Good morning, this is Omaha Local Pulse for Thursday, January 1st. We kick off the new year with a big change from city hall and the state thats hitting our daily lives right now. Starting today, Nebraska DHHS reports that about 75,000 SNAP households, including many right here in Omaha, can no longer buy soda, soft drinks, or energy drinks with EBT cards. This aligns with the Make America Healthy Again push to cut chronic disease risks, especially for kids, while sports drinks, juices, and coffee stay okay. Retailers on Dodge Street and elsewhere are updating systems, so we might see some checkout hiccups as we shop for groceries this week.

On a somber note, our thoughts go out to family and neighbors in nearby Cass County after an 86-year-old woman, Norma Jean Thiel, died in a house explosion near Highway 1 yesterday morning. KETV NewsWatch 7 says it was likely a gas leak; the fire spread fast, shaking homes and drawing quick response from local crews. The State Fire Marshals Office is investigating, reminding us to check our own detectors at home.

Business buzz is strong as we plan for growth. Strictly Business Omaha highlights local firms like ALLO Fiber and Hamilton Business Technologies urging proactive tech roadmaps for 2026, from cloud upgrades to security boosts along the Old Market corridors. No major openings or closings yet, but new LLCs like Pavel Rentals are popping up statewide, signaling opportunity.

Job market looks steady with business planning in focus, and real estate sees about 5% uptick in listings downtown per recent trends, rounded for our listeners eyeing moves near Turner Park.

Weather today brings partly cloudy skies with highs near 35 degrees and light winds, perfect for bundling up at upcoming events like the Holt County Agricultural Society meeting on January 5th or ONeills Airport Authority gathering on the 14th. No big impacts, but watch for icy spots on Saddle Creek Road; outlook stays dry through Saturday.

Quick sports nod: Nebraska QB vows a stronger offseason after the Utah loss in the Las Vegas Bowl. Local schools report solid winter break achievements, with Creighton Prep topping holiday tourneys.

For a feel-good lift, communities rallied after the Cass explosion, neighbors sifting debris together, showing our tight-knit spirit.

Crime in the past day stays low in Omaha, no major alerts from OPD, just routine patrols keeping our streets safe.

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