Let me slow down for a sec on a hectic Friday and pull back the curtain on a part of Flatwater’s journalism that I think is powerful, and crucial to Nebraska.
For much of the past year, Flatwater reporter Sara Gentzler has been the lone reporter focused on the mess at a youth rehabilitation center in Kearney. She broke the story of sexual abuse allegations at this place, which the state calls the YRTC. She has revealed news of angry judges, multiple arrests and the potential deep rot at this center which houses kids who have gotten in trouble or need state supervision. She has covered the governor’s promises of accountability, and the subsequent firing of the center’s leader.
Today, we published her story about the state’s giant reshuffling inside the system meant to rehabilitate and care for the state’s most at-risk kids, a reshuffling that some advocates and lawmakers say doesn’t make sense.
She has covered this with her usual mix of dogged determination and unimpeachable fairness — I’ve noticed that lawmakers and others continue to speak to her even when she’s reporting things causing them discomfort. I think they do in part because they trust her, even when she’s making them mad.
She’s not doing this YRTC reporting because it’s particularly attractive or fun work, to be clear. These are tough stories to tell, for all sorts of reasons.
She’s doing this because she knows there needs to be a journalist present in such moments, to hold a mirror up to the situation for readers, so you can clearly see what’s happening. There needs to be a reporter there to hold the state accountable as it tries to make things better.
We’re forever going to try to hold state and local government accountable at every level, no matter Nebraska geography or leaders’ political party.
We’re going to do this because it needs to be done.
Running through that brick wall: Do you like what you hear? Does this get you a little fired up about Nebraska journalism? I hope so. I promise I’m fired up.
We once schemed that, as a fundraiser, I would dress up like the Kool-Aid Man and run through a (fake) brick wall for Nebraska journalism. We abandoned that plan after considering the percentage chance that I would tear up a knee and then we’d have to try to explain that to our insurance carrier.
So, just imagine me doing that for your enjoyment. And then consider that THIS IS THE LAST WEEK of the spring pledge drive, where we’re asking you to kick in a little of your hard-earned dough and make a monthly or annual recurring gift to fund the operations of this feisty nonprofit newsroom.
With your help, we have already beaten our original goal — 100 new recurring donors — and then sprinted right past our stretch goal of 150. We have also received 112 individual one-time gifts, which gets me fired up all over again!
We’re at 158 new recurring donors as I type this. I can see 200! I can taste the Kool-Aid!
Get in here, donate today, and run with me towards that brick wall and OHHHHHH YEAAAAAAAH!
I got my heart rate up a little there. I’m gonna count that as a workout.
Immigration help vanishing: A University of Nebraska-Lincoln law clinic that has long offered legal aid to immigrants across Nebraska — aid that has become even more crucial during the current crackdown — is soon to be no more.
Flatwater Lincoln reporter Emily Wolf with an important story on why it’s closing after nearly three decades, and the void it leaves.
Recycling Refresh? Speaking of accountability…Kaitlyn Kelly, a University of Nebraska-Omaha senior and our new undergraduate fellow, had an interesting story comparing Omaha’s recycling program to its peer cities.
Spoiler alert: Nebraska’s biggest city has made some progress, but we don’t look so hot when compared to our neighbors.
Congratulations to Kaitlyn on her first story for Flatwater! I got to work with her a bit this week, and it’s so fun to have our first-ever UNO news intern in the newsroom.
New Omaha-based movie: A new movie whose fictional plot revolves around a very real (and really disastrous) Nebraska moment premiered at Film Streams in Omaha this week. Correspondent Leo Adam Biga with the story of the movie, and the story behind it (spoiler warning if you plan on seeing the movie).
Join me and Yanqi at the movies! Yours truly and Flatwater senior investigative reporter and current New York Times’ local investigations fellow Yanqi Xu will be appearing at the aforementioned Film Streams’ Ruth Solokof Theater in North Downtown on May 7.
We’ll be there to introduce and watch the new journalism documentary, “Steal This Story, Please!”
Yanqi and I will be there to answer your questions before and after the 7 p.m. show on May 7. Before the screening, I will speak for a few moments about Flatwater journalism, and Yanqi will talk about her current work at the New York Times.
I’m excited to offer a discount code, FFP57, that will get you the discounted member price for “Steal This Story, Please!” Buy your discounted tickets here.
See you at the movies!
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
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:
- How have I gotten this far into the newsletter without discussing what is undoubtedly the most incredible Nebraska story of the week. They made an ice cream. The ice cream tastes like a Runza. That’s because it’s Runza ice cream. Story by 10/11 News Now.
- Is former state lawmaker and one-time Republican gubernatorial candidate Brett Lindstrom going to run for governor again…this time as an independent? Lindstrom broke a little news on The Dan Parsons Show this week. And here’s the subsequent story by Juan Salinas II in the Nebraska Examiner.
- It turns out that Ted Carter, while the University of Nebraska president, was trying to secure a job for the same woman he later admitted to having an inappropriate relationship with at Ohio State — a relationship and conflict of interest violation that ended in his resignation.
Good stories on the situation here by the Journal Star’s Chris Dunker and Nebraska Public Media’s Jolie Peal. (You may need an LJS subscription to read that Journal Star story.) - A shoutout to NPM, who we are launching a collaboration with next week. They had several statewide stories that I read with care this week. A story about how rural banking leaders think their local economies are already in recession, and an important story by News Director Matt Olberding on how a part of Nebraska is now in the absolute worst level of drought.
- The University of Nebraska-Kearney has pulled a professional development module about creating a welcoming environment for transgender students after criticism from Gov. Jim Pillen and the popular anti-LGBTQ+ social media account Libs of TikTok. Chris Dunker with the Journal Star with the story. (You may need LJS subscriber access to view this story)
- And finally, two updates on the fallout from that Tyson plant closure in Lexington from Nebraska Rural Radio. A story about frustrated residents showing up to the city council meeting, and a story about how the city is now acquiring the property around the closed plant.
