Hello from Denver, which means I’m on Mountain Time, which means I have to get this done and delivered by noon, Mountain Time. Which means you will get Fewer Words Matthew today. You’re welcome. Let’s get into it.
Cowgirl, Forgotten: She rode a buckin’ bronc down Cody’s Main Street as a child. She won her first adult rodeo title at 15, became a Nebraska star, then a U.S. star, then an global celebrity. She sold out Madison Square Garden, befriended Babe Ruth, won a prestigious trophy so many times they just gave the darn thing to her and eventually became the only human being in history inducted into all three rodeo hall of fames.
Her daddy called her Tadpole. She’s from Cody, Nebraska. And no one here remembers her. Correspondent Brady Oltmans goes to Cody and rediscovers the legend and incredible life of Tad Lucas.
Malcolm, Remembered: North Omaha leaders have been trying to build a museum honoring Omaha native and Civil Rights leader Malcolm X practically since the day he was slain. A new $20 million state grant and the momentum from Malcolm X’s Hall of Fame induction has things looking brighter than they ever have. FFP Omaha Reporter Chris Bowling dives into the history and finds a group of people who have simply refused to let this dream die.
FlatFest Unveiling: Three journalism heroes — two with Nebraska ties, and one who indirectly made Flatwater possible — are coming to Lincoln on Oct. 23 to talk to you if you’re coming to the 2nd Annual Flatwater Free Press Festival, codename FlatFest.
They are: Angel Jennings, a UNL grad, rising star in American journalism and editor at the Los Angeles Times; Coulter Jones, an Omaha boy who grew up, went to the bright lights of New York City and won a goshdarn Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting at the Wall Street Journal; and Evan Smith.
Now, Evan Smith is a Texan, but don’t make that horns down gesture, that’s rude. He’s also the man who envisioned, co-founded and long ran the Texas Tribune, now the biggest, baddest state nonprofit journalism newsroom in the world — and the inspiration for this thing we named the Flatwater Free Press.
It’s a fascinating crew. It’s a visionary crew. We only have about 100 tickets left to FlatFest. Learn more about the event and join us.
35 and Dying: I love celebrating reporters who do this thing we call journalism right. Reporters like Megan Luther, a South Dakota-based writer who wrote a powerful story we republished this week. She followed Taylor, a 35-year-old South Dakotan who came to the Nebraska Medical Center for the same reason so many do — as a last chance, a final hope. And she told the unvarnished story of how Taylor came to be in a Nebraska hospital bed, a story of addiction and failure and undying love, too.
My appreciation to Megan for putting in the time and effort, for shouldering the very real burden to tell a story like Taylor’s right and true.
Worth the hype? This week Sarah Baker Hansen reviewed Clio, which may be the most popular new restaurant to open in Omaha in years. It’s hip. It’s sheik. It’s hard as heck to get a reservation. And as Sarah writes in the review, “Buzz is an interesting beast.”
A boy, a burger, a dream: FFP Omaha reporter Chris Bowling has been documenting his quest to try to defeat the Stellanator, Omaha’s most famed food challenge. And, even more impressive, he managed to turn that quest into a fun and fascinating story. Grab a handful of Tums and come along for the ride.
Thanks to our sponsor: This week, it’s Ho-Chunk Inc., the largest minority-owned company in Nebraska. A little birdie told me that Lance Morgan, Ho-Chunk’s endlessly fascinating CEO, will be one of the speakers at the free Lincoln event, “State of Our Union,” we’re co-hosting with The Atlantic on Oct. 23 at UNL. (It’s during the day, then FlatFest is at night.) Learn more about State of Our Union here. And thank you to Ho-Chunk for being a supporter of nonprofit Nebraska news from the very beginning.
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].
OK, that was more words than I anticipated. See you next week, back on Central Time!
—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 University of Nebraska-Lincoln announced it was closing its diversity office this week. Gov. Jim Pillen cheered the move. Other leaders say it sends a terrible message to the university’s students of color and LGBTQ students. The Journal Star’s Chris Dunker with the story. (May need subscriber access.)
- Vice presidential candidate JD Vance came to Nebraska this week, raising serious cash for the Republican ticket and also meeting supporters in Omaha. Here’s the Nebraska Examiner’s Aaron Sanderford with the story.
- Tim Walz, the Democrats’ VP candidate and a Nebraska native, also came to Nebraska this week, holding a rally in the Omaha suburbs and also making the obligatory stop at Runza. The Associated Press’ Josh Funk covered the day.
- Speaking of Walz, the New York Times had a fascinating profile of the politician who recently burst onto the national stage, one focused on his early life in Nebraska.
- The brains continue to drain out of Nebraska, where we annually lose many of our state’s best and brightest to other places. A new report out details who is leaving — and offers some ways to keep more young talent here. Story by the Examiner’s Cindy Gonzalez.
- God, I love this story out of Gering. The town needed new preschool classrooms. So some high schoolers built them. What a wonderful story unearthed by Nebraska Public Media’s Jolie Peal.
- And finally, a development in Lincoln — one meant to produce the city’s second-tallest building — has been stalled for awhile. But now the developers hope to get started again soon. Story by Samantha Bernt at 10/11 News Now.
