Codex Omaha

07/11/2023

Live update and by Omaha Streetcar Authority and reporting by KETV NewsWatch 7.
https://fb.watch/oabWjr5pIz/?mibextid=xXumFJ

20/10/2023

Burt Young, ‘Rocky’ Actor Who Played Complex Tough Guys, Dies at 83.
More at The New York Times

A Very Sad News To All Rocky Fans.💔

We Lost Another Gem From The Rocky Family😞

20/10/2023

16/10/2023

No statewide election will be conducted in Douglas County, Nebraska in November 2023, according to the authoritative Douglas County Election Commission. Statewide elections are held in years ending in even numbers as provided in Nebraska statutes. The next statewide elections will occur on May 14, 2024 and November 5, 2024.

“Even though calendars may identify November 7, 2023 as Election Day, no statewide election will be held in Nebraska that day,” stated Brian W. Kruse, Douglas County Election Commissioner. Yet, there will still be a hyper-local election in November 14, 2023. Read the statement for details.

09/10/2023

COMING SOON : The new I-29 SB ramp to I-480 WB will be opening this month, meaning the end is in sight for I-29/I-480/West Broadway Interchange construction! Drivers will soon be able to access downtown Omaha from I-29 SB with the ramp. More at Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program.

12/09/2023

Mike Kelley passed on Friday, September 8, 2023. He served the public up to the 2023.

View Michael A. Kelley's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

24/08/2023

On Tuesday, the Douglas County Board honored Melinda Rush for 23 years of service at the Douglas County Youth Center.

Her ability to inspire and motivate the youth will be deeply missed. Congratulations on retirement, Melinda!

04/04/2023

Hastings’ veteran environmental supervisor, Marty Stange, said one irrigation well tested 322 parts per billion of uranium in 2011, more than 10 times the legal limit for drinking water set by the Environmental Protection Agency. That well is located only four miles upstream of a municipal well.

HASTINGS–Marty Stange kept adding the worrisome maps to a file folder on his desk. Hastings’ veteran environmental supervisor gathered the maps from a 200-square-mile area surrounding the city,…

21/03/2023

Do participate in the for a Citywide Libray Facilities Plan for Omaha at Do Space Thursday, March 23, 5-7 PM. Share your ideas for your neighborhood branch, community and Omaha Public Library's system. Free at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/open-house-do-space-citywide-library-facilities-plan-tickets-547832821717

16/03/2023

The Greater Omaha Chamber said President Veta Jeffrey is leaving. Jeffrey took the job less than a year ago. Timothy Burke, former President and CEO of the Omaha Public Power District will serve as Interim President (story by KETV NewsWatch 7).

Veta Jeffrey took the job less than a year ago — Timothy Burke, former President and CEO of the Omaha Public Power District will now serve as Interim President.

21/02/2023

The Mayor’s office has selected a vendor for the service contract for Omaha’s climate action plan, awarding it to paleBLUEdot LLC. The Omaha city council will approve or disapprove the bid proposal.

02/02/2023

: According to council president Pete Festersen, the City of Omaha will decide on a service provider to assist with the formulation of Omaha’s climate action plan, after the metropolitan government received submissions from a request for proposals for that initiative. The process has been meek or stalled, according to public comments and Mr. Festersen since council had previously approved the RFP resolution.

29/01/2023

State lawmakers weren't aware of the streetcar and Mutual of Omaha headquarters projects when city officials announced it in January 2022, according to State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, Nebraska.

Report by KETV NewsWatch 7.

Next stop for Omaha's streetcar project? The legislature.

13/01/2023

Country music legend and longtime philanthropist Dolly Parton has been honored with Jeff Bezos' $100 million "Courage and Civility" award. (Link goes to CNBC)

Country music legend and longtime philanthropist Dolly Parton has been honored with Jeff Bezos' $100 million "Courage and Civility" award.

20/12/2022

Councilor Aimee Melton presides over today’s Omaha city council meeting after being elected by her colleagues, per Robert’s Rules of Order, since council president was absent on personal time, and because the vice president, Vinny Palermo, did not attend the agenda meeting due to a federal investigation. This Tuesday morning, federal agents searched Palermo’s South Omaha home on a warrant issued by a federal judge, which indicates there is probable cause a crime was committed in connection to Mr. Palermo. Council president Pete Festersen is the regular presiding officer, is acting Mayor when Jean Stothert is unable to fulfill her duties as Omaha Mayor. Melton was nominated at the start of the meeting and her charge is temporary.

13/12/2022

Dr. Cheryl Logan, superintendent of Omaha Public Schools, announced Tuesday that she is resigning, effective in June 2023.

Logan told the OPS board in April that she had been approached by a district in Washington, D.C., but said she had withdrawn from consideration.

09/12/2022

Douglas County 911 Communications is hiring! Apply today:
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/douglas

09/12/2022

Read MuniCap’s financial viability report on the planned Omaha Streetcar: Omaha Modern Streetcar--Preliminary Findings Report (344 pages, PDF in the link).

https://www.cityofomaha.org/latest-news/967-analysis-validates-streetcar-finance-plan

The Omaha City Council will vote next week on a pair of ordinances to authorize the sale of bonds to pay for the construction of the streetcar.

20/05/2021

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

14/05/2021

Final results are in for the May 11 Omaha city election. Congrats to Pete Festersen, Juanita Johnson, Danny Begley and Vinny Palermo for winning city council seats and keeping the 4-3 Democratic majority.

And thanks to Ben Gray, Patrick Leahy, Naomi Hattaway and Sara Kohen for running incredible campaigns and serving the people.

10/04/2021

A pulmonary specialist who works in critical care, Dr. Martin Tobin, testified Thursday (04/09/2021) that George Floyd died from lack of oxygen, bolstering the prosecution's argument that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin caused Floyd's death last May, which precipitated national outrage and social unrest in Omaha.

01/04/2021

Election protection and know your rights virtual forum by Culxr House and Civic Nebraska. Vote in the Omaha Election: April 6, primary; May 11, general.

Today with Civic Nebraska!

30/03/2021

Dr. Audi Pour presented a COVID-19 Update and a COVID-19 Vaccination Plan Update to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners. Dr. Pour is the county health director and she stated that nearly 23% of county residents have been fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus, while Douglas County is receiving another 19,000 doses of the vaccine. Of those vaccinated, 77% are white; about 6% are African American; around 6% are Latino; .4% Native American; 4% are Asian.

28/03/2021

Public comment on the new ordinance is Tuesday, March 30, shortly after 2:00 PM in the Civic Center. Zoom participants must register by Monday at 4 pm with the Omaha City Clerk.

A new ordinance before council states, “The Chief shall have sole discretion to name and remove the Executive Deputy Chief designation”…

28/03/2021

A new ordinance before council states, “The Chief shall have sole discretion to name and remove the Executive Deputy Chief designation”. The chief of police would also determine the administrative and supervisory duties for this role, receiving “additional pay 6% of that employee’s base pay” while serving in that designation.

A new ordinance before council states, “The Chief shall have sole discretion to name and remove the Executive Deputy Chief designation”…

25/03/2021

In-person early voting is available at the Douglas County Election Commission, located at 12220 W Center Road, Omaha, during their hours of operation until April 5. If you requested an early, please return it to a dropbox location listed below:

Civic Center - City/County Building
Located: Between 18th & 19th on Farnam near sidewalk
1819 Farnam Street, Omaha

South Omaha Library
Located: East side parking lot
2808 Q Street, Omaha

Charles B. Washington Branch Library
Located: Southwest corner of building
2868 Ames Avenue, Omaha

Clarkson College Parking Lot 8
Located: Northwest corner, east side of parking lot
42nd & Farnam St, Omaha

Goodwill
Located: Southwest end of parking lot, near IHOP
4805 N 72nd St, Omaha

Ralston Police Department
Located: Southwest corner of building
7400 Main Street, Ralston

Asian Market
Located: West end of parking lot
321 N 76th St, Omaha

Milton R. Abrahams Branch Library
Located: South of main entrance
5111 N 90th Street, Omaha

Douglas County Election Commission
Located: Southwest end of parking lot, under light pole
12220 W Center Road, Omaha

Douglas County Engineer's Office
Located: Near sidewalk by parking stalls
15505 W Maple Road, Omaha

Millard Public Schools Foundation
Located: Northwest corner of building, end of sidewalk
5225 South 159th Avenue, Omaha

Spring Ridge Shopping Center
Located: On median when entering at 178th St, next to post office box
178th & Pacific St, Omaha

Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch Library
Located: Northeast corner of building
2100 Reading Plaza, Elkhorn

23/03/2021

The infographic helps simplify the juvenile justice system in Douglas County, or the path that a troubled youth could experience on the road to re-acclimation. Kim Hawekotte, Douglas County Deputy County Administrator for Juvenile Justice Services, is a purveyor of this concept with points of exit from the system. The road map is divided into three scenarios: i) Early Intervention; ii) Formal Intervention; ii) Intensive Intervention. If a youth is unsuccessful at any of the exits, the youth re-enters the path.

PREVENTION & EARLY INTERVENTION
CURRENT PROGRAMS
A. Community Based Grant Funding
B. Douglas County Community Plan
C. Juvenile Assessment Center
D. Missing Youth Initiative
E. Restorative Justice Programs

INTERVENTIONS FOR SYSTEM-INVOLVED YOUTH
CURRENT PROGRAMS
A. Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative
B. Cross-Over Youth Initiative (Youth Impact!)
C. HOME Program
D. Douglas County Expeditor

DOUGLAS COUNTY YOUTH CENTER (DCYC)
CURRENT PROGRAMS
A. Behavioral Health Initiative
B. Crisis Response Team
C. Family Liaison
D. Education Programs
E. Family Programs
F. Social/Emotional Programs

SYSTEMIC INITIATIVES
CURRENT PROGRAMS
A. OJJDP Title II – Racial and Ethnic Disparity Grant
B. Omaha Home for Boys Shelter Placement
C. Nebraska Youth Justice Initiative
D. Trauma-Informed Care

20/03/2021

President Joe Biden condemned rising hate crimes against Asian Americans in the wake of a shooting rampage in Atlanta, which left eight people dead. Six of the victims were women of Asian descent. President Biden said, “It’s been a year of living in fear just to walk down the street.”

President Joe Biden condemned rising hate crimes against Asian-Americans in the wake of a shooting rampage in Atlanta, which left eight…

17/03/2021

Early Voting Begins March 22—Registered voters can request, by March 26, that an Early Voting ballot be mailed to them for the April 6 primary, or they can visit the Douglas County Election Commission office to vote early in person, or have someone pick up a ballot for them prior to the primary. Those voting by mail cannot cast a ballot at their polling location on election day. Return the early ballot to an election drop box location or use the postal service.

15/03/2021

Early Voting Begins March 22—votedouglascounty.com/early_voting.aspx
The Omaha city election is well underway to elect a mayor and councillors for the next 4 years. Registered voters can request, by March 26, that an Early Voting ballot be mailed directly to them for the April 6 primary, or they can visit the Douglas County Election Commission office to vote early in person. They can also have someone pick up a ballot for them prior to the primary. If a voter opts to vote by mail, they cannot cast a ballot at their polling location on election day. Return the ballot to an election drop box location or use the postal service.

09/03/2021

Both the City of Omaha and Douglas County received funds from the US Treasury, which is part of the $200 million that the State of Nebraska was awarded from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, that passed the US Congress on December 21, 2020.

Local governments received a total of over $26 million for rental and utility assistance to help those residents who may also be at risk…

01/03/2021

Franklin Thompson was elected to the Omaha City Council four consecutive times. He served as a moderate and sponsored the Omaha smoking ban. He first was elected with the support of students that liked his message and with qualities that define him, unique, honest, different, someone who was trying to bridge the gaps between people.

Franklin Thompson was elected to the Omaha City Council four consecutive times, from June 2001 until June 2017, representing Ward 6 (west…

25/02/2021

Councillor Ben Gray introduced an ordinance for contractor rules for apprentice utilization, city construction contracts in general, and penalties for non-compliance, such as withholding payment due to a contractor who is in violation. The contractor provisions passed 7-0.

Councillor Ben Gray introduced an ordinance “that will make contractors more accountable, especially with the $200 million coming in for…

19/02/2021

The overall price according to the development team is $553.9 million. KJ Crossroads Venture LLC asked for tax increment financing (TIF) in the amount of $79.4 million. The proposed subdivision would create about 1,779 full-time and 1,475 part-time jobs.

The Omaha City Council will consider the redevelopment that is proposed to replace The Crossroads Mall located north on 74th and Dodge…

19/02/2021

When discrimination occurs, it resonates beyond the individuals involved. Whether it transpires through services denied or expressed grossly in a hate crime, discrimination is for us to prevent. Protections at all levels of government, business and society can help us understand that this issue is at the fore of problem solving. As is widely known, the history of the United States is steeped in racial discrimination and the propagation of white supremacy, which has brought indigenous people to near extermination, and the enslavement and butchery of black Americans.

More recently, classism, government corporatism, and white privilege have used discrimination to deny economic opportunities to an array of people. This results in generational unemployment, poverty and lack of ownership, and health crisis, among other ills. However, the courage and resolve of African Americans, women, and racial minorities, along with reasonable people, have open avenues of progress.

Black history is American history. Know this history, and act accordingly.



Codex Omaha aims to demystify society and the civic process, for action to dismantle the systems of oppression and racism that give rise to inequities.

17/02/2021

Colleen Brennan became involved in insurance, solving problems, and growing Omaha by showing people where they are more alike than different. She understands that extreme voices are not the entirety of either party; there’s a spectrum. How did Colleen Brennan become councilmember? Read more.

Colleen Brennan was elected to the Omaha City Council to represent district 5 (Southwest Omaha, Millard area), to replace Rich Pahls, who…