General News

The 1879 trial of Omaha Chief Standing Bear was the subject of last month’s press club.

Award winning author, college professor, and former newsman Joe Starita was the guest speaker.  Starita wrote I AM A MAN, which detailed the landmark case of Chief Standing Bear.  He said the case stemmed from the U.S. government forcing the Ponca Indians from their ancestral land, and Chief Standing Bear’s efforts to lead some of them back.

Governor Dave Heineman has declared a state of emergency due to drought conditions.

The Governor's office said Monday in a news release that the declaration makes state personnel and resources available for prevention and emergencies, Heineman says the drought conditions "are presenting an imminent threat to the ability of local governments to respond."

The National Weather Service in Omaha says the past six months have been the warmest on record.

150 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act, establishing the Union Pacific Railway.  In honor of Union Pacific’s sesquicentennial, six local organizations are collaborating to offer Railroad Days.  The two-day celebration takes place July 14th and 15th. 

Each venue will offer special activities to explore the region’s railroad heritage.  The Durham Museum is one of the participating venues.  Shawna Forsberg is Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Durham.

A heat advisory is in effect Friday for the KIOS listening area, along with an Air Quality Action Day.

MAPA says an Air Quality Action Day is issued when there are elevated ozone levels. That can cause respiratory difficulties in people with conditions such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis.

Omaha’s high temperature reached 102 Wednesday and hot weather is expected the next few days.

Alegent Health spokeswoman Jodi Hoatson says 12 people were treated in the five hospitals’ emergency rooms for heat-related illness as of Wednesday evening. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can set in quickly during hot weather unless you take precautions.

Areas south of the Omaha metro are under a heat advisory Thursday. Lincoln’s high temperature also reached 102 Wednesday.

This morning is the public’s final opportunity to weigh in on the draft of MAPA’s 2013-18 Transportation Improvement Program.

Greg Youell, Transportation and Data Manager for the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, says the TIP represents all federally funded transportation projects in the metro area.  He says transportation projects slated for Douglas and Sarpy Counties in Nebraska, and the Council Bluffs area in Iowa, are included in the TIP. 

Youell says it’s important for citizens to understand they do have an opportunity to give input on the selected projects.