One of the things I adore in journalism is unearthing a little story that reveals something big about the best of who we are. The type of story that reminds us that, if we look hard enough, kindness and empathy and friendship can and will pop out from the unlikeliest places, waving wildly, reminding us that yes, they still exist.
Such it is with our latest story, a little tale about what grows alongside the corn harvested from nearly two-dozen central Nebraska plots of land each fall. Not long ago, the Pawnee people had lost their connection with Pawnee corn, which bursts forth with color and had fed the tribe (in more ways than one) for centuries. But then a group of Pawnee women and a crew of Nebraska growers revived that ancient crop. They saved it from extinction. They started a new tradition, grew it from something very old. You will not see the word “Thanksgiving” in this story. But I think veteran ag reporter Lori Potter captured the best possible spirit of that word in her latest piece.
McCook is McCookin’: I apologize. I am already on my fourth cup of coffee. But I’m also buzzed on McCook. We took the staff of FFP west this week, including our two new reporters, Yanqi Xu and Natalia Alamdari, who just moved to the state and hadn’t yet been outside of Omaha and Lincoln. The trip, which we timed in conjunction with the Nebraska Community Foundation’s annual celebration, was valuable for so many reasons. We found a few great story ideas, one about a bierock business transition and another about a Dutch man who knows more about the Nebraska State Capitol building than any Nebraskan. We saw amazing things, like the top floor of the old hotel that has been repurposed into what is quite possibly the coolest art space in all of Nebraska. (I’m not kidding. It’s stunning.) And we met so, so many fantastic new people, who told us about their frustrations, and their hopes and dreams for their hometowns. This is our third listening tour, following visits to Norfolk in September and Nebraska City last month. We plan to keep doing one a month ‘til we drop. Want us to come to your town? Reach out to our fearless executive director Matt Wynn at [email protected].
Up next: We have two important stories in the works, one from Yanqi on a pressing issue currently facing Omaha, and another from recently retired Journal Star columnist Cindy Lange-Kubick, who is following up on one of the biggest things that happened in Lincoln this year. Be looking for those, as well as a new story from yours truly, in email newsletters to come.
One last thing: Remember that these stories are your stories, and the Flatwater Free Press could always use your help. Do you know of a story that needs to be told? Send us your news tips using this form or via [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:
- Omaha World-Herald reporter Emily Nitcher shined a very important light on a increasingly dire problem: Teachers are burning out and leaving the profession, which in turn strains Nebraska’s already-strained schools.
- Speaking of education: The North Platte Telegram’s Todd Van Kampen took a newly proposed plan to change the way we pay for schools, crunched the numbers, and showed local readers how this change could impact North Platte-area taxpayers and students.
- Okay, hold onto your butts…we are now going to tell you to watch a story about Iowa. PBS has made a wonderful documentary about Art Cullen, his family and their fight to preserve their small-town newspaper. Our friends over at Film Streams Omaha have already shown it as well. You should watch Storm Lake. Even though it’s about Iowa.
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