General News

Cleanup is underway in southwest Iowa after a tornado left a half-mile-wide damage path in Thurman.

The National Weather Service in Omaha says the tornado touched down two miles north of Percival, Iowa, and continued in to Thurman just after 5:30 PM Saturday.  The tornado left a ten-mile long path of damage before lifting just south of Tabor. 

The National Weather Service says more than three inches of rain fell in areas of Sarpy County as severe storms moved through Saturday and Sunday.

A tornado caused significant damage in Thurman, Iowa. No one was killed or seriously injured. Hail up to three inches in diameter was reported in Boone County, Nebraska.

Heavy rain also fell throughout the area. In western Sarpy County, more than three and a half inches of rain was reported. That caused flash flooding along I-80 in low-lying areas.

The Salvation Army of Omaha says the need for assistance from their food pantry is up 36 percent.

The Salvation Army and UNO’s Just Can It food drive has a new partner this year: the city of Omaha. Next week, all three will collect donations will the Salvation Army’s food pantry. The city of Omaha will collect donations as part of its Tuna Tuesdays food drive.

A day-long workshop Sunday at UNO focuses on events in the Middle East in the year since the so-called Arab Spring.

Arab Spring refers to the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and other Middle East nations. It led to the overthrow of longtime dictators, and transitions to new governments. Workshops at Sunday’s conference will focus on Israel and Palestine, Iran, North Africa, and Egypt.