In the News

Truck exhaust, IT woes and piles of rubble: Offutt faces uphill battle to rebuild

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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Nebraska — The floodwaters that swallowed around one-third of this base in suburban Omaha are long gone. But three years later, Offutt’s airmen are still fighting to stay afloat. Most employees have not returned to their former workspaces, some of which were freshly renovated before the flood hit in March 2019. It will be several more years before they can move…

U.S. House vote to expand federal firefighters benefits seen as step toward parity

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WASHINGTON – Years after firefighters extinguish a blaze, after the smoke has lifted and ashes have cooled, the people who risked their lives to contain the fire face another danger: cancer and cardiovascular disease resulting from exposure to smoke and heat. Government and academic studies have shown firefighters are 9% more likely to develop cancer and 14% more likely…

'There's a lot that they give up': Fallen officers, families honored at OPD memorial ceremony

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OMAHA, NE. -- On National Peace Officers Memorial Day, President Biden honored fallen police officers and their families. The president's address at the U.S. Capitol was one of many memorial services held around the country on Sunday, including one right here in Omaha. It was an extremely emotional scene outside of Omaha Police Headquarters as dozens of families watched their loved…

Omaha Police headquarters hosts Police Memorial Service for first time since 2019

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OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Across the country, law enforcement agencies are being celebrated on National Peace Officers Memorial Day. And because of the pandemic, Omaha Police hosted their annual Police Memorial Service for the first time since 2019. Family and friends of loved ones who served were invited to the Omaha Police headquarters to share stories, and hear their loved ones’ names be…

CARBAJAL’S FEDERAL FIREFIGHTERS FAIRNESS ACT PASSES U.S. HOUSE IN BIPARTISAN VOTE

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Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 288-131 to approve and advance the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, a bipartisan measure authored by Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA) that ensures federal firefighters receive the same access to job-related disability and retirement benefits as state, county, and municipal firefighters. Carbajal’s measure would create the presumption that…

SHARE ARTICLE New Bill Aims to Highlight Pass-Through Funding’s Impact on the Air Force

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When the Pentagon released its 2023 budget request on March 28, a graphic was shown to reporters breaking down the $773 billion in spending by department—and the Air Force led the way, with $243.1 billion in its accounts. But when Air Force officials spoke to journalists later that afternoon, their budget documents showed just $194 billion, with an extra $40.1…

Community Connecting Through Conversations: Rep. Don Bacon

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Crystal meets with Don Bacon on this episode to get to know him as a family man and Congressman. Community Connecting Through Conversations is brought to you by South Omaha Community Care Council and the Omaha Community Foundation to provide a platform for community members to connect and meet the needs of South Omaha residents. Listen to the interview here.

'We want them to stay here': Ralston Granary District Project debuts, hopes for new jobs and businesses

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RALSTON, Neb. —At the ribbon cutting for the Ralston Granary District Project, Douglas County Commissioner Jim Cavanaugh announced he will ask the County Board to allocate $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the project, which is already a $30 million endeavor. “Every graduating class has hundreds and hundreds of young people who are looking for opportunities to start…