A 36-year-old Omaha man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of killing his father, a longtime deacon at a local Catholic church.

John Zak, 69, was found dead in his home near 36th and Cass streets late Wednesday following a missing person report. His son, Martin Zak, was booked into the Douglas County Jail on suspicion of homicide, felony flight to avoid arrest and felony theft, police said in a press release.

Few details of the homicide have been released publicly as the city’s Catholic community mourns a longtime leader. John served as deacon of St. Peter Catholic Church for over 25 years.

In a statement, Michael McGovern, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Omaha, said John was ordained to the permanent diaconate in 1998.

St. Peter Rev. John Broheimer shared the news of John’s death on the church website, calling his death “a great shock to his family, and to our parish.”

“Through his Ministry he touched countless lives, especially the young people of our parish, whom he served with generosity and sincere faith,” Broheimer wrote. “Please pray especially for Mary, his wife, and for their children and family who bear the greatest burden of this loss.”

According to court documents, John and his wife fostered and adopted multiple children over the past few decades.

In April 2020, the Catholic Voice of Omaha published an article on health care workers that included John, who was a respiratory therapist. The article said that John kept a holy card on a bulletin board in his office with a quote from St. Francis de Sales:

“Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same loving Father who cares for you today, will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings.”

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – An immediate evacuation order has been issued for residents of Farnam Thursday night as a fast-moving wildfire threatens the area.

Four active fires can be seen from satellite imagery as “hot spots” showing up in orange below.

According to the Dawson County Emergency Management Agency, the evacuation request was relayed through the National Weather Service office in Hastings shortly after 9 p.m.

Officials say a wildfire burning in southwest Dawson County is expected to shift direction due to changing winds before 10 p.m., potentially pushing the fire south toward the town of Farnam.

Emergency officials are urging all residents in Farnam to evacuate immediately and travel east to Eustis to seek shelter. Frontier County officials will assist evacuees upon arrival.

A Nebraska 511 camera in the area along Highway 47, south of Gothenburg shows a bright scene – but it’s not daytime. The camera is being lit up by the light of the wildfire burning nearby.

Authorities say the evacuation is being ordered out of an abundance of caution as weather conditions could quickly change the fire’s path.

Residents are encouraged to leave the area as quickly and safely as possible, bringing essential items and following directions from emergency personnel.

Officials continue to monitor the wildfire and say additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – A magnitude 2.5 earthquake has been reported in south central Nebraska Thursday morning.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake was reported just southeast of Cowles, Nebraska at 6:15 a.m. CST. The earthquake occurred at a depth of around 3.1 miles.

This is the fourth earthquake that has been reported in Nebraska this month. On March 1, a magnitude 4.1 earthquake was reported south of Hastings, three miles east of Cowles. Tremors from that earthquake were felt in Lincoln and Omaha.

Almost an hour and a half later another earthquake nearby was reported, USGS reported it as a 2.6 magnitude earthquake. Sunday night, a third earthquake was reported by USGS with a 2.6 magnitude.

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