Near the bottom of this email every week, I ask you to send us your story tips, and so many of you do.
Our story today — like so many of our stories — is the direct result of one such tip that came into our newsroom.
Long ago, Tim Decker lost his ability to be a police officer in South Dakota after a bar fight and an assault charge — Decker eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. But that didn’t affect his ability to remain a Nebraska law enforcement officer.
In fact, Decker is now the newly appointed sheriff of Dakota County, which borders South Dakota.
There’s more to this story than meets the eye — the county leaders who hired him and even the state senator who introduced the bill that tightened police credentialing requirements in Nebraska essentially think that Decker learned his lesson and deserves a second chance.
It’s an interesting, nuanced tale. And it came because a reader sent us a heads up. So, keep those tips coming! The easiest way to reach us is an email to [email protected].
Fish fry fun: We’re now in the midst of Lent, which means, among other things — it’s officially Fish Fry season.
I have done my share of standing in fish fry lines at church and school hallways, drinking cold domestic light beers and having a grand ol’ time. But the cold, hard truth: Sometimes, the fried fish is the worst part of a fish fry!
Hot take, I know. Anyway, Sarah Baker Hansen is here to help.
She wrote a story this week focused on a Greek Orthodox fish fry and others that will offer you menu items more interesting than fried haddock.
And a public service: She has compiled an Omaha fish fry guide, with details on nearly 50 (?!) different fish fries in the metro area.
We may take this fish fry guide statewide next spring if there’s interest. In the meantime, if you’re feeling left out: Check out Sarah’s statewide steakhouse map or another statewide resource we have, our public salary database.
Cuts hurt child care: If you’re a parent of young children, you know that it’s often hard to find child care, and costly when you do. Flatwater reporter Destiny Herbers has news you probably won’t like: It’s about to get worse.
Medicaid cuts are, in fact, already taking a toll on child care providers and the child care industry as a whole. An interesting tale on federal budget cutting and the potential impact to your life — even if you will never need Medicaid yourself.
Thanks to our new sponsor: This week, it’s the Clarkson Institute. They started as Nebraska’s first hospital, and now they’re a health nonprofit with a bold vision: They’re committed to making Nebraska the healthiest state in the country.
On March 16, at Film Streams, the Clarkson Institute is premiering a new film, “Disconnected,” that focuses on youth mental health and technology. And the event, which includes a panel discussion on smartphones and other tech and mental health, is free of charge. Learn more and RSVP here.
The movie itself actually a really cool story — the script for this film was written by a high school junior from Auburn! And the entire evening promises to be well worth your (and my) time. One goal: Equip attendees with new tools that allow them to maintain healthy relationships with technology.
That sounds pretty important, doesn’t it?
Thank you to the Clarkson Institute for focusing on the crucial topic of teens, mental health and tech — and thanks to them for supporting the mission of nonprofit news in Nebraska.
More free events: We’re coming to Lincoln on March 24 to talk about our state’s growing child care crisis.
And then we’ll be in Kearney for an all-afternoon event and a Happy Hour focused on panels and stories important to central Nebraska. It’s the first-ever Flatwater Forum: Tri-Cities!
Both are free, and if they are up your alley — and in your neck in the woods — I would love to see you there. Make sure to RSVP. We’re expecting packed houses at both events.
Questions wanted:
Like I said at the top … some of our best story ideas come from readers. 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
Thanks to this week’s sponsor
Learn more about Flatwater Free Press sponsorship options »
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:
- A Flatwater story by veteran reporter Henry Cordes a few weeks ago got a lot of attention statewide — and it appears to have gotten the attention of state leaders and state lawmakers, too. They’re now attempting to alter a law passed last year that was meant to get tough on China, but also threatened to take millions of dollars in state tax incentives from stalwart Nebraska companies like Valmont and Werner. Here is Henry’s original story. And here is the update, republished on our website after being written by the Nebraska Examiner’s Juan Salinas II.
- Billionaires are flocking to Nebraska’s neighbor Wyoming as their wealth has ballooned in the last few years. The New York Times had a fascinating story on this phenomenon, and focused some of its reporting on TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts.
- Giant political news this week, as Charles Herbster, the Republican candidate who barely lost to Jim Pillen four years ago, decided against challenging Pillen again. It opens up a path for Pillen to cruise to the Republican nomination, eliminating a deep-pocketed challenger. Story by Nebraska Public Media’s Fred Knapp.
- A Nebraskan was one of six American soldiers killed in the immediate aftermath of the U.S. bombing campaign in Iran, and Iran’s retaliation.
Stories on the life of Noah Tietjens: The World-Herald’s Dan Crisler reports he was beloved in Nebraska’s martial arts community. And Nebraska Public Media’s Jackie Ourada with the news of all six deaths. - A really important one from the World-Herald’s Grace Lewis, who focuses on a murder-suicide and what could have been done to prevent it. (You may need OWH subscriber access to read this story.)
- For all of us on Omaha Sinkhole Watch: KETV reported this week that the giant sinkhole has been repaired. Meanwhile, Nebraska Public Media’s Molly Ashford reports that video of the shocking sinkhole collapse has been viewed more than 20 million times, and also that the city and MUD continue to spar over who’s to blame.
- And finally, some good news. We have been focusing much journalism on the fallout in Lexington, where the Tyson plant closed and where thousands of people lost their jobs. (Read some of Andrew Wegley and Sara Gentzler’s great work here and here and here.)
This week, the Sherwood Foundation announced they were donating $1.1 million in emergency aid to help those impacted in Lexington. Story by the Examiner’s Cindy Gonzalez.
