Good morning, Omaha.

The Council Bluffs Fire Department held a procession on Thursday to honor Charles Jones (a firefighter and paramedic) who died last week.

This weekend, Omaha offers many local events as families enjoy the free second annual kite festival at Heartwood Preserve (noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday) and Halloween fun at Henry Doorly Zoo’s Zootacular (6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday) with additional performances and workshops across town.

Centerfest brings local vendors, small businesses and neighbors together in Omaha’s Hanscom neighborhood, offering a lively celebration of local culture and community connections.

The annual event encourages ongoing relationships through food, shopping and activities.

Gen Z listeners are fueling a vinyl revival as a 2024 survey showed 59% use physical music, while a 2025 study found 61% would swap digital habits for vinyl listening to boost mental well-being.

Locals join vinyl events at Homer’s Music in Omaha.

Joe Beaver of Great American Kites & Events shared details about Heartwood Preserve's Kite Festival during an interview with First Alert 6's Maria Cade and Elaina Riley, offering insight into the upcoming event for local kite enthusiasts.

Hillside Solutions expanded its Curbside Composting Club to Florence and a new part of west Omaha (between 144th and 168th streets) and now serves 498 households with weekly compost pickup year-round, with plans for further growth.

Utility and track work on Farnam and Harney in downtown and Midtown is causing lane closures, parking bans and temporary detours this fall; north lane closures will last until early 2027, and additional work on 10th Street will affect travel + require careful planning.

Omaha groups are raising breast cancer awareness as Nebraska’s screening rate remains below the national average; the Pink Lotus Project hosted a fair offering free food and health resources (including support for financial challenges) to help women curb risks as the state aims for a 70.2% rate by 2030.

NAI NP Dodge released its Q3 report on Omaha’s commercial real estate market showing rising vacancy and rates in office, retail and industrial sectors.

It also detailed projects including a 150,000 sqft office building for Koley Jessen law firm scheduled to break ground late 2027 — evidence of continued growth.

Fungoes Training is expanding its athletic development with a new golf facility in the Omaha metro that offers simulators, membership-driven hitting bays, and 24-hour access via a key fob system — features that will extend its popular baseball and softball programs to youth, families, and local businesses.

Banana Ball will arrive in Omaha next year as the Firefighters face The Party Animals at Charles Schwab Field on Sept.

3 and Sept. 4 and tickets are available via an official lottery until Oct. 31.