Not so long ago, back in the year 2000, there were exactly zero Dollar Generals anywhere in Nebraska save for Lincoln and Omaha.
Today, there are 115 in small-town Nebraska. Let me repeat that: Today, there are 115 different Dollar Generals in Nebraska towns with fewer than 10,000 residents.
That’s among the revelations in today’s story by FFP senior reporter Natalia Alamdari. Alamdari, the Seacrest Greater Nebraska reporter, set out to understand why 1 in 5 small-town grocery stories have closed in the past quarter century.
There are many reasons for this, and the story details them. But the rapid expansion of Dollar Generals and other chain dollar stores is a factor, say both experts and small-town grocery store owners.
Natalia explains why this very much matters in small-town Nebraska.
Nebraska’s shame: In some recent years, Nebraska has been the worst state in the country for Black mothers and babies. 50th out of 50.
In other years, we have been 46th or 43rd or 48th. Always terrible. Always near the bottom.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of our state coming in last on something as essential as the health and safety of new mothers and newborn babies.
But there are some new challenges, too. Chief among them: A rapid loss of federal funding because it’s being labeled “DEI.”
We’re going to be holding another free “journalism on stage” event, co-sponsored by the Omaha Community Foundation, on this issue of maternal health in Omaha and Nebraska. In August, Sara Gentzler, herself a working mom with two adorable toddlers, will be moderating a panel of experts, advocates and fellow mothers. I will have more info on that next week, as well as a link to register.
I’m proud that Sara and FFP are continue to shine a light on this (literally) life- and-death issue in Nebraska.
Join us in Hastings: Hey, speaking of shining a light on important issues. We’re going to be in Hastings on July 24 to talk about the spate of recent murder-suicides in Nebraska, and the larger issue of domestic violence. FFP reporter Emily Wolf will moderate a panel of experts and advocates working to highlight the problem — and work toward solutions.
Here’s the link to learn more and register. Hope to see my fellow south-central Nebraskans there!
Coming soon: Stories on Nebraska’s popcorn giant, a “Flatwater Explains” on the history of the Runza, a steakhouse story out of York … geez, I guess July is food month at Flatwater. Also, we will have a story on the past, present and future of the Maha Music Festival, an interesting one on how taxpayer money is being used in the Omaha suburbs, and more.
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:
- Grace Lewis, a gosh-darn senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, wins my highly unofficial award for “Important Nebraska Story of the Week.” For the Omaha World-Herald, she got an interview with 13 women now detained in North Platte after being swept up in that massive immigration raid at Glenn Valley Foods last month. The women told Grace that they were taunted, misled and mistreated by ICE agents, charges that the government strongly denies. (You may need to be a World-Herald subscriber to read this story.)
Hearing from all sides on this one, instead of just the official word … that’s always going to be quality journalism in my book. Nice work, Grace. - This newsletter doesn’t much deal with sports, but I can’t just pass by the Scott Frost news this week, can I? Maybe I can, but won’t … because I enjoyed this Mitch Sherman column on Frost in The Athletic.
- Gov. Jim Pillen granted an extended interview with national media outlet Politico, and it’s an interesting one. Reporter Shia Kapos asks him about tariffs and how they may affect Nebraska, the loss of Medicaid federal funding, the loss of SNAP funding and much more.
Also — and I say this with no snark intended — there’s a cute picture of the governor’s dog. - Foreign ownership of farmland is back in the news. Here’s a story about that from Steve White, now reporting for KRVN.
It also gives me an excuse to repost one of the most ambitious projects we have ever done — a deep dive into who actually owns Nebraska farmland by FFP investigative reporters Destiny Herbers and Yanqi Xu. Here’s the first story in “Who’s Buying Nebraska?” and the accompanying Top 10 and Top 100 lists. You can find the rest of the stories at the bottom. Enjoy! - Nebraska City neighbors report that the nearby meat processing plant stinks. Literally. Now city leaders are pushing the plant to clean up its act. Important local reporting from KETV Channel 7.
- Dan Osborn announced this week that he’s running against Sen. Pete Ricketts, setting up an interesting race between the independent and the incumbent Republican. Story by the Nebraska Examiner’s Juan Salinas II.
- In Omaha, the price tag for the street car is going up, reports WOWT Channel 6. But new Mayor John Ewing tells the OWH that it’s also going to have significant benefits for the city, and details some. (You may need an OWH subscription to read the OWH story.)
- In other immigration news: ICE says it arrested an MS-13 gang kingpin in Omaha, reports the Nebraska Examiner’s Aaron Sanderford. And two men with Nebraska ties were deported to South Sudan, though one is from Burma and the other fears for his life in the war-torn country. Stories by KNLV Radio and the Lincoln Journal Star. (You may need Journal Star subscriber access to view that story.)
- An Illinois police officer is suing Saline County after he says he was racially profiled during an I-80 stop. Story by the Journal Star’s Lori Pilger. (You may need Journal Star subscriber access to view this story.)
- The 135-year-old Olde Main Street Inn, a historic hotel in Chadron, is up for sale, reports allegedly retired Paul Hammel of the Nebraska Examiner.
- And finally, a one-of-a-kind business in Gibbon. It sells honey from the owners’ bees, a bunch of other related products, and also coffee, and also jewelry, and also other things! I’m going to the Brewed Bee the next time I’m in the area. Nice story from Pure Nebraska on 10/11 News Now.
