Labor & Growth
State employees union approves labor contract granting raises of up to 10%-27%
Editor’s note: this story has been updated to correct the percentages of the raises. LINCOLN — State workers have ratified a new labor contract that contains the largest salary increases in at least 35 years, a contract aimed at filling critical job vacancies. Gov. Jim Pillen and the Nebraska Association of Public Employees (NAPE) announced […]
Omaha streetcar plan in jeopardy under proposed legislation, Omaha mayoral aide says
LINCOLN — A bill before the Nebraska Legislature could kill Omaha’s modern-day streetcar, as it would curb future tax-increment financing revenue that city leaders are counting on to pay off the project. That’s according to Steve Jensen, a City of Omaha economic development aide, who spoke Tuesday at a legislative committee hearing on the TIF-related […]
Union Omaha franchise eyes new soccer stadium, and Legislature is asked to pitch in financially
OMAHA — Union Omaha hopes to build a $100 million soccer stadium in north downtown that would be accompanied by new housing, perhaps a hotel and other related entertainment amenities. Legislative Bill 621, introduced by Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha, would direct up to $50 million in state funds to help bring that vision to […]
Omaha streetcar authority launches informational website
OMAHA — Updates on the planned Omaha streetcar project can now be found on a new website launched by the Omaha Streetcar Authority. “Omaha Streetcar On Track” provides a way to submit questions and lists a contact person at HDR. It offers other information, including links to legal and consultant documents, news stories and a […]
Mutual of Omaha kicks off construction of skyline-changer
OMAHA — With Wednesday’s ceremonial groundbreaking, Mutual of Omaha kicked off construction of its $600 million new headquarters poised to outstretch all buildings in Nebraska and five other surrounding states. At 677 feet tall, the glassy tower slated to open in 2026 is to include 800,000 square feet of office, meeting and amenity space. It […]
Nebraska unemployment rate ticks upward as national rate drops slightly
OMAHA — Of Nebraska’s private industries, job growth was greatest in the past year for construction and hospitality fields, according to an update from the State Department of Labor. Labor Commissioner John Albin said Tuesday that Nebraska, overall, has seen about 30,000 non-farm jobs added in a year’s time. “This is the largest December to […]
Measures seek to change Nebraska’s new voter-approved minimum wage provisions
LINCOLN — A few months after Nebraska voters approved a minimum wage increase schedule, two state lawmakers have introduced bills to try to change that course. A third state senator promptly objected with a legislative motion she calls a “red flag” of concern, signaling that the Legislature could be in for “lengthy and arduous” debate. […]
Omaha streetcar debate rolls into the Nebraska Legislature
OMAHA — Though Omaha city officials have greenlighted the $300 million-plus urban streetcar project, a Nebraska lawmaker is waving the caution flag and has proposed legislation that could disrupt the flow. Among streetcar-related bills introduced by State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn is a call for the city or its streetcar authority to cover […]
Amazon update: New Bluffs facility has opened, Omaha’s 72 & State site still inactive
OMAHA — Another new area Amazon warehouse, this one in Council Bluffs, swung into action recently, albeit with a much smaller crew than originally envisioned. The 270,000-square-foot sorting center at South 24th Street and Veterans Memorial Highway was completed at least a half year ago and opened just prior to this past holiday season as […]
Nebraska’s first Amazon ‘fulfillment center’ opens on sprawling Sarpy County site
PAPILLION — Nebraska’s first and massive Amazon “fulfillment center” has opened in this Omaha metro area suburb, initially employing about 300 (not including robots that are to work alongside the humans). The opening this week came later than the originally projected 2022 date, but sooner than the 2024 date that officials last year said was […]
A $10 million request and a new coalition take aim at health care worker shortage
LINCOLN — Twenty weighty health and educational entities have teamed up to put a full court press on solving the shortage of health care workers in Nebraska. Early conversations among the new “Nebraska Healthcare Workforce Collaborative” have led to a $10 million request to the state for expanded clinical training sites for nurses. Such sites […]
Pizza, news and lawn mower entrepreneurs among newbies to Nebraska business hall of fame
LINCOLN — A pioneering Black newswoman, a pizza entrepreneur and a man who led his town to be called “Lawn Mower Capital of the World” are part of the next group to be inducted into the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame. The 2023 nominees, who will be honored at a Feb. 2 event of the […]