Hey Omaha,
What happens when you get sued by your own lawyer? Well, things get complicated.
That’s been the state of affairs in Sarpy County since January, when its county attorney sued its five-member Board of Commissioners.
The board told the attorney to fire one of his employees, whom they accused of misconduct. When he refused, the board cut off the employee’s access to computer systems and office space. Now, the top elected officials are locked in a complex power struggle that has so far cost the county about $300,000 to settle.
It’s the latest controversy for Nebraska’s fastest-growing county, which has seen multiple officials reprimanded, fired or incarcerated in recent years. For some, it’s a sign that bad behavior is getting rooted out of county government. For others, it shows a group of elected officials that has veered from its priorities.
Read my story here (or click on the photo above).
— Chris Bowling, Flatwater Free Press
July brings us expressions of our area’s diverse cultures, remembrances of those we’ve lost, new directions in media and a call to action to protect our waterways. Don’t miss all that the Omaha art community has to offer in the July art scene.
Eddith Buis Art
Eddith Buis (March 3, 1940-Feb. 3, 2025) was a career educator, an artist and a dear friend of mine. She influenced generations of Omaha students and inspired many more with the public art projects she oversaw. Eddith’s legacy is celebrated at the RBR Gallery in South Omaha, where her family and community will honor her by displaying the sculptures, ceramics, prints and illustrations she poured her life into. Most known for the J. Doe project, work related to that series will be displayed as well.
– When: Gallery hours: Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., until July 25
– Where: Roberta & Bob Rogers Gallery, 1806 Vinton St., Omaha
ELEVATE
This month, the Wanda Ewing Gallery presents nationally recognized fiber artist, storyteller and activist Celeste Butler. Well known for her award-winning textile work, Butler honors and elevates the voices, stories and contributions of Black Americans through needle and thread, continuing the long history of art as a means of resistance, remembrance and radical love.
– When: Opening reception: Saturday, July 12, 6-8 p.m. Gallery hours: Tuesday-Thursday 1-8 p.m., Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., until Aug. 23
– Where: The Union for Contemporary Art, 2423 N. 24 St., Omaha
Christina Narwicz: Vespers — Whispers at Twilight
Narwicz returns to Nebraska with a series of acrylic landscapes inspired by the writings of Willa Cather and her collaborations with the Omaha Conservatory of Music. This intimate body of work is a must-see for Narwicz fans, as it is a departure from her large-scale, watery, ethereal abstractions.
– When: Gallery hours: Monday-Tuesday by appointment, Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., until July 26
– Where: Anderson O’Brien Fine Art, 3220 Farnam St., Suite 2101, Omaha
Unfiltered & Unapologetic
Paul High Horse concludes his term as guest artist in residence with the Castle & Cathedral Creative District with his exhibition, “Unfiltered & Unapologetic.” High Horse is a member of the Sicangu (Sičháŋǧu) Lakota tribe, an artist, a high school educator and an advocate for men’s creativity, mental health and wellness. Through a multitude of media, High Horse pays tribute by blending images of Lakota culture with images of 20th century art history to represent his heritage and life experience.
– When: By appointment until July 27. Contact John Paul: jpaul@joslyncastle.com.
– Where: Joslyn Castle & Gardens, Carriage House, 3902 Davenport St.
Kent Bellows: Friends of Kent II
A decade after its first installation, 1516 revisits “Friends of Kent.” The exhibit dives into the Omaha artist’s legacy and career with a plethora of drawings and paintings on loan from Omaha-area collectors. If you are unfamiliar with Bellows’ work, this is a must-see of a Nebraska master of photorealism. You will be impressed.
– When: Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., until Aug. 10
– Where: Gallery 1516, 1516 Leavenworth St., Omaha
From the Great Lakes to the Great Plains: The Visible Currents of Climate Change
This summer, the Bemis presents an exhibition of 21 different artists, including one art collective addressing issues of water and climate justice throughout the Great Lakes and Great Plains regions. This exhibition is so much more than a display of traditional and technological media — it’s a call to action to protect one of our most valuable resources, the life-giving water that sustains us all.
– When: Gallery hours: Wednesday, Friday-Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., until Sept. 14
– Where: Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, 724 S. 12th St., Omaha
— Bart Vargas is a visual artist, educator and advocate based in Omaha, Nebraska. He publishes a weekly list of local arts, culture and entertainment events on social media and operates an international studio with his wife, Bekah Jerde.
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The Benson Business Improvement District is ramping up beautification efforts with its “Gritty Not Grimy” campaign, focusing on cleanups, litter prevention and new dog poop bag dispensers. Board members also discussed upcoming city construction projects and encouraged Benson businesses to join the “We Make Omaha” meeting on July 10 to help shape future housing and planning policies. Preparations are underway for the Handmade Parade on Sept. 27, along with new community space projects and creative approaches to address graffiti in the area. Read the full summary here and the full meeting notes on the Documenters website.
Want to help inform your community and create better journalism while getting paid? Become a Documenter today.
— Leah Wambui Keinama, Nebraska Journalism Trust
A few things I’m into: hanging out in public parks, seeing my friends perform live music and going “ooh” and “aah” at colorful explosions in the sky. All those things come together at Friday’s RiverFront Fourth of July celebration on the Gene Leahy Mall.
A highlight of the night for me will be seeing my friend Alex shred on violin with the Omaha Symphony. The show starts at 8:30 p.m., but the mad dash for lawn seating opens up at 3 p.m., so grab your picnic blanket and join me!
— Natalia Alamdari, Flatwater Free Press
U.S. Rep. Don Bacon will not seek reelection, opening the door for Democrats to win the Omaha-area district and cut into the GOP’s House majority. Bacon told the World-Herald’s Henry Cordes he wants to spend time with family after years of running in one of the country’s most competitive districts. (You may need a subscription to read this story.)
Several Democrats, including state Sen. John Cavanaugh and business owner Denise Powell, have announced they are running for Bacon’s seat, KETV reports. Republican Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding announced this week that he’s jumping into the race, per the Nebraska Examiner.
Warren Buffett donated $6 billion worth of stock to six organizations, including the Omaha-based Sherwood Foundation. The largest recipient was the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which Buffett cut out of his will and replaced with a directive to his three kids to distribute his $150 billion fortune.
He voted for Trump — then ICE came for his friend. A Plattsmouth man voiced his frustration to Cindy Gonzalez at the Examiner, saying he didn’t want to see “God fearing” hard workers like his friend, a Guatemalan restaurant manager, deported.
The Omaha Housing Authority is suing the state over a new law that requires the agency to cover the legal fees of tenants it’s trying to evict, Gonzalez writes. The lawsuit says paying for tenants’ defense would be a prohibited use of federal funding and an illegal suppression of OHA’s right to evict. The new law passed after FFP published a series on OHA’s eviction practices.
The woman behind the wheel of a fiery car crash that killed three of her kids and a Council Bluffs man is appealing her sentence, KETV reports. Earlier this month, Rachel Bickerstaff was sentenced to 140 to 180 years in prison for the September 2024 crash near 10th and Douglas streets. Bickerstaff was driving more than 100 mph and had a blood-alcohol level nearly triple the legal limit when she crashed into a car driven by 70-year-old Michael Sales, killing him.
Maha Festival is back after a year on hiatus, and the upcoming one-day program at the riverfront marks a return to the event’s roots. Writing in Omaha Magazine, music journalist Kevin Coffey offers a historical look at how Maha came to be and the road bumps that forced its cancellation in 2024.
The Flatwater Free Press is published by the Nebraska Journalism Trust, a 501(c)(3) public charity