The September 18th Weekly Market Report

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Because of unavoidable scheduling issues, next week’s newsletter will be released Friday, September 26th instead of the usual Thursday distribution!

Big Grove Brewery plans to hold its grand opening celebration on Thursday, September 25th. The soft opening takes place this week. The Iowa City-based tap room and restaurant is located in an 11,000 sq. ft. space inside The Catalyst, a refurbished steel factory in the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s EDGE District. Big Grove also features a 6,600 sq. ft. outdoor patio.

Williamsburg Pizza, a New York-based chain, plans to open its second Omaha location north of 156th & Maple on September 23 following a hood system issue delay. The brand opened its first non-New York location in Omaha in 2023 near 168th & Harrison Street.

The Fuel Bar, a shake and tea shop, opened on September 13 at 7799 L Street in Ralston. The menu includes meal-replacement shakes, energy teas, protein coffees and snacks.

Twin Peaks, a national sports bar chain, is now under construction at 313 North 179th Street in Village Pointe West. Much of the building is already enclosed. The 8,000 sq. ft. building will feature a large outdoor patio and is scheduled to open at the end of this year. The new Twin Peaks’ will have a made-from-scratch menu and daily drink specials. Twin Peaks previously had a restaurant at 173rd & West Center Road, but it closed a few years ago. The closest existing Twin Peaks locations are in Kansas City.

Council Bluffs’ only Runza at 2146 West Broadway has reopened after being closed since March 1 for a full rebuild. The restaurant now features an updated look and new layout

Lopez Taco, a food truck, has opened at 1928 Leavenworth Street. While the set schedule runs Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m.–5 p.m., the owners note they may open earlier and “if the window is up, it’s open.”

Baker’s will hold a groundbreaking ceremony Friday, September 19 at 1:30 p.m. for its future store at 5010 S. 205th Street. The $40 million Baker’s Marketplace store will be constructed northwest of 204th & Q Street. At 123,000 sq. ft., it is approximately 55,000 sq. ft. larger than traditional Baker’s stores. Opening is planned for next year. Baker’s also plans to build a store at 183rd & West Maple Road on land originally intended for a Fleet Farm store.

The UPS Store and Great Clips plan to open next door to each other at 18870 Oakmont Drive in a recently constructed retail center just east of the “world’s largest” Hy-Vee in Gretna. The center is already home to Bisou Nail Spa.

Felius Cat Cafe & Rescue has taken over coffee bar operations from Bad Seed Coffee and Supply. The two organizations shared space in a building at 5015 Dodge Street. Felius is stepping in to continue offering drinks and pastries while maintaining its nonprofit mission: “creating meaningful connections between people and rescue cats.” All proceeds from the coffee bar help fund cat adoption efforts.

KAMP Blackstone, a food hall and bar at 3618 Farnam Street, recently closed its doors permanently. The locally owned business had several quick-serve restaurant concepts including Hola Seoul, Taco Co., Nice Rollz and Single-Double.

Learn more about Anderson Convenience market at www.Anderson1952.com

Greater Omaha Chamber Launches Midtown Small Business Resiliency Fund

The Greater Omaha Chamber has launched a business resiliency fund to support targeted small businesses during streetcar construction.

The Midtown Small Business Resiliency Fund will distribute about $1 million, to qualifying businesses that have been most significantly impacted by utilities work to date and will be affected once rail construction begins. Funds for distribution were given to the chamber by a donor for the chamber to distribute. The first distributions started in mid-August and are intended for businesses most severely impacted in the corridor west of Turner Boulevard on Farnam Street.

“The Greater Omaha Chamber is proud to launch the Midtown Small Business Resiliency Fund,” said Heath Mello, president & CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber. “At the donor’s request, the Chamber will serve as administrator of this fund, which will provide critical support to businesses west of Turner Boulevard along Farnam Street. This fund was created after listening closely to small businesses that are experiencing the greatest and longest disruptions from streetcar construction.”

“While we are already seeing the economic development the streetcar is bringing, we also acknowledge and stand ready to help the businesses that are most affected from this period of disruption,” Mello said. “The streetcar will be a boon for Omaha’s economy and vibrancy, and the resiliency fund reflects our commitment to easing the temporary hardships that come with this progress.”

The streetcar project brings ongoing and significant disruption to neighborhood businesses, including restaurants, retailers and bars. As a result, businesses in this zone are at a greater risk to suffer reduced customer access, lower sales and potential staffing reductions. The fund is designed to help mitigate the operational and financial disruption caused by construction activity.

Funding will be distributed to property owners and managers to, in turn, distribute in whole to their qualifying business tenants in the form of direct cash contributions or reduced rent.

Omaha Mayor John W. Ewing Jr. expressed his gratitude for the chamber as the city does not offer a relief fund for businesses impacted by disruptive projects. He also urged the public to support impacted businesses.

“We need to get through this period together,” said Ewing. “I call on Omahans to do what they can to support our businesses along the entire streetcar route.”

Qualifying businesses include those along Farnam Street west of Turner Boulevard where the streetcar will run east and west. Businesses must be physically located within the defined target area; have a lease effective August 1, 2025; and be a retail or food-and-beverage establishment. Funding is distributed to property owners pro-rata relative to the amount of square feet occupied by eligible small businesses, who in turn support tenants taking a similar approach. Participating property owners are also required to provide additional support to their tenants over the next two years, equal to 25 percent of the grant award. It is estimated that approximately 50-60 small businesses will ultimately benefit from the support.

While construction will affect other areas of the city, the impact along this stretch of Farnam is expected to be the most severe and prolonged as the area is two-way traffic with streetcar track being laid on both sides of the road, reducing traffic to one way or closing intersections all together, and eliminating on-street parking.

The private donor supporting the fund has asked to remain anonymous.

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Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

The Avenue One Good Life District at 192nd & West Dodge Road appears to be getting closer to construction. Developer Jasper Stone plans to build the district’s first two retail buildings northeast of 192nd & Burke Street. One of the proposed buildings is 13,500 sq. ft., while the other is 2,834 sq. ft., according to City of Omaha planning department documents. No occupants have yet been announced for the retail buildings.

Avenue One is among five Good Life districts, special zones for large-scale, unique retail and entertainment developments that are designed to attract visitors and create jobs, with the state collecting only half of its sales tax within these districts as a local incentive. In addition to Avenue One is west Omaha, the other Good Life Districts are in Gretna, Bellevue, Grand Island and Kearney.

The Omaha Streetcar Authority this week approved the final utility contract to Omaha-based Hawkins Construction. Called the Turner Utility Construction Package, the $15 million project will cover sewer, OPPD and MUD-related construction in the Turner Park area. Hawkins is also working on the Utility West project and the reconstruction of the Harney Street and Farnam Street bridges.

Though it’s still under construction, Mutual of Omaha’s future headquarters building has reached a milestone: it is now the city’s tallest skyscraper. It’s also taller than any building in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and the Dakotas. The $600 million, 800,000 sq. ft., 44-story tower will be 677 feet tall when it’s all said and done. The current high is estimated to be more than 650 feet. Completion is planned for late 2026.

Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority is upgrading the fan experience inside Chares Schwab Field. The home of the College World Series will soon have two scoreboards instead of one. Work started this month on the new left field scoreboard. The existing right-field board has been removed and will be replaced with an upgraded version. The project also includes ribbon-panel video boards throughout the ballpark. The work will be completed before next year’s College World Series.

Lauritzen Gardens will undergo a transformative project, according to a Facebook post AO, a local architectural firm. The Woodland Flyway will create a new entry into the main gardens. The project consists of an elevated walkway, from the Visitor and Education Center to the Garden of Memories. The walkway will allow visitors to be separated from staff and vehicles in addition to creating better views of the gardens.

A developer has plans for 85 townhomes in the Cherry Creek neighborhood near 103rd & Blair High Road. The City Council approved rezoning, final plat and a planned unit development overlay for a 7.3-acre parcel of undeveloped land. The townhome development will join the recently finished Cherry Creek Village, a 200-unit apartment complex.

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Construction has started on a New Horizon Academy pre-school building at 20618 R Street in the Coventry development southwest of 204th & Q Street. This will be the school’s second west Omaha site, joining its Fountain Ridge location at 18802 Burke Street, which broke ground in April and marks its first Nebraska location.

Google has joined forces with United Way of the Midlands, Omaha Public Power District and the Sharing the Power Foundation to accelerate a transformative weatherization initiative together in Douglas County. Through a $300,000 contribution from Google, this collaboration aims to enhance energy efficiency, reduce home energy costs and expand workforce development in underserved communities in Douglas County.

HDR has once again been featured in “Consulting–Specifying Engineers’ Top 10 MEP Giants” for 2025, ranking at No.6. In 2024, Omaha-based HDR was ranked seventh. The MEP Giants program lists the top mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection engineering firms in North America.

Harrison Financial Services, an Omaha-based financial planning firm and member of the Northwestern Mutual Private Client Group, has moved its headquarters into the Triage building at 13609 California Street, Suite 300. The building will be renamed as the Triage/Northwestern Mutual building. Harrison Financial Services has 25 team members and plans to hold an open house this fall.

Millard Public Schools Foundation announced a partnership with Coca-Cola, naming the brand as the “official beverage of the GreenState Millard Activity Center.” Currently under construction near 204th & Q Street and opening Fall 2026, the 85,000 sq. ft. facility will feature six full-size basketball and volleyball courts, a cutting-edge Innovation Lab, esports lounge, sports performance training gym, multipurpose classrooms, indoor turf, outdoor adventure course and scenic cross-country trails.

Green Plains Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement with an affiliate of Freepoint Commodities LLC to sell Clean Fuel Production Credits, also known as 45Z tax credits, generated in 2025 under the Inflation Reduction Act. The initial credits will be generated from low-carbon intensity ethanol production at Green Plains’ three Nebraska facilities. Omaha-based Green Plains has also signed a term sheet with Freepoint to monetize tax credits from three additional facilities expected to qualify under 45Z during 2025.

Business Trivia – Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Larry Ellison, a cofounder of Oracle, and Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, had net worths of $429 billion, $360 billion, and $269 billion as of Monday’s close, according to Business Insider. Together, they’re worth $1.06 trillion, virtually matching Omaha-Based Berkshire Hathaway’s market capitalization and comfortably surpassing the $800 billion-plus market values of Oracle, JPMorgan, and Walmart.

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No More Empty Pots is hosting a Supper Club this Saturday, September 20. The Supper Club Series is an intentional gathering of individuals for an elevated dining experience at the No More Empty Pots Rooftop Garden that showcases the talent of local food entrepreneurs. Each event features a three-course, local chef-curated meal as well as a networking opportunity that brings community changemakers together for intentional dialogue, resource sharing, and collective action.

Omaha’s Tri-Faith Initiative, the only place in North America to feature a campus shared between a mosque, a synagogue and a church, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 14 to commemorate the completion of their latest community-building effort, an interactive walking tour of the Tri-Faith Commons. The tour takes individuals throughout the commons with guided signs which contain QR codes leading to videos explaining more about each sign’s topic. Each sign or video focuses on a unique aspect of the Tri-Faith Commons, such as the three faith partners, Abraham’s Bridge and the Tri-Faith Center itself.

Amid Terence Crawford’s historic win this weekend and a growing number of teens looking to train, the South Omaha nonprofit Victory Boxing club is looking to expand. The gym, which aims to provide a safe refuge and a supportive community for the youth of South Omaha, wants to raise $100,000 to help with the expansion. So far, they’ve raised $20,000.

Neighborgood, a Sarpy County food pantry formerly known as the Tri-City Food Pantry, opened a new facility near 66th & Cornhusker Road in Papillion. The nonprofit said 5.5 percent of Sarpy County residents live below the poverty level and nearly 11 percent are food insecure.

Bellevue Junior Sports Association (BJSA) is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Since its founding in 1975, BJSA has helped transform thousands of young lives by providing accessible, high-quality sports programs to the youth of Bellevue. BJSA started in a few garages and now serves more than 4,000 youth annually. The organization offers a wide range of programs including tackle football, flag football, cheerleading, basketball, wrestling, select baseball, volleyball and seasonal camps and clinics.

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Three out of Four Metro Areas Posted Home Price Increases in Second Quarter of 2025

By Jill Anderson

Seventy-five percent of metro markets (170 out of 228) registered home price gains in the second quarter of 2025, according to the National Association of REALTORS’ Metropolitan Median Area Prices and Affordability and Housing Affordability Index. This is down from 83 percent in the first quarter. Five percent of metro areas recorded double-digit price gains in the second quarter, down from 11 percent in the first quarter of 2025.

The national median single-family existing-home price grew 1.7 percent year-over-year to $429,400 – a record high. In the first quarter, the national median price increased 3.4 percent year-over-year.

Median existing single-family home price by region (year-over-year change)

• Northeast: $527,200 (+6.1%)
• Midwest: $328,800 (+3.5%)
• West: $646,100 (+0.6%)
• South: $376,300 (No change)

“Home prices have been rising faster in the Midwest, due to affordability, and the Northeast, due to limited inventory,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “The South region – especially Florida and Texas – is experiencing a price correction due to the increase in new home construction in recent years.”

“Home sales and the homeownership rate are underperforming relative to job growth,” added Yun. “There have been over 7 million net job additions compared to the pre-COVID peak. However, elevated mortgage rates have kept home sales below pre-COVID levels. The homeownership rate has fallen by a full percentage point since early 2023.”

“If interest rates decline, the strongest release of pent-up housing demand is likely to occur in states with significant job growth in recent years, such as Idaho, Utah, the Carolinas, Florida, and Texas.”

10 large markets with biggest year-over-year median price increases

1. Toledo, Ohio (10.5%)
2. Jackson, Miss. (10.5%)
3. Nassau County-Suffolk County, N.Y. (9.6%)
4. New Haven-Milford, Conn. (9.0%)
5. Reading, Pa. (8.3%)
6. Springfield, Mo. (8.2%)
7. Akron, Ohio (8.1%)
8. Montgomery, Ala. (7.9%)
9. Cleveland-Elyria, Ohio (7.8%)
10. Rochester, N.Y. (7.8%)

Bottom Line
If you’re looking to move but not sure where to start, let one of our professionals provide you with the information you need. This is likely one of the largest financial decisions you’ll make, you don’t have to do it alone.

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We’re not just real estate. We’re NP Dodge.

Cole Young, Contributing Writer

Tuesday’s match between Creighton and Nebraska Volleyball set an NCAA Indoor Volleyball record for attendance, with 17,675 fans taking in the five-set thriller. Nebraska won the match 3-2, improving to 22-0 all-time against Creighton. The event topped a 2023 match between Wisconsin and Marquette that drew a crowd of 17,037. The state of Nebraska now holds NCAA Volleyball attendance records for both indoor and outdoor matches.

The Bluejays host the Creighton Classic this weekend at the D.J. Sokol Arena. Saturday, they face South Florida at 3 p.m. Sunday, they play No. 17 Kansas for the second time this season. The first match came in the Opening Spike Classic. Creighton won 3-2 for its only ranked win this season and Brian Rosen’s first win of his head coaching career.

Millard South Football, the state’s No. 1 ranked team, was found in violation of NSAA rules in a closed hearing and must forfeit its season-opening 49-7 victory over Arbor View, a top program from Nevada. In addition to forfeiting the win, first-year head coach Taylor Mendenhall was suspended for Friday’s game against Kearney, and the school was handed a $500 fine and a one-year suspension of a volunteer assistant coach. The hearing involved confidential student information and the NSAA could not release any information according to the Omaha World-Herald.

Creighton Basketball announced its Big East schedule last week, and it features a program-record six Saturday home conference games, according to Creighton assistant athletic director Rob Anderson. The Bluejays will open their 2025-26 conference slate at Xavier on Wednesday, December 17. Their first home conference game will come three days later, on a Saturday – December 20 against Marquette.

Omaha Storm Chasers outfielder MJ Melendez was named the International League Player of the Week by Minor League Baseball for his performance the week of September 8 to 14. Melendez batted 10-for-23 (.435) in last week’s series against the Charlotte Knights. On Sept. 11, he became the second Storm Chaser to hit for the cycle this season. Drew Waters did so on April 2 against Louisville. Melendez is the fifth Storm Chaser to hit for the cycle since 2005. The Storm Chasers are playing a road series against the Columbus Clippers this week. Tonight’s game begins at 5:15 p.m.

Omaha Supernova Brooke Nuneviller announced Monday a partnership with the p1440 Foundation, a nonprofit focused on expanding access and opportunities for young volleyball players. In addition to playing for the Supernovas, the star outside hitter is a member of Athletes Unlimited, a new league whose season begins on Oct. 3 in Omaha. Nuneviller selected p1440 Foundation as her Athletes Unlimited Causes partner. Through that program, her end-of-season bonus is matched with a grant to the nonprofit, helping support programs that expand youth access to the sport nationwide.

Creighton Volleyball’s Annalea Maeder was named Big East Setter of the Week after playing well enough to earn a spot on the All-Tournament team at the Bluejay Invitational last weekend. Maeder recorded a season-high 49 assists and 11 digs against No. 4 Louisville Friday – her fourth straight double-double.

The Creighton Bluejays swept the Big East women’s soccer weekly honors after a pair of wins last week. Ariana Mondiri was named Offensive Player of the Week, recording two goals and one assist on seven shots on goal. Teammate Ella Offer earned the Big East Defensive Player of the Week award while helping the Bluejays allow just two goals in as many games. Creighton begins conference play Saturday, hosting No. 20 Georgetown at 6 p.m. at Morrison Stadium.

After a tumultuous start to its season, Creighton men’s soccer is on a three-game win streak, improving its record to 3-2-2. The Bluejays couldn’t be getting hot at a better time – they begin Big East play this Friday. Creighton will host Marquette at Morrison Stadium Friday at 7 p.m.

Omaha Volleyball split its two matches in last weekend’s Cyclone Invitational, beating Saint Louis 3-1 Saturday before falling to Iowa State 3-1 Sunday. Beginning on Friday, the Mavericks will get a first look at both incoming participants for this weekend’s Creighton Classic. Friday, Omaha will host South Florida at Baxter Arena at 6 p.m. Saturday, they likely have their only opportunity this season at a ranked win, hosting No. 17 Kansas at 3 p.m.

Union Omaha played Spokane to one of the most exciting draws possible on Wednesday night. After falling behind 2-0 in the 76th minute, Union Omaha stormed back on a pair of goals from midfielder Sergio Ors Navarro in the 88th and 91st minutes. The Owls have not lost since Aug. 16 and now sit sixth in USL League One standings with nine wins, ten losses and four draws. Sunday, they host the last team to beat them, One Knoxville SC, at 4 p.m.

Upcoming Games

• Omaha Storm Chasers at Columbus | Sept. 16 – Sept. 21 | 5:15 p.m. Thursday
• Omaha Volleyball vs. South Florida | Friday, Sept. 19 | 6 p.m.
• Creighton men’s soccer vs. Marquette | Friday, Sept. 19 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha women’s soccer vs. Colorado State | Friday, Sept. 19 | 7 p.m.
• #18 Creighton Volleyball vs. South Florida | Saturday, Sept. 20 | 3 p.m.
• Omaha volleyball vs. #17 Kansas | Saturday, Sept. 20 | 3 p.m.
• Creighton women’s soccer vs. #20 Georgetown | Saturday, Sept. 20 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha men’s soccer vs. SIUE | Sunday, Sept. 21 | 1 p.m.
• Union Omaha vs. One Knoxville SC | Sunday, Sept. 21 | 4 p.m.
• #18 Creighton Volleyball vs. #17 Kansas | Sunday, Sept. 21 | 5 p.m.
• Creighton women’s soccer at Villanova | Wednesday, Sept. 24 | 3 p.m.

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The Nebraska Arts Council’s Artist Roster applications are open. The NAC Artist Roster helps nonprofit organizations and schools bring accomplished artists and performers into communities, giving people the chance to enjoy art to which they may not otherwise have access while ensuring artists get paid for their work. Apply by December 1st HERE.

The Omaha Conservatory of Music has announced that its donors contributed enough to provide scholarships for more than 90 students. That means “more lessons, more growth and more joy—for real kids.”

The RiverFront Sculpture Garden will have a fresh rotation of sculptures installed this month. The five current sculptures in the Gene Leahy Mall Sculpture Garden at The RiverFront will be swapped out for five new pieces, thanks to Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority’s partnership with KANEKO and the International Sculpture Center.

To facilitate the selection of five exciting works for the Gene Leahy Mall, the International Sculpture Center pulled together from its community a group of jurors with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. These jurors each brought forward suggestions of several potential artists, with consideration for the unique needs and layout of the sculpture garden. Through discussion and scoring, the jurors narrowed down a group of potential finalists, which were presented to MECA for final selection.

The following are the new sculptures being installed:

• Sneek by Jeffie Brewer
• Raindance by Peter Millet
• Gathering Currents by Daniel Roberts
• Lexell’s Comet by Scott Hocking
• Untitled by Robert Koch

These five works will be installed between September 17 and 24 and will be displayed at the Gene Leahy Mall Sculpture Garden at The RiverFront until the next art rotation three years from now.

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

If you experience occasional jealousy or envy, you’re probably normal, says Jeff Haden, writing in Inc. But be careful if you’re experiencing a lot of schadenfreude, feeling pleasure in the suffering of others. Research shows that people who engage in schadenfreude more often report lower happiness levels. The most successful entrepreneurs feel good when others succeed, because they know the pie is only getting bigger. The best leaders feel satisfaction when they realize their people can do things without them.

Work can actually be a form of procrastination, says Gretchen Rubin in her CNBC “Make It” column. Work procrastination can come in the form of needless research. “It may look like work, but it it’s not actually helping me achieve my work aims, I’m goofing off.”

A median of 28 percent of adults across 24 countries say they are online almost constantly. An additional 40 percent say they use the internet several times a day, while 9 percent do not use it at all, according to a Pew Research Center survey from this spring.

Alphabet became the fourth company to hit a valuation of $3 trillion on Monday, joining Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft, according to The Hustle. The Google parent company’s stock is up more than 30 percent in 2025, buoyed by its AI developments and an antitrust ruling that found it did not have to divest Google Chrome.

SALES

If you make between six and 10 calls a day, you aren’t really prospecting. That isn’t enough calls to give yourself a fair chance at success, says sales expert Anthony Iannarino. To make cold calling work you need an already researched target list and 60 to 80 faster dials. That number will not only produce appointments, but it will also give you enough reps to get better faster.

When you succeed in reaching a cold-call target, you want to handle the opportunity properly. If your “ask” is open-ended when it comes to time, you frighten your dream client off. They believe you may wear out your welcome by sitting in front of them for 90 or 120 minutes. Even asking for an hour can be too much. A smaller commitment, like 20 or 30 minutes instead of an open-ended request, is more palatable. And your dream client can say “yes,” confident that they can bail out if you aren’t creating value.

Lead with Curiosity – Before you ever think about pitching, dedicate time to genuinely understanding your prospect’s world. Research their industry, their company and their specific role, says Kayla Kilch, writing for Sales Gravy. Ask insightful, open-ended questions that uncover their true challenges, not just surface-level issues. Listen for the underlying pain, unspoken frustrations and desired outcomes. When you truly listen, you gather the knowledge to position yourself not as a salesperson, but as an informed resource.

“Imagine a software sales rep for a project management tool,” Kilch says. “Instead of immediately launching into features, they might start by asking, “What are the biggest bottlenecks your team faces in project delivery right now?” As the prospect describes disorganized communication or missed deadlines, the rep then offers to share a related article. This positions the rep as knowledgeable and helpful, building rapport and trust before ever mentioning their product.”

WISDOM

“He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.” – Aristotle

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Did you know Omaha experienced record hotel room bookings in 2024 and achieved an unprecedented $282 million in hotel revenue?

Did you know some of Sarpy County’s major employers include Offutt Air Force Base, Werner Enterprises, Northrup Grumman, Amazon, Kiewit and Oriental Trading Company?

Did you know Omaha has more Fortune 500 headquarters than many other regional cities including Des Moines (1), Kansas City (2), Milwaukee (4), Oklahoma City (3), St. Louis (4) and Tulsa (3).

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Omaha Fall Home & Lifestyle Show happening September 19th – 21st: This free event is the perfect opportunity for homeowners to save BIG on all home improvement projects and meet with local and national vendors face to face, offering valuable insights and guidance to help you turn your vision into reality. Whether you’re looking to remodel your kitchen, revamp your outdoor living space or simply make some updates around the house, the Omaha Fall Home & Lifestyle Show has everything you need to get started.

GO BIG RED Tailgate- Nebraska vs Michigan happening September 20th: Join in for an unforgettable night of football, food and fun at the Husker Football Tailgate and Watch Party! The Granary Green is bringing the Memorial Stadium atmosphere right to Omaha. Come out and watch the game on a massive, 27-foot LED screen with booming sound and live DJ interaction. Gates open two hours before kickoff – arrive early to secure the best spots!

E-Commerce & Friends with Sarah Spooner, Owner of Four Sisters Boutique happening September 24th: Join others for the next E-Commerce & Friends Meetup and be part of an inspiring evening with Sarah Spooner, the founder of Four Sisters Boutique. Sarah turned her passion for fashion into a thriving business, and now, she’s ready to share her tips, insights and journey with you. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative or just love learning from seasoned entrepreneurs, this event is for you!

TEDx Nebraska Wesleyan University happening September 24th: The event theme, A Community of ’eXcellence,’ highlights the idea that excellence is not achieved in isolation, but thrives through collaboration, shared values and collective impact across education, business, science, the arts and social progress. Attendees are invited to explore their own definition of excellence and how we can create lasting change for a brighter, more inclusive future.

Millwork Moves: Yoga in the Dock recurring weekly on Tuesdays: Happening on select Tuesdays, Millwork Commons is hosting Yoga in the Dock with Lotus House of Yoga! This event is free and taught by a certified yoga instructor. Simply bring a mat, water bottle and show up to enjoy flowing movement with the community.

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Core Bank has welcomed Jason Hagan as its Chief Deposit Officer. He also serves on the Joint Payments Advisory Group for the Kansas City Federal Reserve as well as board chair-elect for the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation and is a member of the Lutheran Family Services Board.

Mutual of Omaha has promoted Andrea Hargus to vice president of human resources. She joined Mutual in 1998 and has served as associate HR consultant, HR consultant, HR manager and director of human resources. Previously, she was an equal employment opportunity investigator at the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission. Hargus earned her bachelor’s degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University and her master’s degree from Central Michigan University. She is currently a board member of Heartland Family Services.

Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena slammed the gavel down three times Monday at the New York Stock Exchange’s closing bell ceremony – marking the end of the trading day and celebrating Omaha-based Union Pacific’s 155-year history as a publicly traded company.

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For decades, investors have worshipped at the feet of the Oracle of Omaha. Last week, Wall Street, kissed the ring of the Oracle of San Francisco.

Year to date, Mr. Market has been fixated with Trump’s tariffs, Trump’s effort to recreate the Fed in his own image, and the belief that AI will replace the wheel as humankind’s greatest accomplishment.

The exact definition of AI and where it’s headed has been has flopping around like a fish on the deck of a bass boat. Up until now, the AI feeding frenzy has focused on chip and software companies like Nvidia and Microsoft. Then last week, out of the blue, Oracle, a second tier, 48-year-old software company announced that it had won a several-billion-dollar contracts, which gave it a bigger foothold in the booming artificial intelligent race. The company has a $455 billion backlog in contracts it has signed with Stargate, SoftBank and Open AI. Further, it plans to invest $500 billion in a joint data center project with Open AI and Meta.

Wall Street responded to this revelation like sharks around blood in the water. In less than 60 minutes following the news release, Oracle’s stock price jumped 43 percent, adding more than $100 billion to its market cap. Its co-founder, Larry Ellison, almost flipped over Elon Musk as the richest person in the world. But Ellison wasn’t the only person to massively benefit from the AI boom. Anything slightly related to AI gained on the widespread belief it will continue to drive the market.

Oracle is a 11th largest company in the S&P, but for unknown reasons, it’s not included in the DOW or NASDAQ. But this does not preclude its recent events from having major downstream ramifications. In the not-too-distant future, the company that manages the S&P 500 will adjust Oracle’s market cap weighting in the index’s calculation dramatically upward. All things being equal, its newly expanded market cap would put it in the top three of the S&P 500 and greatly increase its overall impact on the index.

As AI hysteria stampedes through the major indexes, its impact will also cause ripples (Or maybe tsunamis) further downstream. First of all, it means that other companies in the AI space appear to be more attractive. Oracle also holds a dominate position in 72 tech sector ETFs. They too responded to Oracle’s revelation, and most experienced double-digit upward movement in lock step with the stock’s bounce.

Going forward, the 90 million DIY retirement fund investors have two distinct options. They can operate like the blind squirrel that finds an acorn and hope to discover the next Oracle. Or, they can take the advice of Jack Bogles, the founding father of the index fund, and “forget the needle and buy the haystack.”

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The Grow Omaha radio show broadcasts live every Saturday morning at 9:00, but now you can watch videos of each episode instead of just listening.

Grow Omaha’s brand-new website features video footage shot inside the radio studio during each week’s show!

Videos include News of the Week, Lightning Round, guest interviews, and “Grow Omaha Uncut,” a behind-the-scenes look at what happens during commercial breaks.

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