On Wednesday morning, I did what editors do. I made a list.
We will cover the likely immigration raids, tell that story — all sides of it — from towns where Seacrest Greater Nebraska reporter Natalia Alamdari is building contacts during her Nebraska Evolving series, I wrote.
We should watch the massive alternative energy projects happening across Nebraska, projects that have met considerable skepticism. We should tell that story — all sides of it — if federal incentives end and projects stall.
Health: What happens to Nebraska kids’ teeth if fluoride is removed from water? Ag: Will proposed tariffs impact farmers and consumers? Taxes: Will tax cuts help Nebraska seniors or restaurant servers?
It went on from there. You get the idea.
So, in this newsletter, you will not receive the 1,782,347th analysis or hot take about Tuesday, why Trump won or Harris lost, and what it means.
What we will do is seek to show you how elections, and decisions made in D.C., impact the Cornhusker State. We will keep holding Nebraska’s leaders to account, no matter their party.
And we will focus on journalism that cuts through the fog, rebuilds capacity and trust in local news, fights misinformation — telling deeply-reported, data-backed, nuanced stories we then share with you and every media outlet in this state for free.
Local stories. Important stories. Nebraska stories. Your stories.
That’s what we did last week and last year. That’s what we will do next week and next year. Because that’s our job and duty. Because that’s who we are.
Fraud or shakedown? FFP reporter Chris Bowling has been working for awhile on a story that somehow makes the phrase “Medicaid audits” sexy, at least to this reader.
The state hired massive insurance companies — and is paying them $4.2 billion — to administer Nebraska’s Medicaid program. And now those companies are coming hard after small Nebraska mental health providers, those providers say. It’s prompting some therapists and nurses to say they are leaving the Medicaid program … which could in turn leave more low-income Nebraskans without medical care.
Really good one from Chris, complete with the state’s argument that this is rooting out fraud and good for Nebraska taxpayers.
Downtown booming: Sometimes data-backed, diligent reporting can help us tell happy stories. Like this one: Downtown Omaha is recovering far quicker than many U.S. downtowns in the wake of a pandemic. Fellow Naomi Delkamiller tells us why, and because she’s the journalistic equivalent of a triathlete, she also shot amazing drone photos and looping video you should definitely check out. Triple threat!
Meet Yanqi and moi at the Bookworm: Hey Omaha! Stud reporter Yanqi Xu and I will be at the beloved Bookworm this Saturday from 1-3 p.m. We’ll be there to talk story ideas, take questions, tell you which books you should buy and also hand out, for free, Flatwater Free Press annual commemorative editions. An actual print product! We’re putting the free back in Free Press!
Here’s more info. Come by and see us.
Fifty and a first-time voter: On Election Day, the aforementioned Bowling had the story of Jason Kotas, a 50-year-old who has spent giant stretches of his adult life in prison. Recently Kotas has sobered up, got and kept a job, rebuilt broken relationships with friends and family. And, after state leaders and the courts fought back and forth about it, he did something else on Tuesday that he’d never done before. That made him feel like a regular Nebraskan. Kotas and other Nebraska felons were allowed to vote.
Saddle up for brunch: The Saddle Creek Breakfast Club has long been one of Omaha’s best spots for breakfast or brunch. It’s one of those places that has captured that incredible weekend morning mix — good energy, good coffee and a darn good menu. But would it continue when the beloved Breakfast Club moved west, to Countryside Village?
FFP food critic Sarah Baker Hansen on the second chapter of Saddle Creek Breakfast Club.
Questions wanted: Some of our best story ideas come from readers, and they typically start with a burning question that just cries out for an answer. Have a question that our reporters need to look into? Complete this form or reach our newsroom at [email protected].
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:
- The Nebraska Legislature got a makeover Tuesday night. The Omaha World-Herald’s Martha Stoddard with the story. (This story might require a subscription.)
- I never include stories about Iowa, but I felt compelled to include this one about an 18-year-old kid elected to an important local board. KETV’s Aaron Hegarty with the story.
- Speaking of misinformation … did you see the one about how this one Lincoln dude voted, and then this other dude posted a video on the internet and said falsely that he was a “ballot mule.” And then the social post got more than a million views? Sigh. Here’s the Journal Star’s Alex Vargas and Andrew Wegley sorting out the real story. (This story might require a subscription.)
- The state’s Board of Education will maintain a 4-4 Republican to Democrat split after Tuesday’s election, reports Nebraska Public Media.
- An Omaha teenager got a horrific text this week, KETV reports.
- Big money poured into those dueling abortion ballot initiatives in the weeks before Election Day, when Initiative 434 — which enshrines in the Nebraska Constitution the current, stricter abortion ban — carried the day. Much of it was from the Ricketts’ family, reports Nebraska Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert. Also … Michael Bloomberg!
For a longer look at the Ricketts’ political donations over the past decade, and Nebraska’s biggest political donors during that time, check out the “quick hit” from Sara Gentzler’s deep dive a few weeks ago. - OK, to end, one national political hot take that didn’t feel like a hot take at all. Jennifer Senior at The Atlantic is one of the country’s best writers. This week, she wrote a short but important thing. I may disagree with some of it. I may wholeheartedly agree with other parts of it. But I find myself, again and again, thinking about it. Here’s her piece, “Focus on the Things that Matter.” (This story might require a subscription.)
