Latest news with #LincolnCityCouncil
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Historic clock ticks again after year of silence
A 190-year-old clock above an historic gateway on Lincoln's High Street is now working after being broken for over a year. Since May 2024, time had stood still on the 19th Century clock above the Stonebow until it was repaired on Thursday afternoon. Specialist engineers travelled from Cumbria to install a new winding mechanism. A spokesperson for Lincoln City Council said: "This timepiece has been a fixture in the city for nearly two centuries and we're proud to see it back in full working order." The spokesperson added fixing the clock had been a "very delicate and thorough process" due to its age. The timepiece was installed in 1835 but its mechanism was updated in 1959. Mayor's officer Richard Storey said replacing the clock was "not even under consideration" and they wanted to "modernise and future-proof" it instead. He said: "It took a little bit longer than we anticipated and we're finally there." The clock now has a battery back-up so it will no longer be affected by power cuts or the winding mechanism slowing down, Mr Storey added. "Hopefully people will be relieved it's working again." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Why time is standing still for 136-year-old clock What is the point of a clock tower? Ding-dong over clocktower chime that is 'too loud' City of Lincoln Council
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Lincoln's Stonebow clock ticks again after year of silence
A 190-year-old clock above an historic gateway on Lincoln's High Street is now working after being broken for over a year. Since May 2024, time had stood still on the 19th Century clock above the Stonebow until it was repaired on Thursday afternoon. Specialist engineers travelled from Cumbria to install a new winding mechanism.A spokesperson for Lincoln City Council said: "This timepiece has been a fixture in the city for nearly two centuries and we're proud to see it back in full working order." The spokesperson added fixing the clock had been a "very delicate and thorough process" due to its timepiece was installed in 1835 but its mechanism was updated in 1959. Mayor's officer Richard Storey said replacing the clock was "not even under consideration" and they wanted to "modernise and future-proof" it said: "It took a little bit longer than we anticipated and we're finally there."The clock now has a battery back-up so it will no longer be affected by power cuts or the winding mechanism slowing down, Mr Storey added. "Hopefully people will be relieved it's working again." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Blue dot' will have a Democratic mayor – what it means for Nebraska politics
Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing Jr. in a family hug with daughters, Christina and Alexandria, and wife Viv (who isn't visible except for her hand), before final results were announced Tuesday night that he had won the Omaha mayoral race. (Courtesy of Howard K. Marcus) LINCOLN — Omaha will have a new mayor next month. Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing Jr. became the first Democrat to lead the largest city in Nebraska in roughly a decade. He is also the first elected Black mayor in the city's history. Ewing won by a double-digit margin, performing better in some traditionally Republican-leaning central and western parts of the city than former State Sen. Tony Vargas did in his failed 2024 bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., in the Omaha area. Before this week's mayoral election, Omaha was the nation's sixth most populated city with a Republican mayor, where Mayor Jean Stothert served three terms and sought a fourth. Ewing's win comes after Lancaster County Democrats maintained a 6-1 majority on the Lincoln City Council earlier this month. Lincoln Democrats also have Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird. Omaha and Lincoln are now led by Democrats in red-led Nebraska for the first time since 2009, when Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler overlapped. The political dynamics of the state are bound to change with Democrats now holding leadership positions in the municipal governments of the state's two largest cities. At the same time, the Nebraska Legislature continues to drift toward a more conservative brand of Republican — a phenomenon most associated with Southern states but also in neighboring Missouri. In those states, blue-led cities face a steeper climb for funding and policy changes as Republican-dominated legislatures work to undermine some of the goals pursued by Democratic mayors and City Councils. State and federal funding often get caught in the political crossfire. One local example: Lincoln's mayor, Gaylor Baird, and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen disagreed on where a state prison should be located in 2023. Initially, Baird said she didn't want a prison in Lincoln, but the state threatened to put it in a residential Lincoln neighborhood until she relented on the state's original proposed site. Partisans on both sides of the aisle saw different things in the results. The Douglas County Republican Party chair and the governor blamed low GOP turnout. The state GOP chair took a more somber view, saying she sees a changing political landscape. National and state Democrats were quick to use Ewing's victory as evidence of growing voter 'energy' against President Donald Trump and political fuel for the 2026 congressional midterms, as Democrats try to flip the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District House seat held by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. The race also fell into some patterns from national politics in the final weeks before Election Day, as Stothert's backers pushed an anti-transgender ad blitz, a political decision that helped Republicans in November. It was seen as a last-ditch effort to mobilize her base. It failed. Progressive news outlets and State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha called Ewing's victory a referendum 'against trans hate and discrimination.' 'Regular Americans don't react to or receive the call to trans panic,' Hunt said on social media, 'Enough. We are speaking to the future.' Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin called Ewing's victory a 'notice' for Bacon and other 'vulnerable House Republicans.' Bacon's 2nd District, which includes Douglas, western Sarpy and Saunders Counties, is typically a target of both national parties, one of the rare remaining districts that is politically split, though it still has a slight GOP lean. Democrats have won the seat before, the last time when former State Sen. Brad Ashford won in 2014. But Bacon beat him and has survived challengers since. He has not yet said whether he will run again in 2026, but many believe Bacon is set to retire this summer or fall, which would set off a mad scramble in both parties for an open-seat race. Democrats are lining up. Already, Omaha nonprofit executive Denise Powell has announced a bid. State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha is flirting with one. Republicans are waiting in the wings for Bacon to decide, including former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom and some Republicans with ties to City Hall. 'Voters are sick of cowardly Republicans willing to bend the knee to Trump at their expense,' Martin said. 'They want true leaders who will govern on behalf of working families and not billionaire donors, which is why Democrats like John Ewing Jr. are winning elections up and down the ballot.' Ewing's victory joins a list of Democrats overperforming with Trump in office for a second term. But the 2nd District includes people in more Republican-leaning areas than just the Democratic-leaning city of Omaha, and they don't vote in Omaha city elections. The fundamentals of the district haven't changed, political observers say, despite national media and Democratic talk of the city election being a possible hint at bluer-leaning federal and state elections. The GOP-led majority in the officially nonpartisan Legislature drew the 2nd District boundaries after the most recent Census, partly to protect Republicans' ability to hold the seat. Data shows that the district's borders give Republicans a slight advantage by replacing some Democratic-voting residents in Sarpy County with the more reliably Republican-voting residents of Saunders County. Randy Adkins, a University of Nebraska at Omaha political science professor, said Ewing's 'upset' win — though less surprising locally than nationally — was due to numerous issues expected in a local city race, including street repairs, but it lacked a 'key' issue. In the city of Omaha, there are more registered Democrats than Republican voters, with 114,400 registered Democrats and 95,485 registered Republicans. At last count, the other 83,187 registered voters were mostly nonpartisan, with a smaller group of Libertarians, or in the Legal Marijuana NOW Party. Republicans hold a registration advantage in the wider 2nd District, with 160,185 registered Republicans. Democrats are second, with 143,676 registered voters. The remaining 115,969 registered voters in the congressional district are mostly independent, or nonpartisan, and a smaller portion in either the Libertarian Party or the Legal Marijuana NOW Party, according to data from the Secretary of State's office. 'There are probably some people who felt it was time for a change, some who were upset about the streetcar,' Adkins said. 'There were just multiple pieces along the way that led to Ewing's victory.' Adkins also said Ewing had name recognition, having been elected multiple times for Douglas County Treasurer, which is a countywide position, unlike former State Sen. Mike McDonnell, a converted Republican labor leader whose Legislative District 5 only covered part of the city. McDonnell, who focused much of his criticism on Stothert, failed to advance in the mayor's April primary despite outspending Ewing. The mayor's race is officially nonpartisan. According to a Center for Politics analysis, Ewing also made significant gains in the northeastern part of the city compared to Vargas's failed bid to unseat Bacon last year. East Omaha is home to the city's most Democrats, and Northeast Omaha is home to the city's handful of Black-majority precincts. Bacon, in contrast, ran more than eight percentage points better than Trump in Omaha in 2024, losing to Vargas by 10.4% within the city limits instead of 18.8%. Bacon also outperformed Stothert's latest bid by at least two percentage points. Some might be taking the local race results too far, Adkins said, but it is 'probably an early bellwether' for a more competitive race in the 2nd District, which often finishes inside of two or three percentage points. Adkins said Bacon was clearly 'paying a lot of close attention' to the Omaha mayoral race. Bacon posted praise on social media for Stothert's mayoral tenure and congratulated Ewing. 'She's helped make Omaha the best place to live in America with the fastest growing economy … I'm confident her legacy will benefit the city of Omaha for decades to come,' Bacon's post on X reads. 'I congratulate John Ewing on his victory. We will work together to serve the great citizens of Omaha.' Leaders of local Democratic Party chapters in Lancaster and Douglas Counties said the race shows that Omaha is changing. Douglas County Democratic Party Chair CJ King said the race indicates that Omaha is changing and a 'rejection of the MAGA principles.' In Lancaster County, home to Lincoln, county Democratic Party Chair Hannah Wroblewski said wins signal that Nebraskans are seeking practical leadership. Many credited the work of Ewing's political team, particularly Ben Onkka and Crystal Rhoades of Cerberus Strategies, particularly for its use of data and door-knocking. Nebraska Democratic Party Executive Director Precious McKesson celebrated the win as 'monumental.' She said it would bring 'needed diversity into the top leadership position of our city.' Nebraska Republican Party Chair Mary Jane Truemper released a statement on the party's losses in local races in the state's two most populous counties, calling them a reminder that Nebraska's 'political landscapes are shifting.' 'Voters are thinking more independently and expecting more substance from those seeking their support,' Truemper said, 'We're rethinking how we show up in every corner of the state and making it clear that Nebraskans deserve leadership rooted in real-world results, not political theater.' Douglas County Republican Party Chair Nancy Hicks said too few Republicans turned out to support Stothert. 'The voters will soon be aware of the challenges that will hit Omaha with a Democratic Mayor,' Hicks said. 'Republican Mayors have helped our city become such a great place to live.' Pillen also blamed low turnout for Stothert's loss, saying her victory should have been a 'slam dunk' during a Republican watch party on Tuesday in northwest Omaha. Turnout for Omaha's general election was the lowest for a city general election since 2013, with around 32.1% of registered voters casting a ballot. For years, the conventional political wisdom has been that Republicans benefit from low turnout and off-year elections, while Democrats need to drive up turnout to win, often relying on the draw of statewide or presidential elections. Over the past three decades, Democrats have pushed to mobilize young voters, seniors and early voters to ensure high turnout. But a wave of GOP and progressive populism has taken over national politics, and, at least when Trump is on the ballot, Republicans have been benefiting more from high-turnout elections. Lincoln has been a 'blue city' since 1999. Lancaster County's Democratic Party chair, Wroblewski, said being a blue city with a Legislature becoming more conservative has its challenges, but it sharpens the local party's focus. 'We work to build strong local coalitions, find shared priorities when possible, and make it clear that constituents expect good governance,' Wroblesiki said, 'Not partisanship.' Ewing has already leaned into the national framing of his victory with a recent MSNBC interview, saying he's 'not afraid of Trump.' Nebraska Republicans have gained more control of state legislation, making filibusters less effective than in the past. Democratic leaders in local governments have not yet faced a more hostile relationship, like in Texas, where the state is going after cities that have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana within city limits. A Republican in that supermajority, rural state Sen Loren Lippincott of Central City, said Omaha shows that the Nebraska electorate is always looking for new ideas and proves that area of the state is a 'color blind' to red and blue tradition, like many political battlegrounds. He said Omaha voters look beyond labels and seek policies that serve their interests and the state. 'Incumbents [should] watch out,' Lippincott said. Bacon has recently said that there are few givens in life. 'Taxes, deaths, a competitive [Nebraska 2nd congressional district] race,' Bacon wrote on X. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Yahoo
Residents asked to leave flats due to fire risk
Residents in a luxury development in Lincoln have been advised to leave by the fire service due to "serious fire safety concerns". A prohibition notice has been issued for the entire building at One the Brayford on Brayford Wharf North. A note attached to the front door of the building by Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service said the risk was "so serious that use of the premises ought to be restricted". The notice explained the external walls were combustible and warning systems were inadequate, and advised residents to find alternative accommodation until the issues were addressed. Construction on the £15m waterfront development project began in 2016. Lincoln City Council said the prohibition notice affected 51 residents currently residing in the building. It is an offence for any person to fail to comply with the notice and failure to do so can lead to a fine or up to two years in prison. Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service said there was evidence the external wall systems of the building were combustible and would allow a fire to spread rapidly on the external faces of the building. They said there was potential for the fire to re-enter the building and spread internally. The notice added there was insufficient fire resisting separation and compartmentation between the sleeping accommodation and the means of escape. This, they said, would allow heat and smoke from a fire to spread all floors. The fire service said there was insufficient means of detecting a fire and giving adequate warning to the occupants, meaning they "would be likely to be overcome by the effects of heat and or smoke before they could make their escape". The fire service said it was of the opinion the risk of injury was imminent and the prohibition order was to take effect immediately until the matters they had specified were remedied. John, who did not wish to give his surname, is a resident in the building. He said he was visited by two firefighters who told him to leave the building on Friday evening. "Obviously, I tried to remain calm, levelheaded. You have to sort your flat out, your bags, etc. "But inside I was absolutely fuming." He was unaware of any fire safety issue with the flat he moved into last July. "Why has the issue suddenly turned up and why, when I moved in, was I not made aware of any issues?" The council has arranged for John to stay in a hotel until Monday, but after that, he said he has been told he will have to find his own accommodation. "I just feel really sorry for the families with little children that have been turfed out of the building." Residents have been told to prepare to be out of the building for at least seven days. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Flat owners' misery over soaring service charges Lincolnshire County Council
BBC News
27-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Residents in flats in Lincoln asked to leave due to fire risk
Residents in a luxury development in Lincoln have been advised to leave by the fire service due to "serious fire safety concerns".A prohibition notice has been issued for the entire building at One the Brayford on Brayford Wharf North.A note attached to the front door of the building by Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service said the risk was "so serious that use of the premises ought to be restricted".The notice explained the external walls were combustible and warning systems were inadequate, and advised residents to find alternative accommodation until the issues were addressed. Construction on the £15m waterfront development project began in 2016. Lincoln City Council said the prohibition notice affected 51 residents currently residing in the building. It is an offence for any person to fail to comply with the notice and failure to do so can lead to a fine or up to two years in prison. Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service said there was evidence the external wall systems of the building were combustible and would allow a fire to spread rapidly on the external faces of the said there was potential for the fire to re-enter the building and spread notice added there was insufficient fire resisting separation and compartmentation between the sleeping accommodation and the means of escape. This, they said, would allow heat and smoke from a fire to spread all fire service said there was insufficient means of detecting a fire and giving adequate warning to the occupants, meaning they "would be likely to be overcome by the effects of heat and or smoke before they could make their escape".The fire service said it was of the opinion the risk of injury was imminent and the prohibition order was to take effect immediately until the matters they had specified were have been told to prepare to be out of the building for at least seven to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
