Latest news with #WOWT
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
3 bodies found in Missouri River believed to be girls who went missing while fishing in Omaha
Authorities believe they have recovered the bodies of three girls who went missing after going on a fishing trip last month on the Missouri River in Omaha, Nebraska. Lah Tray Moo, 18, Laiana Green, 18, and Eh Cress Moo, 11, were out on the water and reported missing on April 15, according to NBC News affiliate WOWT. The station reported that they were with a 13-year-old relative who was unharmed. Authorities said one of the girls slipped into the river and the others went into the water in an attempt to rescue her. Lah Tray Moo's body was found on Saturday by a bystander at NP Dodge Park. A representative for the Omaha Police Department confirmed to NBC News that her body has been positively identified. Coby Werner, battalion chief, told WOWT at the time that the discovery could help recovery teams find the other two girls. "The indication is that maybe the girls are still up in this area," Werner said. "But with the way the river flows, you just never know, so we're going to continue, we're going to focus up here tomorrow, but we'll also continue to search down river as well just in case." In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Omaha Fire Department confirmed that two more bodies were recovered in the river on Tuesday night. Eh Cress Moo would have turned 12 years old on April 22. Autopsies were still underway to confirm their identities, the police department said, but they are presumed to be the other two missing girls. "We extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of these girls," the fire department wrote on Facebook. "The loss of these young lives has touched our entire community, and our hearts continue to be with you now and in the days ahead." A GoFundMe raising fund for the Moo family to cover funeral expenses asked for prayers and support as they handle the "devastating loss." "This is a nightmare for our family as we have to go through this tragedy," the campaign wrote. "We're grateful for everyone who has been there for us in this difficult time." This article was originally published on
NBC News
01-05-2025
- NBC News
3 bodies found in Missouri River believed to be girls who went missing while fishing in Omaha
Authorities believe they have recovered the bodies of three girls who went missing after going on a fishing trip last month on the Missouri River in Omaha, Nebraska. Lah Tray Moo, 18, Laiana Green, 18, and Eh Cress Moo, 11, were out on the water and reported missing on April 15, according to NBC News affiliate WOWT. The station reported that they were with a 13-year-old relative who was unharmed. Authorities said one of the girls slipped into the river and the others went into the water in an attempt to rescue her. Lah Tray Moo's body was found on Saturday by a bystander at NP Dodge Park. A representative for the Omaha Police Department confirmed to NBC News that her body has been positively identified. Coby Werner, battalion chief, told WOWT at the time that the discovery could help recovery teams find the other two girls. "The indication is that maybe the girls are still up in this area," Werner said. "But with the way the river flows, you just never know, so we're going to continue, we're going to focus up here tomorrow, but we'll also continue to search down river as well just in case." In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Omaha Fire Department confirmed that two more bodies were recovered in the river on Tuesday night. Eh Cress Moo would have turned 12 years old on April 22. Autopsies were still underway to confirm their identities, the police department said, but they are presumed to be the other two missing girls. "We extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of these girls," the fire department wrote on Facebook. "The loss of these young lives has touched our entire community, and our hearts continue to be with you now and in the days ahead." A GoFundMe raising fund for the Moo family to cover funeral expenses asked for prayers and support as they handle the "devastating loss." "This is a nightmare for our family as we have to go through this tragedy," the campaign wrote. "We're grateful for everyone who has been there for us in this difficult time."
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Bodies of 2 teens, 12-year-old girl found in Nebraska's Missouri River after weeks missing
The bodies of two teenagers and a 12-year-old girl have been found in the Missouri River in Omaha, Nebraska, following a two-week search. The bodies of 18-year-olds Laiana Green and Lah Tray Moo, and 12-year-old Eh Cress Moo were all recovered from the Missouri River as of April 29, the Omaha Fire Department confirmed on Facebook on Wednesday. Laiana, Lah and Eh went missing on April 15 while fishing at N.P. Dodge Park recreational area in Omaha, according to local stations KETV and WOWT. A witness said they saw four girls fishing when one of the girls slipped into the river and the others went in to rescue her, WOWT reported. Only one of them, a 13-year-old girl, managed to avoid being swept away and safely returned to shore, according to the station and her family. Officials found Lah's body on the night of April 26 and later found Laiana and Eh the morning of April 29, the fire department said. "We extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of these girls," the department wrote on Facebook. "The loss of these young lives has touched our entire community, and our hearts continue to be with you now and in the days ahead." USA TODAY has reached out to the Omaha Fire Department for additional information. Laiana's aunt, Nichelle Griffy, said her family feels relief the search has ended despite the tragedy and the families are leaning one another, KMTV reported. "We're feeling relief that we have all three girls physically now. We're sad but we're thankful," Griffy told KMTV, adding that they're finding comfort in each other. "We are a community that is strengthening. The gain is ... the support that we have for each other because we're all sharing the same loss right now." A GoFundMe page for Laiana Green's family said that the 18-year-old, who went by the nicknames LaiLai or Pooh, "acted selflessly and bravely in a moment of chaos." The page said it is seeking donations for funeral services and has raised over $3,000 as of April 30. A separate GoFundMe page for Lah and Eh said that Lah was Eh's aunt, and that the tragedy has been a nightmare for the family. The page, which is seeking financial support for funeral expenses, raised nearly $7,000 as of April 30. The families of the victims are urging officials to improve safety measures such as adding more warning signs and enforcing lifejacket usage along the river, WOWT reported. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bodies of 2 teens, 12-year-old girl found in Nebraska's Missouri River
USA Today
01-05-2025
- USA Today
Bodies of 2 teens, 12-year-old girl found in Nebraska's Missouri River after weeks missing
Bodies of 2 teens, 12-year-old girl found in Nebraska's Missouri River after weeks missing The bodies of two teenagers and a 12-year-old girl have been found in the Missouri River in Omaha, Nebraska, following a two-week search. The bodies of 18-year-olds Laiana Green and Lah Tray Moo, and 12-year-old Eh Cress Moo were all recovered from the Missouri River as of April 29, the Omaha Fire Department confirmed on Facebook on Wednesday. Laiana, Lah and Eh went missing on April 15 while fishing at N.P. Dodge Park recreational area in Omaha, according to local stations KETV and WOWT. A witness said they saw four girls fishing when one of the girls slipped into the river and the others went in to rescue her, WOWT reported. Only one of them, a 13-year-old girl, managed to avoid being swept away and safely returned to shore, according to the station and her family. Officials found Lah's body on the night of April 26 and later found Laiana and Eh the morning of April 29, the fire department said. "We extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of these girls," the department wrote on Facebook. "The loss of these young lives has touched our entire community, and our hearts continue to be with you now and in the days ahead." USA TODAY has reached out to the Omaha Fire Department for additional information. Families of victims lean on each other Laiana's aunt, Nichelle Griffy, said her family feels relief the search has ended despite the tragedy and the families are leaning one another, KMTV reported. "We're feeling relief that we have all three girls physically now. We're sad but we're thankful," Griffy told KMTV, adding that they're finding comfort in each other. "We are a community that is strengthening. The gain is ... the support that we have for each other because we're all sharing the same loss right now." A GoFundMe page for Laiana Green's family said that the 18-year-old, who went by the nicknames LaiLai or Pooh, "acted selflessly and bravely in a moment of chaos." The page said it is seeking donations for funeral services and has raised over $3,000 as of April 30. A separate GoFundMe page for Lah and Eh said that Lah was Eh's aunt, and that the tragedy has been a nightmare for the family. The page, which is seeking financial support for funeral expenses, raised nearly $7,000 as of April 30. The families of the victims are urging officials to improve safety measures such as adding more warning signs and enforcing lifejacket usage along the river, WOWT reported.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
First Omaha mayor's debate shows top candidates jockeying to face Stothert
Five candidates for Omaha mayor prepare for the first debate in the city's mayoral primary at the Omaha Press Club. Shown, left to right, are Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, former State Sen. Mike McDonnell, Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing, nonprofit executive Jasmine Harris and community advocate Terry Brewer. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) OMAHA — The first debate of the Omaha mayor's race spent Tuesday amplifying what increasingly looks like a four-way fight to join three-term Mayor Jean Stothert in the May 13 general election. Stothert's top challengers in the nonpartisan April 1 primary — Democratic Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing, Republican former State Sen. Mike McDonnell and Democratic nonprofit executive Jasmine Harris — largely targeted the mayor and her record. Also participating in the noon debate organized by WOWT and the League of Women Voters at the Omaha Press Club was community advocate Terry Brewer, who joined the race late. Ewing, a former candidate for the U.S. House, and McDonnell, a former fire chief and fire union leader, criticized Stothert for focusing too much city time and money on the whims of some private developers. Ewing said he wants the city to do a better job strategically planning development instead of being led around by the mayor's favored developers, state incentives and the 'hodgepodge' that results. He told the Examiner that Omaha lags other Midwestern cities in growth because the city isn't doing enough outreach and recruitment of current and future employers seeking long-term ties. 'I absolutely love being a public servant,' Ewing said. 'It's what I've done all my adult life. I believe it's critically important that leaders keep their word.' McDonnell repeated his criticisms of Stothert for wasting money on an outdated streetcar she promised she would let the people of Omaha vote on and didn't. He said the unpopular project should face voters. During testy exchanges on public safety and services for the homeless, McDonnell sarcastically said Stothert has 'a lot of great ideas' and questioned why she hasn't implemented them in 12 years. He mocked Stothert for taking credit for lowering the tax levy in Omaha, saying that reducing the increase in property taxes people pay is not a cut. He said she opposed state efforts to reduce property taxes. 'We have to control spending,' McDonnell said. 'The first day in office … we're going to zero out the budget and do performance-based budgeting. There's something going on here.' Harris, a former U.S. Senate candidate who works with people returning to society from prison, jabbed at both Republicans for their handling of affordable housing and Omaha's homeless. She said Omaha needs a better focus on connecting people without housing to the kinds of services that help them adjust to living in new surroundings with new responsibilities. Harris said much of the root causes of the city's problems with public safety and homelessness are based on the lack of affordable housing being built, which the city could change. She said people need more than just policing to feel safer, including a greater city focus on mental health care and substance abuse treatment. 'I'm not running for mayor to make it a career move,' Harris said. 'I wake up every day to figure out how I can make life better for the people of Omaha. People want a change.' Ewing, Harris and Stothert criticized McDonnell for pushing a proposed state law that they said would have criminalized homelessness as ineffective and costly. McDonnell, who pushed a proposal to help police address homeless encampments, criticized Stothert for letting homelessness increase. Stothert pointed to Omaha's growth during her three terms. She said it's too late to stop the streetcar project without getting the city sued. She said people care most about safety, taxes and roads. Ewing and Harris agreed with Stothert that it was likely too late 'to stop the streetcar now.' Both said Omaha needs a mayor that makes sure the city's transportation system works for residents. Stothert touted crime stats that show Omaha becoming safer, including just 19 homicides in 2024. She acknowledged needing more progress on juvenile crime and officer recruitment. On Tuesday, she announced efforts to recruit more police officer candidates year-round and an effort to make sure Omaha pays more for police officers than any city in Nebraska. 'I love my job and I hope it shows,' Stothert said. 'We've had 12 years of determination, of progress and of success. … Omaha is moving forward in every way.' McDonnell, after the debate, said he was pleased that Stothert was listening to him and the constituents that had come to him with criticisms of how she was not hiring enough police officers. His political team acknowledged that McDonnell faces attacks from all sides as a new Republican running against a GOP incumbent for mayor. Stothert had Gov. Jim Pillen as a guest at her table. 'I know one thing the four of us have in common is we think there should be a new mayor,' McDonnell said of his experience in the first debate. Stothert, after the debate, said it was gratifying to hear candidates agree with her rather than McDonnell that it is too late to stop the streetcar without putting the city in financial jeopardy because of signed contracts. She also said it was too late for a public vote on the streetcar, and that the only group that could call for such a vote is the Omaha City Council, which has already approved the project. Asked about being the target of other candidates Tuesday, Stothert, the city's longest-serving mayor, said it was old hat. She said she 'expects it.' 'They'll come and say you're doing everything wrong and they're going to do everything right,' Stothert said. 'But … we've got an excellent story to tell about the progress we've made over the last 12 years.' Brewer spoke often about the need to help young people engage with education and job opportunities. He said Omaha needs to offer young people more options than the streets, sports or college. 'Discipline is the key for success for us,' Brewer said. 'I want to bring back programs that once helped me. I'm looking for the future of my babies … having a legacy.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
