Good morning, this is Omaha Local Pulse for Saturday, October 11th, and we hope you are ready for a busy fall weekend in our city.

We’re starting with breaking news on a matter drawing attention at City Hall this week. The Douglas County Sheriff’s proposal to use the county jail for holding people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement has sparked controversy. The League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, says its name has been used inaccurately in support of the plan, emphasizing they were not part of any agreement as the proposal moves through the Douglas County Board. Local leaders and community groups are weighing in, and we’ll be following updates as this discussion continues.

Turning to the weather, we’re waking up to crisp fall air around town. Expect a high near 62 degrees later today, with partly cloudy skies and light winds—almost perfect for outdoor events, though a light jacket is a good idea. Tomorrow looks similar, so it should be a beautiful weekend to get out and enjoy the city.

Let’s look at what’s happening around Omaha. Junkstock’s Harvest Edition is back for its second weekend at Sycamore Farms just west of 144th Street, and if you love antiques, crafts, and live music on a sprawling farm, this is the place to be. Over 200 vendors are set up, there are activities for the kids, and even the dogs are welcome. Meanwhile, Goosebumps the Musical debuts at the Rose Theater, offering a Halloween-themed, family-friendly production with catchy songs and chances to meet the cast. And later today, the Farnam Festival takes over the Blackstone District near 39th and Farnam, promising artisan markets, food trucks, and local live music all afternoon and into the evening.

Omaha’s job market is keeping steady, with new openings reported just this week. Fiserv is hiring for a Director of Project Management at their Omaha campus, a sign that tech and business services continue to offer opportunities for those in our workforce.

On the real estate front, the local market remains active as we head into October. According to recent data, homes are staying on the market for about thirty days before being sold, and median home prices have stayed strong. Renters are seeing some relief with more apartment availability, especially near Midtown and Northwest Omaha.

In sports, the Mavericks men’s soccer team returns to Caniglia Field this afternoon to face the University of Massachusetts in Summit League action. Kickoff is at 2:30, and after a tough loss in Kansas City last week, the team is hoping for a strong showing on their home turf. Omaha high school teams are marking success this week too, with several schools advancing in district football playoffs and the girls’ volleyball squads at Westside and Millard North clinching spots in upcoming regional tournaments.

From City Hall, councilmembers are reviewing the implementation of new zoning regulations set to encourage mixed-use developments in Aksarben Village and along Dodge Street. Residents are invited to submit feedback at upcoming planning meetings, so if you care about how Omaha is growing, now is a good time to get involved.

Now a look at public safety. Omaha Police responded to a series of vehicle break-ins around the Old Market late Friday night and made one arrest on suspicion of burglary near Twelfth and Jackson—officers are reminding us all to lock cars and keep valuables out of sight. No major injuries were reported in any of the weekend incidents.

And for a feel-good finish, volunteers from Benson High’s student council spent Friday afternoon harvesting vegetables at No More Empty Pots urban farm, donating hundreds of pounds of fresh produce to food pantries across North Omaha. Their work is a great reminder of the spirit of service that keeps our community strong.

Thank you for tuning in to Omaha Local Pulse. We’ll see you tomorrow...