Hey Omaha, Chris here.
Sometimes national headlines become local news. A vice presidential candidate makes America wonder “What’s a Runza?” or one of the world’s richest men makes a bombshell announcement about his fortune.
At Flatwater, we love telling these stories the way only a hometown source can. Lately, we’ve had our hands full.
In January, President Donald Trump empowered Elon Musk to overhaul federal agencies, which the tech giant alleged (without proof) are controlled by “fraudsters” in a speech from the Oval Office recently.
The University of Nebraska system could lose $27 million in annual research funding, according to Omaha reporter Jeremy Turley. Creighton could lose $1.5 million and places like Boys Town also would see funding slashed, he writes. The money keeps lights on, water running and equipment clean.
From NU President Jeff Gold down to researchers, the people Jeremy talked to aren’t mincing words on what this all means.
“It feels like science died,” one researcher said, “the killing of science.”
On the side doing the cutting, there’s a unique Nebraska connection.
A year ago, Luke Farritor was getting national media attention for deciphering ancient scrolls. Today, he’s a 23-year-old UNL dropout and Lincoln native who’s working for Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. In addition to the research funding hits, a UNL-led farming project got paused and Musk personally accused Lutheran Family Services of illegal activity with no evidence.
Some, including experts in business and law, think Farritor’s breaking the law and being used by Musk to create a government that serves the billionaire’s interests. Some former friends say an obsession with Musk has led an otherwise good person to make bad decisions. Others think Farritor just wants to help.
Of course we can’t forget about immigration. Natalia Alamdari continues to cover this issue well. She’s trying to sort facts from disinformation. Josh Shimkus started at Flatwater recently but has already written about the business effect of Trump’s policies.
Anyway, sorry for the long intro this week. It’s been hectic. I’m sure you understand. But as always, we hope to provide some salience and clarity through the noise.
Click on the hyperlinks or photos to check out the individual stories.
— Chris Bowling, Flatwater Free Press
Dante: Still local, seasonal and damn good after 15 years
When I sat down at Dante’s 15 year anniversary dinner, I noticed one big thing missing from the Italian restaurant’s celebratory menu: pizza.
Dante, which opened at the Shops of Legacy in 2009, quickly became known for Neapolitan style pizzas, and they’re still doing one of the best versions in the city. But during that 15-year run, they’ve also become known for much more: great homemade pasta, solid cocktails, Italian wine (now they’re producing wine under their own label) and one of the best desserts in the city, butterscotch budino.
This week, I took a little walk down memory lane, remembering some of my favorite bites over the years and chatting with chef and owner Nick Strawhecker about his 15-year dedication to working with local farmers and producing one of the city’s best locally, seasonally driven menus in Omaha.
Read my review here (or click on the photo above).
Sarah Baker Hansen is an award-winning writer who has covered Omaha’s food scene for more than a decade. She posts restaurant reviews and food news on her blog, sarahbakerhansen.com.
Bellevue Public Schools earned high marks in its Cognia accreditation, scoring 338— well above the national average — while its strategic plan update showed progress in mental health support, behavioral intervention and STEM education. Superintendent Jeff Rippe addressed ongoing funding challenges, including a stalled bill for additional state aid, while facilities improvements continue with the near-completion of the Frank Kumor Career Center.
During public comment, a Bellevue East student proposed stronger sustainability efforts, including replacing one million styrofoam trays with compostable or reusable alternatives. Read the full summary here and the full meeting notes on the Documenters website.
Want to help inform your community and create better journalism while getting paid? Become a Documenter today.
— Leah Wambui Keinama, Nebraska Journalism Trust
Frigid February is the worst time to live in Omaha, which makes it all the more important to find yourself some indoor meaning in our fair city. Let me help with a couple of museum recs.
I recently took a tour of UNO’s Samuel Bak Museum in Aksarben. It stunned me. Bak, a Holocaust survivor and world-renowned artist, has spent a lifetime making sense of his own childhood while helping us make sense of war and human rights. And he does it, always, with a foundation of hope – an unshakeable belief that we can be better. As I went through the little free museum, located right on Aksarben’s main drag, I kept thinking, “How did I not know about this?” It’s a hidden jewel. I’m going back soon.
And if you haven’t seen the Joslyn Art Museum’s new addition yet, now’s the month to go. The incredible new wing – and the newly acquired and displayed Phillip G. Schrager Collection – have launched the Joslyn into a new era. Also: Go soon because the Joslyn currently has a very cool show from famed artist (and Omaha native!) Ed Ruscha. But it closes Feb. 23!
— Matthew Hansen, Flatwater Free Press
After months of suspiciously little snow, Omaha got several inches of powdery white flecks that complicated commutes and got some students out of school early. At least three semi-trucks crashed on the highway as snow plows got to work Wednesday morning, WOWT reported.
An Omaha man saved his girlfriend and cat from an apartment fire earlier this month by throwing them through a third-floor window, his girlfriend told the Omaha World-Herald. Adam Kerr, who did not escape and died there, is remembered for his creativity, generosity and love for music and animals. (You may need a subscription to read this story)
A planned $14 million development in South Omaha will offer commercial space for small businesses and nonprofits, the developer told KMTV. The redevelopment of a lot at 24th and Z streets that once held a packing house will start in April.
A cyberattack last week affected newspapers owned by Lee Enterprises, including the Omaha World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star. Some were unable to print, published smaller editions or had web access interrupted, the New York Times reports. (You may need a subscription to read this story.)
Nebraska lawmakers held a hearing for a bill that would require the Omaha Housing Authority to quickly remediate apartments with bed bug infestations, KETV reports. We previously reported that public tenants are suing OHA over alleged infestations at nearly all of the agency’s high-rise complexes.
The Flatwater Free Press is published by the Nebraska Journalism Trust, a 501(c)(3) public charity