News

By Katie Knapp Schubert

Omaha, NE – A new report on wind energy development says 300,000 jobs could be created in that industry by 2025.

The Governors' Wind Energy Association released the report, titled "Great Expectations," earlier this week. The coalition of 29 Governors wants a national standard that ensures 25 percent of U.S. power comes from renewable sources by 2025.

By Cheril Lee

Omaha, NE – Artist Mel Chin will present a lecture at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts Friday evening.

Chin's lecture will focus on his current projects, including the Fundred Dollar Bill Project. It's centered on lead contamination clean-up efforts in New Orleans. Holly McAdams, Community Arts Program Manager for the Bemis Center, says Chin's projects are usually politically-charged and environmentally-engaged.

By Katie Knapp Schubert

Omaha, NE – The VA of Nebraska-western Iowa provides care to 167,000 veterans, 11,000 of whom are women.

VA officials are holding a Women Veterans Focus Group March 30th at the Omaha medical center. Spokesman Will Ackerman says they want to know how to best meet the unique needs of that population. He says the VA has always been very focused on the male veteran. But now facilities are being adjusted for more privacy for women veterans.

By Chris Cooke

Omaha, NE – Alaadeen's jazz career spans more than 50 years and includes four albums, the most recent titled "and the beauty of it all." Two songs on that album, "Free Man" and "When Love Has" have a personal connection for Alaadeen. Omaha Public Radio's Chris Cooke recently spoke with Alaadeen about his career, his influences, and why those two tracks have a special meaning for the artist.

By Katie Knapp Schubert

Omaha, NE – Omaha Public Schools officials say state projections for aid to schools mean layoffs are possible.

Assistant Superintendent Dennis Pool updated the district's budget situation during a school board committee meeting Monday. $31 million in state aid to schools was cut last November during a special legislative session. Federal economic stimulus money was used to boost the state aid to Nebraska's schools.

By Cheril Lee

Omaha, NE – Creighton University's Empty Bowls Project happens Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Empty Bowls Project benefits Omaha's Siena/Francis House. Creighton and Duchesne Academy students make the ceramic bowls, which the public can buy.

Project Coordinator Amy Nelson says each bowl costs ten dollars. The Empty Bowls Project happens Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 and Wednesday afternoon from 11:30 to 1:00 at the Lied Education Center for the Arts on the Creighton campus.

By Chris Cooke

By Katie Knapp Schubert

Omaha, NE – New state budget figures show negative revenue growth this fiscal year and next.

Lawmakers received the budget adjustments last Thursday and are set to begin debating them this week. Revenue growth this fiscal year and next is projected to be -1.7%. Revenue has grown a total of 15% over the past 28 years. Senator Lavon Heidemann, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, says the negative revenue growth shows how the recession is impacting Nebraska's budget.

By Katie Knapp Schubert

Omaha, NE – The Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Office says this weekend's time change is also a good opportunity to check your smoke detector.

By Cheril Lee

Omaha, NE – Douglas County has received a $35,000 grant for a study of the youth detention center.

Commissioner Chris Rodgers says the Board plans to use that grant to fund a study by the Burns Institute. It'll be an individual assessment of disproportionate minority contact issues. The goal is to help reduce racial and ethnic disparities within the Youth Detention Center.

Rodgers says the grant is a first step toward what he feels will be a five-year endeavor to reform the juvenile justice system at the local level.