This is Natalia Alamdari filling in for Matthew Hansen while he celebrates a Huskers basketball win. I hope you’re reading this outside on this gorgeous first day of spring.
Imagine finding the perfect child care center for your toddler only to have it close. You find a backup … only to have it close months later.
It’s a scenario families are becoming more and more familiar with. According to a Lincoln nonprofit, the city has lost 11 child care providers and a net of 505 spots since late 2023, reporter Sara Gentzler writes in today’s story.
Want to dive deeper into Lincoln’s child care landscape? Join Sara and three panelists for a conversation on the reality of finding care for your kids in Lincoln and legislative efforts to address the state’s child care crisis. Join us from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, at UNL’s Andersen Hall. Register to attend here.
Something’s fishy: Meet the Nebraska producers raising … shrimp? That’s right – there are 17 licensed private aquaculturists in this landlocked state. Only a couple of them sell to consumers. It’s a tough business to break into, especially in the Midwest, reporter Emma Croteau writes. Read more (and learn some crazy shrimp facts!) here.
Tomato, tomahto: You can’t gamble online in Nebraska. But, as reporter Jeremy Turley writes, you actually kind of can. Just don’t call it gambling. Online prediction markets let Nebraskans put money on things like Husker basketball, the Omaha mayoral race, even if a sports commentator will mention specific phrases on air. The loophole to Nebraska’s gambling laws? Prediction market users aren’t “betting” – they’re “trading.” Read more – and look at the betting and prediction apps side by side – here.
Dorn and data: Anila Yoganathan brings you an update from last week’s Google data center story. One of the Gage County landowners who optioned their land to private energy developer Tenaska included a state lawmaker. Sen. Myron Dorn didn’t publicly disclose the potential land deal as a conflict of interest until after he was contacted by the Flatwater Free Press.
Omaha’s hottest sandwich: This week, Sarah Baker Hansen embarks on a tour of Omaha’s Reubens. Along the way, she shares a brief history of how the sandwich came to be and what makes the combo of flavors just so good. You can vote on your favorite Reuben in this year’s SBH Flatwater Free Press Sandwich Bracket.
Shoutout to this week’s sponsor: Special thanks to our sponsor, Leibman Financial Services. Based in Louisville, the team at Leibman can help you manage your finances to reach your life goals. Curious about Roth IRAs? When to start investing? What your portfolio mix should be? They’ve got you.
Bring Flatwater to work: Did you know you can support Flatwater while at work? We recently became a member of Give Nebraska. This statewide group of nonprofit organizations teams up with workplaces to offer employer-sponsored giving campaigns. We appreciate the support we’ve had already this year from employees at businesses including Kawasaki, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Pinnacle Bank, Crete Carrier and Clark & Enersen. Learn more about how your business can participate at givenebraska.org.
Meet me in Kearney: There’s still time to register for our Flatwater Forum in Kearney on April 10. It’s an afternoon of discussions on topics important to the present and future of central Nebraska. Then, we’re throwing a party at the Museum of Nebraska Art in the evening. Learn more and register for the free event here.
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? Email our newsroom at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Natalia Alamdari, Investigative 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 wildfires raging in central and western Nebraska are coming closer and closer to being fully contained. Volunteer firefighters from across the state traveled to help quell the flames, 10/11 reporter Lorena Carmona writes.
Nebraska Public Media’s Jessica Wade shares the story of the grandmother killed by fires in Arthur. Molly Ashford, also of NPM, dives into the confusion over the federal government’s role in fire response.
All of this comes at a time when Nebraska is seeing some of the most expensive homeowners insurance in the country, largely driven by climate risk, according to our reporting partners at Grist. - Bellevue native Stg. 1st Class Noah Tietjens was one of four soldiers killed in the first days of the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran. The U.S. Army has since posthumously promoted him to master sergeant, WOWT reports.
- Progress is happening at Eppley Airfield, airport officials told KETV’s Aaron Hegarty. Phased openings are expected to start in about a year, with construction wrapping up in 2028. Airportgoers can expect 70% more space, a private lounge, food options past security and more.
- Omaha Mayor John Ewing said his police training kicked in when he and his security detail saw a car on fire, the Omaha World Herald’s Grace Lewis reports. Ewing and a member of his security detail helped keep the vehicle’s owner away from the flames until fire crews arrived. (You may need OWH subscriber access to read this story.)
- This year’s milder winter means Sandhill cranes are staying in Nebraska longer, Macy Byars of Nebraska Public Media reports. It also means more time for tourists – and their dollars – to flock to central Nebraska.
- Beverly Running Bear started relearning her native Lakota language as an adult. Now, she offers free community classes in Scottsbluff, where people can learn the Lakota language and culture. Story by Scottsbluff Star-Herald’s Grace Ptak. (You may need Star-Herald subscriber access to read this story.)
