Natalia Alamdari here slotting in for Matthew Hansen. Buckle up, everyone, we’ve got a newsletter jam-packed with great journalism this week.
After Tyson announced it would be closing its Lexington plant, community members sprang into action. The public library helped people apply for unemployment. Refugee services brought in lawyers to present on workers’ rights. The local community foundation raised upward of $300,000.
But two weeks into distributing that aid to laid-off workers, the foundation hit pause. Former Tyson employees desperate for help lined up outside aid offices as early as 2 a.m. Local organizations helping with relief were overwhelmed and backlogged. Only $77,000 remained in the pool of funds.
Reporter Sara Gentzler spent time in Lexington talking to volunteers, the organizations trying to match people with aid and the former Tyson employees whose lives were upended.
House in Nebraska: London-born indie musician Cornelia Murr had no ties to Nebraska when her mother moved to Red Cloud. Murr fell in love with the town. She bought a house, fixed it up and finished her latest album there. A year after the album’s release, she’s returning to Nebraska for a show at the Red Cloud Opera House. Tim McMahan brings you the story.
A tale of two health teams: UNMC and Nebraska Medicine – two separate entities – are set to grow closer this summer as NU takes full ownership. Experts told reporter Destiny Herbers it’s a move that reflects a nationwide trend of university hospitals growing into “economic juggernauts.”
And for those of you reading about the medical merger and wondering “UNMC and Nebraska Medicine aren’t the same thing??” Destiny explains the differences between the two organizations for you here.
Thank you to our sponsor: This week, it’s Emily Moody Ergonomics. Emily visited the Flatwater office this week, where she was horrified to see a room of journalists all hunched over our laptops. Emily’s presentation on how to properly set up your desk blew our minds — three of my colleagues took the armrests off their chairs. I realized my laptop was too low and my desk was too high. Want Emily to assess your office’s ergonomics to reduce pain and boost productivity? Schedule a consultation here.
Thank you to Emily for supporting the mission (and posture) of nonprofit news.
Tenant troubles: The Omaha Housing Authority hasn’t filed evictions in seven months as it sues over a new state law. Staff say it’s unsafe for both residents and employees — a few tenants are threatening staff and committing crimes, writes Flatwater reporter Jeremy Turley. Those tenants still live in OHA housing.
Sled success: Nebraskan Curt Tomasevicz has a stacked resume: He played football for the Huskers. He’s a performance research analyst for the Husker athletic department, on top of being an assistant engineering professor. And he was an … Olympic bobsledder?
That’s right, and now the two-time Olympic medalist from the plains is in Italy to support Team USA as director of sport performance for USA Bobsledding. Turns out, the athletic skills of playing football translate well to loading a bobsled at top speed. Correspondent Greg Echlin brings you the story.
Join us in Kearney: We’re taking our events on the road! On April 10, join us for the first Flatwater Forum: Tri-Cities, a day to come together and put central Nebraska news center stage. We’ll have panels of local experts and newsmakers for a series of “journalism on stage” conversations at the World Theatre in Kearney, with an afterparty at the Museum of Nebraska Art. Seats are limited, so register today to ensure your spot.
Survey says: Last year, an FFP reader suggested more collaborations with other newsrooms. “I love the quality of the stories and by potentially partnering with other different organizations there might be more ability to do more great stories,” they told us.
They were right. And since then, we’ve had four. We covered a jail death in Tecumseh with the Lincoln Journal Star. High school athlete transfers with Omaha Magazine. We’re even teaming up with ProPublica and the New York Times.
We got this feedback through the FFP reader survey. And we want more of it. This four-question, anonymous survey is your chance to let us know what’s on your mind.
Take the survey here.
Sincerely,
Natalia Alamdari, Investigative 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 my eye this week.
- Aaron Sanderford of the Nebraska Examiner brings us another chapter of the conflict between the Governor’s Office and State Auditor Mike Foley: Foley has referred two findings of an audit to the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office and the Nebraska State Patrol for investigation and possible prosecution.
- An analysis from Governing found that state tax revenues are dropping below long-term trends, and Nebraska ranks among the lowest. Nebraska’s income tax collections were 44% below trend during the fourth quarter of 2024.
- Tariffs are hitting Nebraska’s manufacturing sector, Nebraska Public Media reports. From chocolate to farm equipment, Nebraska businesses have seen the prices for materials skyrocket.
- Nebraska casinos raked in a boatload of cash last year, with $262 million in revenue and $52 million in tax revenue. That blows past 2024’s record of $145 million in revenue, 10/11 News reports.
- The Omaha World-Herald’s Josh Reyes takes you inside the reporting process in this story about the Handmaids of Nebraska, the secretive protesters who Gov. Jim Pillen called an ableist slur. Through security guards and Signal chats, he spoke with members of the group. (You may need OWH subscriber access to view this story.)
- Attorneys using AI to write briefs? State Supreme Court justices questioned an attorney over whether an error-riddled brief was generated with AI, the Lincoln Journal Star reported. The attorney insisted no, but it raises questions about the ethics of AI in law. (You may need LJS subscriber access to view this story.)
- The front page of Forbes magazine features a deep dive into the Omaha billionaire formerly known as Ron Carson. Now, after changing his first name to Omani, Carson tells Forbes about pulling himself out of poverty, building a $55 billion financial giant, his psychedelic healing journey and his pursuit of bliss.
