Flatwater Free Press - Nebraska’s first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

FIVE DAYS OF FLATWATER

We’re celebrating our fifth birthday with events throughout week leading up to big finale on Sept. 23. New Flatwater merch, a film screening, journalists on stage, trivia!

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ONLY A FEW TICKETS REMAIN!

A home built through the Pawnee City Community Foundation sits for sale. The house is part of a program in which buyers can qualify for up to $60,000 in down payment assistance. Photo by Lily Smith/Flatwater Free Press

PRICED OUT OF THE GOOD LIFE

Pawnee City offered $50,000 if a person bought a house in town. So far, they’ve had one taker.

But it’s not straight cash. The incentive money — now upped to $60,000 — comes as down payment assistance on homes built by the local community foundation.

Natalia Alamdari • Sept. 4

To practice journalism today ‘is an act of faith’: A chat with writer and FlatFest guest George Packer

Kaitlyn Kelly • Sept. 3

Crowded classrooms: Omaha Public Schools has worst student-teacher ratio in metro area and in state

Henry J. Cordes • Sept. 3

Pete Ricketts, Dan Osborn go head to head in Nebraska U.S. Senate debate

Women following in the footsteps of ‘Dr. Susan’ continue Native healthcare legacy

Historic Potter’s Field in northern Omaha became ‘dumping ground’ for city’s poor, homeless and ill

Flatwater is turning five. It’s time to consider what we built together — and to celebrate.

A Nebraska city voted to ban Flock cameras. The county wants to keep surveilling drivers anyway.

Amid North Omaha’s ongoing struggle for fresh food, a new grocery store is coming to town

America’s streetcar revival has seen mixed results. Is Omaha on the right track?

Documenters

Aug. 24: Ralston School Board focuses on budget, school safety and foundation growth

Omaha Documenters and Leah Keinama • Sept. 2

Aug. 10: Lincoln City Council advances infrastructure, airport and public safety measures

Omaha Documenters and Leah Keinama • Aug. 19

Aug. 6: Behavioral Health Advisory Committee reviews federal funding priorities and rural health initiatives

Omaha Documenters and Leah Keinama • Aug. 12

July 31: Benson BID focuses on board recruitment, safety and district improvement projects

Omaha Documenters and Leah Keinama • Aug. 6

WHAT IS DOCUMENTERS?

We train and pay people to attend under-reported public meetings in Omaha and publish the results.

We are part of a national network of organizations that seeks to help people understand what’s going on in their local communities by making important information available to the public, encouraging open conversations, and inspiring people to get involved.

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Statewide

Dan Osborn staffers infiltrated rival political party, tried to dissolve it

Andrew Wegley • Aug. 21

Questions remain unanswered as Medicaid work changes take effect

Destiny Herbers • Aug. 18

Priced out of The Good Life: For young Nebraskans, homeownership grows increasingly out of reach

Natalia Alamdari and Destiny Herbers • July 31

Can you afford an “affordable” home in Nebraska?

Destiny Herbers • July 31

Metro

Construction crews work on the Tallgrass Apartments in Papillion. In the past four years, more multi-family housing units — almost all of them apartments — have been built than single-family homes in the Omaha metro. Photo by Lily Smith/Flatwater Free Press

PRICED OUT OF THE GOOD LIFE

For the first time, more apartments than houses are being built in Omaha

Henry J. Cordes • Aug. 27

Nebraska musicians move to New York (and elsewhere) for careers but keep their hometown roots

Leo Adam Biga • Aug. 19

Priced out in Lincoln: How the capital city became the state’s hardest place to afford a home

Emily Wolf and Destiny Herbers • Aug. 14

A family reunion drew 500 people to an Omaha park. It’s been going for over 100 years.

Leo Adam Biga • Aug. 13

Projects & Investigations

Dying Blind

We don’t know the real number of Nebraskans dying from drugs. It’s costing us.

Stopped in Seward

On a 24-mile stretch of Interstate 80, traffic stops send millions of dollars to a single, small Nebraska county and its Sheriff’s Office.

Our Dirty Water

Nebraska’s water is laced with nitrate. It’s likely harming our kids

Pigs & Power

After building pork empire, Nebraska’s governor stands at intersection of state and ag power

Nebraska Evolving

A series exploring how immigration is changing, and maybe saving, some small Nebraska communities

Who’s Buying Nebraska?

A Flatwater Free Press series is focused on the answer to that question, and diving deeper into the corporate farms, multinational corporations, famed billionaires and even a powerful church who are buying huge swaths of Nebraska farmland.

Refuge at Risk

Thousands of refugees call Nebraska home. Immigration policy under the Trump administration now threatens to upend the lives they’ve built.

Priced out of the Good Life

Nebraska paychecks are stagnant. Home prices continue to spiral. It’s pricing out a generation of buyers.

Buried Truth

Omaha spent decades cleaning up dust from a lead smelter that poisoned residents. But the Flatwater Free Press and ProPublica found that contamination remains.

Things You Didn’t Know You Needed to Know about the Best State In the World.

Flatwater Explains is an occasional series during which FFP reporters explain the people, places and things that make Nebraska what it is, while answering questions that both long-time residents and first-time visitors might have.

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What Nebraska-centric topics, places and things do you want the Flatwater Free Press journalists to explain? Email us »

Free lead testing

Flatwater Free Press is trying to understand how lead impacts Omahans — and we need your help! Fill out our online form to have your soil tested. Lab results are provided for free.

Flatwater Festival

We’re thrilled to present the 2026 Flatwater Free Press Festival, an evening where we celebrate Flatwater’s 5th birthday. We will eat, drink, hold a Q-and-A with legendary journalist George Packer and have a kickin’ barn party, Flatwater style. Come celebrate while supporting the present and future of Nebraska news.

Get your tickets