Journalists have been known, on occasion, to act like know-it-alls. To do undeniably chill things like explain the unique attributes of the Nebraska Legislature to first-time visitors and talk about tax policy or the hunt for Osama bin Laden at parties, potentially ruining said parties.
Not me, clearly. Other journalists.
Anyway, we have a new series, launching today, that harnesses this occasionally annoying superpower for the forces of good.
In this series, Flatwater reporters will write quick little fun stories that help readers better understand our state by answering frequently asked or frequently pondered questions about Nebraska.
We are calling it Flatwater Explains, which made the reporters here sad, because they had come up with cooler names, like Kernels of Truth, Nebraska Dehusked, Flatwater Free Facts and a crowd favorite, NebrAskin’ Questions.
Our first Flatwater Explains: Ever wonder where all that Nebraska corn goes after it’s harvested? Reporter Joshua Shimkus has your corn-based answers in today’s story.
And our second Flatwater Explains: Ever wonder why people go gaga for sandhill cranes?
Reporter Destiny Herbers demystifies the state’s most popular vacationing bird.
We’ll have more of these soon, explaining the aforementioned unique Nebraska Legislature, why we elect presidents differently from 48 other states, tax-increment financing and the backstory of the Runza. (I need a cheese Runza first if I’m gonna read about tax-increment financing.)
Want to suggest one, on a Nebraska-centric topic, place or thing? Shoot us an email at [email protected].
Hello, measles: The measles outbreak reached Nebraska this week, with the first known case inside state borders. At the same time, the childhood vaccination rate for measles is dropping in many spots around Nebraska, a new FFP analysis by Lincoln reporter Emily Wolf found. She then asked and answered a crucial question: Why?
Flying nun: OK, she wasn’t actually flying, but rather rappelling her way down a tall building. Sister Stephanie, age 81, did so recently after spending a lifetime feeding the hungry while bringing joy to everyone she meets.
Our brand-new freelancer, talented veteran journalist Chris Burbach, was there to witness this high-rise fundraising stunt, when said nun was protected by proper equipment, a safety helmet and also presumably The Man Above the Skyscraper.
And when I mean Burbach was there, he was right there. He rappelled down the building alongside her, and there are photos to prove it.
So excited to sign up journalists like Burbach who bring their stories to readers like you.
Natalia for the win: Sometimes it’s important to take a moment, and feel the thing.
Senior reporter Natalia Alamdari, one of two reporters who has been with us since the beginning, won a big national award yesterday for her story, “Marco’s Journey.” It’s a story about an immigrant in Schuyler who, by day, goes to high school and, by night, as his classmates sleep, works the graveyard shift.
Natalia identified this story, which put a human face on her 2024 series Nebraska Evolving, focused on small towns growing because of immigration. And she put a human name, Marco Gutiérrez, on these big and frequently depersonalized issues about who should get to chase their own version of the American Dream.
She worked her ass off on it. She stayed up late with Marco, got up early, went with him to class and to work, got the quiet 19-year-old to open up about his life. And then she wrote her ass off, using both in-born talent and her ever-increasing learned skill set to bring Marco’s Journey to life.
Yesterday, she heard her name called and walked up onto a stage in St. Louis and accept her National Award for Education Reporting as the crowd applauded.
I wasn’t there, but I can feel it.
I’m proud of her because she earned it. And I’m proud of Flatwater, because we have built a nonprofit newsroom right here in Nebraska that allows talented, hardworking reporters like Natalia Alamdari to write stories that matter.
Lincoln Giveth: Wow, for real. During Thursday’s annual Give to Lincoln Day, a record 308 donors gave us a record $43,963 to support our journalism in Lincoln and Lancaster County. Thank you to each one of you 308 Lincoln-area residents, and thank you as well to the Lincoln Community Foundation, which puts on this stellar event and also provides some matching funds to nonprofits like ours.
We just hired the aforementioned Wolf, our first full-time Lincoln reporter, and we’re so excited about the increased reporting we’re going to be able to do in the Star City. It’s thanks to people like you.
Journalism on stage event: On June 12, FFP reporter Chris Bowling is moderating a panel discussion about mental health in Omaha. Learn more and RSVP here…I know seats are going to be in short supply, so get in now if you know you’re coming. The event is done in partnership with the Omaha Community Foundation. It promises to be an insightful evening.
ADM explosions: Some of you may remember the fire at a Fremont grain facility on Christmas Eve, 2022.
Today, we republished a story by a talented investigative journalist, Sky Chadde of Investigate Midwest, about the safety report following that fire — and how Archer Daniels Midland, one of the world’s largest companies, continues to have a problem with similar incidents around the Midwest.
Thank you to Investigate Midwest for sharing this story with us.
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:
- It appears that the feds raided the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission offices this week. Then, shortly thereafter, the commission’s director, Hobert Rupe, was suspended without pay. Updates on this still-developing story by the Lincoln Journal Star’s Chris Dunker and Nebraska Public Media’s Brian Beach. (May need LJS subscriber info to access the LJS story.)
- “I know some of you are angry, I know some of you are upset. I know some of you are worried, and I know some of you are supportive of the things that are happening in our country. Tonight is your night.”
That’s how Rep. Mike Flood kicked off his town hall in Seward on Tuesday night. Reporters were on the scene to document angry constituents’ questions and Flood’s answers.
This story from the Journal Star’s Andrew Wegley notes that questioners wondered how Flood could vote for the recent “big, beautiful bill” while supporting deficit reduction, since that bill is estimated to add $4 trillion to the deficit.
And this story, from Nebraska Public Media’s Macy Byars, notes that Flood is one of the state’s — and the country’s — last remaining Republican federal office holders still holding these public town halls. - That bill will cut some $700 billion in Medicaid funding if it becomes law. That will hit close to home, reports WOWT’s Erin Sullivan, potentially affecting 40,000 Nebraskans and their families — including a woman in Weeping Water who is terrified that her disabled brother may lose the ability to pay for his care.
- You may already be seeing TV ads from Sen. Pete Ricketts despite the fact that he isn’t up for re-election until November 2026. Here’s why, reports the Nebraska Examiner’s Aaron Sanderford.
- And finally, one of the finest photographers that the state of Nebraska has ever produced came back to her home state recently to document a Sandhills cattle branding. It’s Alyssa Schukar, with both a few words and a bunch of fabulous photos, this week in the New Republic.
