This morning, I stared longingly at the jacket I haven’t worn once in Nebraska this October, put it back in the closet and got out my winter coat.
I may have also cursed loudly enough that I startled our cat Tiny.
But the fickle gods of Nebraska weather cannot stop me as I write today’s newsletter. I am indoors. I am wearing a shacket — that’s a shirt and a jacket in one, people. I’m warming my hands over the keys of this laptop. Let’s get into it.
A fight over housing:
You may have heard that housing is scarce in Nebraska. Today’s story from our managing editor and Lincoln reporter Ryan Hoffman shows that housing here could actually get scarcer for the people who need it most.
Hoffman reports on a dispute over the value of 21 Lincoln-area properties that has mushroomed into a court battle that could endanger the construction of future affordable housing across the state.
There are solutions already being discussed. But there’s also a chance that the unintended consequence of this fight will make it even harder for Nebraskans of low income to find a place to call home — and it’s already pretty darn hard.
Also, check out the graphic that shows how the property tax valuations of some of those Lincoln properties have absolutely skyrocketed from last year to this year. It’s eye opening.
Where art thou, Bosco? He once stood proudly atop a pedestal in Omaha’s Elmwood Park, wearing his uniform and holding his bat. But then he vanished — for decades, only the pedestal has remained.
It turns out that Bosco disappeared — or was disappeared — after a war of words against the statue. And also because of a world war.
A fun little history story by our freelancer Kevin Warneke.
We’re making a difference, Vol. 381:
Two things that happened this week reminded me that FFP journalism we published more than a year ago — two stories by Addie Costello, then an intern barely old enough to enter bars — continues to spark conversation and potential change in this state we call home.
The first: Matt Olberding, a Journal Star editor, posted on social media that the village of Dix, Nebraska, in Kimball County, had failed to pay federal payroll taxes for a decade. The alleged reason: The village clerk couldn’t figure out how to file to the IRS electronically, so “she just quit sending them” Olberding posted about the audit. Now they owe $130,000 in back taxes and penalties, he wrote.
That reminded me of Addie’s story from summer 2022 … the one showing that 17 different village clerks in Nebraska have stolen money from their small towns in the past decade. Seventeen!
Maybe village boards and the State of Nebraska need to get a better handle on the people tasked with running the operations of our smallest and often most vulnerable towns.
The second reminded me that yes, we are making a difference.
The Nebraska Examiner’s Aaron Sanderford reported this week that the Nebraska Legislature is examining “maternal care deserts” — essentially places where you have to drive long distances in order to deliver a baby, which can be quite a problem when you are HAVING A BABY.
The story was brought up by a state senator at this week’s legislative hearing: This one, written by Addie, that shows that 55 counties in the state have no hospital offering birthing services — and shows the real-life impact on a mom in Franklin, Nebraska.
People in the Nebraska Legislature and in other halls of power in this state are continuing to pay attention to important issues raised by Flatwater stories — issues that affect small-town moms, and residents of our state’s smallest places.
And, I gotta say, I think that’s pretty damn cool.
Pillen sidestep:
A final note, this one spinning out of a nice follow-up that the Examiner’s Paul Hammel did this week on Gov. Jim Pillen refusing to apologize for comments he recently made about FFP reporter Yanqi Xu.
We have received so many thoughtful emails and kind notes from Nebraskans in the wake of this story, which became a national story. Nebraskans are standing up for Yanqi and FFP. Nebraskans are standing up and applauding her good journalism on nitrate in the drinking water of a growing number of rural communities in Nebraska.
I wanted to say thank you for that. It means a lot to all of us here at FFP. And it reminds me that there’s a lot of Nebraskans out there who understand right and wrong.
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:
- Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers is attempting again to crack down on Delta 8, that “marijuana adjacent” compound being sold in Nebraska though marijuana itself remains illegal. Story from the OWH’s Molly Ashford.
- Here’s that story on maternal care deserts in Nebraska, from the Examiner’s Sanderford, appearing here in Nebraska Public Media. As the headline says: Too many Nebraskans live too far from doctors who deliver babies.
- Speaking of Nebraska Public Media: They have a new documentary out on how Nebraska’s rural fire departments are in crisis. As an editor, I’m jealous … we have talked about a similar story. As a Nebraskan, I’m so glad they focused on this important issue. Check it out here.
- Nebraska Congressman Mike Flood tried to get House Republicans on the same page this week by circulating a unity pledge. The Journal Star’s Andrew Wegley with that story.
- The State of Nebraska isn’t claiming federal money that could help Nebraska families, Channel 7’s Julie Cornell reports.
