down on a late Friday afternoon and host a three-hour guest DJ session, I said “no.”

What do I know about DJing? Moreover, why would anyone want to hear what I played? “I'd hate to clear the room,” I told him. “You sure you want to risk it?”

Brent’s response: “I think you’re thinking too hard...

Garry Gernandt’s unexpected swing vote won approval of equal employment protection for LGBTs

by Leo Adam Biga

After weeks of public testimony and closed door meetings on the hotly contested equal employment ordinance giving legal protection to gay and transgender residents, the Omaha City Council decided the issue March 13.

Three-term District 4 (South Omaha) representative Garry Gernandt surprised many when he reversed his position and cast the swing vote in favor. The Democrat had resisted the...