He was the driving force behind a bill that will soon deliver hundreds of millions of dollars to Nebraska neighborhoods — funding that has the ability to transform the future of North Omaha and other lower-income areas.
At the same time, he was incorporating a nonprofit, then taken over by his friend and others, who changed the focus, tweaked the name — and are now poised to receive $40 million of that funding.
In fact, Sankofa Innovation District will be the single largest recipient of this funding if the Legislature accepts a consultant’s recommendation.
Sen. Justin Wayne, state senator from Omaha, didn’t disclose his involvement with Sankofa until we reported it Thursday. In the story, by FFP state government watchdog reporter Sara Gentzler, he and others explain why they don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
Editor’s Note: I have heard mention, via several state senators, saying isn’t a story as “it happens all the time.” Ahem. If it happens all the time, we’re going to write about it much of the time. Because Nebraskans deserve to have this sort of information.
An Aging Breed: I was stunned by this line in legendary ag reporter Lori Potter’s story for us today. “The average age of a principal Nebraska farm or ranch operator: 56.4 years old.”
Potter has two stories for us today. In one, she talks to younger Nebraska farmers about why they returned to the farm — and the barriers keeping other young adults away.
And the other is a feature on the rarest of birds: A Nebraska boy who didn’t grow up on a farm, but wanted to be a farmer. And now he is.
Big announcement time!: I have felt like a kid on Christmas Eve for weeks now, but finally, today, I can unwrap the presents and hold them aloft for all to see.
I’m thrilled to announce that Natalia Alamdari, one of FFP’s original two investigative reporters, is now the Seacrest Greater Nebraska reporter. She will cover the lovely and important parts of Nebraska that aren’t Omaha or Lincoln. The job will include features, investigations…and Natalia driving many miles ‘round the state in her car. She’s already started, writing about a wind farm tussle near Scottsbluff and a couple trying to bridge the red-blue divide in McCook. Her next story is Tuesday.
Natalia will write this newsletter next week, explaining her vision for this job and how she plans to meet residents of Greater Nebraska and get story ideas.
Until then: Congratulations, Natalia!
Thank you to Rhonda Seacrest and her family, the Nebraska Community Foundation, the Ron & Carol Cope Foundation, the Kitty M. Perkins Foundation, the Shoemaker Family Foundation and the Johnny Carson Foundation for making this crucial journalism possible.
Big Announcement Two: We’re hiring a reporter to fill Natalia’s current role. This reporter will be an investigative reporter chiefly focused on the Omaha metro area. That’s right, Omaha: More coverage of stories that matter in this nearly 1-million person metro.
We’re also hiring a reporter to cover business, including our start-up community, after acquiring, via donation, Silicon Prairie News this week.
And we’re soliciting feedback to help us plan our business coverage. Help us by taking this short questionaire.
Bottom line: We will soon have five full-time reporters alongside yours truly. That’s up from two on Halloween. Our growth isn’t done, and it isn’t growth for growth’s sake, either — we’re focused on delivering more and more important well-told stories to you in the months and years to come.
Excuse me now while I run out of the office, down the hall, out into the parking lot and off into the trees where I can scream: “YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!”
Thank you to our sponsor: I’m the son and grandson of Nebraska teachers, so I know how hard they work and how important they are. Which is why I’m pleased as punch that one of our sponsors is Alpaca, a new Omaha company that connects parents who want to help with teachers who could use a lift and some new supplies in 2023. Thanks to Alpaca for supporting the importance of journalism and nonprofit journalism in Nebraska.
Tell us what you think: As we grow, we want to hear from you. What do you think of FFP? How can we get better? Fill out this short, quick survey here. Your feedback is much appreciated.
Natalia will be with you next week. See you in two weeks!
Sincerely,
—Matthew Hansen, Executive Editor
Here’s what we’re into this week: News from around Nebraska
Every week we like to share great Nebraska journalism, no matter who made it. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
- You may remember that, last spring, FFP reporter Yanqi Xu showed that the Nebraska parole board rarely shows up together for hearings. When they miss hearings, fewer prisoners get paroled from our overcrowded prisons.
This week, Sen. Terrell McKinney told the Nebraska Examiner’s Aaron Sanderford that he read our story, was frustrated by it…and it’s why he has introduced legislation forcing parole board members — who are now paid at least $86,400 per year — to show up for the vast majority of hearings or lose their jobs. - Here’s a mind-blowing stat: There are 44 counties in the entire country without a grocery store. Ten of those counties are in Nebraska.
Nebraska Public Media’s Aaron Bonderson has the story of one small Nebraska town finding a creative way to ensure its residents have groceries. - Amidst inflation and a continued statewide scramble for workers to hire, State of Nebraska employees are set to get a massive raise. Story appearing in the North Platte Telegraph, written by OWH reporter Erin Bamer.
- Omaha Reader Editor Chris Bowling with a crucial story on how gaps in our mental health systems leave many with serious mental health issues cycling through courts and jail — leaving the Douglas County Jail the city’s largest mental health facility by default. First in a 3-part series! Check it out.
