December 24 - NOISE Report

Listen up, time for the NOISE Report brought to you by North Omaha Information Support Everyone.

20-year-old Jasmine Harris was shot and killed in Downtown Omaha in June after attending the Taste of Omaha festival. Her great aunt, Lottie Mae Harris, says she wants Jasmine to be remembered while her case remains under investigation.

“I just don’t want her case to be a cold case, I want it to stay in the media. I don’t want it go on two years and three years and no one is caught or punished. I don’t want it to die down because that has happened to a lot of African-Americans, black people, and people of color.”

Omaha Police have told the family, Jasmine’s case has been difficult to solve because citizens, with possible information about the perpetrators, have not come forward. Lottie Harris says the family and police need the community's help:

“...that code of silence has got to stop. It takes a whole community to be concerned and say enough is enough.”

I'm Dawaune Hayes, reporting.

Young, Black, and Influential held their first Black Influencers meet up at The Union for Contemporary Art. Attendees of varying ages, backgrounds, and professions came together to discuss community dynamics and working together. Vi Washington, serial entrepreneur, shared her thoughts:

”Some communities seem stagnant, especially North Omaha because people have the knowledge, people are just a little bit scared, like it seems like they are intimidated to act on it. And then join together... If you let fear rule your actions, then you put limitations on yourself.”

YBI says they plan to host their next meet up in the spring time and until then you can find leadership building workshops and more information on their Facebook page at YBI Omaha. I’m Mariah Person.

Nebraska Democrats held their winter meeting in the town of Ord. They voted to conduct a primary process for selecting a presidential nominee. The change will take effect in 2020. Black Votes Matter director Preston Love, Jr. clarified:

“What the primary does, it allows every one of our registered voters to be unimpeded and to be able to vote like crazy, in the primary election. The challenge is for us to do proper education, mobilization, registration, in order to get them, in fact, to the polls.”

The move permits the Nebraska Secretary of State - and Douglas County Election Commission to cover all costs for casting a primary ballot - as a Democrat, Republican, or Independent. I'm Luis Jimenez.

You've got the power! Join the NOISE team for POWER Hour, Saturdays from 2 to 4 PM at The Study, 2205 North 24th Street. A community newsroom, help us bring you news you can use. Come on out and let’s make some NOISE.