We aren’t talking enough about the dark storm clouds gathering over the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the university I and many of you attended.
Our story today, by FFP Lincoln reporter Emily Wolf, puts the size of the budget cut hanging over UNL in stark relief. The number is $27 million, but our senses are dulled to big digits.
So how about this: By year’s end, our state’s flagship public university is going to have to cut an amount of money from its budget that’s equal to the entire annual budgets of the College of Architecture, the College of Journalism and Mass Communications and the College of Law — combined.
In other words, this one is going to hurt. Emily Wolf, who had a fantastic reporting week, has more on UNL’s looming problems here.
Informant imprisoned? One of the reasons we started Flatwater Free Press — we began publishing four years ago this month! — is that we wanted to hire dogged journalists who had the time, talent and support to tell stories that likely wouldn’t otherwise be told.
I have a good example to show you from this week.
Reporters Jeremy Turley and the aforementioned Wolf spent weeks untangling the strange case of Eudis Cuéllar Martínez. It was confusing. It required a serious knowledge of court documents, immigration law and Spanish, too.
But they used their time and talent to figure it out, and here’s what they found:
Martinez, a Venezeulan living in Nebraska while awaiting an asylum hearing, had in fact helped the feds bust open a giant human trafficking ring in Omaha. (He appears to me to be a victim of that trafficking.)
He’d served as a de facto government informant, though the government disputes the use of the word “informant.”
What did he get for his trouble? After helping the feds, he got arrested during the sting. He’s now sitting into jail, bracing to be deported.
It’s a really important Nebraska story for us to know. And it’s one we do know because of Turley and Wolf’s hard work.
Football and faith: Another reason we started FFP four years ago is we wanted to tell stories that bind us together, stories of Nebraskans that can resonate no matter if you live over here by the Missouri River or over there by the Niobrara.
We also did that this week, thanks to new correspondent Tony Chapman. He brings us the story of Da’Nelle and Kurt Earl. It’s a story about the Lincoln Christian football team. But it’s really a story about how a couple and a community can triumph even when faced with the worst possible news.
Let’s do it, Flatwater fans! OK, listen up. We have sold out the first two Flatwater Free Press Festivals, codename FlatFest. Our third one is coming up Sept. 17 at Omaha’s Kiewit Luminarium. It’s going to be amazing … I have spoken a few times now to New York Times legend Dean Baquet, who I will interview onstage, and I can guarantee you our convo is going to be fascinating.
But first I need your help. We are so close to selling out. Roughly 40 tickets left once various spoken-for tickets are factored in.
Selling out helps us make this a successful fundraiser. It helps us fund the quality journalism you see above in this newsletter. And it will make this pep rally for Nebraska news all the more joyous. Learn more and buy those final remaining tickets here! (The free afternoon event is in fact sold out, but a ticket to the evening event gets you into that, too.)
Are you on hemming and hawing? Saying, “But Matthew, it’s a Wednesday night!” I know, I know. I value Netflix and pajamas, too. But this is going to be epic. And we would love to see your shining face there.
Coming soon: A deeply reported story on the prison system we have been working out with our friends at the Lincoln Journal Star. An investigation into how the state counts deaths … and why it very much matters. And some big investigative projects that FFP reporters Yanqi Xu and Chris Bowling have been working hard on with the New York Times and ProPublica, respectively.
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].
See you next week,
— 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:
- Remember that “Big, Beautiful Bill” that the House and Senate passed a bit ago? It appears it’s going to blow a big hole into Nebraska’s already sizable state budget problem. Let Erin Bamer of the Nebraska Examiner explain.
- Sen. Pete Ricketts defended that same bill during a conversation with Nebraska reporters this week, saying it will help Nebraska families by keeping their taxes lower. Story by Nebraska Public Media’s Fred Knapp.
- Ricketts also said he had disagreements with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and disagrees with some of his methods, but expressed general support for the embattled HHS director as other U.S. senators called for his head. Story by the Omaha World-Herald’s Ben Doody. (You may need OWH subscriber access to read this story.)
- State senators got their first briefing on the proposed ICE detention facility to be opened in what has previously been a state prison in McCook. They got some answers, and left with some confusion. Stories by the Nebraska Examiner’s Bamer and the Lincoln Journal Star’s Andrew Wegley. (You may need LJS subscriber access to read the LJS story.)
- More than a dozen Lincoln child care centers have closed in the past few years, affecting some 1,200 children (and their parents), reports the Journal Star’s Jenna Ebbers. But things are starting to get a bit better for child care in the Star City. (You may need LJS subscriber access to view this story.)
- More Lincoln news: The Lincoln Public Schools’ Board of Education is going to consider naming John Skretta the school district’s permanent superintendent, reports 10/11 News Now.
- And finally, a lovely one from the Deseret News, focused on the little newspaper in Hooker County, Nebraska — and how it’s succeeding as so many others fail.
