Mayor John W. Ewing, Jr.

What an amazing day to be a Husker!

Huge congratulations to the Nebraska Women’s Softball team for punching their ticket to the Women’s College World Series! The road to a national title starts TONIGHT as they take on Arkansas in Oklahoma City. First pitch is at 8:30 PM CT on ESPN2!

But wait, there's more! Another shoutout to the Nebraska Men’s Baseball team for earning the right to host the 2026 NCAA Lincoln Regional at Haymarket Park! Baseball kicks off tomorrow, Friday, May 29th, when the boys take on South Dakota State at 3:00 PM CT.

It's a great time to be a Nebraska fan. GBR

Tonight, I spent some time at Memorial Park, where we gathered to remember. To remember the fallen and their ultimate sacrifice. To remember duty to our country’s highest ideals. To remember that from many, we are one. One Omaha.

Thank you to all who serve or have served. And thank you to their families, especially to thsoe who have carried the heartache of loss.

As we head into the weekend, please enjoy the time you have with family and friends and check out Memorial Park on Monday for Memorial Day activities.

On what would be Malcolm X's 101st birthday, we gathered at the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation at this important man's birthplace.

My thanks go to Executive Director JoAnna LeFlore and Brenda Council for their remarks today and for all who gathered to support an important effort to build a new Malcolm X Cultural Center and Museum.

This project reflects our city's commitment to investing in historically underserved communities. It stands as a physical symbol that we value community history, culture, and leadership.

May 19th is not just a date on the calendar, it is a reminder of a legacy that continues to shape our community and our city

Today, we marked Jewish-American Heritage Month at Omaha's amazing Jewish Community Center.

Omaha's rich history and present includes a vibrant and engaged Jewish community. It's a great opportunity to remind ourselves how much we have to learn about one another and how much we all share in common.

Statement on Mosque Shooting in San Diego

Neighbors:

First and unequivocally: We stand strong and united against violence of any kind, but particularly the type of pernicious violence that attacks people for what they might believe, who they might love, or how they might look.

Following news of the shooting at a San Diego mosque, now being investigated as a hate crime, I have contacted Omaha FBI Special Agent in Charge Kowel and Omaha Police Chief Schmaderer to discuss ways local law enforcement can protect our Muslim community. Islamophobia has been on the rise, and hate can beget violence. Such violence has no place in any society. Please report any suspicious activity to authorities.

Second, I’ve reached out to several local community leaders to offer my support.

You’ll notice I began this statement with the greeting “neighbors.” I have launched an initiative aimed at stitching our civic fabric more tightly together - Year of the Neighbor. This is an intentional effort to blunt the hate in our country that seeks to divide and hurt and kill. We all have an obligation to one another - friend or stranger, Omahan or San Diegan, to see our shared interests, our shared humanity. We are called to love one another.

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr.: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. "

So let us take this sad moment to redouble our efforts to deeply love, care and support each other - most especially the communities that are under attack.

Great way to end the day - visit by Mike'l C Severe, executive director of The Jet Award Foundation, which helps students pursue college and trade careers. Check out those famous Heisman signatures. Recognize the names?

Met with Omaha legends today: Cathy Hughes of Urban 1/Radio One (look for her at Creighton University commencement - she’s speaking!) and Johnny Rodgers.

On Wednesday, we celebrated Year of the Neighbor honorees for March and April and kicked off May's focus: Your City Council District.

We started this initiative in January to commit ourselves to being the good neighbors we are to our families, our immediate geographic neighbors and to people across Omaha. Each month has a specific focus and intent. We invite residents to nominate Omahans who do good deeds - and you can learn more on the Mayor's website.

For March, the focus was your street. Honored were Gloria and John Wierzbicki, who have lived in Benson for decades. Their neighbor nominated them because they have served as a "bright light" in their neighborhood, embodying the spirit of community through consistent acts of service and kindness. From John clearing snow to Gloria sharing homegrown herbs and home-cooked meals, they provide tangible support to those around them. Ordinary acts of kindness and neighborliness results in extraordinary impact

For April, we honor Heather Thompson, who was described by her nominator as a high-impact volunteer whose tireless service, performed alongside a full-time career, has significantly strengthened both her church and the Minne Lusa neighborhood.
Her contributions are defined by a rare mix of "behind-the-scenes" technical skill and hands-on community building. Heather manages high-traffic community events, including the annual neighborhood garage sale, a local craft fair, and outreach during the Florence Days Parade.

Congratulations to the Wierzbickis and to Ms. Thompson.

For May, Danny Begley for Omaha for Omahadescribed how Omahans can get to know their Council districts, Council representatives and ways to engage civicly through those districts. We've got a great Council.

If you are interested in volunteering but are not sure where, our May partner is Share Omaha. They can hook you up with a volunteer or other opportunity to give your time, talent or treasure!

https://shareomaha.org/

Good news out of Omaha: The College World Series is a grand slam for economic impact, proving that if you build it, sustain it, support it, welcome it, they will come!

Congratulations to our city, our partners, and the many, many people who field this important, successful annual event!

From our friends at CWS Omaha:

MEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES DELIVERS RECORD $147.6 MILLION

OMAHA, Nebraska – The 2025 NCAA Men's College World Series (MCWS) generated a record $147.6 million in economic impact for the Omaha metropolitan area, marking a 67% increase over the last pre-pandemic measurement in 2019. The findings come from an independent economic study released today by Goss & Associates Economic Solutions, LLC, as Omaha prepares to host the 2026 event beginning June 12th.

Key Findings from the 2025 CWS:

Record Economic Impact: $147.6 million in total economic activity for the Omaha Metro area and $136.4 million for the State of Nebraska.

Job Creation & Earnings: Approximately 1,515 full-time-equivalent jobs supported across hospitality, retail, transportation, and other service industries, generating $47.9 million in local wages.

Worker Earnings: $47.9 million in wages and salaries for local workers in the Omaha Metro.

Tax Revenue: $14.4 million generated in state and local tax collections, including $4.5 million in sales tax and $3.3 million in property taxes.

Tourism Influx: Roughly 370,000 fans attended over the 10-day event, with nearly 71% traveling from outside Nebraska — driving hotels to near-full capacity.

Top Industries Impacted: Restaurants ($36.5M), lodging ($27.8M), amusement and recreation ($7.9M), car rentals ($4.2M), and real estate ($3.8M).

Read more about it here:

Men's College World Series Delivers Record $147.6 Million Economic Impact to Omaha - College World Series The 2025 NCAA Men's College World Series (MCWS) generated a record $147.6 million in economic impact for the Omaha metropolitan area, marking a 67% increase over the last pre-pandemic measurement in 2019. The findings come from an independent economic study released today by Goss & Associates Econom...

Update today: Press conference just wrapped at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Speakers included Gov. Jim Pillen, federal health experts and our experts at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine.

* 18 persons from the cruise ship came to the U.S. Two are in Atlanta at Emory University.
* 16 individuals are in Omaha; 15 are in the federal National Quarantine Unit, the only of its kind in the country; 1 who tested positive overseas is in the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit for monitoring and possible care.

Both units are on the UNMC campus - think of the quarantine unit as hotel-like and biocontainment unit as hospital like. Both have strict protocols and special air-handling systems for safety.

There is little to no risk at this time to Omahans.

This effort is coordinated across federal, state and local governments.

We will rely on our experts here at Nebraska Medicine and UNMCand the continuum of care and protocols they are providing.