By Pablo Perez OMAHA, Neb.- After years of struggling with officer shortages, the Omaha Police Department (OPD) is finally seeing new momentum in its recruiting efforts. Applications have nearly tripled in the past year, marking a hopeful shift for a department that’s been operating below full strength. At one point earlier this year, OPD was
By Wyatt Lehr OMAHA, Neb.- Federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are scheduled to take effect in 2026. Here in Omaha, this is raising concerns as levels of food insecurity are already at historic highs. President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” passed on July 4, 2025, will reduce SNAP funding by $186
By Mary Mitzlaff OMAHA, Neb.- It’s no secret that animals can lift our spirits, but research shows they can also improve mental health. Here in Nebraska, where nearly one in five people faces a mental health challenge, therapy dogs are helping bridge the gap. After more than 30 years as a mental health therapist, Holly
By Mare Pritchard OMAHA, Neb.- Over the summer, UNO’s Chancellor JoAnne Li along with Vice Chancellor and Athletic Director Adrian Dowell released a statement that said the university would opt out of the House vs. NCAA settlement. Nicknamed the House Settlement, the lawsuit was brought forth by former ASU swimmer Grant House aiming for the
By Gage Peterson OMAHA, Neb.- Every summer and fall, the spotlight shines bright at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, not just on the stage, but on the local adults who make the shows come alive. For the cast of Popcorn Productions, the melodramas at Mahoney are more than just weekend entertainment. For many, it’s a
By Paxton DeVault OMAHA, Neb.- Douglas County is taking a major step forward in improving access to mental health services. Construction is underway on a brand-new $20 million adult mental health facility near 42nd and Woolworth Street — a project county leaders say has been years in the making. The two-story building will feature six
By Davion Scott-Bell OMAHA, Neb. – Nebraska students are getting the chance to take their stories from the page to the big screen in a statewide film competition focused on youth mental health and the impact of smartphones on daily life. Clarkson Regional Health Services (CRHS), in partnership with The Glowmedia Project, launched the script competition
By Isaac Nielsen OMAHA, Neb.- Over the past five years, pickleball has exploded from a quirky backyard pastime into one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Courts are popping up in neighborhoods, gyms, and clubs across Omaha, and one local player is helping raise the bar—not just in the city, but internationally. Esteban Celis, the
By Mo Al-Ebadi OMAHA, Neb.- Every night, bakeries and restaurants across the country throw out food that they don’t sell. In Omaha, one local business is trying to change that. The Cookie Company at Westroads Mall has joined a growing number of businesses using Too Good to Go, an app that helps restaurants sell leftover
By Henry Talacko OMAHA, Neb.-A new technology startup is making an offer that sounds too good to be true: a brand new, 55-inch 4K smart TV, complete with a built-in soundbar, for the revolutionary price of free. But my time with the new TV from a company called Telly made clear that the device is