Morning
Omaha
Friday, May 22nd, 2026
Good morning, Omaha. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 22nd of May.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Local food pantries report a 10 to 20 percent rise in visitors as grocery prices continue to climb. Volunteers at St. Vincent de Paul and Micah House are taking steps to keep food available, and a Stuff the Truck food drive is set for June 4. WOWT
- ➤ A 14-year-old girl from South Korea, Eunji Lee, honored 94-year-old Korean War veteran Rex Gruber by presenting him 20 letters from her Korean schoolmates at Offutt Air Force Base in Elkhorn. She hopes the gesture will help her peers understand the war's legacy. WOWT
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Allegiant launched nonstop flights from Eppley Airfield to Gulf Shores yesterday—fares start at $67 one way and flights will run up to twice a week. KETV
- ➤ Zaska! Beer Co. will open its taproom in early June at 3548 Center Street in the Field Club neighborhood (formerly Bull Moose space). The brewery also runs a production facility and serves its beer at Junto Wine in Seward. Grow Omaha
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Artist Watie White displays his '100 people' series at UNO’s Weber Fine Arts building with three life-size portraits that capture local voices and messages. His work helped launch mentorship projects that revived vacant spaces — a legacy that inspires local art — and connects our creative community. The Gateway
- ➤ The Malcolm X Memorial Foundation announced phase 2 of its cultural campus on Evans Street in north Omaha. The $40 million project will include a museum, cultural center, hotel, affordable housing, and a financial incubator, with construction set to begin in 2027 and open in 2030. Grow Omaha
- ➤ Eric Bachenberg (a Civil War descendant) joined the Sons of the Union Veterans to learn about his family's history as local Memorial Day events approach. He is preparing to honor his heritage and support remembrance activities. Omaha World-Herald
- ➤ Movie magic comes to Omaha at The Durham Museum this weekend. The exhibit of Disney costumes opens Saturday, May 23; a free Cinderella screening plays Sunday, and on Thursday, June 4 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., manager Kelsey Williams will discuss the creation. KETV
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ Union Pacific filed a Surface Transportation Board complaint on May 21, saying BNSF Railway’s rate hikes raised grain shipping costs at Nebraska tracks and terminals. The company said rates jumped from $105 to $295 per car, with one stop reaching nearly 500% (Grand Island tracks cost almost $1,400 per car). KETV
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Benson High School students built a three-bedroom, two-bath home as part of a hands-on construction program that trains them for trades careers by working with professionals from the foundation to the roof — two students earned $20,000 scholarships — and a third home will be built next year. WOWT
- ➤ The Joslyn Castle’s Carriage House Cafe opened today as a social enterprise offering workforce development experiences for young adults at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (Munroe Meyer Institute). Grow Omaha
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Marian goalkeeper Audrey Connealy kept two clean sheets in the state tournament to help her team win the Class A championship and earn Athlete of the Week honors; she also committed to Creighton in August 2025 (a move that sets her up for future success). WOWT
- ➤ The 2026 Nebraska High School State track and field championships began yesterday at Omaha Burke High School where athletes broke records and won medals. Local schools displayed strong competition in this opening day event. WOWT
-
Middle America School Mental Health Conference
Day 1: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. & Day 2: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Hilton Omaha — Registration required — Engage with leading experts on mental health in schools and earn CE credits.
-
Perler Bead Palooza
2-4 p.m. — La Vista Public Library — Parental participation required — Create colorful patterns and pixel art using beads in this fun, hands-on activity for ages 5 and up.
-
Taste Of Omaha
5-11 p.m. — Heartland of America Park — Free entry — Experience a culinary adventure with a variety of restaurants and live entertainment for all tastes.
-
Alpha Wolf Live Concert
5:30-6:30 p.m. — The Waiting Room Lounge — Tickets available — Experience the genre-defying sound of Alpha Wolf as they ignite the stage with heavy, crowd-engaging anthems.
-
Lucy Darling Comedy Show
7:00-8:30 p.m. — Orpheum Theater — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy an evening of laughter with Lucy Darling at the iconic Orpheum Theater.
-
Disney's Mary Poppins Musical
7:30-11:30 p.m. — Omaha Community Playhouse — Tickets available at discounted prices — Enjoy the enchanting story of Mary Poppins brought to life in this delightful musical.
-
Movies on the Green
7-9 p.m. — Granary Green — Free entry — Enjoy a family-friendly movie night under the stars with themed activities and local involvement.
-
Backline's Best Improv Showcase
7-8:30 p.m. — The Backline Comedy Theatre — Free for students and alumni — Experience the best of Omaha's improv with outstanding performances each week.
-
Season To Risk Concert
8-11 p.m. — Reverb Lounge — $15 ADV / $18 DOS — Experience the genre-blending sounds of Season to Risk, a first wave post-hardcore band adding dark synth to their evolving musical style.
-
IRONMAN 70.3 Omaha
6:30 AM – 5:00 PM — Lake Cunningham Recreation Area — $524.31 — Experience the spirit of the Midwest with a unique triathlon journey through nature and urban charm.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
It is better to travel well than to arrive.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Morning Omaha
Welcome to the Morning Omaha, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Omaha, Nebraska community. If you like the Morning Omaha, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Omaha.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Omaha and across Nebraska. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Morning Omaha
A free Omaha community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://morningomaha.com/sitemap