Journalism | Leo Adam Biga's My Inside Stories

A Man for All Reasons: Legacy Omaha Investor John Webster Was a Go-To Guy for The Reader

March 10, 2019 leoadambiga Leave a comment

The Reader newspaper is celebrating 25 years with a special anniversary March 2019 issue. This is one of two articles I have in that milestone edition. In commemorating the paper’s quarter century serving the community, we’re noting some behind the scenes figures and events that helped get the paper this far. This piece profiles legacy Omaha investor John Webster, whose capital allowed publisher John Heaston to reacquire the paper and whose money and advice helped Heaston stabilize the operation through the economic downturn and the changing landscape for print media. Another Omaha investor who stepped up at the same time as Webster to aid The Reader was John Blazek, a social entrepreneur I profile in the second article. It takes a lot of talents and resources to put out a paper and it’s good to recognize some of the untold stories and unsung heroes who have a hand in making it reality. I didn’t know of Webster until I got the assignment to interview him. His role was eye-opening to me and I personally appreciate the way he assisted Heaston and bailed out the paper because I have been a Reader contributing writer for 23 of its 25 years. The bulk of my wide-ranging work as a journalist has been with the publication, where I have had something like a thousand or so pieces appear in its pages, including hundreds of cover stories. It’s been an eventful marriage filled with highs, lows, opportunities, adventures and all the usual stuff that attends a relationship that long-standing. I am glad to have some presence in this landmark edition and I look forward to being part of The Reader reaching new milestones over time.

A Man for All Reasons

Legacy Omaha Investor John Webster Was a Go-To Guy for The Reader

by Leo Adam Biga

Originally appeared in The Reader (www.thereaer.com)

Being from a legacy family carries expectations. Retired broadcaster John Webster, 70, grew up knowing he was part of a historical line. Even though making his own mark as a Webster was expected, it wasn’t a given.

“I’m a fifth generation in Omaha on my dad’s side and sixth generation on my mother’s, so we’ve been around for a while. I come from a great family. It’s one thing to come out of a good family, but if you don’t have the desire to do something with yourself, it’s just not going to happen,” said Webster, whose family was successful in investments and transportation.

Blessed with creative and enterprising genes, he made his biggest imprint as owner of Omaha radio station KEFM. He was also a director of Ash Grove Cement Company, a cement and cement kiln dust provider to the construction industry. Additionally, he’s served on numerous community boards and committees.

“I was heavily involved in the masonic organizations in Omaha. I got to meet people from all walks of life. That was a big part of how I formed myself.”

When Reader publisher John Heaston needed capital to buy back the paper and stabilize it in this disruptive media space, Webster became an investor. He kept a low profile doing it, which is the Webster way.

“My grandfather and father were big influences on me. As a family we’ve always been pretty private and quiet as to what we do with investments or philanthropy. I’ve followed suit.”

Webster attended Shattuck, a private boarding school in Faribault, Minnesota, when it was a military academy. He earned a business administration degree from Menlo College in Menlo Park, California. His interest in the radio business was stoked visiting a West Coast station.

“I became fascinated with the broadcast side of things. I thought it was terribly creative.”

Back in Omaha, the licenses of radio stations KEFM and KOIL were suspended after owner Don Burden ran afoul of the FCC in 1976.

“When the properties came up I thought this would be a thing I would enjoy doing for a living and I might be pretty good at,” Webster said. “My father and I and Joe Baker formed a small company to go after the licenses.

We thought nobody would want to file against us but

11 other groups did. We went through a seven-year comparative hearing process I wouldn’t wish on anybody. We thought we could serve the community as well as anyone else given our strong Omaha history.

“After seven years the FCC finally decided the same thing. We went on the air officially in 1983. We started from scratch and we built it. Joe Baker left and my father and I continued on and I basically ran the thing.”

He said a lesson he learned is that “you can’t be a broadcaster and be thin-skinned.”

After a nearly two-decade run as a local independent, Webster saw the competitive landscape change when the FCC opened ownership to unlimited stations and markets.

“I could see the writing on the wall that I wasn’t going to be able to compete with somebody that had many more stations and resources. I called a friend of mine who was a license station broker and said, ‘It’s time for me to get out.’ And I got out at the right time.”

Webster made a cool $10 million selling his profitable stations to Clear Channel.

“I think if I had waited six months it would have been a totally different game.”

He added, “If the FCC hadn’t changed things, I’d probably still be in broadcasting.”

He misses it, especially the people.

“When it’s all gone, there’s a vacuum.”

Other business opportunities have popped up, he said,

“but broadcasting was my bread and butter,” adding, “Being in the business and being able to grow the business through creativity and drive meant a lot to me.”

He served as president of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and was instrumental in creating its charitable foundation. In 2001, he was inducted into the association’s Hall of Fame.

Besides owning his own specialty advertising company, his only other media foray was The Reader.

“I met John Heaston and I liked him, and I liked what he was doing. John Blazek and I got involved as investors.

It was interesting.”

Webster appreciates the publisher’s entrepreneurial zeal. “I think a lot of John Heaston. He’s creative. He has worthwhile ideas. He pursues stories that maybe mainstream publishers wouldn’t lay a hand on. I think there’s something to be said for an alternative newspaper. It adds a different viewpoint.

“The Reader may not be the biggest operation, but I think it serves a very vital part in providing information to the Omaha community.”

Webster and Blazek’s infusion of cash helped The Reader through some tough times.

“It hasn’t been an easy road. It’s been a real struggle. It’s a real compliment to John Heaston that he stuck with it.”

Webster’s been there himself.

“When you own your own business the buck always stops at your desk,” he said. “You can’t blame it on anybody else.”

Satisfaction, he said, comes in direct proportion “to the degree that you can work things out and solve problems and continue to grow.”

Webster, who’s married with three adult children (a fourth died in 2015), keeps a wintertime residence in South Carolina, but Omaha remains home.

“I’ve always loved Omaha. I don’t think I could ever really cut my ties with the city or Nebraska.”

Read more of Leo Adam Biga’s work at leoadambiga.com.

Categories: Business, Entrepreneurial, Entrepreneurs, John Blazek, John Heaston, John Webster, Journalism, Media, Omaha, Radio, The Reader, Writing Tags: Business, Entrepreneur, Investor, John Blazek, John Heaston, John Webster, Journalism, Media, Newspaper, Omaha, Radio, The Reader

An Omaha Star: Phyllis Hicks – The Publisher & the Newspaper She Never Meant to Run

March 10, 2019 leoadambiga Leave a comment

An Omaha Star: Phyllis Hicks

The Publisher & the Newspaper She Never Meant to Run

by Leo Adam Biga

Originally appeared in the March-April 2019 edition of Omaha Magazine (http://omahamagazine.com/articles/an-omaha-star-phyllis-hicks/)

When the story of the city’s longest-running African-American-owned newspaper, The Omaha Star, is written, three women will dominate its 80-year narrative.

Founding publisher Mildred Brown ran the ship from 1938 until her death in 1989. Her niece Marguerita Washington (a career educator), who spent time working for her aunt growing up, succeeded her. Phyllis Hicks joined the paper in 2005 and took over more and more of its operations after Washington fell ill. Upon Washington’s 2016 death, Hicks officially became publisher and managing editor; in truth, she had been running things for some time.

Hicks—the last survivor of this troika of black women journalists—never intended getting so deeply involved with the paper. Brown was only an acquaintance and Hicks’ association with the Star was limited to reading and submitting news items to it. She only joined the staff as a favor to her mother, who was close to Washington. Hicks studied journalism in school, but besides writing occasional press releases for her work in the public and private sectors (including her coaching of the Stepping Saints drill team), she had nothing to do with the Fourth Estate.

Fate had other plans, and thus Hicks, like Brown and Washington before her, became the matriarchal face of the paper. She did it her way, too. Lacking the entrepreneurial and sartorial flair of Brown, Hicks nevertheless managed attracting enough advertisers to keep the Star afloat through troubled economic times and declining ad revenues and subscriptions. Without the publishing and academic background of Washington, Hicks still found ways to keep the paper relevant for today’s readers.

After more than a decade with the paper, Hicks—who turns 76 on March 7—is looking to step away from the paper due to her own declining health. She broke her ankle in 2017, and then, last year went to the hospital to be treated for pneumonia; she was discharged with a dysfunctional kidney requiring dialysis.

She is eager for someone to carry the Star torch forward. As this issue of Omaha Magazine went to press, a management transition involving the Mildred D. Brown Memorial Study Center was in progress.

Whatever the paper’s future, Hicks is glad to have been part of its legacy of strong black women. That legacy extends to her late mother, aunts, and grandmother (Emma Lee Agee-Sullivan)—all independent achievers from whom she drew much inspiration.

When Agee-Sullivan was young, she was a member of the church pastored by the Rev. Earl Little (Malcolm X’s father). Agee-Sullivan was with the Little family when a lynch mob came looking for Earl Little. The family hid him and covered for him, and the Littles fled Nebraska the next day. As an adult, Hicks says, Agee-Sullivan was active in the Baptist church and started the state’s first licensed, black-owned home daycare.

Hicks had aunts who worked in finance and another who was a championship golfer (who would have gone professional “if she had come at another time”), she says, adding that her paternal grandfather, the Rev. J. P. Mosley Sr., led a demonstration to integrate swimming pools in Chillicothe, Missouri, in 1954, and “built Mount Nebo Baptist Church from the ground up” in Omaha.

When the challenge of the Star or anything else presented itself, she was ready. “I just did it because it had to be done,” Hicks says.

She followed the path laid out by other “black women taking the leadership role.”

At a time when few black women owned businesses, Brown launched the Star only a year after moving to town. She originally worked for the city’s other African-American paper, The Guide. She left its employment for her startup, which competed against The Guide for advertisers and readers. The Star soon won out thanks to her entrepreneurial savvy and not-taking-no-for-an-answer grit. The publisher made her paper a bastion for civil rights and community pride.

Following Brown’s death in 1989, Washington took command. By the early 2000s, the
paper struggled.

Meanwhile, Hicks’ mother, Juanita, befriended Washington. When Juanita fell ill, Washington helped care for her to allow Hicks to manage the Stepping Saints. Then, when Juanita’s house got flooded, she stayed with Washington for six weeks.

“They kind of adopted each other and threw me in the mix,” Hicks says.

Hicks was retired but, at the urging of her mother, she offered to assist Washington at the Star. Hicks soon took on editorial and business duties.

“I went to do a little marketing for Marguerita, and I’ve been there ever since,” she says. “I discovered there was a lot of help she needed. The paper was in dire straits. And I just started doing some of everything.”

Along the way, Hicks and Washington grew close. “It was a growing relationship that became more of a personal one than a business one,” she says.

Together, they formed the Mildred D. Brown Memorial Study Center as a fundraising and scholarship vehicle.

As Washington’s health failed, Hicks became her caregiver and eventually power of attorney. By the time Washington died of multiple malignant brain tumors in 2016, Hicks transitioned the paper from a weekly to a biweekly as a cost-savings move. She also got the paper’s archives digitized online.

Hicks continued running the paper, she says, because “I just felt an obligation. When I take on something, I try to see it through.”

Woodcut of Phyllis Hicks by Watie White

The Star is believed to be the nation’s oldest African-American paper owned and operated by women. Through the Great Depression, the late ’60s riots, the 2008 economic collapse, the death of publishers, and declining print ad revenue, it has never ceased publication.

Hicks admires how Washington took up the mantle after Mildred Brown died.

“She wanted the paper to go on as a legacy to Mildred because Mildred put her all into the paper. Plus, Marguerita felt the paper needed to be in the community to allow the black community a voice. She felt the newspaper was another way to educate people.

“She made the ultimate sacrifice and put her life on hold to keep somebody else’s dream alive,” Hicks says.

With Washington and Brown as her models, she ensured the Star’s survival.

“I take satisfaction in knowing I kept it from going under because it was close to going under,” she says. “With some personal sacrifices, I’ve been able to keep the doors open and pay people’s salaries. I paid off allThe Omaha Star bills. There were several years of back taxes. All that’s been caught up to date.”

Hicks came to believe, as Brown and Washington did, the Star serves an important role in its “ability to tell it like it is in the community, without it having to be politically correct.”

Just don’t expect crime reporting.

“I’ve tried to keep the paper in the light that Marguerita and Mildred did in positive news,” she says. “We don’t report who got killed, we don’t report crime, we don’t report any of that, because there’s a mess of that being reported already. What we try to do is paint a bright picture of what’s going on in the community—people’s accomplishments. We try to put information out there that builds the community up as well as inspires the community.”

The Star’s long been home to strong voices—from Charlie Washington and Preston Love Sr. to Ernie Chambers and Walter Brooks—calling for change. For many black Omahans, including those living elsewhere, it remains a main conduit to their shared community.

Hicks wishes more young people used the paper as a resource and recognized its role in fighting injustice and championing black self-determination.

“It’s a legacy for them,” she says. “It’s a part of this community’s history, and it’s a vehicle for them to tell their stories. We invite young people to submit stories.”

The Star intersects with young people through internships it offers students and scholarships granted by the Study Center. Engaging with community youth has been a priority for Hicks for years.

Long before joining the Star, Hicks made her community mark as co-founder and director of the Salem Baptist Church Stepping Saints drill team. The team was originally organized in 1966 to perform at a single event. But Saints dancers and drummers wanted something permanent, so the group became a fixture in area parades and at Disneyland, Disney World, Knott’s Berry Farm, and many other attractions across the nation.

Hicks says, the last time she counted, the Saints had performed in 38 states and some 2,000 youths had cycled through the team’s ranks over time. Some veteran Saints have seen their children and grandkids participate, making it a multigenerational tradition.

The Saints celebrated 50 years in 2017. The team is still going strong. Even though Hicks no longer takes an active hand in things, she’s still the matriarch.

Just as she never meant for the Saints to be a long-term commitment, her Omaha Star gig turned into one. Her promise-keeping may be her enduring legacy.

“If I say I’m going to do something, then I’m going to try to see it to the end,” she says.

Hicks wants the paper to remain black-owned and managed and based in North Omaha, where its red brick building (at 2216 N. 24th St.) has landmark status on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visit theomahastar.com for more information.

This article first appeared in the March/April 2019 edition of 60PLUS in Omaha Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.

A Year’s Worth of Writing for Omaha Magazine by Leo Adam Biga

January 31, 2019 leoadambiga Leave a comment

A Year’s Worth of Writing for Omaha Magazine

by Leo Adam Biga

http://omahamagazine.com/articles/author/leo-adam-biga/

(November-December 2017 through November-December 2018)

Omaha Land Bank

The Long Road to Recovery

Cathy Hughes

Soccer Brings Bob Warming Home

From Japanese-American Internment Camp to Boys Town

Meriwether Lewis Suicide or Assassination

In Frost We Trust

Ted Genoways

Whispering Roots Takes Root

Paradise In The Midwest

Giving Shape to Standing Bear’s Enduring Voice

Red Tape, Red Flags

Park Avenue Revitalization & Gentrification

Trevor Amery

Giving a Helping Hand to Nebraska Greats

Alexander Payne’s Homecoming

The State of Volleyball

Huskers’ Winning Tradition

Downsizing Home Cameos

A Fluid Life

Categories: Journalism, Journalist, Leo Adam Biga, Omaha, Omaha Magazine, Writing Tags: Articles, Journalism, Journalist, Leo Adam Biga, Omaha, Omaha Magazine, Stories, Writing

Faces and Places, Covers and Pages from this writer/reporter’s notebook

December 2, 2018 leoadambiga Leave a comment

Faces and Places, Covers and Pages from this writer/reporter’s notebook

Thanks to the editors and photographers who helped bring the stories behind these pictures to life.

(NOTE: If any of these images make you curious to read the corresponding stories, I can link you to them if you message me at leo32158@cox.net)

Follow my work at:

My Inside Stories

(https://leoadambiga.com)

https://www.facebook.com/LeoAdamBiga

and

The Reader (https://www.thereader.com)

El Perico (https://el-perico.com)

Omaha Magazine (http://www.omahamagazine.com)

MorningSky Omaha (http://www.morningskyomaha.com)

The Omaha Star (https://theomahastar.com)

The New Horizons (Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging)

Categories: Journalism, Leo Adam Biga, Leo Adam BIga's Blog, Leo Adam Biga's My Inside Stories, Omaha Stories, Writing Tags: Journalism, Leo Adam Biga, Leo Adam Biga's Blog, Leo Adam Biga's My Inside Stories, Omaha Stories, Reporting, Stories, Writing

Life Itself XIX: Set the Scene True Life Stories

September 28, 2018 leoadambiga Leave a comment

Life Itself XIX:

Set the Scene True Life Stories

Southern Fried Love Road Trip Diary II

https://leoadambiga.com/2016/08/12/southern-fried-l…ad-trip-diary-ii

Southern Fried Love Road Trip Diary I

https://leoadambiga.com/2016/06/01/a-southern-road-trip-diary

Goin’ down the Lincoln Highway with Omaha music guru Nils Anders Erickson

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/10/01/goin-down-the-li…-anders-erickson/ ‎

Stretch of the Lincoln Highway in Elkhorn, Neb.

Leo Biga’s Journey in the Pipeline; Following The Champ, Terence “Bud” Crawford in Africa

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/10/14/leo-bigas-journe…awford-in-africa

The Champ Goes to Africa: Terence Crawford Visits Uganda and Rwanda with his former teacher, this reporter and friends

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/06/26/the-champ-goes-t…rter-and-friends

Omaha history salvager Frank Horejsi: Dream calls for warehouse to become a museum

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/03/11/omaha-history-sa…-become-a-museum

Omaha Corpus Christi procession draws hundreds

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/06/13/omaha-corpus-chr…n-draws-hundreds

Iraq War veteran Jacob Hausman battles PTSD and finds peace

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/10/31/iraq-war-veteran…-and-finds-peace/

A Hospice House Story: How Phil Hummel’s End of Life Journey in Hospice Gave His Family Peace of Mind and Granted Him a Gentle, Dignified Death

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/10/27/a-hospice-house-…-dignified-death

Extremities: As seen on TLC’s “Hoarding: Buried Alive” – Mary Thompson takes her life back one piece at a time

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/19/extremities

Greg Pivovar, owner of the Stadium View shop, poses in his store in Omaha, Neb., Thursday, May 27, 2010. Pivovar is a one-man welcoming committee for College World Series fans. The Omaha attorney greets every (legal age) customer with a free can of beer and nudges them toward the barbecue, brats or, when LSU is in town, seafood jambalaya.(AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

The Little People’s Ambassador at the College World Series

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/26/the-little-peopl…ege-world-series

The History Man, Gary Kastrick, and his Project OMAHA lose home base

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/10/03/gary-kastricks-p…es-its-home-base/

The Bone Hunter: Paleontologist Michael Voorhies Uncovers Dinosaur Fossils

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/02/the-bone-hunter

Dr. Michael Voorhies

Dream catcher Lew Hunter: Screenwriting guru of the Great Plains

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/09/dream-catcher-lew-hunter/

After whirlwind tenure as Poet Laureate, Ted Kooser goes gently back to the prairie, to where the wild plums grow

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/19/after-a-whirlwin…-wild-plums-grow/

Keeper of the Flame: Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Ted Kooser

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/19/keeper-of-the-fl…inner-ted-kooser/

Verne Holoubek’s Road Less Traveled: How Harley Davidson, Printed T-Shirts, and the Counter-Culture Movement Helped this Former Nebraska Farm Boy Make Pop Culture History

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/09/the-road-less-traveled

Goodwin’s Spencer Street Barber Shop: We Cut Heads and Broaden Minds, Too

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/04/29/goodwins-spencer…roaden-minds-too/

Freedom riders: A get on the bus inauguration diary

From the Archives: A Road Trip Sideways

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/10/21/get-on-the-bus-a…-ride-to-freedom/

Therman Statom works with children to create glass houses and more

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/31/glass-artist-the…kids-art-brigade

Linda Walker of Bay Shore, New York lifts her hand in prayer as President Barack Obama is sworn in as 44th president of the United States in Washington on Tuesday Jan. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/ St. Petersburg Times, Martha Rial) ** TAMPA OUT. USA TODAY OUT. HERNANDO TODAY OUT. CITRUS COUNTY CHRONICLE OUT **

Crowds gather on the National Mall in Washington for the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

Polishing Gem: Behind the scenes of John Beasley Theater & Workshop’s staging of August Wilson’s “Gem of the Ocean”

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/05/29/polishing-gem-be…gem-of-the-ocean/ ‎

Back in the Day: Native Omaha Days is reunion, homecoming, heritage celebration and party all in one

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/06/11/back-in-the-day-…party-all-in-one/ ‎

It’s a Hoops Culture at The SAL, Omaha’s Best Rec Basketball League

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/06/its-a-hoops-cult…asketball-league

Hadley Heavin’s Idiosyncratic Journey as a Real Rootin-Tootin, Classical Guitar Playing Cowboy

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/01/a-real-rootin-to…r-playing-cowboy

Omaha’s Grand Old Lady, The Orpheum Theater

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/02/omahas-grand-old…-orpheum-theater

Alexander Payne’s Circuitous Journey to His Wine Country Film Comedy

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/10/28/from-the-archive…ntry-film-comedy

My Midwest Baseball Odyssey Diary

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/11/my-midwest-baseball-odyssey-diary/

UNO Wrestling Retrospective – Way of the Warrior, House of Pain, Day of Reckoning

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/08/21/a-three-part-uno…day-of-reckoning/

The Downtown Boxing Club’s House of Discipline

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/04/the-downtown-box…se-of-discipline

Heart and Soul: Kenny Wingo and Dutch Gladfelter Keep it Real at the Downtown Boxing Club

https://leoadambiga.com/2018/09/28/heart-and-soul-k…town-boxing-club/

New school ringing in Liberty for students

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/06/new-school-ringi…rty-for-students

Bobby Bridger’s Rendezvous

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/11/bobby-bridgers-rendezvous

A Passion for Conservation: Tara Kennedy

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/11/25/a-passion-for-co…ion-tara-kennedy

A Rosenblatt Tribute

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/19/a-rosenblatt-tribute/

ER, An Emergency Room Journal

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/16/er

Merciful Armies of the Night, A Ride-Along with Paramedics

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/16/merciful-armies-of-the-night

War and Peace: Bosnian refugees purge war’s horrors in song and dance that make plea for harmony

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/08/18/war-and-peace/

Bertha’s Battle: Bertha Calloway, the Grand Lady of Lake Street, struggles to keep the Great Plains Black History Museum afloat

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/11/berthas-battle

Favorite Sons: Weekly Omaha pasta feeds at Sons of Italy Hall draw diverse crowd

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/04/28/favorite-sons-we…lse-little-italy/

Santa Lucia Festival, Omaha Style

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/07/05/santa-lucia-festival/ ‎

Devotees hold fast to Latin rite

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/15/devotees-hold-fa…o-the-latin-rite/

Show goes on at Omaha Community Playhouse, where Henry Fonda and Dorothy McGuire got their start

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/04/the-show-goes-on/

From the Archives: Opera comes alive behind the scenes at Opera Omaha staging of Donizetti’s “Maria Padilla” starring Renee Fleming

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/09/26/from-the-archive…ing-rene-fleming

It was a different breed then: Omaha Stockyards remembered

https://leoadambiga.com/2016/06/24/it-was-a-differe…yards-remembered/

Separate Voices, Separate Lives: The Alien Abduction Chronicles

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/11/separate-voices-…ction-chronicles

Categories: Author-Journalist-Blogger, Journalism, Leo Adam Biga, Literary Journalism, Nonfiction, Storytelling, True Life Tales, Writing Tags: Author-Journalist-Blogger, Journalism, Leo Adam Biga, Life Itself XIX: Set the Scene True Life Stories, Nonfiction, Storytelling, Writing

Life Itself IX: Media and related articles from the analog past to today’s digital era

June 26, 2018 leoadambiga Leave a comment

Life Itself IX:

Media and related articles from the analog past to today’s digital era

KM3 reporter Maya Saenz living her dream

https://leoadambiga.com/2018/05/06/km3-reporter-may…living-her-dream

Maria Teresa Kumar and Voto Latino dig down on civic engagement

https://leoadambiga.com/2017/11/16/maria-teresa-kum…civic-engagement/

John Knicely: A life in television five decades strong

https://leoadambiga.com/2018/02/26/john-knicely-a-l…e-decades-strong

Kevin Simonson on Interviewing Hunter S. Thompson and Kurt Vonnegut

https://leoadambiga.com/2017/03/05/kevin-simonson-o…nd-kurt-vonnegut/

Ann Schatz on her own terms – Veteran sportscaster broke the mold in Omaha

https://leoadambiga.com/2016/03/30/ann-schatz-on-he…he-mold-in-omaha

KETV president-general manager Ariel Roblin leads effort to make historic Burlington Station the ABC affiliate’s new home

https://leoadambiga.com/2014/05/09/ketv-president-g…iliates-new-home

Feature-Image

Ariel Roblin

Summer Miller’s book depicts area whole foods culture in stories, recipes, pics

https://leoadambiga.com/2016/07/01/summer-millers-b…ies-recipes-pics/

Lew Hunter’s small town Nebraska boy made good in Hollywood story is a doozy

https://leoadambiga.com/2016/02/25/lew-hunters-smal…story-is-a-doozy/

Playwright turned history detective Max Sparber turns identity search inward

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/02/07/playwright-turne…ty-search-inwar

Faith, Friends and Facebook:

The Journey of Camille Metoyer Moten

https://leoadambiga.com/2014/12/13/when-cancer-stru…aith-on-facebook

From the heart: Tunette Powell tells it like it is

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/03/10/from-the-heart-t…ls-it-like-it-is

Identity gets new platform through RavelUnravel

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/03/20/identity-gets-a-…ugh-ravelunravel

Making community and conversation where you find it: Stuart Chittenden’s quest for connection now an exhibit

https://leoadambiga.com/2016/01/30/making-community…n-now-an-exhibit/

How wayfarer Stuart Chittenden’s Nebraska odyssey explored community through conversation

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/11/01/how-wayfarer-stu…ugh-conversation

Creative couple: Bob and Connie Spittler and their shared creative life 60 years in the making

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/12/23/bob-and-connie-s…rs-in-the-making

Mike Kelly

Master of many mediums Jason Fischer

https://leoadambiga.com/2016/03/09/master-of-many-m…ms-jason-fischer

To code or not to code: New Omaha school offers bootcamp for aspiring web designers

https://leoadambiga.com/2014/05/23/to-code-or-not-t…ng-web-designers

Ex-Gonzo journalist-turned-filmmaker James Marshall Crotty resolved to celebrate debate in new films “Crotty’s Kids” and “Master Debaters”

https://leoadambiga.com/2014/03/06/ex-gonzo-journal…-master-debaters/

News of Omaha Star publisher’s illness spurs admiration for her stewardship and interest in historic paper’s future

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/12/04/news-of-omaha-st…ic-papers-future

Omaha World-Herald columnist Mike Kelly: A storyteller for all seasons

https://leoadambiga.com/2014/04/02/omaha-world-hera…-for-all-seasons/

Veteran Omaha TV meteorologist Jim Flowers weathers the storm

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/08/28/veteran-omaha-tv…athers-the-storm

MindMixer: Rethinking the town hall meeting

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/08/28/mindmixer-rethin…own-hall-meeting

The Omaha Star celebrates 75 years of black woman legacy

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/04/11/the-omaha-star-c…ack-woman-legacy

Ex-reporter Eileen Wirth pens book on Nebraska women in journalism and their leap from society page to front page

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/03/22/ex-reporter-eile…ge-to-front-page

Bob Hoig’s unintended entree into journalism leads to career six decades strong

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/01/25/bob-hoigs-uninte…cades-strong-now

Finding her voice: Tunette Powell comes out of the dark and into the spotlight

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/01/24/finding-her-voic…to-the-spotlight

El Puente: Attempting to bridge divide between grassroots community and the system

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/07/22/el-puente-attemp…y-and-the-system

Documentary shines light on civil rights powerbroker Whitney Young: Producer Bonnie Boswell to discuss film and Young

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/03/21/documentary-shin…e-film-and-young

The Great Migration comes home: Deep South exiles living in Omaha participated in the movement author Isabel Wilkerson writes about in her book, “The Warmth of Other Suns”

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/03/31/the-great-migrat…th-of-other-suns

Part IV of four-part Q & A with Pulitzer-winner Isabel Wilkerson on her book, “The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration”

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/03/11/part-iv-of-a-fou…-great-migration

Part III of four-part Q & A with Pulitzer-winner Isabel Wilkerson on her book, “The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration”

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/02/29/part-iii-of-a-fo…-great-migration

Part II of four-part Q & A with Pulitzer-winner Isabel Wilkerson on her book, “The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration”

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/02/19/part-ii-of-a-fou…-great-migration

Part I of four-part Q & A with Pulitzer-winner Isabel Wilkerson on her book, “The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration”

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/02/15/part-i-of-a-four…-great-migration/

Wounded Knee still battleground for some per new book by journalist-author Stew Magnuson

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/04/20/wounded-knee-sti…or-stew-magnuson

Howard Silber

He knows it when he sees it: Journalist-social critic Robert Jensen finds patriarchy and white supremacy in porn

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/06/17/i-know-it-when-i…upremacy-in-porn/

Ron Hull reviews his remarkable life in public television in new memoir

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/10/06/8945

Dick Cavett’s desk jockey déjà vu

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/07/04/dick-cavetts-desk-jockey-deja-vu/

Gray Matters: Ben and Freddie Gray fight the good fight helping young men and women find pathways to success

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/07/13/gray-matters-ben…hways-to-success

A brief history of Omaha’s civil rights struggle distilled in black and white by photographer Rudy Smith

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/05/02/a-brief-history-…apher-rudy-smith/

The man behind the voice of Husker football at Memorial Stadium

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/06/20/the-man-behind-t…memorial-stadium

Warren Francke – A passion for journalism, teaching and life

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/06/11/from-the-archive…eaching-and-life

Dena Krupinsky makes Hollywood dreams reality as Turner Classic Movies producer

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/04/30/dena-krupinski-m…-movies-producer

Documentary considers Omaha’s changing face since World War II

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/08/15/documentary-cons…nce-world-war-ii/

The wonderful world of entertainment talent broker Manya Nogg

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/04/30/the-wonderful-wo…roker-manya-nogg

Entertainment attorney Ira Epstein: Counsel to the stars

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/04/30/entertainment-at…sel-to-the-stars

Photojournalist Nobuko Oyabu’s own journey of recovery sheds light on survivors of rape and sexual abuse through her Project STAND

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/04/16/photojournalist-…and-sexual-abuse/

Intrepid photojournalist Don Doll reinvents himself by adding video to repertoire of making images that matter

https://leoadambiga.com/2018/05/02/intrepid-photojo…ages-that-matter

Linda Lovgren’s sterling career earns her Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame induction

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/03/26/linda-lovgrens-s…f-fame-induction

From reporter to teacher: Carol Kloss McClellan enjoys new challenge as inner city public high school instructor

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/03/25/from-reporter-to…chool-instructor

Steve Gordon, the man behind RDQLUS Creative embodies creative class life and career

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/03/13/steve-gordon-the…pendent-creative/

Omaha’s KVNO 90.7 FM turns 40: Commercial-free public radio station serves the community all classical music and local news

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/02/11/omahas-kvno-90-7…ent-set-it-apart/ ‎

To Doha and back with love: Local journalists reflect on their fear, loathing and everything surreal adventure in the Gulf

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/12/11/to-doha-and-back…ture-in-the-gulf/

Nancy Kirk: Arts maven, author, communicator, entrepreneur, interfaith champion

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/10/21/nancy-kirk-arts-…erfaith-champion

Retired Omaha World-Herald military affairs newsman Howard Silber: War veteran, reporter, raconteur, bon vi vant, globetrotter

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/10/06/retired-omaha-wo…nt-globe-trotter/

Jeff Slobotski and Silicon Prairie News create nNiche by charting innovation

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/08/27/jeff-slobotski-a…rting-innovation/

From wars to Olympics, world-class photojournalist Kenneth Jarecke shoots it all, and now his discerning eye is trained on Husker football

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/08/23/from-wars-to-oly…-husker-football/

Dream catcher Lew Hunter: Screenwriting guru of the Great Plains

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/09/dream-catcher-lew-hunter/

Sun reflection: Revisiting the Omaha Sun’s Pulitzer Prize-winning expose of Boys Town

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/04/28/sun-reflection-r…ose-on-boys-town

Open Minds: “Portals” explores human longing in the digital age

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/04/15/open-minds-porta…-the-digital-age/

Omaha native Steve Marantz looks back at city’s ’68 racial divide through prism of hoops in new book, “The Rhythm Boys of Omaha Central”

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/04/01/omaha-native-ste…of-omaha-central

Magazine and mission founded on spirit of giving: Metro Magazine publisher Andy Hoig celebrates philanthropy

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/03/06/a-magazine-and-a…tes-philanthropy/

SkyVu Entertainment pushes “Battle Bears” brand to sky’s-the-limit vision of mobile games, TV, film, toys …

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/02/09/skyvu-entertainm…tv-film-toys-etc

Beware the Singularity, singing the retribution blues: New works by Rick Dooling

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/10/10/beware-the-singu…-by-rick-dooling

Old partnership takes new turn: UNO-Kabul University renew ties with journalism program

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/01/24/an-old-partnersh…urnalism-program/

North Omaha champion Frank Brown fights the good fight

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/01/15/north-omaha-cham…s-the-good-fight

Warren Buffett, left, and Stan Lipsey at the Omaha Sun in the 1970s.

Being Dick Cavett

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/12/04/being-dick-cavett-2

Homecoming always sweet for Dick Cavett, the entertainment legend whose dreams of show biz Success were fired in Nebraska

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/12/04/homecoming-is-al…ed-in-nebraska-2/

Bill Maher Gets Real

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/10/20/bill-maher-gets-real/

Exposed:

Gail Levin and Steve Brodner prick the body politic

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/09/20/exposed-gail-lev…the-body-politic/ ‎ ‎

Imagemaking celebrated at Joslyn Art Museum: “The Misfits” and Magnum Cinema

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/09/20/imagemaking-cele…nd-magnum-cinema

Forever Marilyn: Gail Levin’s new film frames the “Monroe doctrine”

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/09/20/forever-marilyn-…-monroe-doctrine/

Hidden In plain view: Rudy Smith’s camera and memory fix on critical time in struggle for equality

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/29/hidden-in-plain-…gle-for-equality

Radio DJ-actor-singer Dave Wingert, in the spotlight

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/25/dave-wingert-in-the-spotlight

Theater-Fashion Maven Elaine Jabenis

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/04/theater-fashion-…n-elaine-jabenis

Marguerita Washington:

The woman behind the Star that never sets

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/02/marguerita-washi…-that-never-sets/

Ron Hull’s magical mystery journey through life, history and public television

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/07/11/ron-hull’s-magic…ublic-television

Author, humorist, folklorist Roger Welsch tells the stories of the American soul and soil

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/19/author-humorist-…he-american-soul/

Buffett’s newspaper man, Stanford Lipsey

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/02/buffetts-newspap…-stanford-lipsey/

John and Pegge Hlavacek’s globe-trotting adventures as foreign correspondents

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/02/john-and-pegge-h…n-correspondents/ ‎

Howard Rosenberg’s much-traveled news career

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/02/howard-rosenberg…eled-news-career/

A good man’s job in radio is never done: Nebraska broadcasting legend Gary Sadlemyer

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/31/a-good-man’s-job…d-gary-sadlemyer

What’s in a brand? For Rebel Interactive, everything

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/31/what’s-in-a-bran…ctive-everything

Extremities: As seen on TLC’s “Hoarding: Buried Alive” – Mary Thompson takes her life back one piece at a time

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/19/extremities

Three old wise men of journalism – Hlavacek, Michaels and Desfor – recall their foreign correspondent careers and reflect on the world today

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/18/three-old-wise-men-of-journalism

Culturalist Kurt Andersen wryly observes the American scene as author, essayist, radio talk show host

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/18/culturalist-kurt-andersen

Radio One queen Cathy Hughes rules by keeping it real: Native Omahan created Urban Radio format

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/04/29/radio-one-queen-…-keeping-it-real

Alice’s wonderland:

Former InStyle accessories editor Alice Kim brings NYC style sense to Omaha’s Trocadero

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/05/05/alices-wonderlan…omahas-trocadero

Radio Day: “Michael Feldman’s Whad’Ya Know?”Live from Omaha

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/08/11/radio-day-michae…-live-from-omaha

Doug Wesselmann, aka Otis Twelve

Otis Twelve’s Radio Days

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/31/otis-twelves-radio-days/

Preston Love: His voice will not be stilled

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/03/preston-love-his…l-not-be-stilled

Slaying dragons: Author Richard Dooling’s sharp satire cuts deep and quick

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/18/slaying-dragons-rick-dooling/

Man on fire: Activist Ben Gray’s flame burns bright

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/09/02/ben-gray-man-on-fire

Former Omaha television photojournalist Don Chapman’s adventures in imagemaking keep him on the move

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/09/29/from-the-archive…-him-on-the-move

Categories: Communications, Journalism, Journalist, Media, Newspaper, Reporting, Television, Writing Tags: Blogging, Books, Communications, Journalism, Journalist, Media, News, Newspapers, Reporting, Television, Writing

Life Itself III: Twenty-plus years of New Horizons stories about people, their passions and their magnificent obsessions

April 20, 2018 leoadambiga Leave a comment

Life Itself III: Twenty-plus years of New Horizons stories about people, their passions and their magnificent obsessions

©by Leo Adam Biga

Author-Journalist-Blogger

John Knicely

A Broadcast Journalism Career Five Decades Strong

https://leoadambiga.com/2018/02/26/john-knicely-a-l…e-decades-strong/ ‎

Charlene Butts Ligon

Her Mother’s Daughter

https://leoadambiga.com/2018/01/28/her-mothers-daug…lyn-thomas-butts

Dundee Theater

Cinema Revival for the Ages

https://leoadambiga.com/2017/10/28/dundee-theater-r…ent-for-the-ages/

Syed Mohiuddin

A Tri-Faith Pillar

https://leoadambiga.com/2017/09/01/syed-mohiuddin-a…tiative-in-omaha/

Brenda Council

A Public Servant’s Life

https://leoadambiga.com/2017/06/26/brenda-council-a…ic-servants-life

Bud Shaw

Voyager

https://leoadambiga.com/2017/04/20/voyager-bud-shaw…-scalpel-for-pen/

Tom Gouttierre

An American’s Afghanistan Odyssey

https://leoadambiga.com/2017/02/21/love-affair-with…-like-few-others/

Camille Metoyer Moten

Songstress

https://leoadambiga.com/2016/12/26/camille-metoyer-…ong-in-her-heart/

Tom Osborne

Still Going Strong

https://leoadambiga.com/2016/10/27/living-legend-to…me-of-life-at-79/

Ron Hansen

Literary Star Revisits the Old West

https://leoadambiga.com/2016/08/25/literary-star-ro…ew-novel-the-kid/

Paul Johnsgard

Birdman

https://leoadambiga.com/2016/06/24/paul-johnsgard-a…ad-less-traveled/

John Beasley

Living His Dream

https://leoadambiga.com/2016/04/22/john-beasley-living-his-dream/

Lew Hunter

Hollywood Success Story

https://leoadambiga.com/2016/02/25/lew-hunters-smal…story-is-a-doozy/

Bob and Connie Spittler

Creative Couple

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/12/23/bob-and-connie-s…rs-in-the-making/ ‎

Father Ken Vavrina

Crossing Bridges

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/10/29/father-ken-vavri…e-serving-others/

Carol Rogers

Singer’s Life Comes Full Circle

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/08/28/life-comes-full-…ger-carol-rogers

David Corbin and Josie Metal-Corbin

Moving Right Along

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/07/03/moving-right-alo…wn-in-retirement/

Paul Williams

Still Alive and Making Music

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/05/01/paul-williams-al…usic-again-at-74

Sam Walker

Social Justice Warrior

https://leoadambiga.com/2014/05/30/justice-champion…it-as-he-sees-it/

Tom Mangelsen

Natural Imagery

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/01/30/natural-imagery-…-comes-back-home/

Gene Hayes

North’s Star

https://leoadambiga.com/2014/12/02/norths-star-gene…orth-high-school/ ‎

Vic Gutman and Roberta Wilhelm

A Community-Engaged Couple

https://leoadambiga.com/2014/09/29/alone-or-togethe…to-the-community/

Linda Meigs

The Artist in the Mill

https://leoadambiga.com/2014/08/01/linda-meigs-brin…at-florence-mill/

Jim Trebbien

Culinary Artist

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/03/02/culinary-artist-…ommunity-college/

Michael Kelly

Decades of Deadlines

https://leoadambiga.com/2014/04/02/omaha-world-hera…-for-all-seasons/

John and Liz Backus

Upon this Rock, Husband and Wife Pastor Team Shepherds North Omaha Flock

https://leoadambiga.com/2014/02/02/upon-this-rock-h…trinity-lutheran/

Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska”

Movie Laden with Senior Themes and Cast

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/11/30/alexander-paynes…ith-many-viewers

Minne Lusa House

Coffee and Community

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/09/27/minne-lusa-house…on-and-community/

Terrence Crawford and Midge Minor

In Each Other’s Corner

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/07/30/in-his-corner-mi…nce-bud-crawford/

Brenda Allen

Country Western Saga – Nebraska to Vietnam to Vegas

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/06/01/brenda-allens-re…vietnam-to-vegas/

Eileen Wirth

Female Journalist Recounts Nebraska Women in Journalism

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/03/22/ex-reporter-eile…ge-to-front-page/

Shirley Jones

Star Recalls “Carousel”

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/05/01/shirley-jones-in…ning-of-carousel/

Susie Baer Collins and Carl Beck

Matched Set Exiting Stage Left

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/02/28/matched-set-susa…munity-playhouse/

Bob Hoig

Newsman, Publisher, Flyer

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/01/25/bob-hoigs-uninte…cades-strong-now/

Theresa Glass Union

Parenting the Second Time Around

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/11/25/parenting-the-se…uts-family-first/

Jose and Linda Garcia

Building Community Through Art

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/09/30/community-builde…-culture-history/

Ben and Freddie Gray

North Omaha Power Couple

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/07/13/gray-matters-ben…hways-to-success/

Bill Cosby

On His Own Terms

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/05/11/bill-cosby-on-his-own-terms/

Linda Lovgren

PR Pioneer

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/03/26/linda-lovgrens-s…f-fame-induction/

Mary Mitchell

Timeless Fashion

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/01/07/timeless-fashion…k-and-exhibition

Nancy Kirk

Fabric and Faith

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/10/21/nancy-kirk-arts-…erfaith-champion/ ‎

Howard Silber

Globe-trotter

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/10/06/retired-omaha-wo…nt-globe-trotter/

Mike Denney

Requiem for a Wrestling Dynasty

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/07/28/requiem-for-a-dy…ville-university/

Anne Marie Kenney

Life is a Cabaret

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/05/28/life-is-a-cabare…-omaha-with-love/

Harvey Perlman

University Leader

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/04/02/chancellor-harve…s-in-the-big-ten

Dean Blais

Coach has UNO Hockey Dreaming Big

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/01/29/dean-blais-has-u…key-dreaming-big

Lucile Schaaf

An Old Market Original

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/11/28/luciles-old-market/

Debbie Reynolds

Hollywood Legend Remembers “Singin’ in the Rain”

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/10/31/hollywood-legend…d-at-nov-5-event

Gary Kastrick

South Omaha History Man

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/10/03/gary-kastricks-p…es-its-home-base

Patrick Drickey

Golf Shots

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/05/golf-shots-pat-d…eat-golf-courses/

Dick Holland

Giving to those in Need

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/06/04/dick-holland-res…g-needs-in-omaha/

William Kloefkorn

Man of His Words

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/07/07/a-man-of-his-wor…illiam-kloefkorn/

Teela Mickles

Nurturing One Lost Soul at a Time

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/06/29/nurturing-one-lo…-back-to-society/

Jim Suttle

Omaha Mayor

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/04/jim-suttle-feels…as-omaha’s-mayor/

Click Westin

Back in the Screenwriting Game

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/07/11/click-westin-bac…-again-at-age-83/

Bill Sprague and Marcia Hinkle

50 Years Making Music with the Omaha Symphony

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/03/marcia-hinkle-an…iversary-players/

John Sorensen

Rediscovering the Abbott Sisters

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/04/26/10/

Connie Spellman

Designing Woman

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/12/13/designing-woman-…-omaha-by-design

Mike Saklar

Whatsoever You Do to the Least of My Brothers

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/01/whatsoever-you-d…t-you-do-unto-me/

Lela Knox Shanks

Activist-Advocate

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/04/one-day-at-a-tim…alcoholics-story/

Isabella Threlkeld

Art for Life

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/04/isabella-threlke…an-uncommon-life

Jim Ramirez

South Omaha Champion

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/01/jim-ramirez-a-man-of-the-people/

Michael Voorhies

Bone Hunter

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/02/the-bone-hunter/

Catherine Ferguson

Artist Stretches Herself

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/01/artist-catherine…-aida-and-beyond/

Mike Green and Dick Davis

Lifetime Friends, Former Backfield Mates, Now Entrepreneurs

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/08/20/lifetime-friends…-black-citizenry/

Ron Hull

A Magical Journey in Public Television

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/07/11/ron-hull’s-magic…ublic-television/

Ron Stander

Still Fighting for Friends in Need

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/31/ron-stander-stil…-friends-in-need/ß

Ben Kuroki

Most Honorable Son

https://leoadambiga.com/2018/03/17/ben-kuroki-a-dis…st-honorable-man/

Jo Ann McDowell

Love of Theater Leads to Major Conference

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/05/24/jo-ann-mcdowells…ls-and-conferenc/

Dick Cavett

Homecoming is Sweet for Nebraska Legend

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/12/04/homecoming-is-al…ed-in-nebraska-2/

Black Women in Music

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/07/11/black-women-in-music/ ‎

George Pfeifer and Tom Krehbiel

A Good Deal at Boys Town

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/05/31/a-good-deal-geor…-boys-town-hoops/

Buck O’Neil

Negro Leagues Icon

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/08/27/buck-o’neil-and-…lack-perspective

Roger Welsch

Author-Folklorist Mines the American Soul

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/19/author-humorist-…he-american-soul/

Marguerita Washington

Guiding an Omaha Star that Never Sets

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/02/marguerita-washi…-that-never-sets/

Ted Kooser

Keeper of the Flame

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/19/keeper-of-the-fl…inner-ted-kooser/

Everett Reynolds

Civil Rights Champion

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/06/05/rev-everett-reyn…ctivist-preacher/

Edith Buis

A Life Immersed in Art

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/06/11/eddith-buis-a-life-immersed-in-art

Tuskegee Airmen of Omaha

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/18/the-tuskegee-airmen/

Nancy Bounds

Omaha Arbiter of Poise, Beauty, Grace

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/02/04/nancy-bounds-a-t…ty-glamour-poise

John and Pegge Hlavacek

A Couple’s Foreign Correspondent Adventures

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/02/john-and-pegge-h…n-correspondents/

Harley Cooper

The Best Boxer You’ve Never Heard Of

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/05/harley-cooper-th…e-never-heard-of/

Dick Boyd

Scrooged

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/12/24/dick-boyd-found-…-christmas-carol/

Blacks of Distinction II

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/04/01/blacks-of-distinction-ii/

Elaine Jabenis

Theater-Fashion Maven

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/04/theater-fashion-…n-elaine-jabenis/

Senior Men of Medicine

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/02/men-of-science/

Don Benning

Man of Steel

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/07/17/don-benning-man-…ots-of-greatness/

“West Side Story”

American Movie Musical Classic

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/08/15/west-side-story-…american-classic/

A Family’s Odyssey with Alzhemier’s

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/07/11/ill-be-seeing-yo…alzheimers-story/

Evie Zysman

A Force of Nature

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/16/a-force-of-natur…e-advocate-at-99/

Carole Woods Harris

Breaking Barriers

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/04/17/carole-woods-har…ess-and-politics/

Mary Galligan-Cornett

One Helluva Broad

https://leoadambiga.com/2012/06/09/one-helluva-broa…galligan-cornett/

Peace Corps Veterans

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/18/a-peace-corps-retrospective/

Saturday Night Bingo Brigade

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/07/11/the-saturday-night-bingo-brigade/

Ritz Cab Company Remembered

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/06/18/puttin-on-the-ritz/

Ballroom Dancing

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/12/10/gotta-dance-seni…of-staying-young/ ‎

Joan Micklin Silver

Filmmaker Paved Path for Women Directors

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/10/10/joan-micklin-sil…-women-directors

Blacks of Distinction I

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/07/11/blacks-of-distinction/ ‎

John H

Finding Recovery in AA

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/08/04/one-day-at-a-tim…alcoholics-story

Bill Ramsey

A Korean War Story

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Nancy Duncan

Storyteller

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Omaha Community Playhouse at 75

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Charles Bryant

Man on Fire, Soul on Ice

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Charles Jones

Looking Homeward

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Contemplative Sisters of the Good Shepherd

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Tom Lovgren

A Good Man to Have in Your Corner

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Chuck Powell

A Berlin Airlift Story

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Florence Young

Enchanted Life of this Daughter of a Whirling Dervish

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Warren Francke

Reporter-turned-educator

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Bea Karp

Holocaust Survivor

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Omaha Stockyards

Last Days and Halcyon Times Remembered

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Donovan Ketzler

Last of the Rough Riders

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Bob and Roberta Rogers

Art Missionaries at Gallery 72

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Omaha’s Sweet 16

WWII Service in the All-Black Quarternaster Corps

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Magnificent Obsession of Art Storz

The Old Man and the Mansion

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Bob Gibson

Master of the Mound

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Preston Love Sr.

Bittersweet Jazz Stylings of Mr. Saturday Night

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Kenny Wingo and Dutch Gladfelter

Heart and Soul of the Downtown Boxing Club

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Patricia Neal

Unforgettable Actress

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Bob Boozer

Basketball Immortal

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Myers Family Funeral Home Legacy

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Maude Wangberg

Easter Sunday Tornado Survivor Performed in Vaudeville

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When Boys Town Became the Center of the Film World

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Fight Doctor Jack Lewis

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/08/20/omahas-fight-doc…al-golden-gloves/

King Kong

Bringing Back the Old Ballyhoo with Classic Film Revival

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Helen Jones Woods

Swinging with International Sweethearts of Rhythm: Now Wasn’t That a Time?

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Categories: Journalism, Leo Adam Biga, Media, New Horizons (newspaper), Omaha Stories, Writing Tags: Journalism, Leo Adam Biga, Media, Nebraska Stories, New Horizons, New Horizons (newspaper), Omaha Stories, Writing

Life Itself II: Eight years of Reader stories about people, their passions and their magnificent obsessions

April 19, 2018 leoadambiga Leave a comment

Life Itself II: Eight years of Reader stories about people, their passions and their magnificent obsessions

©by Leo Adam Biga

Author-Journalist-Blogger

Unequal Justice Juvenile Detention Numbers Are Down, But Bias Persists

Mar 6, 2018

Tech maven pushes past stereotypes

Dec 5, 2017

Re-entry prepares current and former incarcerated individuals for work and life success on the outside

Dec 4, 2017

The Urban League movement lives strong in Omaha

Nov 6, 2017

Health and healing through culture and community

Nov 2, 2017

The Law, A Legislator and Lives on the Line

Oct 9, 2017 5:00 PM

Krist to follow independent path in bid for governor

Oct 10, 2017

Futures at stake for DREAMers with DACA in question

Oct 9, 2017

Art in the heart of South Omaha

Sep 13, 2017

Photo courtesy of OPS

Omaha School Board: In search of new normal after discord

Sep 11, 2017

The Healthcare War

Aug 8, 2017

Terry Sanders_Posing at the entrance of the Fair Deal Grocery_Photo by Kevin Lytle

A systems approach to addressing food insecurity

Food insecurity in northeast Omaha is a question of access, education and poverty. more

Jul 7, 2017

A Homecoming Like No Other

Jul 5, 2017

Frank LaMere

“I’ve been in a hundred struggles in my life, lost almost all of ’em, but I was never afraid, and that’s what I want people to understand.” more

Jun 2, 2017

Documenting Hate

May 31, 2017

Sowing Seeds of Giving

A new approach to addressing community needs is taking root as the public sector stumbles. more

May 16, 2017

South Omaha takes center stage

May 10, 2017

Payne’s ‘Downsizing’

Payne’s ‘Downsizing’ may be next big thing on world cinema landscape more

Apr 27, 2017

Who’s Going to Pay? Before & After the Affordable Care Act

With the end of Obamacare at the top of the national conversation, The Reader talked to the major stakeholders about life before and potentially after the Affordable Care Act. more

Mar 14, 2017 1

Debra Kaplan

Of Dreamers and doers, and one nation indivisible under…

Some 700,000 young Americans, including 3,000-plus in Nebraska, enjoy protections under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA, but under Trump the work permits and other benefits could end. A diverse coalition supports their retainment. more

Feb 7, 2017

Lectrr

Refugees and asylees follow pathways to freedom, safety and new starts

America’s welcomed newcomers escaping dangers and threats for as long as it’s been a nation. Refugees and asylees continue coming and a broad array of community support coalesces to make their resettlement and ultimate self-sufficiency a reality. more

Feb 1, 2017

The High Cost of Being Poor

Dec 7, 2016

Vicious Circle

Breaking the cycle of poverty in Omaha more

Dec 7, 2016

Debra S Kaplan

Good Memories and Good Eats

Don Curry banks on his “healthy” version of soul food catching on at his niche Omaha Rockets Kanteen and Southern Pitch food truck. His niche concept is wed to a Negro Leagues baseball passion that permeates his brick and mortar and mobile eateries. more

Nov 2, 2016

Interfaith Journey

Exploring interfaith realities isn’t always the provence of groups or unrelated individuals. Interfaith couples such as Sharif Liwaru, who is Muslim, and Gabrielle Gaines Liwari, who is a follower of Jeuss, must find ways to navigate their journey. more

Nov 2, 2016

Dick Holland

A force of nature named Dick Holland died at 95 on August 9. The philanthropist’s passing triggered warm, appreciative tributes from leaders of organizations he supported as well as individuals who worked with him or just admired his frank… more

Aug 18, 2016

Black Lives Matter

Borne from outrage over violent African-American deaths, the grassroots Black Lives Matter movement espouses a social action platform to end systemic violence against and mass incarceration of a people. BLM’s loose-knit activists advocate d… more

Aug 11, 2016

The Long Goodbye

When family owners of the Bohemian Cafe announced in May the restaurant was for sale and would close September 24, it marked another casualty among classic eateries calling it quits. An eventual surge in customers wanting to indulge Czech-G… more

Aug 11, 2016

Big Screens, Bigger Selection

If there is an Omaha Cinema Culture, it cuts across consumer, exhibitor, artist and aspirational experiences. Being far from traditional film centers poses certain barriers, but rich offerings and showplaces exist. Natives pursue and some a… more

Jul 15, 2016

Bright Lights

The private doodles Ciara Fortun used to make have evolved into working sketches for collections she now produces for Omaha Fashion Week shows. After debuting at OFW with a formal women’s wear show in March, she’s unveiling a new collectio… more

Jul 11, 2016 5:48 PM Leo Adam Biga Art

Book depicts area whole foods culture in stories, recipes, pics

Summer Miller’s New Prairie Kitchen Finding Meaning at the Table by Leo A, Biga Omaha author Summer Miller came to write her Gourmand World Cookbook Awards finalist New Prairie Kitchen in the midst of a life reset. More than a recipe b… more

Jun 22, 2016

Girls Inc. makes big statement with addition to renamed North Omaha center

A poor inner city North Omaha neighborhood recently gained a $15 million new investment in its at-risk youth. The Girls Inc. of Omaha center at 2811 North 45th Street long ago outgrew its digs in the former Clifton Hill Elementary School b… more

May 19, 2016

Two to One

When Mondo we Langa died at age 68 in the Nebraska State Penitentiary last month, he’d served 45 years for a crime he always maintained he did not commit. The former David Rice, a poet and artist, was found guilty, along with fellow Black P… more

Apr 25, 2016

Play considers North Omaha history through the eyes of Mildred Bown

As North Omaha Neighborhood Tapestries returns for the Great Plains Theatre Conference’s free PlayFest bill, two community icons take center stage as subject and setting. En route to making her Omaha Star newspaper an institution in the Af… more

Apr 15, 2016

Ann Schatz on her own terms

Omaha native Ann Schatz swears she never meant to be a pioneer. She became one as her hometown’s first female sportscaster in the late 1970s, repeating the feat in Portland, Oregon in 1989. From that Pacific Northwest base she’s traveled to… more

Mar 16, 2016

Payne’s film about miniaturized human life tackles big themes

The high concept behind Alexander Payne’s soon to shoot new feature, Downsizing, unfolds in a near future world where humans can opt to be miniaturized. Everything about the story, from the title to the characters to the plot-lines, gives P… more

Mar 4, 2016

Omaha Film Festival adds spotlight on Nebraska films

It used to be conversations about local filmmakers doing relevant work here began and ended with Alexander Payne and Nik Fackler. That’s changing now and the March 8-13 Omaha Film Festival (OFF) is evidence of it. The 11-year-old fest, bac… more

Mar 4, 2016

An old Hollywood hand living in Omaha comes out of the shadows

Omaha is the adopted home of veteran Hollywood screenwriter and literary novelist John Kaye, 74, whose memoirs are published by the Los Angeles Review of Books. The mercurial Kaye came 17-months ago from northern California to work on a n… more

Jan 22, 2016

Making community and conversation where you find it

Last August Stuart Chittenden traversed Neb. to test drive the idea that interpersonal communication is intrinsic to building community. He called the project “A Couple of 830 Mile Long Conversations.” With support from Humanities Nebrask… more

Jan 12, 2016

Giving for the greater good

Omaha’s philanthropic community is known for its unusual generosity. Some attribute this largess to the small town feel of a city where relationships still matter and where it’s possible to rally people around a good idea or cause. Others … more

Nov 24, 2015

Omaha’s old lion of philanthropy slowing down but still roaring and challenging the status quo

Omaha’s philanthropic heavyweights are generally male, old-monied Great White Fathers whose wealth and influence support health, human services, education and the arts. A veteran of this deep-pocketed fraternity is Richard D. Holland. The … more

Nov 24, 2015

Omaha Star publisher’s illness spurs admiration for her stewardship

The Omaha Star has given African-Americans a voice for 77 years. The newspaper is not only a vital mouthpiece for locals, but a valued hometown connection for natives living elsewhere. It became an institution under the late Mildred D. Br… more

Nov 24, 2015

Hardy’s one-man “A Christmas Carol” highlights Dickens-themed literary festival

The Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol has long haunted actor-writer-director John Hardy. Though ghosts have yet to visit him ala Scrooge, the story’s held an enchanted place in Hardy’s heart ever since he got his Equity card acting … more

Nov 10, 2015

Stalvey’s personal chronicle of social awareness a primer for racial studies

With America in the throes of the 1960s civil rights movement, few whites publicly conceded their own prejudice, much less tried seeing things from a black point of view. Lois Mark Stalvey was that exception as she shared her journey from n… more

Nov 9, 2015

A WASP’s racial tightrope resulted in enduring book

You’ve got to be taught to be afraid Of people whose eyes are oddly made, … more

Nov 9, 2015

Down and out but not done in Omaha

Muddying Omaha’s high quality of life rankings are pockets of chronic poverty and growing new poor populations. Identifiable impoverished sections, homeless communities and shelters exist, but most poverty here is insidious and invisible. … more

Oct 16, 2015

Lit Fest delves into what we fear, how we relate in extremis

The 2015 downtown Omaha Lit Fest, whose theme is “Nervosa: Science, Psych & Story,” celebrates the reflective power of literature to explore human vulnerability. Worry over terrorism, the economy, climate change, the singularity, genet… more

Sep 19, 2015

Sam Meisels leads early childhood mission through Buffett Institute

Since Sam Meisels arrived in 2013 to head the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, he’s become the academic-based advocate ally to the socially conscious philanthropist who hired him, Susan A. Buffett. The dynastic wealth of the Buffetts has… more

Sep 19, 2015

The long road to creating edgy theater

Until now the Blue Barn Theatre has been like Omaha’s many other small stage companies by operating on a shoestring in makeshift spaces. This grassroots passion project was born of a band of New York drama school transplants afire with the … more

Sep 8, 2015

Omaha’s Culinary Culture Rises

If you’re an Omaha foodie who believes as many do the local dining out experience has never been better, then you can thank an infusion of original chef-driven and chef-owned eateries for it. Not coincidentally, many of these places are… more

Sep 4, 2015

Change, it’s been a long time coming for northeast Omaha

Quality-of-life metrics assessing the state of African-American northeast Omaha paint a stark picture. Pockets experience some of America’s worst poverty and gun violence. Disparities contradict Omaha’s high best-place-to-live rankings. Ri… more

Jul 23, 2015

The Champ Goes to Africa

EDITOR’S NOTE: Senior contributing writer Leo Adam Biga, winner of the 2015 Andy Award for international journalism from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, chronicles recent travels he made in Africa with two-time world boxing champion … more

Jun 27, 2015

Documentary looks at execution through the eyes of executioners

Last month State Sen. Ernie Chambers finally got enough fellow legislators to support repealing the death penalty in Nebraska. Capital punishment foes welcome the news, among them Omaha filmmaker Patty Dillon. Her new documentary There Will… more

May 27, 2015

NorthStar encourages inner city kids to fly high

NorthStar Foundation nurtures the dreams of young inner city males. The area’s lone boys-only after school program and summer camp at 4242 North 49th Avenue doesn’t put limits on students, regardless of socio-economic, family or environmen… more

May 18, 2015

South Omaha Stories on tap for free PlayFest show

Perhaps more than any geographic quadrant of the city, South Omaha owns the richest legacy as a livestock-meatpacking industry hub and historic home to new arrivals fixated on the American Dream. Everyone with South O ties has a story. Whe… more

Apr 16, 2015

Civil rights veteran Tommie Wilson still fighting the good fight

Social justice champion Tommie Wilson experienced the civil rights movement as it happened. For her, the good fight has never stopped. While president of the local NAACP she brought a lawsuit against then-Gov. Dave Heineman over redistrict… more

Apr 16, 2015

American comedy classic Some Like It Hot pushed boundaries

The 1959 gender-bending film farce Some Like It Hot came at an interesting juncture in the careers of writer-director Billy Wilder and stars Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe. For each legend it marked a career boost. It reaffir… more

Mar 20, 2015

Dominique Morgan’s voice will not be stilled

R&B and soul singer-songwriter Dominique Morgan, 33, has emerged as an urban music force with multiple Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards nominations for his Love Chronicles album. His tunes of love and loss come from personal experie… more

Mar 20, 2015

Bomb Girl

Three-time Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards poet nominee Zedeka Poindexter envies the performing outlets high school-age poets have today. The March 17-April 20 Louder Than a Bomb is a case in point. There wasn’t anything like it when sh… more

Mar 10, 2015

Showcase for indie writer-directors

The metro’s work-in-progress cinema culture has lately come of age due to a montage of things. Alexander Payne making movies and bringing world-class film artists here. A surge of indigenous indie filmmakers. The advent of Film Streams. The… more

Mar 10, 2015

UNO hockey making bid for national relevance

Since launching hockey in 1997 to subsidize its non-revenue generating sports UNO’s netted a nice return on investment. Maverick hockey crowds rank among the best nationally, with annual ticket revenues of $2 million. When the school droppe… more

Feb 20, 2015

Omaha history salvager Frank Horejsi

South Omaha native Frank Horejsi doesn’t care if he’s called caretaker, curator, historian, picker, salvager, architectural remnants archeologist or his favorite, urban miner. Just don’t call him late to a salvage site. For 30-some year… more

Feb 20, 2015

Max Gets Buff

As an adoptee whose identity quest has shaped his life and as a research specialist investigating people’s family trees, Max Sparber perfectly embodies his “history detective” tagline. His Douglas Country Historical Society fact-finding du… more

Feb 15, 2015

Sex talk comes with the job for county STD-HIV prevention specialist Sherri Nared-Brooks

America’s schizophrenic about sex. Images and hookups abound, yet in this information age many folks don’t know, follow or discuss safe practices. That incongruity explains why sexually transmitted diseases are at epidemic levels and why … more

Jan 22, 2015

Gabrielle Union having it all between her own series, new film, producing, marriage and family

My, how time flies. It seems only yesterday Omaha’s own Gabrielle Monique Union first caught our attention on the big screen with her scene-stealing turn as the diva rival to Kirsten Dunst in the wickedly funny high school cheerleader comed… more

Dec 5, 2014

Charles Ahovissi brings West African culture to the Heartland

Art often expresses culturally-specific stories but until the Omaha-based African Culture Connection surfaced in 2006 West African tales were rarely if ever explored here. Led by Benin, West Africa native and veteran dancer-choreographer … more

Nov 20, 2014

Abide applies holistic approach to building community

Former Bellevue West hoops star and Creighton University point guard Josh Dotzler has lived through the saga of Abide, the northeast Omaha ministry his parents started in 1989. Twenty-five years ago Ron and Twany Dotzler stepped out on fai… more

Nov 19, 2014

New American Cinema auteurs-colleagues David O. Russell and Alexander Payne to gab in Omaha

Alexander Payne is in a position to ask any world class film figure to be his guest of honor at the Film Streams Feature event, the art cinema’s annual big fundraiser. Laura Dern, Debra Winger, Steven Soderbergh, Jane Fonda and the principa… more

Oct 31, 2014

2nd District Congressional race gives voters two distinct styles

At the end of the day, voters want a choice. If nothing else, the tight Nebraska 2nd Congressional District race pitting incumbent Lee Terry against challenger Brad Ashford gives voters a distinct option. Pre-election surveys indicate a n… more

Oct 29, 2014

High flying McNary a big part of Creighton volleyball success

Leah McNary has been there for much of Creighton volleyball’s ascendancy from weak little sister program in the shadow of Big Red to all-grown-up competitor holding its own. “It’s exciting being a part of a process of building a program,” … more

Oct 16, 2014

The struggles of single moms the subject of film and discussion

In the Gloria Gaynor anthem “I Will Survive” a woman declares her personal autonomy. Not needing to find validation in another is a liberating thing worth celebrating in song. Life imitates art whenever a poor single mother breaks free of… more

Oct 16, 2014

Artist facing life-altering disease makes Dracula subject of literary festival

When Jill Anderson made Bram Stoker’s dark transmutation novel Dracula the theme for the 2014 Joslyn Castle Literary Festival she never imagined her own life would be marked by fear-inducing, life-altering transformation. In February the f… more

Oct 1, 2014

Documentary at Film Streams explores history of mental illness in iconic American family

Experts say mental illness affects millions of lives each year and yet it often goes ignored and untreated. There’s no national mental health campaign urging people to be screened or to seek help. Accessing needed care can be hard due to a … more

Sep 25, 2014

Photographer Janette Beckman keeps it real

Photographer Janette Beckman made a name for herself in the 1970s and 1980s capturing the punk scene in her native London and the hip-hop scene in her adopted New York City. Dubbed “the queen of rock photographers,” her images appeared in… more

Sep 16, 2014

Filmmaker explores a Latina whose story defies all conventions

Award-winning filmmaker Maria Agui Carter has much to say about her new film Rebel, the story of a Latina who posed as a man to fight and spy in the American Civil War. Agui Carter will discuss the film, which recently aired as a PBS specia… more

Sep 15, 2014

Historical fiction gets the treatment at Omaha Lit Fest

The downtown Omaha Lit Fest this Friday and Saturday offers a compendium of writing topics and events around the theme Warped: Historical In/Accuracy, Navigating Fact and Fiction, Past and Present. Writing about the past is foremost on the… more

Sep 3, 2014

Art and community meet-up in artist’s public projects

Omaha artist Watie White’s humanist public art projects reveal the narratives of transitional urban neighborhoods. The dynamics of locations and the people living there shape his site-specific works. Three 2014 projects, one completed and … more

Sep 3, 2014

Rabbi Azriel’s neighborhood welcomes all, unlike what he saw on recent Middle East trip

Rabbi Aryeh Azriel of Omaha’s Temple Israel Synagogue builds bridges between people of different backgrounds and persuasions. Take for example his driving force work with the Tri-Faith Initiative, the project that intends creating a local c… more

Aug 27, 2014

Omaha North superstar back Calvin Strong overcomes bigger obstacles than tacklers

Omaha North running back sensation and recent South Dakota verbal commit Calvin Strong put up sick numbers last season leading his school to its first state football title in the playoff era. His 3,008 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns set st… more

Aug 24, 2014

Teacher’s Secret Kindness Agents project now a book

When the 2012 Sandy Hook tragedy happened Ferial Pearson searched for answers and hope. Her bullied young son provided both when he revealed being comforted by her felt better than staying mad. That got Pearson, an award-winning local edu… more

Aug 20, 2014

Fashion Week stakes tent for runway couture

Omaha Fashion Week, the Midwest couture festival that pops up twice a year in the most unexpected places, is one of those signifier events that confirms this isn’t your parents’ city anymore. It has returned to the much ballyhooed but sil… more

Aug 13, 2014

Mark Evans leads OPS on bold new course

When Mark Evans accepted the job of Omaha Public Schools superintendent in December 2012, he knew the mission would be immense in this sprawling urban district facing myriad challenges. With 51,000 students spread out over 86 schools loca… more

Aug 8, 2014

Omaha performer recalls her friendship with Johnny Cash

With impresario Gordon Cantiello’s new tribute show The Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash at The Waiting Room, it’s only natural to consider what makes the singer-songwriter of the title so enduring. The king of hard-scrabble, honky-t… more

Aug 1, 2014

Next generation of North Omaha leaders eager for change

If redevelopment plans for northeast Omaha come to full fruition then that long depressed district will see progress at-scale after years of patchwork promises. Old and new leaders from largely African-American North Omaha will be the drivi… more

Jul 20, 2014

Schalisha Walker’s journey finding normal after foster care sheds light on service needs

Before a Feb. 27 packed house at the Holland Performing Arts Center a woman strode on stage to introduce playwright-poet-performance artist Daniel Beaty. Schalisha Walker, 25, was unknown to all but a few in the audience. She was there to … more

Jul 14, 2014

Aisha Okudi’s story of inspiration and transformation

Entrepreneurial African missionary Aisha Okudi, 37, laid the foundation for her thriving business and ambitious humanitarian work during a period when she and her children were sometimes homeless. She’d been through worse. Regardless of h… more

Jul 6, 2014

Bud Rising

When Terence “Bud” Crawford defends his WBO lightweight title June 28 at the CenturyLink Center, he’ll fight for himself, his tight-knit family and a boxing community that’s not seen anything like this since 1972. Forty-two years ago heavy… more

Jun 24, 2014

Bud Crawford’s tight family has his back as he defends his title in his own backyard

Jun 23, 2014

Timothy Schaffert discusses his novel The Swan Gondola and its Omaha World’s Fair backdrop

Sunday, June 8 Douglas County Historical Society Second Sunday Talk Metropolitan Community College, Fort Omaha Campus, Bldg. 21 (Mule Barn) 2 p.m., Free for members; suggested $5 donation for nonmembers Reservations required at: members@dou… more

Jun 1, 2014

PlayFest broadens theater possibilities

“We’re kindred spirits with respect to the creation of performance and the creation of events to share with an audience,” says Plourde, a New York director. “We create performance, we create live events, we work with groups of artists we co… more

May 21, 2014

UNO resident folk hero Dana Elsasser’s softball run coming to an end

The University of Nebraska at Omaha has a veritable folk-hero in its midst in hard-throwing senior softball ace Dana Elsasser, who’s overcame serious challenges to become a pitching phenom. With her near legendary career fast nearing its … more

Apr 28, 2014

Expect plenty of booms at Louder Than a Bomb youth poetry festival finals

In the hybrid realm of slam poetry, where free verse, theater, oral storytelling and forensics converge to make a verbal gumbo, personal expression rules. Impassioned teen anguish stirs the pot to create a heady brew during the Louder T… more

Apr 27, 2014

Omahans put their own spin on Stephen King’s The Shining

Credit Omaha writer-director Jason Levering for possessing the temerity to not only consider adapting Stephen King’s meta horror novel The Shining to the stage but to follow through and actually get the master’s approval. Now he’s only ho… more

Mar 14, 2014

Sisters of song: Kathy Tyree connects with Ella Fitzgerald

Ella, the dramatic musical revue of the life of American songbook diva Ella Fitzgerald at the Omaha Community Playhouse, reveals the anguish behind the legendary performer’s sweet voice and carefree persona. Call it kismet or karma, but… more

Mar 4, 2014

Omaha Film Festival turns nine

The March 5-9 Omaha Film Festival has gone all digital with its move from Regal Omaha Stadium 16 to Marcus Village Pointe Cinema at 304 No. 174th Street. Besides the sharper projection offered, OFF Program director Marc Longbrake says t… more

Mar 1, 2014

Ex-gonzo journalist-turned-filmmaker resolved to celebrate debate

Omaha ex-pat James Marshall Crotty, co-creator of the underground Monk magazine and author of alternative city guides, gained a cult following for his irreverent dashboard reporting about America’s fringes. His arch leanings are on di… more

Mar 1, 2014

Terence “Bud” Crawford in the fight of his life for lightweight title

As Omaha glories in Creighton Bluejays hoops superstar Doug McDermott’s historic season, another local sports figure going for greatness flies under the radar. Top Rank boxer Terence “Bud” Crawford challenges for the WBO lightweight tit… more

Feb 21, 2014

Color-blind love

Two bodies in the mirror:

one’s me, the other’s you,

with two far different cultures

some say will bring just strife.

… more

Feb 9, 2014

Nik Fackler’s new film explores a paradise lost

Filmmaker, musician and psychedelia aficionado Nik Fackler is a millennial seeker. It’s no surprise then he followed his well-crafted made-in-Omaha feature debut Lovely, Still (2008) with documentaries exploring cultures half-a-world away… more

Jan 28, 2014

Art imitates life as themes in play cut closely for its stars

Art imitates life when siblings Camille Metoyer Moten and Lanette Metoyer Moore evoke the Delany sisters in the African-American oral-history show Having Our Say at the Omaha Community Playhouse. Just as the play’s real-life Sadie and B… more

Jan 27, 2014

Food Find

The recently launched Omaha Culinary Tours looks to capture foodies and urban explorers alike. Owners Jim Trebbien, Jen Valandra and Suzanne Allen are banking this town’s rich culinary scene is destination worthy enough to support the… more

Jan 14, 2014

Networking group ties Nebraskans in Hollywood

Dreamers from Neb., as from everywhere else, have flocked to Hollywood since the motion picture industry’s start. Softening the harsh realities of making it in Tinsel Town’s dog-eat-dog world, where who you know is often more vital … more

Jan 4, 2014

Word-of-mouth joint cranks out the tortillas and other Mexican staples

Sam’s Leon Mexican Foods and Tortilleria is one of this word-of-mouth joints that doesn’t really advertise. This combination dine-in and take-out restaurant, catering service and tortilla factory at 5014 South 20th Street has churned ou… more

Dec 14, 2013

Bounty abides at Minne Lusa House

Whether preparing and preserving food or discussing neighborhood concerns, bountiful activity goes on at this clubhouse meets social settlement house at 2737 Mary Street in northeast Omaha. An endeavor at sustainability and community … more

Dec 10, 2013

No More Empty Pots

Addressing the food insecurity problems that nag poverty-stricken northeast Omaha, where access to fresh, organic produce, dairy and bread products is limited, are an array of individuals, organizations, projects and initiatives. Many eff… more

Nov 27, 2013

Giving kids a fighting chance

Organizations serving at-risk kids come and go but few stay the course the way the CW Youth Resource Center, 1510 Cass Street, has since opening in 1978. Founder-director Carl Washington hosts a Nov. 29 open house at CW from 4 to 8 p.m…. more

Nov 18, 2013

Local Color

Local color, of the achingly human variety, is where Alexander Payne’s new black and white film Nebraska most deeply comes to life. After fall festival premieres abroad and across the U.S., Payne’s coming home to show off the film named… more

Nov 13, 2013

Summit to take stock of the state of Latino communities near and far

When the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Office of Latino and Latin American Studies holds its Nov. 8-9 Cumbre event, it will mark 10 years for this center dedicated to community engagement, applied research and teaching inside and … more

Nov 5, 2013

Theater-food pairing highlights the legacy of fabled French chef Escoffier

Long before the Food Network or even television’s start, long before our cult of celebrity, a certain French chef attained such fame that he became a culinary star concocting meals for socialites and royals. Georges Auguste Escoffier li… more

Nov 4, 2013

New film looks at growing a healthy, sustainable food culture

With words like justice, security, healthy and sustainable increasingly attached to food in America, two Omaha filmmakers with an undisguised POV have plugged into the sustainable edibles culture with a new documentary. In Growing Citie… more

Oct 21, 2013

Goin’ down the Lincoln Highway with Omaha music guru Nils Anders Erickson

On a sweltering Sunday afternoon in early July Omaha music guru Nils Anders Erickson takes me for a ride in his PT Cruiser to opine about his magnificent obsession with old things. The singer-songwriter-musician owns Rainbow Music, a co… more

Oct 15, 2013

Lit event offers a written word feast

Writer predilections take precedence at the October 18-19 (downtown) Omaha Lit Fest, an annual orgy of the written word organized by acclaimed resident author Timothy Schaffert (The Coffins of Little Hope). Nine years running Schaffert’… more

Oct 14, 2013

Retired warrior, lifetime scholar and devout believer John Nagl looks back on Army career

Two years since the U.S. pulled troops out of Iraq Americans still slog it out in Afghanistan — a full 12 years since its start. The dual wars for which so many paid a heavy price will forever be analyzed by the likes of Omaha native Joh… more

Sep 29, 2013

Storz Brewing Beer and Memories

One of Omaha’s oldest brands, Storz beer, is back after nearly a half-century absence and locals are lapping up the suds with gusto. Two Storz family relatives, cousins Tom and John Markel, are reviving the brand as a beer and as the … more

Sep 16, 2013

Bless Me, Ultima Screening

Sometimes a work of art so well captures the spirit of a people and time that it becomes an enduring cultural talking point. Such is the case with Rudolfo Anaya’s 1972 coming-of-age novel Bless Me, Ultima, widely considered a seminal piec… more

Sep 12, 2013

When a film becomes a film: The shaping of “Nebraska”

After wrapping Nebraska the end of 2012 Alexander Payne holed up with editor Kevin Tent in L.A. to edit the film starting Jan. 7 and finally put the project to bed in early August. When I caught up with Payne and a small post crew in mid-… more

Sep 3, 2013

Oils, vinegars and other food accents core of new midtown store

Jim Trebbien has been knocking around the Omaha food scene awhile, the last 25-plus years as dean of culinary arts, hospitality and horticulture at Metropolitan Community College. During that time he’s seen the local food culture evolve f… more

Aug 20, 2013

Making community

More than 600 folks turned out Saturday for the 16th Annual Community Block Party hosted by Apostle Vanessa Ward and her husband Keith Ward. As usual this multi-generational celebration of community in a northeast Omaha neighborhood once … more

Aug 12, 2013

BRYCE BRIDGES

In Memoriam

Special to The New York Times If you’re a devotee of public television then chances are you saw the work of the late nonfiction filmmaker Gail Levin. The Omaha native and longtime New York City resident died July 31 in a NYC hospice car… more

Aug 10, 2013

Organization seeks to turn food desert into oasis

Aug 5, 2013

Omahans witnessed history at 1963 March on Washington

When Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s turn to speak came at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, it was near the end of a long program on a hot August day featuring addresses by civil rights leaders and performances by musician… more

Aug 5, 2013

Pamela Jo Berry brings art fest to North Omaha

Pamela Jo Berry saw a need for more art offerings in the section of northeast Omaha where she resides and decided to do something about it. With the help of friends and venues the photographer and mixed media artist created North Omaha … more

Jul 29, 2013

Theater gypsy returns with new show

Theater gypsy Gordon Cantiello is back in town again. The stage veteran and former full-time Omaha resident teaches speech and theater at a private school in San Diego, Calif. When he lived here he put on dozens of plays from the early … more

Jul 29, 2013

Can’t keep a good man down

Father Roy Bourgeois is a troublemaker. The 74-year-old has been roiling the waters for four decades as a social justice activist. Having the courage of his convictions has cost him dearly, including prison and ostracism. During an Au… more

Jul 29, 2013

Great Migration stories

The July 31-August 5 Native Omaha Days will feature metro-wide black heritage celebrations that on the surface don’t seem to have much to do with the American South. But when local African American families gather for the biennial Days most… more

Jul 22, 2013

New Mirvish feature Between Us a lesson in indie filmmaking

Once dubbed a “cheerful subversive” by The New York Times, indie filmmaker Dan Mirvish uses his skills as a provocateur and promoter to get his obscure work noticed by the very mainstream whose noses he sometimes tweaks. He’s in rare c… more

Jul 19, 2013

Johnny and the Giants on TCM

Johnny Carson wasn’t called the King of Late Night for nothing. In the days when television ruled American mass media culture the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson averaged 15 million nightly viewers. That’s three or four times the au… more

Jul 2, 2013

Once upon a time an urban dead end became the Old Market

In a state with few destination attractions, Omaha’s Old Market arts-entertainment district packs them in. The draw is not any one or two venues, but a collective of shops, restaurants, bars, galleries and creative spaces, along with the … more

Jun 18, 2013

Getting straight

Compassion in Action’s move to the former Wesley House campus at 2001 North 35th Street is symbolic for CIA founder-executive director Teela Mickles. Her nonprofit serving men, women and children touched by the judicial and penal system… more

Jun 11, 2013

Potash twins making waves in jazz

Identical twin brothers from Jewish suburbia, Ezra and Adeev Potash, are Omaha’s unlikely gift to the jazz world. Their soul and funk-infused horn playing has everyone from Big Sam Williams to Wynton Marsalis singing their praises. Ezra… more

Jun 3, 2013

Tapestries to celebrate neighborhoods

The play’s still the thing with the Great Plains Theatre Conference but organizers are making a concerted effort to expand theater’s definition in order to connect more people to it. The May 26-29 PlayFest is the Metropolitan Community … more

May 11, 2013

Artists running with opportunity to go to the next level

The inaugural resident artists at the Carver Bank cultural center couldn’t be more unalike in some ways and more congruent in others. Carver is the new Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts and Rebuild Foundation endeavor at 2416 Lake Str… more

May 1, 2013

Omaha playwright comes into her own

Everything about one of Omaha’s bright new playwrights bespeaks exotica, starting with her name, Beaufield Berry. This biracial, bicoastal creative with model good looks has worked as an actor, a singer, a VIP dancer, a burlesque performe… more

Apr 19, 2013

Wounded Knee 1973 still a battleground for some per new book

Journalist and author Stew Magnuson’s new book Wounded Knee 1973: Still Bleeding finds virtually every survivor of that 71-day occupation on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in S.D. sullied in some way. The book by this Omaha native, w… more

Apr 19, 2013

Ashford reflects on lost mayoral bid

State Sen. Brad Ashford’s poor showing in the April 2 Omaha mayoral primary isn’t deterring him from future elected office bids. The one-time Democrat and long-time Republican ignored advisors and ran as an independent against major par… more

Apr 15, 2013

Slam poetry festival to hold team finals

As the Louder Than a Bomb Omaha Youth Poetry Festival draws to a close after weeks of preliminary bouts and last Sunday’s semi-finals, it appears slam poetry is a new outlet for that rite-of-passage known as adolescence. The 2013 team f… more

Apr 8, 2013

Putting the “N” in Nerve

The woman behind the successful media enterprise of the Omaha Star helped inspire two of today’s leading women in media — Chicago Crusader publisher-editor Dorothy Leavell and Radio One chairperson and Omaha native Cathy Hughes. In thi… more

Apr 8, 2013

Documentary shines light on civil rights powerbroker Whitney Young

The civil rights and black power movements seem distant from Omaha until noting that Whitney Young Jr. cut his teeth as an advocate-organizer here and future activst Malcolm X was born here. While Malcolm X moved with his family from Om… more

Mar 17, 2013

Yolonda Ross adds writer-director to actress credits

You may not know the name but for more than a decade now Omaha native Yolonda Ross has been a stalwart actress in American independent cinema and quality television movies and episodic dramas. Before recently working with a pair of star… more

Mar 5, 2013

My Two Moms

With gay marriage being assailed during an Iowa House Judiciary Committee public hearing in 2011 Zach Wahls offered counter testimony that not only charged the proceedings but the national dialogue about the issue. Raised by same sex partn… more

Mar 4, 2013

Harsh life revealed in memoir gives way to growth

Four years ago Ruth Marimo sat in the Cass County Jail contemplating suicide. The mother of two and then-undocumented immigrant from Zimbabwe, Africa was there because her estranged husband, whom she says verbally and physically abused he… more

Feb 11, 2013

Beaty’s one-man diaspora dramatization considers what freedom means

When writer-actor-composer Daniel Beaty conjures the 25-plus characters he portrays in his provocative one-man show, Emergency, it’s well to remember his riffs on the African-American experience are informed by his own life. His award-w… more

Feb 8, 2013

soul sisters

Soul sister poetesses Michelle Troxclair and Felicia “WithLove” Webster stir the pot to make the spicy mix of Verbal Gumbo, the spoken word series throwing down the third Thursday of every month at House of Loom. The artists launched th… more

Feb 8, 2013

Beto’s Life Work

Alberto “Beto” Gonzales believes working one-on-one with youths is the best way to reach them. His work as a mentor and gang prevention-intervention specialist has earned him much recognition, most recently the Martin Luther King Jr. Lega… more

Feb 6, 2013

Coming home

On its face Watie White’s new public art project at an abandoned North Omaha house could be construed as a privileged white guy coming into the black community to impose his perceptions on that place and its people. But that’s not the c… more

Jan 28, 2013

An anti-drug war manifesto documentary frames discussion

The much-feted 2012 documentary The House I Live In provokes dialogue wherever it plays for its critique of America’s domestic War on Drugs. Following a January 22 Film Streams screening before a full house, a local panel discussed the fi… more

Jan 28, 2013

Finding Her Voice

When she dreamed of rap stardom back in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas, Tunette Powell went by Short Stack. Today, Tunette will do. After years of search and struggle and a need for attention she fed with men, the 26-year-old Bellevue… more

Jan 23, 2013

When New Horizons dawned for African Americans in Omaha

It took the civil rights movement to bring segregation in the United States into sharp relief. The South was the epicenter of the racial equality battle but American-style apartheid as well as attempts to dismantle it were everywhere, inc… more

Jan 17, 2013

Two Old Market fixtures celebrate milestones

Signature Old Market spot M’s Pub celebrates 40 years in business this year. It’s a milestone for any independently owned restaurant. But reaching four decades takes on added meaning because when M’s opened in 1973 (a planned 1972 opening… more

Jan 15, 2013

Payne’s Nebraska

Nebraska’s favorite film son has not shot a single frame here since About Schmidt in 2002. Alexander Payne’s decision to make Nebraska in his home state brought into sharp relief some realities with large implications for his own work a… more

Jan 9, 2013

Entrepreneur and craftsman John Hargiss invests in North Omaha

The subtle twang in the voice of stringed instrument-maker and roots musician John Hargiss betrays his southern Missouri Ozarks origins. As a boy he learned acoustic guitar under his musician-craftsman-woodsman father’s instruction. As a … more

Dec 14, 2012

Free Radical Ernie Chambers

It’s fitting a new book taking the measure of Nebraska politico legend Ernie Chambers is out just as this old social justice warhorse has proven he still owns the people’s will. In the Nov. 6 general election the 75-year-old Chambers de… more

Dec 7, 2012

Carver building rebirthed as a arts-culture haven

A once prominent but long vacant building in Omaha’s African-American hub is now reborn thanks to catalysts bridging the divide between need and opportunity. The former Carver Savings and Loan Association at 2416 Lake St. was Omaha’s fi… more

Nov 28, 2012

Alexander Payne’s ‘Nebraska’ comes home to roost

In 1968 Francis Ford Coppola led a small cinema caravan to Ogallala, Neb. for the final weeks shooting on his independent road picture The Rain People starring Shirley Knight. Joining them were future fellow film legends George Lucas, Bil… more

Oct 22, 2012

A Different Kind of Bistro

Among the first things you notice at Sage Student Bistro is the staff’s earnestness. Greeters, servers and cooks are all students in Metropolitan Community College’s respected Institute for Culinary Arts, whose sleek building is the face … more

Oct 6, 2012

Institute for Holocaust Education presents multi-medium exploration of the Holocaust

Beth Seldin Dotan has shepherded the Institute for Holocaust Education in Omaha since its 2000 inception. Before she leaves this fall for a new position in Israel she’ll witness the organization she grew from nothing into the state’s prim… more

Oct 5, 2012

Michael Beasley follows his father John Beasley in becoming a TV-film character actor

Don’t look now but Michael Beasley is carving out a film-television career rivaling that of his powerhouse father John Beasley (Rudy, The Apostle). The nearly 20 feature and made-for-TV pics he’s booked the last few years have him on th… more

Sep 28, 2012

Omaha Lit Fest explores women in writing and publishing

It should be no surprise the author of languidly paced satirical novels (The Coffins of Little Hope) that delight in peculiar, piquant details should fashion a literary happening along the same lines. Novelist Timothy Schaffert has done… more

Sep 28, 2012

Ron Hull reflects on his life in public television

Public television was a dream when Ron Hull joined what became the Nebraska Educational Television network in Lincoln. It was 1955 and the broadcast school graduate arrived inflamed with the possibilities of the fledgling medium. Fifty-… more

Sep 28, 2012

Being Gabby

Gabrielle Union has reached a point in her film and television career where she’s doing more meaningful projects. Not by accident either. The maturing actress known for her assertive persona and frank views has been ever more deliberate a… more

Sep 26, 2012

The Great Omaha Chocolate Festival

Year two of the Great Omaha Chocolate Festival at UNO celebrates one of popular culture’s great food indulgences. Organizers of the September 30 event, which benefits the Omaha Section of the National Council of Jewish Women, say choc… more

Sep 25, 2012

Freddie Gray stands fast on her handling of Sebring scandal

Freddie Gray knows being second-guessed and scrutinized comes with the job of Omaha Public School Board President. But when she came under fire over her handling of the Nancy Sebring scandal she got more than she bargained for, including … more

Aug 13, 2012

Kurt Andersen’s new novel ‘True Believers’ revisits the 1960s

With his new novel True Believers (Random House) Kurt Andersen takes stock of the roiling 1960s through the eyes of a fictional woman whose coming-of-age then unfolded in predictable and inexplicable ways. Through his narrator, attorney… more

Aug 6, 2012

Film Streams at Five

Just as Omaha’s come of age with performing arts venues, nightlife attractions, community events and public spaces, so it’s matured in cinema. This maturation first bloomed when Alexander Payne made features here. Then the local indie f… more

Jul 18, 2012

Omaha Tri-Faith pioneers seeing the fruits of their interfaith collaborative take shape

Omaha’s not always embraced diversity but the local Tri-Faith Initiative may be a history-making model of interfaith cooperation. It’s proceeding with an audacious plan to locate a church, a synagogue a mosque and an ecumenical center on … more

Jul 10, 2012

Gender equity in sports has come a long way, baby

Participants in girls and women’s sports today should be forgiven if they take for granted the bounty of athletic scholarships, competitive opportunities, training facilities and playing venues afforded them. After all, they’ve never kn… more

Jun 19, 2012

John Beasley has it all going on as co-star of TVLand’s new series ‘The Soul Man’

In his notable screen acting career John Beasley has done his share of television both as a one-off guest star (Detroit 1-8-7, Boston Legal, CSI: Miami, NCIS) and recurring player (Everwood, Treme). But in the new TVLand series The Soul… more

Jun 7, 2012

Comedy festival presents up-and-comers along with legends

One-liners and nonsequiturs will fly at the June 13-17 Viareo Great American Comedy Festival in Norfolk, Neb., where the late comic great Johnny Carson grew up. This annual celebration of the funny side is equal parts competition, works… more

May 23, 2012

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum exhibits on display in the metro

Three traveling baseball exhibitions on view in the metro this spring chart a history with local overtones and signals a comeback for a local organization. The exhibits are courtesy of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Omaha’s own Great … more

May 16, 2012

Bill Cosby gets serious about education

By now America’s accustomed to King of Comedy Bill Cosby turning serious about topics he usually mines humor from. Expressing his celebrity opinions he sometimes touches a nerve, as when he asserted “parenting is not going on” in poor inn… more

May 16, 2012

Malcolm X Memorial Foundation coming into its own

Self-determination by any means necessary. The sentiment is by Malcolm X, whose incongruous beginnings were in this conservative, white-bread city. Not where you’d expect a revolutionary to originate. Then again, his narrative would be … more

May 3, 2012

Stand, deliver and be heard

Poetry slams pit individuals and teams in bouts of spoken word street soliloquies that bring performers and spectators to tears and cheers the way arts and sports events do. Omaha’s long been home to a thriving adult slam scene, thanks … more

Apr 9, 2012

The Great Migration comes home

The 20th century migration African-Americans made from the South to the North and West expanded black enclaves across the nation. While Omaha didn’t experience a huge influx like Chicago or Los Angeles, it was enough to alter the cultural… more

Mar 31, 2012

Garry Gernandt’s unexpected swing vote won approval of equal employment protection for LGBTs

After weeks of public testimony and closed door meetings on the hotly contested equal employment ordinance giving legal protection to gay and transgender residents, the Omaha City Council decided the issue March 13. Three-term District … more

Mar 26, 2012

Indigenous music celebrated in Nebraska Roots concert

Indigenous themes take center stage for a March 24 Omaha Conservatory of Music concert that culminates the school’s “Nebraska Roots: Native American Music of the Omaha Indian Tribe” curriculum. Original Native music handed down through th… more

Mar 21, 2012

Talking screenwriting with Hollywood Heavyweight Hawk Ostby

Hawk Ostby, one half of the scriptwriting team of Children of Men and Iron Man, will provide an insider’s take on the screenwriting trade at the Omaha Film Festival’s Filmmaking Conference. Speaking by phone from his Vermont home, Ostby… more

Mar 7, 2012

Model-turned-actress Jaime King screens Omaha-made film she wrote and directed

In the 1990s Omaha native Jaime King’s fresh face and lithe body graced the runway fantastic for the likes of Gucci and Alexander McQueen in New York and around the globe. She did provocative shoots for Vogue, Mademoiselle, Glamour, Cosmo… more

Mar 7, 2012

Payne delivers graceful Oscar tributes

The obvious and not so obvious came into focus when native son Alexander Payne accepted his second Oscar in front of a live audience of his peers and a television viewing audience estimated at 1.2 billion during Sunday’s Academy Awards. … more

Feb 29, 2012

A South Omaha Best-Kept Secret

The unpretentious, homey American GI Forum restaurant at 2002 N Street is a Tex-Mex bargain whose popular specials make this a busy joint. But unless you’re a South Omahan or get tipped off to the place by someone, this best-kept-secret… more

Jan 25, 2012

Alexander Payne and Kaui Hart Hemmings

When Alexander Payne’s turn came to speak in the glow of The Descendants winning best motion picture drama at the Golden Globes, he made sure to thank the people of Hawaii and author Kaui Hart Hemmings. He did something few directors do… more

Jan 25, 2012

Art as revolution

Brigitte McQueen is hell-bent on revolution. The entrepreneurial arts maven first made a splash with Pulp in Benson. Then she revived the Bemis Underground in the Old Market. Now she’s about to shake up North Omaha via The Union for Con… more

Dec 8, 2011

A gorging we shall go

The annual Renaissance Madrigal Christmas Feast at the Omaha Marriott is equal parts Tony and Tina’s Wedding, Shakespeare, Knights of the Round Table and Food Network theme show. That is if the theme is a Saxon bacchanal. A food orgy all … more

Nov 19, 2011

A Martinez Music Legacy

Singer-songwriter-turntable artist SA Martinez is a cog in the successful rock band 311 that started in Omaha 21 years ago and is still going strong today from its Southern Calif.-base. Recordings and national tours keep the group, whose … more

Nov 16, 2011

Collaborators discuss The Descendants and working with Alexander Payne

In his well-reviewed new film The Descendants Alexander Payne reframes the Hawaiian idyll as gritty American terrain where history and culture intersect with human aspirations and failings. The festival favorite follows an island clan s… more

Nov 11, 2011

Murder he wrote

South Omaha native son David Krajicek’s crime writing has branded him Mr. Murder, so it’s only apt he looks the heavy with his bearded mug, bouncer glare and imposing size. This tabloid poet and rebel, who hails from a long line of barkee… more

Oct 27, 2011

Art as revolution

Oct 22, 2011

A New Start

John Beasley got tired of being tired. You’ve likely learned the John Beasley Theater & Workshop’s urgent appeal for funds to relieve its financial distress has been answered, and the once-endangered 2011-2012 season saved. But yo… more

Oct 19, 2011

Home boy Nick D’Agosto makes good on the start Election gave him in film industry

When Alexander Payne cast locals Nicholas D’Agosto and Chris Klein in Election, he opened doors for the two dreamy, boy-next-door types. Klein burned hot and bright before flaming out. D’Agosto’s gradual rise may reach new heights with … more

Oct 11, 2011

Omaha Lit Fest: ‘People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like’

In his capsule of the 2011 (downtown) Omaha Lit Fest, founder-director and novelist Timothy Schaffert draws a parallel with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Specifically, to the humbug Wizard’s endowing the Tin Woodman with a heart made of sil… more

Oct 11, 2011

Portals comes home for Midwest premiere

Last month a New York City audience embraced the world premiere of the multimedia concert piece, Portals, and now the work’s come back to its other home, Omaha’s KANEKO, for performances October 5-6. As creative director, acclaimed viol… more

Oct 4, 2011

John Sorensen’s Decades-Long Magnificent Obsession with the Abbott Sisters

John Sorensen is like many Nebraska creatives who left to pursue a passion. The Grand Island native and longtime New York City resident worked with master filmmaker Alexander MacKendrick (The Sweet Smell of Success) and Broadway legends… more

Sep 30, 2011

Food For Thought

The uneasy place which race inhabits in the collective American psyche leaves most discussions of the subject to academics, activists or attorneys. But its reality permeates much of the social-cultural fabric. Rhetoric about race is co… more

Sep 29, 2011

Hail, hail The Descendants

However you feel about Alexander Payne’s work, the cinema landscape is richer now that he’s back with his first feature since Sideways. That’s certainly the consensus among reviewers who’ve seen his The Descendants. The September 10 pre… more

Sep 17, 2011

Jason McClaren

A Decent House for Everyone

Early in his life as a brother in the Society of Jesus, his superiors asked Mike Willmot what kind of work he wanted to do. The former Marquette (Milwaukee, Wis.) University High School three-sport athlete said he wanted to coach. Perhaps… more

Sep 8, 2011

Educator Tackles The Other

Ferial (Mohamed) Pearson’s work with GLBT and other high-risk youths at South High Magnet School earned her the 2010 Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s National Educator of the Year award and the 2011 National Education Associa… more

Aug 25, 2011

Nebraskan lives his cinema dream

A small town Nebraska son who cut his teeth on the movies is living his cinema dream producing an independent feature starring Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine in the title role of The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez. The film, … more

Aug 15, 2011

Radio Day

Public radio’s popular Whad’Ya Know?, headlined by creator-producer-host Michael Feldman, comes to the Holland Performing Arts Center for a live, two-hour road show Aug. 13. Produced by Wisconsin Public Radio and distributed by Public Rad… more

Aug 12, 2011

Nik Fackler goes his own way again

Fresh off the warm reception given his debut feature, Lovely, Still, Omaha’s Film Dude, Nik Fackler, says his next two film projects will be documentaries. Following the path of cinema adventurer Werner Herzog, Fackler’s tramping off to… more

Aug 10, 2011

A Family Thing

With Native Omaha Days over, another traditional African-American summer gathering, the Bryant-Fisher Family Reunion, begins. The biennial Native Omaha Days began in 1977. But it’s a newbie compared to the historic annual reunion that d… more

Aug 3, 2011

A Black is Beautiful Celebration the Whole Community can Partake In

Through August 1 Native Omaha Days Various sites, venues Hours, prices vary www.nativeomahans.com Let’s get this out of the way right now: Native Omaha Days is not just for “black folk.” Yes, this biennial community reunion is a lar… more

Jul 23, 2011

Overarching plan for North Omaha development now in place

Recent adoption of the North Omaha Village Revitalization Plan into the city master plan gives direction and impetus to energizing a stagnated, disinvested area never fully recovered from decades-ago civil disturbance and urban renewal. … more

Jul 22, 2011

Rev. Everett Reynolds in memoriam

Rev. Everett Reynolds was not from Nebraska but he’s remembered as someone who made a significant mark here. The St. Louis, Mo. native passed earlier this week in Omaha at age 83. As a United Methodist minister and community leader … more

Jul 21, 2011

In-Your-Face Race Film for the New Millennium

Make no mistake about it, filmmaker Omowale Akintunde intends for his 2010 racially-charged Omaha-made feature, Wigger, to provoke a strong response. After premiering here last year, and in limited theatrical release around the country,… more

Jul 21, 2011

The Legacy Ends

Omaha’s oldest social service agency closed earlier this year with a whimper, not a bang. The Wesley House Community Center, a United Methodist Church mission since 1872, has ended 139 years of service, confirmed Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede, … more

May 20, 2011

The Graduates

Four years ago Daniel Mayorga-Alvarez and Treasure Anderson took the challenge of enrolling in a new high school with strict disciplinary codes, high academic standards and the requirement of working a paid internship. The teens signed on … more

May 12, 2011

Once More With Feeling

Rumors about the impending demise of a north Omaha cultural institution began flying last fall when Loves Jazz & Arts Center, 2510 N. 24th St., took an extended break from normal operations. Even the hint of trouble alarmed the Africa… more

May 5, 2011

Living the NYC Fashion Dream

With all the fabulous things Alice Kim ‘s done in New York City and now her entrepreneurial foray in Omaha, she says what she’s proudest of is helping people. At InStyle she says she found great satisfaction “helping small designers get nat… more

May 5, 2011

BRYCE BRIDGES

Alice’s Wonderland

Read More: Kim helps locals realize NYC dream Alice Kim’s story of leaving New York City for Omaha has gotten much play. In 2007, the then- InStyle magazine accessories editor acted on her admittedly “weird,” long-held preoccupation with … more

May 5, 2011

ADAM BRUBAKER

Favorite Sons

If you go to Sons of Italy expecting a “Jersey Shore” or Goodfellas scene, you’ll leave disappointed. If you anticipate a square meal and a fair deal, minus any drama, you’ll leave satisfied, and probably stuffed. The Nebraska chapter of t… more

Apr 28, 2011

PROVIDED BY RANDY BROWN

Sun Reflection

See also: Tax form led Sun to Boys Town’s ‘hidden’ assets When readers picked up their March 30, 1972 issue of the weekly Sun Newspaper , they could hardly believe their eyes. The small but enterprising paper with multiple neighborhood … more

Apr 27, 2011

The Coffins of Little Hope

Timothy Schaffert’s new novel The Coffins of Little Hope (Unbridled) takes its elegiac tone from Essie, the elderly obit writer and sage of a fading ag town. Her inquisitiveness and intuition make her the apt narrator for relating this rura… more

Apr 13, 2011

Lights On

Storytellers drawn to boxing’s inherent drama invariably find redemption at its soul and conflict as its heart. Ring tales are on a roll thanks to Mark Wahlberg’s Oscar-winning film The Fighter and FX’s series, “Lights Out,” (the series fi… more

Mar 31, 2011

Passion Unmasked

In the space of a few years Charles Fairbanks has gone from conventional prep and collegiate wrestler to one of the few gringo performers of Lucha Libre, Mexico’s equivalent of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). Amid a world of masked f… more

Mar 3, 2011

Taking OFF

Film festivals are the brothels of cinema. High-end ones offer uniform quality. Low-rent ones are enter-at-your-own-risk propositions. In its sixth year, the Omaha Film Festival, showing now through March 6 at the Great Escape Theatre, is … more

Mar 2, 2011

The Soderbergh Experience

Steven Soderbergh may not generate the snobby, effete buzz of some name directors, yet he’s arguably the most prolific and accomplished American filmmaker of the past 20 years. As special guest for the Feb. 20 Film Streams Feature Event III… more

Feb 10, 2011

The Maestro

Omaha Symphony Orchestra music director Thomas Wilkins was first inspired to be a conductor at age 8 during a Virginia Symphony Orchestra pops performance in his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia. From the opening rendition of “The Star Spangle… more

Jan 13, 2011

Long Live the Dude

Omaha native and Emmy Award-winning documentarian Gail Levin profiles actor Jeff Bridges in a new film kicking off the 25th season of “American Masters,” a series produced for PBS by New York Public Media THIRTEEN in association with WNET. … more

Jan 11, 2011

Rebirth of Bagels

Coming soon. The words on the hand-printed sign affixed to the glass doors of the rebuilt Bagel Bin, at 1215 S. 119th St., seem benign enough. But behind the hopeful words is the bittersweet story of a family-owned kosher bakery that went… more

Dec 2, 2010

Unpopular Opinion

Bill Maher gets real Acerbic television host and political comic Bill Maher views the 60-70 stand-up gigs he does each year as opportunities to connect with the American gestalt. His Oct. 24 Omaha Music Hall show will be among them. “W… more

Oct 21, 2010

An Inaugural Ride to Freedom

Oct. 26 An Inaugural Ride to Freedom Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater 1340 Mike Fahey St. Screening and post-show Q & A w/ director Akintunde $9, $7 seniors/students/teachers/military 7 p.m., 933.0259, filmstreams.org Get on the bu… more

Oct 21, 2010

Long Time Coming

Lovely, Still enjoys wide release When Martin Landau spins anecdotes about icons he’s worked with during a celebrated acting career, it is a Who’s Who of Hollywood. James Dean, Cary Grant, Alfred Hitchcock, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton,… more

Oct 1, 2010

Riding Omaha: Meet Carlos Morales, the city’s new point person on biking

Omaha’s desired brand as a progressive, livable, eco-friendly burg with enhanced mobility options took a step forward with city government’s recent hiring of Carlos Morales as the city’s first bicycle pedestrian coordinator. Morales start… more

Sep 24, 2010

Categories: Journalism, Leo Adam Biga, Media, Omaha Stories, The Reader, Writing Tags: Journalism, Leo Adam Biga, Media, Omaha Stories, The Reader, Writing

Life Itself: Six years of Omaha Magazine stories about people. their passions and their magnificent obsessions

April 18, 2018 leoadambiga Leave a comment

Life Itself: Six years of Omaha Magazine stories about people. their passions and their magnificent obsessions

Author-Journalist-Blogger

Park Avenue Revitalization & Gentrification

February 16, 2018 · Posted In: Midtown, Omaha Home, Places

As revitalization has come to diverse and densely packed Park Avenue, a tale of two neighborhoods has emerged. The north end—near 30th and Leavenworth streets and Midtown Crossing—finds a millennial haven of developer-renovated historic properties […]

Alexander Payne’s Homecoming

February 13, 2018 · Posted In: Film, Omaha Magazine, People

Alexander Payne’s new tragicomedy Downsizing imagines the fate of an overpopulated world hanging in the balance due to depleted natural resources. When scientists find a way to miniaturize humans, adventurous souls choose going small as an […]

The State of Volleyball

December 27, 2017 · Posted In: Omaha Magazine, Sports

For generations, football gave Nebraska a statewide identity. But with Husker gridiron fortunes flagging, volleyball is the new signature sport with booming participation and success. Here and nationally, more girls now play volleyball than basketball […]

Huskers’ Winning Tradition

December 18, 2017 · Posted In: Web Exclusive

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln volleyball team entered 2017 with tempered expectations after losing three All-Americans and two assistant coaches from the previous season. But what began as a rebuilding year became a 32-4 national championship […]

Downsizing Home Cameos

November 17, 2017 · Posted In: Omaha Home

When Oscar-winning filmmaker Alexander Payne prepares a film, he not only auditions actors but locations, too. The writer-director insists on actual locations whenever possible. When he films in his hometown of Omaha, he’s extra keen […]

A Fluid Life

November 10, 2017 · Posted In: Art, Encounter, Entertainment, Lifestyle

Fluid. That’s how digital graphic designer and fine art painter Dana Oltman describes her aesthetic. As art director for Identity Marketing Group (she was previously at Rebel Interactive) she fulfills client project wishes. She says […]

Francophile

October 9, 2017 · Posted In: 60 Plus in Omaha, People

Half a century ago, while attending Mercy High School, Anne Marie Kenny cultivated a Francophile passion. At 21, she followed it to realize a dream of being a cabaret artist in France. She went from […]

An Omaha Hockey Legend in the Making

October 5, 2017 · Posted In: Omaha Magazine, Sports

Former UNO hockey star Jake Guentzel left school in 2016, after junior year, to pursue his dream of playing professionally. No one expected what happened next. The boyish newcomer with the impish smile went from […]

100 Years Strong

August 7, 2017 · Posted In: Family, Omaha Home

The Bryant-Fisher family reunion celebrates an important milestone in 2017—its 100th anniversary. The three-day reunion event will conclude with a final day of festivities in Elmwood Park. The “Dozens of Cousins,” named for the 12 […]

Baseball and Soul Food

July 3, 2017 · Posted In: Food & Drink, Omaha Magazine, Restaurants

When baseball still ruled as the national pastime, Omaha showcased the game’s still prevalent but loosening black-white divide. In 1947, the year Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier, the barnstorming Omaha Rockets began […]

Mural Man

June 2, 2017 · Posted In: Art, Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, Publications

Visual artist Mike Giron’s creative life spans studio practice, teaching, and working with A Midsummer’s Mural and South Omaha Mural Project teams. “In my studio work, I have no idea what’s going to happen—I just […]

In Their Own Words

May 25, 2017 · Posted In: 60 Plus in Omaha, Art,Lifestyle

Members of the Greatest Generation tell their own stories in a locally produced documentary, 48 Stars. The in-progress film features personal testimonies from World War II veterans. War buff Shawn Schmidt conceived the project. His […]

The Tail-Gunner’s Grandson

May 1, 2017 · Posted In: 60 Plus in Omaha, Art,History

Filmmaker Ben Drickey’s lifelong fascination with history turned personal in 2001. That’s when he documented his grandfather’s return to Germany, revisiting the sites where the U.S. Army Air Corps serviceman crashed and was captured during […]

Crazy Gringa Hot Sauce

April 26, 2017 · Posted In: B2B Magazine,Business, Omaha Magazine

Mary Current and her son, Anderson Current, started making hot sauce three years ago. She never planned on being a commercial food producer despite working the front and back of the house at restaurants, studying […]

Kevin Simonson

April 25, 2017 · Posted In: Omaha Magazine,People

Kevin Simonson of Omaha realizes he occupies an unlikely position as a leading chronicler of that dark jester of American letters, the late Hunter S. Thompson. Thompson, a New Journalism exponent, gained a Grateful Dead-like […]

Austin Ortega

February 23, 2017 · Posted In: Omaha Magazine,People, Sports

How did a smallish soccer-playing Hispanic kid from sun-drenched Escondido, California, end up an ice hockey star in Nebraska? Although his profile does not fit the stereotypical hockey player, UNO Mavericks forward Austin Ortega has […]

Omaha Small Business Network

February 7, 2017 · Posted In: B2B Magazine,Business, Business Profiles, Publications

“What OSBN seeks to do is to initially bridge that gap between the bank and the consumer. But after receiving an OSBN loan, our desire is for you to become bankable. Each opportunity with OSBN […]

Marlin Briscoe

December 29, 2016 · Posted In: 60 Plus in Omaha,Entertainment, Publications, Sports

Omaha native Marlin Briscoe made history in 1968 as the NFL’s first black starting quarterback. His success as a signal-caller carried huge symbolic and practical weight by disproving the then-popular misconception that blacks lacked the […]

Gabrielle Union

December 21, 2016 · Posted In: Entertainment,Omaha Magazine, Publications, Theatre

Actress Gabrielle Union projects her natural intelligence and feistiness in whatever role she undertakes. The Omaha native is never at a loss for words or opinions. She decries Hollywood’s male-dominated, white-centric ways and lack of […]

Location Scout and Producer Jamie Vesay

October 11, 2016 · Posted In: Art, Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People, Publications

When it comes to shooting video, Jamie Vesay of Omaha is a handler, facilitator, fixer, procurer, and—as his LinkedIn site puts it—“minutia wrangler” and “chaos killer.” He works on television commercials, music videos, and feature […]

Artist Erin Blayney

October 2, 2016 · Posted In: Art, Downtown,Downtown, Encounter, Lifestyle, Neighborhoods,Publications

For visual artist Erin Blayney, who grew up in the great outdoors, it’s all about light and space. She has plenty of both at her Old Market apartment that doubles as her studio. Natural light […]

Coding & Community

February 2, 2016 · Posted In: B2B Magazine,Business, Leaders, Publications

Shonna Dorsey has merged an aptitude for technology with a desire to help others via Interface Web School, Omaha’s latest cyber-ed iteration. It’s not the first time she’s combined her entrepreneurial, networking, and community interests. […]

Talking It Out

January 25, 2016 · Posted In: Lifestyle, Nonprofit,Omaha Magazine, Publications

When Catholic Charities of Omaha looked for somebody to take over its open race and identity forum, Omaha Table Talk, it found the right host in Inclusive Communities. Formerly a chapter of the National Conference […]

The Nelson Mandela Way

January 20, 2016 · Posted In: Education, Family,Neighborhoods, North Omaha, Omaha Magazine,Publications

North Omaha may be reversing five decades of capital resources leaving the community with little else but social services coming in. Emerging business, housing, and community projects are spearheading a revitalization, and a new school[…]

Time Out

December 18, 2015 · Posted In: Food & Drink,Omaha Magazine, Publications, Restaurants

The official name of this long-lived north Omaha business is Time Out Foods. “But Time Out Chicken is what everybody tags us as,” says owner Steve Mercer. He’s even bought that Google domain. With a […]

His Little Corner of the Sky

December 9, 2015 · Posted In: Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People, Publications

Omaha Police Department gang intervention specialist Alberto “Beto” Gonzales grew up in a South Omaha “monster barrio” as an outsider fresh from the Texas-Mexican border. Working out of the South Omaha Precinct and South Omaha […]

Year of the Startup

November 17, 2015 · Posted In: B2B Magazine,Business, Entrepreneurs, Publications

The emerging startup accelerator scene supports creative-minded risk-takers looking for an edge to follow their passion and bring their ideas to fruition. Sebastian Hunt, 25, is passionate about giving entrepreneurs like himself a nurturing space […]

Touched by Tokyo

August 26, 2016 · Posted In: Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People, Publications

If you don’t consider Omaha a beauty-style launching pad, think again. Homegrown talents Jaime King and Gabrielle Union tear it up on screen, in photo spreads, and for the red carpet. Designer Kate Walz has […]

The Silo Crusher

Posted In: Entertainment, Omaha Magazine,Publications, Sports

The story of athletics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha has fluctuated from wild success to heartbreak (and back). All-Americans, post-season runs, and national title traditions collided with mismanagement and sparse spectator attendance. Then […]

Stephanie Kurtzuba

August 8, 2016 · Posted In: Art, Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People, Publications

Stage and screen actress Stephanie Kurtzuba has graced Hollywood red carpets and Broadway billboards, but she is most comfortable at her family’s West Lanes Bowling Center in her hometown of Omaha. The Central High School […]

Tim Christian

September 9, 2015 · Posted In: Art, Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, Publications

This article appears in the Sept./Oct. 2015 issue of Omaha Magazine. Nebraska lacks an infrastructure to support a film industry. Omaha Creighton Prep graduate Timothy Christian is trying to change that. After years away pursuing […]

Jocelyn and Deven Muhammad

August 26, 2015 · Posted In: Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People, Publications

This article appears in July/August 2015 Omaha Magazine. Since coming out a few years ago, Jocelyn and Deven Muhammad have been known as “the gay siblings.” But as a LGBT Nebraskans profile put it: “That’s […]

When Hair, Makeup, and Style Become Art

June 10, 2015 · Posted In: Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People, Publications, Style, Stylists

This article originally published in May/June 2015 edition of Omaha Magazine. In 2007, hair stylist and makeup artist Omar Rodriguez left his native Puerto Rico for love. He moved to Omaha to be with his then-partner, […]

Making the Cut

May 5, 2015 · Posted In: Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music, Omaha Magazine, People, Publications

This article appears in May/June 2015 edition of Omaha Magazine. Film and video production is still a rather male-centric domain, but the realm of editing is much more gender-balanced. Omaha native Taylor Tracy, a music […]

Marc Longbrake

April 22, 2015 · Posted In: Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People, Publications

Techie Marc Longbrake was in college when he lost it at the movies. Intrigued with doing something in cinema, he managed computer-aided drafting designers for his 9-to-5 but crewed on local independent film projects for […]

A Joyful Noise

April 21, 2015 · Posted In: 60 Plus in Omaha, Publications, Religion

Originally published in March/April 2015 edition of 60-Plus. Electric. Eclectic. Inspired. All of those descriptors apply to Sacred Heart Catholic Church’s Freedom Choir. Home for this contemporary gospel choir is a Late Gothic Revival-style house […]

Chef Jason Hughes

March 24, 2015 · Posted In: Central Omaha, Chefs, Food & Drink, Omaha Magazine, Publications

Since assuming the executive chef position at Happy Hollow Country Club in 2013 Jason Hughes has emerged as one of the city’s new culinary stars, introducing a strong farm-to-table regimen there. Not only has his […]

From the Heart

March 17, 2015 · Posted In: Omaha Magazine, People, Publications

Upon moving to Omaha in 2010, little suggested Tunette Powell would take the city by storm. She was weighted down by a heavy past and an uncertain future in a new city. But then this […]

Matinee Marriage

March 16, 2015 · Posted In: Entertainment, Omaha Magazine, Publications

The metro’s small but robust cinema community includes Film Streams and the Omaha Film Festival (see related story on page 42) along with several working industry professionals, among them Oscar-winning cinematographer Mauro Fiore (Avatar). He’s […]

Anne Thorne Weaver

February 18, 2015 · Posted In: Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People

National Society of Colonial Dames diva Anne Thorne Weaver is at an age when she says and does what she wants. Fortunately for Omaha, this patron puts her money where her mouth is in supporting […]

Sparring For Omaha

January 9, 2015 · Posted In: Entertainment, Omaha Magazine, Publications, Sports

Terence “Bud” Crawford grew up a multi-sport athlete in North Omaha, but street fighting most brought out his hyper-competitiveness, supreme confidence, fierce determination, and controlled fury. He long ago spoke of being a world champion. […]

Faith, Friends, and Facebook

January 7, 2015 · Posted In: 60 Plus in Omaha, Lifestyle, Omaha Home, People, Publications

Popular singer-actress Camille Metoyer Moten is a fun-loving, free-spirited soldier of faith. That faith got tested starting with an April 2012 breast cancer diagnosis. After treatments and surgeries over two years she gratefully proclaims, “I […]

Having it all

December 4, 2014 · Posted In: Business, Entrepreneurs, Leaders, Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People

Even if Viv Ewing was not one half of a dynamic Omaha couple—she’s married to Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing Jr.—she’d still be among the metro’s more intriguing figures. Her “done it all” resume is […]

Bruce Crawford

December 2, 2014 · Posted In: Entertainment, Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People

With the Nov. 7 screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic The Birds, featuring a guest appearance by star Tippi Hedren, impresario Bruce Crawford marks his 35th film event over 22 years. The screening is a Nebraska […]

Milton Kleinberg

November 5, 2014 · Posted In: 60 Plus in Omaha, Omaha Magazine, People

As a child in Poland, Milton Kleinberg got caught up in a little known chapter of the Holocaust when he and his family were among Jews exiled to Soviet labor camps. The forced journey took […]

Tanya Cook

October 20, 2014 · Posted In: Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People

An abiding curiosity led Neb. State Sen. Tanya Cook to serve as an official observer during the presidential election in war-torn Ukraine earlier this year. Joining a Ukrainian Congress Committee of America delegation, she witnessed […]

Big Mama, Bigger Heart

October 1, 2014 · Posted In: Chefs, Food & Drink, Neighborhoods, North Omaha, Omaha Magazine, Publications, Restaurants

Patricia Givens Barron, the woman behind Big Mama’s Kitchen in North Omaha, is known for her soul food. And for giving folks who’ve run afoul of the law a second chance. Her desire to give […]

Mary Carrick

July 12, 2014 · Posted In: Encounter, Lifestyle, People

If the late soul master James Brown was the hardest working man in show business, then singer Mary Carrick is Omaha’s hardest working woman in entertainment. When the Nebraska Arts Council touring artist isn’t performing […]

Omaha Code School

May 27, 2014 · Posted In: Business, Entrepreneurs, Leaders, Omaha Magazine, People On the Rise, Publications

Entrepreneurial techie Sumeet Jain is poised to fill a gap in the metro’s dot-com scene through a for-profit startup he founded last fall with his cousin Rahul Gupta. The pair’s Omaha Code School aims to […]

Rabbi Azriel

May 14, 2014 · Posted In: Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People, Publications

Rabbi Aryeh Azriel has led Omaha’s reform Jewish congregation, Temple Israel Synagogue, since 1988. Along the way he’s become known for his social justice advocacy and for his efforts building bridges to other faith communities. […]

Ariel Roblin

May 8, 2014 · Posted In: Downtown, Neighborhoods, Omaha Magazine, Publications

Almost as soon as Ariel Roblin became president and general manager of Omaha ratings leader KETV in 2011 she faced the momentous decision of finding a new site for the ABC network affiliate. This next […]

Drive-By Delight

April 1, 2014 · Posted In: At Home, Dundee, Home, Neighborhoods, Omaha Home, Omaha Magazine, Publications

Alexander Payne’s new Oscar-nominated film Nebraska is stirring the pot in his home state the way his last film made here, About Schmidt, did in 2002. That earlier project’s superstar lead, Jack Nicholson, naturally dominated […]

Patique Collins Finds the Right Fit

January 28, 2014 · Posted In: Business, Entrepreneurs, Fitness, Omaha Magazine, Sports

In 2011 Patique Collins left a two-decade corporate career to open a fitness business. Two-and-a-half years later her Right Fit gym on West Maple Road jumps with clients. This former model, who’s emceed events and […]

To Tanzania with Love

January 15, 2014 · Posted In: Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People

Life-changing work by Alegent Creighton Health in Tanzania is the focus of a forthcoming documentary from a one-time Omaha television news personality. When former KMTV anchor-reporter Mary Williams and videographer Pete Soby travel to the […]

The Making of Nebraska

November 15, 2013 · Posted In: Entertainment, Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People

When you watch Alexander Payne’s acclaimed new film Nebraska, keep in mind that each and every acting part was cast in a collaboration between the two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker and his casting director, John Jackson. Under […]

Potash Twins

October 26, 2013 · Posted In: Entertainment, Music, Omaha Magazine, People

Omaha once reigned as a major live music hub where scores of legendary artists came to perform. Many resident musicians who got their chops here used Omaha as a springboard to forge fat careers on […]

Jim Flowers

August 27, 2013 · Posted In: Entertainment, Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People

Dapper Jim Flowers, with his trademark moustache and buttonhole flower, is a fixture in people’s lives after 31 years as an Omaha television meteorologist. This husband and father of two has invested himself in the […]

MindMixer

August 26, 2013 · Posted In: B2B Magazine, Business, Entrepreneurs

Urban planners turned entrepreneurs Nick Bowden and Nathan Preheim never got used to the slim turnouts that town hall meetings drew for civic projects under review. It bothered them that so few people weighed in […]

Lessons in Transforming Lives

June 20, 2013 · Posted In: Auto, Giving, Lifestyle, Nonprofit, Omaha Magazine, People

When a group of Omaha Home for Boys and Jacob’s Place residents helped put the finishing touches on a customized 1999 Harley Davidson motorcycle this May, they accomplished something bigger than themselves. As participants in […]

Iraq War Vet Jacob Hausman Battles PTSD and Finds Peace

Posted In: Health, Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, People

Growing up in Beatrice, Neb., Jacob “Jake” Hausman harbored a childhood dream of serving in the U.S. military. Both his grandfathers and an uncle served. He volunteered for the Army in 2002 and upon completing […]

David Brown’s Omaha

May 25, 2013 · Posted In: B2B Magazine, Business, Leaders, Lifestyle, People

David Brown did his fair share of moving around before settling in Omaha in 2003 to become president of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Before assuming that post, the Detroit native worked in his […]

Sam Mercer

April 25, 2013 · Posted In: Business, Downtown, Encounter, Lifestyle, People

Continental bon vivant Samuel Mercer, who passed away in early February, was not a typical Nebraskan. Though he grew up to become the Old Market’s undisputed godfather, he started life as the son of prominent […]

Gesu and Brother Mike

Posted In: Home, Neighborhoods, Nonprofit, Omaha Magazine, People

Jesuit brother Mike Wilmot prefers his actions to speak for him more than his words. Lately, those actions have helped put several first-time homebuyers in new houses. After years of coaching and teaching at Omaha […]

Great Plains Theatre Conference

Posted In: Entertainment, Omaha Magazine, Theatre

Plays and playwrights remain the heart of the May 25-June 1 Great Plains Theatre Conference, which is now in its eighth year, says producing artistic director Kevin Lawler. But since assuming leadership over this Metropolitan […]

Mid-Century Modern

December 25, 2012 · Posted In: Home, Omaha Home, Places

In post-World War II America, a contemporary design style borne of the modernist movement and emphasizing a balance of form and function came to the attention of visionary Omaha developers and architects. The resulting homes […]

Roger duRand

Posted In: Business, Downtown, Encounter, Lifestyle, People

Omaha designer Roger duRand didn’t invent the Old Market, but he played a key role shaping the former wholesale produce and jobbing center into a lively arts-culture district. His imprint on this historic urban residential-commercial […]

The Troy Davis Story

Posted In: Downtown, Encounter, Lifestyle, People, Stylists

Leading Omaha hairdresser Troy Davis long ago showed an educational and entrepreneurial knack for his craft and for building the Edgeworthy brand at Fringes Salon & Spa in the Old Market. Now that his mentor […]

Ervin & Smith

November 25, 2012 · Posted In: B2B Magazine, Business, West Omaha

Executives at Omaha advertising-public relations firm Ervin & Smith say the company’s recent growth and recognition as a top place to work and prosper are by-products of its considered emphasis on staff development. 2012 has […]

The Budge Porter Story Comes Home

October 25, 2012 · Posted In: At Home, Home, Home Improvement, Lifestyle, Omaha Home

Budge Porter lost many physical capabilities when he broke his neck tackling a teammate in a 1976 Husker football practice. The catastrophic injury left him a quadriplegic confined to a wheelchair. What he’s never lost […]

Steve Gordon

August 20, 2012 · Posted In: Downtown, Encounter, Entrepreneurs, People, Style

Designer Steve Gordon’s urbanized sense for what’s in-vogue permeates his lifestyle and RDQLUS Creative signature work. He indulges a love for hip hop, sneakers, and bikes. He provides brand development, identity design, and creative direction […]

In Memoriam: George Eisenberg

August 20, 2012 · Posted In: Business, Downtown, Encounter, Lifestyle, People

The late George Eisenberg, 88, appreciated the historic Old Market the way few people do because of his many relationships to it. His experience encompassed the Market’s life as a wholesale produce center and eventual […]

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https://leoadambiga.com/2011/10/27/a-hospice-house-story-how-phil..

Categories: Journalism, Leo Adam Biga, Media, Omaha, Omaha Magazine, Omaha Stories, Writing Tags: Journalism, Leo Adam Biga, Media, Omaha, Omaha Magazine, Omaha Stories, Writing

In a North Omaha state of mind …

July 26, 2017 leoadambiga 1 comment

In a North Omaha state of mind …
As many of you know, North Omaha holds a special place in my heart. I grew up there and went to school there (Holy Name). Through age 47, my home address was 4129 Maple Street. I began writing about North Omaha while still a North O resident. Since moving to northwest Omaha, my interest in North O has remained strong and I continue making it a subject of my work. With Native Omaha Days here and the Bryant-Fisher 100th family reunion coming up, I felt nostalgic about the hundreds of thousands of words I’ve committed to that community.

So, without further adieu, enjoy this curated list of links to North O stories from my archive. Some go back a minute. Others are as recent as this month. Hopefully, the articles provide a fair and balanced view of that community: past, present and moving forward.

African-American Empowerment Network | Leo Adam Biga’s My …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/african-american-empowerment-network/‎

Overarching plan for North Omaha development now in place – The …
http://thereader.com/news/overarching_plan_for_north_omaha_development_now_in_place/.

North Omaha beckons investment, combats gentrification
https://www.morningsky.com/omaha/…/north-omaha-beckons-investment- combats-gentrification

Behind the Vision: Othello Meadows of 75 North Revitalization Corp.
https://morningsky.com/…/othello-meadows-lifting-up-a-community-called- home

North Omaha: Where for art thou? | Leo Adam Biga’s My Inside Stories
https://leoadambiga.com/2017/03/…/north-omaha-where-for-art-thou/

North Omaha: Voices and Visions for Change | Leo Adam Biga’s My …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/north-omaha-voices-and-visions-for-change/‎

Black Lives Matter – The Reader
http://thereader.com/news/From_Social_Media_to_the_Streets/

Malcolm X Memorial Foundation coming into its own – The Reade
http://www.thereader.com/post/malcolm_x_memorial_foundation_coming_into_its_own.

Two to One – The Reader
http://thereader.com/visual-art/two_to_one/

Returning To Society – The Reader
http://thereader.com/news/returning_to_society/

Girls, Inc. Expands & Renovates – The Reader
http://thereader.com/news/girls_inc-_expands_renovates/

North Star Foundation | Leo Adam Biga’s My Inside Stories
https://leoadambiga.com/tag/north-star-foundation/

Where Hope Lives, Hope Center for Kids in North Omaha | Leo …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/where-hope-lives-hope-center-for-kids-in-north- omaha/

The Nelson Mandela Way | Omaha Magazine
http://omahamagazine.com/articles/the-nelson-mandela-way

Play considers North Omaha history through the eyes … – The Reader
http://thereader.com/arts/play_considers_north_omaha_history_thorugh_the_eyes_of_mildred_bown/.

Change, it’s been a long time coming for northeast Omaha – The …
http://thereader.com/news/change_its_been_a_long_time_coming_for_northeast_omaha/

Next generation of North Omaha leaders eager for change – The …
http://thereader.com/news/next_generation_of_north_omaha_leaders_eager_for_change/.

Abide applies holistic approach to building community – The Reader
http://thereader.com/news/abide_applies_holistic_approach_to_building_community/

Making community – The Reader
http://thereader.com/news/making_community/.

Big Mama, Bigger Heart | Omaha Magazine
http://omahamagazine.com/articles/big-mama-bigger-heart/

Entrepreneur and craftsman John Hargiss invests in North Omaha …
http://thereader.com/visual-art/entrepreneur_and_craftsman_john_hargiss_invests_in_north_omaha/.

Revival of Benson Business District Gives Omaha a New …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/revival-of-benson-business-district-gives-omaha-a -new-destination-place/‎

Omaha Northwest Radial Hwy | Leo Adam Biga’s My Inside Stories
https://leoadambiga.com/tag/omaha-northwest-radial-hwy/

A Brief History of Omaha’s Civil Rights Struggle Distilled in Black …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/a-brief-history-of-omahas-civil-rights-struggle- distilled-in-black-and-white-by-photographer-rudy-smith/‎

A WASP’s racial tightrope resulted in enduring book – The Reader
http://thereader.com/news/a_wasps_racial_tightrope_resulted_in_enduring_book/

When New Horizons dawned for African Americans in Omaha – The …
http://thereader.com/news/when_new_horizons_dawned_for_african_americans_in_omaha/

De Porres Club | Leo Adam Biga’s My Inside Stories
https://leoadambiga.com/tag/de-porres-club/‎

UNO Wrestling Dynasty Built on a Tide of Social Change – OnToplist …
http://www.ontoplist.com/articles/uno-wrestling-dynasty-built-on-a-tide-of-social-change_4c46fa1dc6d11/

[PDF] civil rights: standing up for what’s right to make a difference
https://www.education.ne.gov/nebooks/ebooks/peony_park.pdf‎

Goodwin’s Spencer Street Barber Shop – Leo Adam Biga’s My Inside …
https://leoadambiga.com/2010/04/29/goodwins-spencer-street-barbershop-we-cut-heads-and-broaden-minds-too/.

Free Radical Ernie Chambers – The Reader
http://www.thereader.com/post/free_radical_ernie_chambers.

North’s Star: Gene Haynes builds legacy as education leader with …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/norths-star-gene-haynes-builds-legacy-as- education-leader-with-omaha-public-schools-and-north-high-school…

Preston Love, His Voice Will Not Be Stilled | Leo Adam Biga’s My …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/preston-love-his-voice-will-not-be-stilled/‎

Cool Cat Billy and the Sportin’ Life | Leo Adam Biga’s My Inside Stories
https://leoadambiga.com/2010/07/01/sportin-life/‎

Wesley House | Leo Adam Biga’s My Inside Stories
https://leoadambiga.com/tag/wesley-house/

Coloring History, A Long, Hard Road for UNO Black Studies | Leo …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/coloring-history-a-long-hard-road-for-uno-black- studies/

Burden of Dreams: The Trials of Omaha’s Black Museum | Leo Adam …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/burden-of-dreams-the-trials-of-omaha’s-black- museum/

Great Plains Black History Museum Asks for Public Input on its …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/great-plains-black-history-museum-asks-for- public-input-on-its-latest-evolution/‎

Long and Winding Saga of the Great Plains Black History Museum …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/long-and-winding-saga-of-the-great-plains-black- history-museum-takes-a-new-turn-2/

‎Charles Hall’s Fair Deal Cafe | Leo Adam Biga’s My Inside Stories
https://leoadambiga.com/2016/05/11/charles-halls-fair-deal-cafe/

Soul Food | Leo Adam Biga’s My Inside Stories
https://leoadambiga.com/tag/soul-food/

Chef Mike Does a Rebirth at the Community Cafe | Leo Adam Biga’s …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/chef-mike-does-a-rebirth-at-the-community-cafe/

Time Out Foods | Omaha Magazine
http://omahamagazine.com/articles/tag/time-out-foods/

Omaha Rockets Kanteen | Omaha Magazine
http://omahamagazine.com/articles/tag/omaha-rockets-kanteen

A synergy in North Omaha harkens a new arts-culture … – The Reader
http://thereader.com/news/a_synergy_in_north_omaha_harkens_a_new_arts-culture_district_for_the_city/

Art as Revolution: Brigitte McQueen’s Union for Contemporary Art …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/art-as-revolution-brigitte-mcqueens-union-for- contemporary-art-reimagines-whats-possible-in-north-omaha/

Brigitte McQueen Shew’s Union of art and community uses new Blue …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/brigitte-mcqueen-shews-union-of-art-and- community-uses-new-blue-lion-digs-to-expand-community-engage…

Loves Jazz & Arts Center | Leo Adam Biga’s My Inside Stories
https://leoadambiga.com/category/loves-jazz-arts-center/

Carver Building Rebirthed as Arts-culture Haven; Theaster Gates …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/carver-building-rebirthed-as-arts-culture-haven- theaster-gates-rebuild-and-bemis-reimagine-north-omaha/‎

Artists running with opportunity to go to the next level; Carver Bank …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/artists-running-with-opportunity-to-go-to-the- next-level-carver-bank-resident-artists-bring-new-life-to-area/‎

Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame | Leo Adam Biga’s My Inside Stories
https://leoadambiga.com/category/omaha-black-music-hall-of-fame/

Making the Case for a Nebraska Black Sports Hall of Fame | Leo …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/making-the-case-for-a-nebraska-black-sports-hall -of-fame/‎

The Artist in the Mill: Linda Meigs Brings Agriculture, History and Art …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/linda-meigs-brings-agriculture-history-and-art- together-at-florence-mill/‎

The Rhythm Boys of Omaha Central | Leo Adam Biga’s My Inside …
https://leoadambiga.com/tag/the-rhythm-boys-of-omaha-central/‎

A Homecoming Like No Other – The Reader
http://thereader.com/news/a-homecoming-like-no-other/

Native Omaha Days: A Black is Beautiful Celebration, Now, and All …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/native-omaha-days-a-black-is-beautiful- celebration-now-and-all-the-days-gone-by/

Bryant-Fisher | Omaha Magazine
http://omahamagazine.com/articles/tag/bryant-fisher/.

A Family Thing – The Reader
http://thereader.com/news/a_family_thing/

Good Shepherds of North Omaha: Ministers and Churches Making a …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/the-shepherds-of-north-omaha-ministers-and- churches-making-a-difference-in-area-of-great-need/

Heart Ministry Center | Leo Adam Biga’s My Inside Stories
https://leoadambiga.com/category/heart-ministry-center/‎

Sacred Heart Freedom Choir | Leo Adam Biga’s My Inside Stories
https://leoadambiga.com/tag/sacred-heart-freedom-choir/‎

Salem’s Voices of Victory Gospel Choir Gets Justified with the Lord …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/salems-voices-of-victory-gospel-choir-gets- justified-with-the-lord/

When Omaha’s North 24th Street Brought Together Jews and Blacks …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/when-omahas-north-24th-street-brought-together -jews-and-blacks-in-a-melting-pot-marketplace-that-is-no-more/‎

OUT TO WIN – THE ROOTS OF GREATNESS: OMAHA’S BLACK …
https://leoadambiga.com/out-to-win-the-r…k-sports-legends/

Opening Installment from My Series Out to Win: The Roots of …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/from-my-series-out-to-win-the-roots-of-greatness -an-exploration-of-omahas-black-sports-legends/‎

Closing Installment from My Series Out to Win: The Roots of …
https://leoadambiga.com/…/closing-installment-from-my-series-out-to-win- the-roots-of-greatness-an-exploration-of-omahas-black-sports-legen…

Categories: African-American, African-American Culture, Journalism, Leo Adam Biga, Leo Adam BIga's Blog, Leo Adam Biga's My Inside Stories, North Omaha, Omaha, Writing Tags: African-American, African-American Culture, Journalism, Leo Adam Biga's Blog, Leo Adam Biga's My Inside Stories, North O, North Omaha, North Omaha Stories, Omaha, Writing

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Alexander Payne: His Journey in Film

Check out my brand new Facebook page & Like it–
Alexander Payne: His Journey in Film
https://www.facebook.com/AlexanderPayneExpert/

The work-in-progress page is devoted to my acclaimed book about the Oscar-winning filmmaker and his work.

“This is without question the single best study of Alexander Payne’s films, as well as the filmmaker himself and his filmmaking process. In charting the first two decades of Payne’s remarkable career, Leo Adam Biga pieces together an indelible portrait of an independent American artist, and one that’s conveyed largely in the filmmaker’s own words. This is an invaluable contribution to film history and criticism – and a sheer pleasure to read as well.” –Thomas Schatz, Film scholar and author (The Genius of the System)

The book sells for $25.95.

Available through Barnes & Noble, on Amazon, for Kindle and at other bookstores and gift shops nationwide.

Purchase it at–https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRORX1U?ref_=k4w_oembed_c1Anr6bJdAagnj&tag=kpembed-20&linkCode=kpd

You can also order signed copies by emailing the author at leo32158@cox.net.

Mini-Profile

leoadambiga

Author-journalist-blogger Leo Adam Biga resides in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. He writes newspaper-magazine stories about people, their passions, and their magnificent obsessions. He's the author of the books "Crossing Bridges: A Priest's Uplifting Life Among the Downtrodden," "Alexander Payne: His Journey in Film" (a compilation of his journalism about the acclaimed filmmaker) "Open Wide" a biography of Mark Manhart. Biga co-edited "Memories of the Jewish Midwest: Mom and Pop Grocery Stores." His popular blog, Leo Adam Biga's My Inside Stories at leoadambiga.com, is an online gallery of his work. The blog feeds into his Facebook page, My Inside Stories, as well as his Twitter, Google, LinkedIn, Tumblr, About.Me and other social media platform pages.

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Leo Adam Biga's My Inside Stories

Archive

A Man for All Reasons: Legacy Omaha Investor John Webster Was a Go-To Guy for The Reader

An Omaha Star: Phyllis Hicks – The Publisher & the Newspaper She Never Meant to Run

A Year’s Worth of Writing for Omaha Magazine by Leo Adam Biga

Faces and Places, Covers and Pages from this writer/reporter’s notebook

Life Itself XIX: Set the Scene True Life Stories

Life Itself IX: Media and related articles from the analog past to today’s digital era

Life Itself III: Twenty-plus years of New Horizons stories about people, their passions and their magnificent obsessions

Life Itself II: Eight years of Reader stories about people, their passions and their magnificent obsessions

Life Itself: Six years of Omaha Magazine stories about people. their passions and their magnificent obsessions

In a North Omaha state of mind …

Alexander Payne: His Journey in Film

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Alexander Payne: His Journey in Film

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