Good morning, Omaha.

The public selected 42 finalists for the 2026 Omaha Metropolitan Tourism Awards from nearly 900 nominations across Douglas and Pottawattamie counties.

Voting remains open through April 2 and winners in four categories (Best Attraction, Hotel, Restaurant, and Retail) will be announced on May 4 to highlight local tourism.

Omaha's $108M Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement will hold a free open house on Mar.

22 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. inviting families, educators and community members to tour its new lobby and creative spaces.

Fabiola Caraballo Quijada stars as Juliet in the Broadway National Tour of & Juliet at the Orpheum Theater, and she shared details about her role during a First Alert 6 interview.

The conversation highlighted her creative approach and the production's energy.

Omaha musicians now use social media to build their fanbase; local indie artist Calin James has grown his TikTok followers to 25,000 and shares covers and original songs on the app.

They use live-streams and behind-the-scenes videos to connect with fans and promote future shows.

The Health & Kinesiology building was evacuated at 1 p.m. due to a water main break, and campus police and maintenance are working to fix the issue.

Classes in the building are canceled for today while repairs continue.

Students attended the Spring 2026 College of Business Administration Career and Internship Fair (held at Mammel Hall) on Wednesday, where employers including KPMG LLP and DatabaseUSA LLC from public, federal and local sectors discussed internships and entry-level roles for UNO business students.

The NU Board of Regents eliminated UNO BA degrees (Religious Studies and Art History) in February and converted seven BSBA concentrations to majors to boost career credentials during budget cuts.

Students reacted to the move, and UNO now offers alternative coursework for those pursuing the eliminated fields.

The Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska will host the free FutureHER Career Exploration Event on Saturday, March 7 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Girl Scout DreamLab on West Dodge Road, where women in media, business, construction, and trades will inspire young career ideas (no registration required).

Gov. Jim Pillen ordered U.S. and Nebraska flags flown at half-staff until sunset on the day of Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens’ interment — the Bellevue native was killed when an Iranian missile struck a military operations center in Kuwait while he served with the Army Reserves.

Omaha’s Visiting Nurse Association is using a million-dollar state grant to offer newborn home visits in Douglas County.

The nurses have visited 120 families since October, checking baby and mom health (weight, height, heart) and will soon expand the program statewide.

Omaha’s housing market is heating up with homes selling within hours as steady demand and lower mortgage rates drive up prices compared to a decade ago (local agents note rapid competition), and experts expect growth to continue through the year.

The NSAA Girls Basketball Championship ran from March 4 to March 7 with finals set at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Wednesday’s games included a Class A contest (1:30 PM matchup between Lincoln North Star and Millard North) and others, with scores updated throughout the day.

Kaivon Concert

8-11 p.m. — Slowdown — Check for ticket prices — Experience the melodic energy and danceability of Kaivon's music live on stage.

An Evening With Toto

7:00 PM — Orpheum Theater — Tickets starting at $90 — Experience the legendary hits of Toto live in concert.

Johnny Suite Live Performance

8-9:30 p.m. — Slowdown — Ticket info TBA — Experience the island reggae vibes of Johnny Suite from Hawaii.

Therapy Dogs

6-7:30 p.m. — Student Center — Free entry — Take a break and enjoy some stress-relief with friendly therapy dogs on campus.

The Work Lab Healthcare Roundtable

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. — Security National Bank - 3 Pacific Place — Free entry — Engage in a practical discussion on transforming healthcare work culture and exploring alternative employer-sponsored healthcare models.

Hercules Opera

7:30-10:30 p.m. — Orpheum Theater — Ticket prices vary — Experience Handel’s timeless opera exploring themes of trust and betrayal as Hercules returns home victorious.

10th Annual Shamrock 5k Run/Walk

9 a.m. — Backlot Taphouse — $7+ — Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a family-friendly run and fun giveaways at Aksarben Village.

Discovering the Galapagos

2-3:30 p.m. — Holland Center — Tickets required — Explore the groundbreaking science of the Galapagos Islands with marine ecologist Alex Hearn.

Connected & Resilient: A Community Conversation on Youth Mental Health

This free community event will begin with a short film exploring youth mental health in today’s technology-shaped world — where connection, identity, and belonging often unfold online as much as offline. A panel discussion and keynote featuring experts working at the intersections of youth mental health, technology, and storytelling will explore and build on the themes surfaced during the film. The evening is designed not just to inform, but to reduce stigma, spark honest dialogue, and equip attendees with tools, perspective, and ideas to implement and maintain healthy relationships with technology.

OMS Winter Showcase

7-9 p.m. — Reverb Lounge — Free entry — Experience an evening of blues and rock with local talent featuring Stuck On Dodge and The Memphis Rejects.