Cabin Fever fight, North & South O funding, Gothenburg train wreck

M. N.February 22, 2023

Read past Reed Moore daily newsletters

Matt Casas shares nine ways to beat salon fever.
The future of funding for North and South Omaha remains uncertain.
A 31-car coal train derailed in Gothenburg.

Shake off that Omaha winter blues.

Matt Casas. Published in Reader.

REED MOORE >>

AROUND OMAHA

The future of the $225 million earmarked for North and South Omaha remains uncertain. Six weeks ago, the legislative commission released a report recommending which groups should receive money under the Economic Recovery Act. There has been little (if any) movement since then.

Judge Denies City of Omaha’s Motion for a New Trial in OPD Capt. Kathy Belcastro-Gonzalez Belcastro-Gonzalez successfully sued the city after she was mistakenly sidelined due to her complaints of gender discrimination and harassment in the department. The city will pay Belcastro-Gonzalez $1 million.

Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican, is among 11 people whose military record was inadvertently made public by the US Air Force, in which he served from 1985 to 2014. A consultant and researcher paid by the Congressional Democratic Campaign Committee requested records using Bacon’s social security number.

Ryan Larsen’s mother testifies in court to declare him dead. The 12-year-old was last seen in May 2021 leaving La Vista West Elementary School. His mother, Tammi Larsen, accuses the school and the district of negligence. Lawyer Tammy Larsen says any lawsuit must be filed within the next three months.

The Omaha Catering District holds a meeting at Florence City Hall to discuss the future of its North Omaha coal-fired power plant. The original plan was to close the plant this year; however, its service life has been extended to 2026. The purpose of the meeting was to explain why the life of a coal-fired power plant is being extended.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Don’t forget to get an upgraded booster pack before heading to any of these events.

AROUND NEBRASKA

A 31-car train derailed in Gothenburg in the early hours of Tuesday 21 February. According to the Union Pacific, the train was carrying coal. No one was hurt, the tracks reopened, and cleaning began. The cause of the crash remains unknown.

The Nebraska judiciary and state patrol are struggling to recruit. Colonel John Balduk, head of state patrol, says recruiting is the worst thing ever. Douglas County Court is still suffering from a severe staffing shortage, but across the state, pay increases and hiring bonuses seem to be paying off.