This week at the Flatwater Free Press, we shook off the February doldrums. We ignored some old ideas and preconceived notions. And we decided: You know what? We’re going to try to some new things.
And I must tell you — I think it worked.
Like the way that Flatwater reporters Sara Gentzler and Andrew Wegley, in collaboration with new projects editor Natalia Alamdari, decided to tell today’s story focused on the fallout in Lexington after Tyson’s shocking departure.
They did it in a way Flatwater had never tried before. They offered six vignettes of Lexington-area residents, including a laid-off Tyson worker, a soccer coach, a frustrated town leader and the woman who owns the restaurant across the street from the shuttered plant.
They let those six people tell their stories in their own words.
I was dubious. I tend to think that reporters are storytellers who can better tell their subjects’ stories than the subjects themselves.
But then I read Gentzler and Wegley’s work. It’s powerful. It’s raw. It’s real.
Consider the first words from 39-year-old Edith Avalos, the restaurant owner whose photo is at the top of this newsletter.
Read Edith’s words and read the others’. It’s time well spent.
Streetcar Struggles: A more conventional but every-bit-as-important story from reporter Jeremy Turley this week. Turley dove into the story beneath — quite literally beneath — the Omaha streetcar project.
Why is the project already roughly two years behind its original schedule? Why is there so much time-consuming work being done underground before the actual track construction even begins? And how much is this harming businesses on the streetcar line who have faced months where construction work tore up the streets outside their front doors?
Turley answers those questions in his latest story.
Baby’s first photo essay: Abiola Demo Kosoko has been a photo correspondent for Flatwater since we started.
He came to us recently with what became our first-ever Flatwater Free Press photo story. He said he wanted to showcase Black life in Omaha and do it in a way that went beyond the usual headlines.
He said he wanted to showcase success, celebration, joy.
He had 100,000 photos shot over 16 years in Omaha. He picked 23.
And speaking of joy: I’m so happy he had this idea and trusted us with it. I’m so happy we published it during Black History Month. It’s Abiola’s history. It’s Black Omaha history. It’s Nebraska history.
We’re doing it live in central Nebraska: I’m excited to unveil the guests and panels for “Flatwater Forum: Tri Cities,” the free journalism-on-stage event we’re holding at Kearney’s World Theatre on April 10.
From the stage, we’ll be interviewing the chief justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court.
We’ll be leading a panel on the fallout from Tyson’s closure in Lexington.
Legendary central Nebraska reporter Steve White will moderate a discussion of the present and future of agriculture.
Another guest journalist, this one from higher ed nonprofit newsroom Open Campus, will quiz three central Nebraska college leaders about the future of higher ed.
And much more. Check out the full itinerary and panelists here, then RSVP to the afternoon event and/or a Happy Hour gathering at the Museum of Nebraska Art.
See you soon, Central Nebraska.
Thank you to our new sponsor: It’s Hastings College.
Hastings College is 40 miles up the highway from where I grew up in Red Cloud. It’s the very first college campus I remember setting foot on. It’s the first place I looked around and thought, “Yup, this is what college is supposed to look like.” It has always seemed like such a nice place. A special place.
So it was super cool to see that the college is now in the middle of a $50 million investment meant to improve the student experience. It’s upgrading housing, dining and spots where students can connect outside the classroom. And my gosh, look at The 1882, the new residential hall opening this fall.
Anyway, if you can’t tell, I’m tickled pink that Hastings College is the newest sponsor of Flatwater Free Press. Thank you, Hastings College, for supporting the mission of Nebraska nonprofit news.
A big honor for Johnny’s: I could have told you that Johnny’s Cafe is an American classic. But this week, the iconic, 103-year-old steakhouse was named just that by the James Beard Foundation — only the second-ever Nebraska restaurant to receive the honor.
The short story on Johnny’s big honor contains links to two, far better stories from Sarah Baker Hansen on the restaurant, including her definitive profile of the steakhouse and the family behind it when the South Omaha restaurant turned 100.
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:
- State lawmakers have now moved forward proposals that will, if they become law, pull $11 million from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and $5 million from a unique endowment fund that supports arts and humanities across the state. Stories by Erin Bamer of the Nebraska Examiner.
- In case you have been living under a rock or perhaps a sinkhole, please do yourself a favor and in least look at the photos and video of this massive sinkhole that developed in midtown Omaha this week. Story by KETV Channel 7.
- Jake Lawson from KOLN reported that Boyd County is without a sheriff’s office after Sheriff Clarence “Chuck” Wrede, 75, handed in his resignation and part-time staff resigned the next day. Boyd County supervisors were meeting Friday to discuss the matter.
- A team of UNL researchers is leading the way in developing the first acre of plants, including corn, on the surface of the moon or Mars. Dale Johnson from Nebraska Public Media talked with UNL’s Ehsan Fazayeli to get the details.
- I don’t often post sports stories in here, and almost never post columns …but I can’t help myself, I really enjoyed Sam McKewon’s recent column on the realities of NIL and Husker football for the World-Herald. (You may need OWH subscriber info to access.)
- Also from Sam, University of Nebraska President Jeffrey Gold reportedly is among the leaders invited to a March 6 college sports roundtable hosted by President Donald Trump. Sam cited a Yahoo report that said at least 30 representatives from the sports world were invited to the Saving College Sports Roundtable. (You may need a World-Herald subscription to read Sam’s story.)
- And finally, every spring I miss the High Plains Homestead, a gorgeous untamed spot in northwest Nebraska where Sarah and I went most every May until its lovely owners, Mike and Linda Kesselring, retired and sold it. (You can read my 2017 ode to the High Plains Homestead here, though it may require OWH subscriber access.)
Well, I recently saw this lovely story in Midwest Living about another spot to stay in this part of Nebraska. I have a feeling that Sarah and I will be staying at the Our Heritage Guest Ranch soon.
