A few weeks ago my co-worker Sara Gentzler went to the eighth floor of the Omaha-Douglas County Civic Center. She was there to sit through a short meeting in a small conference room. Typical reporter stuff. I’d say even boring reporter stuff.
Then something very not boring happened.
A lawyer and an elected official got into a heated argument. The board member leading the meeting, seemingly unfazed by the outburst, said if they were going to argue the court reporter would get it on the record. The lawyer, a public defender representing a client who invited Sara in writing and over the phone to this otherwise closed meeting ultimately (and successfully) objected to Sara’s presence.
“You could cut the tension with a knife” she messaged me as she left the downtown government building.
You’re probably wondering the same thing as Sara: What was that all about?
For close to a year there’s been a struggle between elected officials over the Douglas County Board of Mental Health — an important, but under-resourced, board tasked with overseeing mental health care for hundreds of people every year. The fight started with an attempt to change where board meetings are held. It’s since spawned judicial orders, threats of contempt proceedings, accusations that clients’ rights are being violated and a lot of acrimony.
Some hope the hubbub will prompt a closer examination of the board, which they believe is falling short in helping some of Douglas County’s neediest people.
Read the story here (or click the photo above).
— Chris Bowling, Flatwater Free Press
What makes your little corner of the Omaha metro special? How is your block unique? We’d like to hear about it!
Write us a few paragraphs about your Omaha community — wherever and whatever it may be. This can be geographically based or not … if your community is people who love slow-pitch softball or punk music or square dancing or stamp collecting, that works too!
Tell us about your community’s triumphs, challenges, quirks and charms. Your submissions could be featured in a future newsletter.
Send us an email at newsroom@flatwaterfreepress.org
I’ll be kicking off Pride Month the right way: with a mouthful of glorious garlic bread. The event is called “Gays Eating Garlic Bread in the Park,” and it’s exactly what it sounds like. All LGBTQIA+, including allies, are welcome for this laid-back, unstructured hang at Elmwood Park from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, June 1. BYOGB!
— Han Wagoner, Flatwater Free Press
A local judge found a former day care van driver guilty of negligent child abuse after he left 1-year-old Ra’Miyah Worthington in a hot vehicle for hours. The child’s tragic death rocked Omaha in August. (Some readers may need a subscription to read this story.)
A month out from a tornado that ravaged about 200 homes in the Omaha area, residents are working with contractors, insurers and disaster relief officials to rebuild what they lost. (Some readers may need a subscription to read this story.)
This June’s Omaha Summer Arts Festival will be the last due to rising costs and fundraising challenges. The event has been held every summer since 1975.
An Omaha sixth grader made back-to-back appearances at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, advancing to the eighth round before striking out on the word “Opelu.” For the record, I’m a 28-year-old who writes for a living and the Hawaiian word for Japanese mackerel has never entered my lexicon. Hold your head high Sarah, you’re a champion in our book. (Some readers may need a subscription to read this story.)
The mighty hecklers of Omaha drove comedian and boyfriend-to-the-stars Pete Davidson to end his stand-up set early at Steelhouse, irritating other fans and grabbing international headlines.
The Flatwater Free Press is published by the Nebraska Journalism Trust, a 501(c)(3) public charity