Good morning, Omaha.

The Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition hosted its annual back-to-school event in South Omaha, where families received free school supplies and support to start the school year.

Omaha police held 'Ice Cream with a Cop' at Victory Boxing Center in South Omaha where local children enjoyed popsicles, petted horses from the mounted patrol unit, and received backpacks filled with school supplies.

On Wednesday, the Omaha Police Officers Association gave each student about $200 for back-to-school outfits or supplies as several school districts prepare to start classes next week.

The North Omaha Music and Arts Festival is celebrating its fifth anniversary and runs through Aug.

16. It features jazz performances by Mohini Dey and cultural events that engage local residents.

Westside students returned to Westbrook Elementary on Thursday as 6,200 students began the school year.

The school has new furniture, updated restrooms, and outside improvements (from bond work) that create a warm, orderly setting on a rainy morning.

The Nebraska Board of Regents approved naming UNO's athletic facility near Baxter Arena as the Howard L.

Hawks Training Center to honor a former regent. UNO will also break ground Monday on a new baseball and softball clubhouse overlooking Connie Claussen and Tal Anderson fields, finishing in July.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved a new $55M UNO training center named for Howard L.

Hawks, to be completed by summer 2028 (offering updated sport and student facilities), and a $12.5M baseball and softball clubhouse at Maverick Park, with construction starting Monday and finishing by July.

Nebraska K-12 schools are testing AI tools for grading and lesson planning while updating policies so teachers remain in charge.

District leaders hold training sessions—emphasizing that AI should aid rather than replace human oversight—and review a student-led bill limiting AI as the sole basis for grading.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved a 4.25% operating budget increase for the next two years, including a $61 million request and a $1.5 million investment in the presidential scholars program.

It will also launch a new AI literacy course for med students amid student housing concerns.

OPPD is set to install 30,000 new meters in rural areas between Omaha and the Kansas border starting in September.

The newer meters will serve larger properties & businesses while alerting crews to outages more swiftly.

Omaha is offering to pay to repair or demolish the vacant Brother's Lounge in Blackstone after a June collapse left a hole near 38th and Farnam, and officials are negotiating with owner representatives using streetcar project funds while repair estimates are underway — a final plan awaits investigation results.

Each day, 92-year-old Demetrios Deligiannis arrives at the seventh floor of Union Bank Place near 13th and O streets to hem jeans and fit wedding attire, showing his passion for tailoring and that retirement is not in his plans (he continues to work with energy and skill).

Nebraska's No. 1 volleyball team will open its 2026 season at AT&T Stadium and play an outdoor match at Wrigley Field.

Coach Dani Busboom Kelly said the talented group, led by Andi Jackson, will appear at the Red vs. White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 16.