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News Hound
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Suttle presents 2011 budget
Faced with a projected $33.5 million shortfall, Mayor Jim Suttle called his 2011 budget “both a comprehensive solution to our financial dilemma and a strategy for financial recovery,” during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
The proposed $675 million budget includes increased wheel and property taxes and a new restaurant tax that would raise an estimated $44 million in revenue. The council will hold a public hearing for the proposed budget Aug. 10 at 7 p.m.
New police contract revealed Mayor Suttle’s proposed contract with the Omaha Police Union would end end spiking, and would eventually solve a half-billion dollar unfunded pension liability, he says. The contract, which City Councilman Franklin Thomas made public against Suttle’s wishes, would cut pension benefits for police officers for the first time in 30 years.
New hires and 48 new officers would receive a pension based on a base pay. Officers would contribute more to the pension fund, while the city would pay an extra $12.5 million this year. That number would increase by $500,000 each year until 2013. Officers would have to serve for five more years — until age 50 — to receive their full pension. New hires would have to stay on the force until age 55.
The council will vote on the contract July 27.
Abortion law stopped
Planned Parenthood won the first battle against the State of Nebraska over an abortion law — but the war isn’t over. A federal judge ordered an injunction July 14 on the state law that requires mental health screenings for women considering abortions.
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland President and CEO Jill June said the next step is a hearing to determine whether the injunction will be made permanent. That hearing is not yet scheduled yet, but June believes it will come before the year’s end.
Tea Party: Obama is Hitler
President Barack Obama may not look like an Aryan leader, but Iowa’s Tea Party equated him to Adolf Hitler on a Des Moines billboard owned by Omaha’s Waitt Outdoor. The Tea Party removed the billboard after it was up for about a week. Mike Delich of Waitt Outdoor told The Reader that the billboard was a bad mistake that doesn’t reflect the company’s views. He said Waitt had taken steps to see that it wouldn’t happen again, but would not detail those steps.
Benator votes for financial reform
Sen. Ben Nelson gave Democrats the 60 votes needed to pass a financial reform bill that would improve transparency in the financial system and end government bailouts. The bill would create a consumer financial protection bureau and would limit the risks banks can take. President Obama will sign the bill into law July 21.
On Tuesday, he became the only Democrat to vote with Republicans against restoring jobless benefits to 2.5 million Americans. Maine Republicans Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins joined the Dems to pass the measure with 60 votes.
Local Sierra Club backs oily senators
Nebraska’s Sierra Club came out against an advertisement funded partially by its national organization that showed oil-covered Nebraska Sens. Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns crawling onto a beach, then being cleaned by people in protective suits.
Nelson and Johanns have received $214,655 and $83,550 respectively from the oil and gas industry, according to Opensecrets.org. But Nebraska Sierra Club chairman Dick Boyd told the Associated Press that the chapter doesn’t communicate with elected leaders that way, and apologized to the senators.
Democrats find gubernatorial candidate
Scottsbluff trial attorney Mike Meister will run for Nebraska’s governor as a Democrat. Meister ran for attorney general in 2002, but lost to Jon Bruning. Mark Lakers originally grabbed the Democrats’ gubernatorial nomination, but bowed out after he reported unconfirmed campaign pledges.
Fremont immigration law may start July 29
The Fremont City Council has certified its special election results, which would put into effect on July 29 the law forbidding landlords from renting or leasing property to undocumented workers.
Legislator says no to fake pot
State Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha plans to introduce legislation to ban the drug K2, a synthetic marijuana sold as an herb in Nebraskan shops. The material is made of dried herbs sprayed with chemicals hundreds of times more potent than the active chemical in pot, according to the 29-year-old legislator.
Schlegel to retire
Fr. John Schlegel announced July 14 that he would retire as Creighton University’s president in one year. Schlegel said he told the university’s board he planned to stay seven years — but ended up staying 11.
“Creighton has raised its national academic standing, concluded the most successful philanthropic effort in the University’s history, and undertaken a Campus Master Plan that has remade our living and learning environment,” Schlegal said in a statement. “I am proud that 24th and California Streets is a destination campus, a model for University-civic relations, and a partner in the renaissance of downtown Omaha.”
Nebraska holds energy fair
Nebraskans can learn how to save energy and protect the environment at the Nebraska Energy Fair, in Lyons, Neb., July 23-24. The fair is sponsored by Nebraska Rural Energy Systems. Stephanie Fritz, of the Center for Rural Affairs, said the organization wants to share alternative energy methods to enhance homes, businesses and ranches. Speakers will discuss energy policy, bio-diesel and small-wind opportunities. Visit CFRA.org for more information.
Commission changes its name
Nebraska’s Mexican-American Commission is now called The Latino American Commission, better reflecting the agency’s mission to be the voice for the state’s entire Latino community.
OmaHAW
RFD-TV, billed as “Rural America’s Most Important Network,” will make its headquarters in downtown Omaha. The television station carries programing like “HEE HAW” reruns and “I Love Toy Trains.” Roy Rogers’ $266,000 stuffed horse, Trigger, will be on display in the station’s lobby.
Lincoln hosts Special Olympics
The Special Olympics’ national games began in Lincoln on July 18. More than 28,000 athletes will compete over the week, ending with closing ceremonies on July 23.
Shooting Rounds
Three people were injured but were expected to survive after being shot after a fight at the Keno King near 66th and Ames early Saturday morning. Police said the suspect wore a red shirt, black shorts and drove a PT Cruiser.
Gun violence continued early Monday morning, when Angelo Domena, 20, was shot near 39th and Sprague. He was treated at Nebraska Medical Center and was expected to survive.
Booty call costs
Omaha Police arrested four women and seven Johns for soliciting prostitution on July 14 in south Omaha.
Not a bomb
Omaha Police Department’s bomb unit found no explosives in a suspicious suitcase found near 19th and Farnam July 12. Apparently, the bag’s owner left it there because it was too heavy to carry inside a nearby bank.
— Rob McLean and Brandon Vogel |
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