Pioneer Brief: Omaha-area flood damage tops $13 million

Flood recovery costs came into focus Thursday as Omaha officials put Douglas and Sarpy County damage above $13 million, while new data showed budget cuts shrinking tenured faculty ranks at the University of Nebraska.

Update: Omaha-area flood damage estimated at more than $13 million

The mayor says some residents may be permanently displaced as officials close unsafe homes

Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. said last week's flooding caused an estimated $12 million in damage in Douglas County and $1.1 million in Sarpy County, and that some residents may be permanently displaced and need long-term housing. Severe damage hit the Millard Woods mobile home park, where some residents have 10 days to collect belongings, and 73 of 123 homes initially without gas still lacked service.

Why it matters: The first countywide damage figures add detail to Pillen's disaster declaration, which also serves as a request for federal aid, and put long-term housing for displaced residents on the local agenda.

Read the full story: WOWT

Budget cuts are shrinking tenured faculty ranks at Nebraska campuses

UNL's tenured faculty fell from 865 to 828 over a decade, with 56 taking a recent buyout

The number of tenured faculty at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln fell from 865 in 2015 to 828 in 2025, as system budget cuts led the campus to eliminate four departments and 56 faculty accepted a voluntary separation incentive. UNK also saw declines tied to budget and enrollment pressures, while UNO added tenured and tenure-track professors and the three state colleges reported 128 tenured faculty.

Why it matters: Faculty losses at the flagship campus bear on research capacity, teaching and workforce pipelines as the University of Nebraska system absorbs state budget cuts.

Read the full story: Nebraska Public Media

Around Nebraska

• Omaha officials said 22 homes in the Millard Woods Estates mobile home park will be evacuated as the city continues assessing flood damage.
• Mayor John Ewing Jr. directed flood-affected residents to 2-1-1 and OmahaFloodRelief.org as families deal with mold and cleanup a week after the storm.

Watch Next

• Oct. 9: The University of Nebraska Board of Regents meets in Kearney to vote on raising Project Health's approved cost from $2.19 billion to $2.748 billion.
• Oct. 10: Trump's dyed-diesel order sets this deadline for Treasury to determine whether federal law allows deferring the diesel tax on highway use of dyed fuel.
• Oct. 14: Nebraska Public Media will host a 2nd Congressional District debate between Republican Brinker Harding and Democrat Denise Powell at its studios.
• Oct. 14–15, 6–9 p.m. CT: Public hearings on Initiative 442 and online sports betting Initiatives 440 and 441 will be held at the State Capitol in Lincoln.

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