Good morning, this is Omaha Local Pulse for Saturday, October 4. We wake up today to partly cloudy skies and a brisk fall breeze across the city. Temperatures this morning are cool in the mid-fifties, but we can expect just a slight warmup later, with highs nearing seventy. No rain in the forecast today, so the weather’s looking perfect for farmers market runs, youth soccer at Papillion Landing, and those homecoming parades happening across local districts.

Turning to breaking news that’s gripped Omaha and sparked national attention. In the early hours following the big downtown celebration and birthday bash for boxing champion Terence Bud Crawford, Omaha police pulled over Crawford in his new car, drawing weapons after spotting a firearm. Crawford and his security were briefly handcuffed before being cleared, with police confirming the guns were legally carried. The chief says officers followed protocol, but acknowledges the incident has reignited long-standing tensions between Omaha’s Black community and law enforcement. Crawford, who just returned home after a landmark bout in Las Vegas, has not commented. Community leaders are calling for continued conversations on police relations and public safety.

From City Hall, we’re monitoring final deliberations as the Omaha City Council weighs significant infrastructure updates set for the Benson and Midtown neighborhoods. These include new street lighting on Maple Street and sidewalk repairs along Dodge. Council members say these upgrades are in direct response to feedback from families and commuters concerned about safety.

Real estate agents in our area report that September was one of the busiest months for home sales this year, with over five hundred properties closing. The market remains competitive, with median home prices holding steady just under three hundred thousand dollars. Job seekers will notice more listings this weekend, especially in healthcare and hospitality—two sectors where local employers like Nebraska Medicine and Mutual of Omaha have announced fresh hiring sprees.

Now, let’s talk community news and events. The University of Nebraska at Omaha is gearing up for OMA x AI this Tuesday at KANEKO in the Old Market. It’s a free event designed to help us all learn how artificial intelligence can change our work and lives. The University’s broader reach is evident too, as Project Health, the brand new multi-billion-dollar clinical and teaching center for Nebraska Medicine, begins to take shape downtown. It promises not just cutting-edge care, but also new opportunities for local jobs, education, and research right in the heart of Omaha.

In school news, the Millard West Marching Band made headlines last night by clinching top honors at the statewide invitational, while Westside High’s football team celebrated a dramatic victory at Phelps Field. For college sports fans, the Mavericks men’s soccer team is on a high after their recent win over St. Thomas, and they're heading to Kansas City tonight for another Summit League matchup. Looking over to volleyball, Nebraska swept Penn State on the road, giving a surge of pride to fans across the state.

On the local business front, Benson welcomes a new family-run bakery, Maple Crust, opening its doors this morning, even as a longtime fixture in Dundee, Mercer’s Hardware, quietly closes after sixty years of serving our community.

We turn to public safety updates from Omaha police, who report a generally quiet overnight with extra patrols concentrated in the South 24th corridor after recent vehicle break-ins. Officers did make an arrest on suspicion of burglary near Park Avenue just after midnight. Authorities urge us all to secure vehicles and be alert.

We want to close our Saturday update with a feel-good story of neighbors helping neighbors. Volunteers at the Heartland Hope food pantry on Q Street gathered this week to prepare and...