News

By Katie Schubert

Omaha, NE – The Mayor of Plattsmouth is Nebraska's new District 2 State Senator.

R. Paul Lambert was sworn in Friday morning. Lambert served as Plattsmouth Mayor for eight years, experience he says will help him in his new position. "Lots of challenges, but I feel that we will face them head on just as we did in Plattsmouth, solving problems is no different whether it's in Plattsmouth or for the state of Nebraska. We will move forward, we will do the right thing, and work for the people who put us here."

By Cheril Lee

Omaha, NE – University of Nebraska at Omaha Chancellor John Christensen delivered the state-of-the-university address yesterday.

The Chancellor discussed the importance of identifying strategic priorities around the campus as well as the success of UNO's efforts to build capacity. He says UNO has added over 800,000 square feet of new space and renovated and repurposed over 700,000 square feet on campus. Christensen says now is the time for UNO to get serious about growing the operation as they look toward 2020.

By Katie Schubert

Omaha, NE – The Douglas County Health Department and Live Well Omaha hope a new grant will help them expand programs that encourage a healthy lifestyle.

DCHD received a $510,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grants focus on health and wellness, prevention, and tobacco-free living.

By Katie Schubert

Omaha, NE – A State Senator from Omaha is the fifth candidate to enter Nebraska's Second Congressional District race.

Senator Gwen Howard announced her candidacy Wednesday. Howard is currently serving her second term in the Nebraska Legislature. Prior to that, she worked for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

By Cheril Lee

Omaha, NE – Jeff Raikes, President of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, was the guest speaker at last month's Rotary Metro Luncheon.

Raikes retired from Microsoft September 1st, 2008. He then was named CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He says the position offered him the opportunity to use his skills to create positive change and reduce inequities in the world. Raikes says the Gates Foundation has learned that in order to really make a difference, they have to focus on specific areas.

By Cheril Lee

Omaha, NE – Author Rebecca Skloot is the guest speaker at this year's 21st Women and Health Lecture taking place at the Orpheum Theatre this Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Skloot is the prize-winning science author of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks." Amy Haddad is the Director for the Center for Health Policy and Ethics at Creighton University. She says the lecture's goal is to offer a service project to the community that brings women's health issues, ethics and the humanities together.

By Katie Schubert

Omaha, NE – Wednesday is International Walk to School Day.

The event encourages children to live a healthy lifestyle by walking or riding their bicycles to school. Nebraska has participated in Walk to School Day since 2005.

Angela Barry, Safe Routes to School Nebraska Program Coordinator, says walking or bicycling to school has benefits beyond good health. "When kids get to school, studies show they're more alert and ready to learn, and it decreases the traffic around the schools, so it's safer for children."

By Katie Schubert

Omaha, NE – The Iowa Department of Transportation plans to reopen I-29 south of Council Bluffs later this week.

A news release from IDOT says temporary lane crossovers will be in place at mileposts 0.8 northbound and 3.2 southbound near the Hamburg exit. Missouri River flooding caused bridge damage at those locations. The southbound lanes of I-29 will become two-way traffic.

By Cheril Lee

Omaha, NE – Tuesday's Omaha Science Cafe focuses on the pandemic influenza.

Dr. Marvin Bittner, associate professor of medicine at Creighton University, will discuss the speculation that surrounded the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. Dr. Bittner says the disruption was not as bad as expected.

He says he will talk about why everyone expected the epidemic to be so severe, why that did not turn out to be the case and ways the medical community plans to deal with influenza in the future

By Katie Schubert

Omaha, NE – A 1973 graduate of Creighton University has returned as the school's new president.