Nebraska
Developer: $90M Omaha airport area business park project won't use eminent domain • Nebraska Examiner
OMAHA — A development group that was awarded $90 million in public funds to prepare a business park near Omaha’s airport faced a crowd Wednesday night with a common concern: Will they be forced from their homes?
“We’re not strong-arming anybody,” Michael Maroney of the Omaha Economic Development Corp. told the roughly 150 people, most of whom live on the land eyed for the project. “Eminent domain is not on the table.”
Maroney said his team, which also includes Burlington Capital and the Greater Omaha Chamber, is not interested in pursuing the business park north of Carter Lake and west of the airport unless it is able to assemble enough property voluntarily.
Skeptics
Under the plan, the developers would clear about 160 acres currently occupied by households, small urban farms and other properties and turn the site into shovel-ready land where manufacturers, distributors and other industries could build plants and create jobs.
Some in the crowd remained skeptical of eminent domain.
“Somebody is making money. It’s not going to be me,” said Dave Gillespie.
Many left wanting more details.
“They’re beating around the bush,” said Jason Johnson.
Others were thankful that the development group finally reached out.
Although Maroney and his partners fielded questions at an earlier forum, Wednesday’s gathering was the first community outreach meeting organized and led by the group since Gov. Jim Pillen in January announced the award.
State lawmakers representing North Omaha and others have criticized the developers for not including enough community input in developing the plan for the business park that would dislocate scores of residents.
During the packed meeting at Sherman Elementary School’s gym, Maroney and George Achola of Burlington Capital spent time explaining the history of the business park vision and the group’s previous guardedness. They said the team received a final contract agreement with the state just about two weeks ago.
“Now we have some level of authority that we’d like to move this thing forward,” said Maroney.
Digging deep
Still needed is a letter of support from the newly formed Omaha Inland Port Authority, which is charged with overseeing economic development in a roughly 300-acre zone of northeast Omaha that includes the proposed business park.
Homes, urban farm stand at site of proposed Omaha business park buoyed by $90M in state funds
Achola said he anticipates that the team will start to “dig deep” around October and discuss relocation/compensation plans with area residents. Early next year, he said, the developers should have a good idea of whether it will have enough property to carry out the plan.
When asked about the threshold for viability, the developers said much depends on how much of a concentrated area they could assemble. If enough of a mass is not achieved, Achola said, “We probably have to move on.”
An audience member asked if the developers had a backup plan. To that, they said another tract in the general area might be a fallback.
A deadline looms. The state grant funds are to be allocated by the close of 2027, the developers said.
The meeting, attended also by Omaha City Councilwoman Juanita Johnson, included information presented by Midwest Right of Way Services, which is to work with the developer and neighborhood in acquisition and relocation.
‘If the price is right…’
Jason Johnson said he was doubtful that his family members, who have lived near each other for generations on spacious acreages, would be able to be compensated fairly enough. He said they live near downtown Omaha, the airport, Carter Lake and each other.
“If I wanted to move for market value, I’d have moved already,” he said.
Hank Schlotfeld and Gillespie questioned whether eminent domain still would be “off the table” if they were among a small percentage of “holdouts.”
Robin Lincoln questioned whether the project could even fulfill its goal of job creation.
“We got jobs, with nobody wanting to work them,” she said. “Look around. ‘Help wanted’ signs everywhere.”
Toni Kuhn said she was worried that her house, handed down by a family member, was in disrepair and wouldn’t yield enough compensation from the development team for her to find another house.
She said many people are afraid to move from an area where they’ve been rooted for a lifetime.
“We’re happy,” she said. “But if the price is right, I will sell.”
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Nebraska
Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection
LEXINGTON, Neb. (KOLN) – Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.
On Tuesday afternoon, an NSP Carrier Enforcement trooper conducted a commercial vehicle inspection on a semi tractor/trailer driven by Arwinderjit Singh, 30, of California, near mile marker 254 on Interstate 80.
During the inspection, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. An NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the cab of the semi, troopers said.
After searching the cab, troopers located 242 pounds of cocaine concealed underneath the sleeper bed, NSP said.
Singh was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, possession of an open alcohol container, no drug tax stamp and displaying a fictitious license plate.
Singh was lodged in Dawson County Jail, and his bond was set at 10% of $2 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.
According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.
“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”
Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.
“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.
“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.
Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.
“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.
Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.
“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”
Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.
“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”
Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.
“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.
Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.
“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.
“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.
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Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.
Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.
ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year
“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”
Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.
The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.
His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.
“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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