Inside the Durham Museum, one of America’s most infamous early political dramas survives in handwritten notes from Aaron Burr’s 1807

Staring into the night sky, the Andromeda galaxy comes into focus. No night vision spectacles. No fancy telescope. Just a

DOUGLAS COUNTY – Realizing law enforcement can’t be everywhere, Omaha and Douglas County residents formed a volunteer group to patrol neighborhoods, acting as eyes for the police. The Omaha Coalition of Citizen Patrols formed in 2005, with volunteers organized into separate patrols to increase public safety and reduce crime. OCCP volunteers shared their stories, creating awareness and seeking more volunteers, during a National Night Out event at Hy-Vee, near 156th Street and Maple Road. National

WATERLOO – Working out of his parents’ house, with two employees in tow, Jason Porto started his own landscaping business in 2009, while attending the University of Nebraska-Omaha. 17 years later, Porto and his children cut the ribbon as part of Ground Builders’ Oct. 2 grand opening in Waterloo. Rather than host a typical ribbon-cutting ceremony, Porto opted for a fall festival, complete with games, music and food. During its growth from a side gig in college to a 20,000-square foot facility on

GRETNA – Concerns over the roles of civic groups delayed what should have been a formality in approving a revision and recodify of the municipal code during the Gretna City Council’s Tuesday meeting. Amy Nakai, chair of the city’s tree board, raised concerns about a possible change to ordinances that would require the tree board to serve as the hearing officer regarding nuisance trees appeals. City employees should handle those cases, Nakai said. After receiving an e-mail about the proposed poli

Nebraska construction leaders invest in training, competitive pay, employee recognition and mental health support to attract and retain skilled workers.

Nebraska employers face rising healthcare costs as industry leaders examine insurance plans, GLP-1 coverage and strategies to manage employee benefits.

OMAHA – Forget nursery rhymes, the cow will definitely jump over the moon at Heartwood Preserve Oct. 10-11. Nebraska ice sculptor Matt Seely joins forces with Mexican artist Carlos Miguel Ramirez Pereyra to create a larger-than-life hay sculpture of a scarecrow sitting on a crescent moon with a cow jumping over it. “It’s probably different than anybody’s seen in the Omaha area,” Seely said. “I know there’s certainly people who make sculptures with hay, but it’s usually like bales stacked up and

SARPY COUNTY – Deciding how you want to lead is the idea behind the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce’s Momentum Women’s Summit on Wednesday. The event focuses on growth, establishing clarity and gaining momentum in an everchanging world. The inaugural conference will be hosted at the Beardmore Event Center in Bellevue, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The daylong conference kicks off with a keynote address, followed by breakout sessions. Kim Becking starts the day with the morning address, “Ignite Unstoppabl

BENNINGTON – The Bennington area has seen its share of law enforcement activity over the past several days, ranging from a man facing felony charges to another arrested for shoplifting. Jacob Lordemann, 37, was arrested Sept. 15 after Bennington police executed a search warrant of his home, where officers confiscated illegal drugs, prescription pills and more than 90 rifles and handguns. Charges against Lordemann include assault by strangulation, kidnapping, false imprisonment, second degree sex

SARPY COUNTY – For 50 years, the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office has patrolled the streets of Gretna, providing a law enforcement presence following the city’s decision to disband its local police department. The relationship has worked well, said Mayor Mike Evans. The City Council approved a new three-year agreement with the sheriff’s office, through Sept. 30, 2029. The agreement costs Gretna $4,349,988 during the life of the contract. Payments escalate each year. The City pays $108,333 monthly t

GRETNA – Gretna City Council members approved a new collective bargaining agreement with city employees, which includes adding a floating holiday for employees to use during a calendar year. The agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees was approved during the council’s Sept. 15 meeting. Among changes sought by union members were rules surrounding disciplinary action, said Rebecca Kennelly, human relations director. The cumulative suspension without pay in a

VALLEY – Stacks of pancakes, with syrup dripping over the sides, sausage and biscuits with gravy were served to hundreds of hungry patrons Sunday morning, as part of the Valley Fire and Rescue Department’s annual pancake feed. Friends, relatives and community supporters enjoyed the free breakfast, though goodwill donations were accepted, as a sign of appreciation from the fire department. Visitors were able to check out the department’s vehicles, including a rescue squad, pump trucks and water r

SARPY COUNTY – Honoring the county’s military veterans, Sarpy County Sheriff Greg London dedicated the department’s third military tribute vehicle during a ceremony at the Nebraska National Guard training facility in Bellevue on Monday. With more than 20,000 active duty military members and veterans living in Sarpy County, the sheriff’s office believes it’s appropriate to recognize the men and women who have volunteered to serve in the military, London said. “These service members and their fami

DOUGLAS COUNTY – Ricky Chadek was a typical 11-year-old boy. He liked GI Joe, Transformers, Legos. He could have been anyone’s son. On March 23, 1986, his disappearance did more than destroy a family, it marked a change in the way parents treated their children around Omaha. Gone were the days of parents letting children run around neighborhoods unsupervised, being home in time for dinner. They drove children to play dates, the swimming pool, the mall. “It was almost like a loss of innocence for

GRETNA – Gretna residents will see a decrease in their city property tax rate for the fourth consecutive year, and sixth in seven, following the City Council’s approval of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget Tuesday. The $90.5 million budget is a 6% decrease from last year. The new budget includes a property tax rate of .41945 cents per $100 of valuation, a decrease of 1.3% from the 2025-26 rate of .425120 cents. The “public ask” of $6,884,620 is a 5% increase over last year, said Tim Lens, the city’s a