Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How Creighton’s Omaha lab is tackling invasive species with a $500K grant
Coming up on the Omaha Patch calendar: Noon Year's Eve
Cheers Omaha! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How Creighton’s Omaha lab is tackling invasive species with a $500K grant
- Why Joslyn Art Museum is now among the world’s most beautiful museums
- How Omaha officers are sharpening their skills against drunk driving
Also on today's calendar: Noon Year's Eve and 5 more events.
Find out what's happening in Omahafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Omahafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Sunday: Windy; a little morning snow, with a high of 39 and low of 12 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
- Monday: Sunny, windy and colder, temps: high: 25, low: 15.
- Tuesday: Some clouds, then sunshine, with a high of 43 and low of 26 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Creighton research project looks at threats posed by invasive species (omaha.com) — A Creighton University biology professor in Omaha has secured a $500,000 National Science Foundation grant to study how invasive plants are changing aquatic ecosystems in Iowa’s Loess Hills. Working from labs in the Hixson-Lied Building, he and his students are testing how different leaves decompose in water, hoping to better understand and manage regional environmental threats. 
2. Cleveland Museum of Natural History named among world's most beautiful museums (cleveland.com) — Omaha’s Joslyn Art Museum just earned a major international nod, joining Cleveland’s Museum of Natural History on the Prix Versailles list of the world’s most beautiful museums. The recognition highlights Joslyn’s architectural and design excellence on a global stage, putting Omaha’s cultural scene in the same conversation as leading museums across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
3. Law enforcement agencies attend training to detect impaired drivers (ruralradio.com) — Law enforcement officers from Omaha and surrounding agencies recently gathered in Omaha for a hands-on “holiday wet lab” to sharpen their skills at spotting impaired drivers. Under strict supervision, volunteers drank measured amounts of alcohol while officers practiced field sobriety tests and used a driving simulator, all to reduce drunk-driving crashes during the holidays and beyond.
4. Volunteers sort 300,000 donated diapers for families struggling with rising costs (3newsnow.com) — In Omaha, more than 100 volunteers at Open Door Mission just sorted over 300,000 donated diapers to help local families facing rising costs. Delivered by Werner Trucks after a Channel 94.1 drive, the diapers will soon be distributed to parents and children at Lydia House and Timber Creek Outreach Center.
5. Former Elkhorn North state champ Reilly Palmer returns to basketball for Omaha Mavericks (3newsnow.com) — Omaha women’s basketball has added former Elkhorn North star Reilly Palmer to the Mavericks roster after mid-season tryouts, marking her return to the sport as a UNO student. Palmer, who stepped away to focus on mental health, hopes her comeback in front of home fans encourages young athletes to prioritize well-being while pursuing their goals.
📸 Around Omaha
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Omaha
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- Noon Year's Eve
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium , 3701 S 10th St , Omaha
10:00 am - New Years Eve Party
Smash Park La Vista , 8121 S 125th St , La Vista
10:00 am - NYE with Johnny Beehner!
Funny Bone Omaha , 710 N 114th St , Omaha
7:00 pm - NYE at The Granary
Venues at The Granary, Bushwackers at The Granary, Granary Green 7401 Main St Ralston, NE 68127
7:00 pm - Farnam Winter Pop-Up
Midtown Crossing, 3320 Farnam Street Suite 2101
10:00 am - The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Omaha, NE
DoubleTree by Hilton Omaha Southwest , 3650 S 72nd St , Omaha
6:00 pm - The Extraordinary Card Magic of Jason Ladanye
Omaha Funny Bone 710 N 114th St Suite 210 Omaha, NE 68154
7:00 pm - Crystal Denha
Funny Bone Omaha , 710 N 114th St , Omaha
7:00 pm
Wednesday December 31
Friday January 2
Saturday January 3
Wednesday January 7
Thursday January 8
📣 Omaha Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Tuesday Power Partners
The Lighthouse Cafe & Coffee , 119 W Mission Ave , Bellevue
8:00 am - Tuesday TIPS Squad
Dayspring Bank , 4370 South 72nd Street , Ralston
1:00 pm - Noon Year's Eve
La Vista Community Center , 8116 Park View Blvd. , La Vista
11:00 am - Noon Year’s Eve
Ralston's Baright Public Library , 5555 S 77th St , Ralston
11:30 am
Tuesday December 30
Wednesday December 31
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Omaha PatchAM possible:
- Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible! - Ludemann Construction — (402) 813-9122
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Merry Christmas everyone, I was feeling really down yesterday missing family and after car accident a few weeks ago but my stolen support animal Pickle being returned was a Christmas Miracle.
He is the best fur dog baby ever and I thank all of you. Needless to say I let my dogs out pretty late last night am exhausted after a long Holiday… (Nextdoor South 42nd) - Update: Pet Reunited
Dodger, a dog who went missing in Omaha, NE, has been safely reunited with their family after 1 hours, 42 minutes. Message from Owner: "Please help… (Nextdoor Malcolm X)
- NE 1 EB/WB: Explosion because the road is closed from 322nd Street to 334th Street (2m E of Murdock).=... (X: Nebraska511)
- .@OmahaPolice are investigating a crash that occurred at 156th and West Center Road. (X: omaha_scanner)
- Burlington posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Stocking Associate - Part Time in Omaha. Apply here.
- EVEN Hotels posted a job opening for Hotel Night Auditor in Omaha. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Omaha here.
Ok Omaha! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I haven’t the foggiest.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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