Morning
Omaha
Tuesday, January 20th, 2026
Good morning, Omaha. Here's your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 20th of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ A water main break affected nine homes in Briar Hills on Sunday morning near 174th and Parker Street, with muddy water flooding basements. MUD is working to replace more than 17 miles of water mains in 2026 — aiming to raise its rate to 25 miles a year. KETV
- ➤ On Monday, neighbors from Creighton University and across the metro gathered at Open Door Mission to sort 90,000 toys from a Christmas drive. The 240 volunteers worked in three shifts (80 per group) on MLK Day to support ongoing community needs. WOWT
- ➤ Henry Doorly Zoo's Bornean orangutan Ruby (26 years old) is expected to give birth early February and will bring excitement to local visitors when the baby arrives. Omaha World-Herald
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Plato’s Closet at 5421 North 90th Street in Plaza North Shopping Center (just north of Fort Street) will host a grand opening on Thursday, Jan. 22 with giveaways, a mocktail bar and double rewards points through Jan. 25. Grow Omaha
- ➤ Coffee lovers lined up at 7 Brew’s first drive-thru in Omaha Monday — hundreds gathered quickly, resulting in long lines of cars at the new location. Omaha World-Herald
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Omaha’s Durham Museum will debut a civil rights exhibit on Feb. 7 (showcasing Green Book sites once used by Black travelers) with tours offered in partnership with the Great Plains Black History Museum. WOWT
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ More than 8,000 books were prepped on Monday for at least 1,500 OPS students at five Title 1 schools, thanks to Partnership 4 Kids' day of service event (Book Buddy literacy program) that aims to boost local reading skills. KETV
- ➤ Nebraska joins the National Civics Bee for the first time as sixth, seventh, and eighth graders can apply by Feb. 3 for a state regional contest that leads to a June championship and a chance to win a trip to Washington, D.C. and a $100,000 savings plan. KETV
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Starting Monday, several downtown roads will close for streetcar construction and utility updates. Farnam between 13th and 14th is closed for two weeks, and parts of Twelfth, southbound 16th, and 24th Streets will close for a month as crews work to improve aging infrastructure and plan reopenings. KETV
- ➤ Today, Mayor John Ewing Jr. joined community leaders at the Durham Museum where free admission celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, with his remarks urging everyone to support one another. The event highlighted that unity begins with each individual. KETV
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Nebraska Health and Human Services has proposed a Medicaid waiver that limits care to 40 hours a week + lowers annual funding from $60,000 to $31,200, which a Papillion family says risks the care of their 30-year-old son with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The proposal is under public review. KETV
REAL ESTATE NEWS
- ➤ Mall manager Ryan Conlon said Dillard’s will soon begin renovating and expanding the former Younker’s building at Westroads Mall this quarter. The project will enlarge the store to 207,800 sqft and aims to open for holiday shopping in 2027, drawing national retailer interest. Grow Omaha
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Nebraska men's basketball earned its highest historical AP Top 25 ranking by reaching No. 7 on the poll released Monday. The Huskers won both games last week by a combined 54 points to improve their record to 18-0, joining three other Big Ten teams in the top 10. KETV
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Omaha Westside vs. Papillion-LaVista JV Basketball Game
7:15 p.m. — Papillion-La Vista High School — Free entry — Watch the Papillion-LaVista JV basketball team take on Omaha Westside in an exciting home conference matchup.
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Colorado College Tigers at Nebraska Omaha Mavericks Men's Hockey
7:07-9:07 p.m. — Baxter Arena — Ticket prices vary — Witness an exciting matchup as college hockey teams battle on the ice.
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New Music Monday
8-11 p.m. — The Waiting Room Lounge — All ages welcome — Discover fresh sounds from local talent Moon Pigeons, Blind Cassidy, Wayne Famous & The Dangerous Moment.
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A View Venues 10th Annual Vendor Night
5:30-8:30 p.m. — A View on State — Free entry — Celebrate a decade of vendors with food, fun, and inspiration for your next event.
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Omaha Men's Basketball vs. South Dakota State
7-9 p.m. — Baxter Arena — Cost Info — Witness a thrilling college basketball matchup featuring Omaha taking on South Dakota State.
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Couple Shuffle - Omaha
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Seymour Smith Park — Entry fee varies — Celebrate love and fitness with a Valentine themed race featuring 2-mile, 5k, and 10k options.
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Dumpling Festival Omaha
5-9 p.m. — Various Restaurants — Tasting plates available — Savor a diverse array of dumplings from multiple cuisines at Omaha's premier food tour.
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Smooth Sounds of Santana Concert
8 PM — Holland Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience the authentic tribute to Carlos Santana's legendary fusion of rock and world music.
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St. Thomas Tommies vs Omaha Mavericks Basketball
7-9 p.m. — Baxter Arena — Ticketed event — Witness an exciting college basketball match-up in Omaha.
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Family Battle Zone
6-9 p.m. — Papillion Landing Field House — Registration required — Families compete in various Nerf battles and fun games including capture the flag.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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