Omaha World Herald
January 30, 2009

LINCOLN – Efforts failed Thursday to add Omaha -- as well as all towns with between 5,000 and 15,000 population -- to a proposal that would allow state environmental grants to help communities tear down abandoned buildings.

After rejecting two amendments, the Legislature gave second-round approval to Legislative Bill 180. One more vote is needed, along with the governor’s signature, for LB 180 to become law.

It would allow the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to provide state grants to towns and counties smaller than 5,000 to tear down abandoned buildings and seek to recycle the materials.

State Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha attempted, but fell one vote short, to convince senators to make impoverished areas of Omaha eligible for the grants. He said that areas of north and south Omaha have some of the same problems with old buildings as small towns.