Hey Omaha, it’s your favorite Lincoln reporter, Emily Wolf.
Today’s story features a tale of two cities.
When folks think of pardons, they usually think of a governor’s grace or a president’s mercy. But in Lincoln and Omaha, mayors have a pardon power of their own. Mayoral pardons are offered only for violations of city law — letting a dog run loose, disturbing the peace or even assault. Pardons can be life-changing for people whose misdemeanor convictions have limited job and housing opportunities.
In Omaha, the mayoral pardon program receives requests regularly, and most are granted. In Lincoln, requests are less frequent, and the chances of getting a pardon are significantly slimmer.
Before starting the reporting process for this story, I didn’t have any idea that mayoral pardons were even an option. But speaking with pardon recipients in Omaha made it clear just how much they can impact a person’s future — and offer a chance at redemption.
Curious about whether you or a loved one could get an Omaha pardon? Here’s a link to the form and eligibility requirements.
You can read the story by clicking here (or by clicking the image above).
We also have an update on a story from Sara Gentzler about staff at Kearney’s state-run youth treatment center allegedly sexually abusing teenagers. The state is now moving all the boys in the center to Omaha, part of a wider plan to better shuffle in-custody kids. Douglas County Public Defender Tom Riley questions how the kids will receive appropriate programming during this move.
— Emily Wolf, Flatwater Free Press
Learn more about Flatwater Free Press sponsorship options »
The Nebraska Board of Pardons met earlier this month at the Capitol to review pardon, commutation and reprieve applications, unanimously denying multiple groups of cases without testimony under its group-motion process. The board then heard individual pardon requests, denying several after raising concerns about credibility, public safety and the seriousness of underlying offenses, while tabling a handful of cases to allow for additional information. Several applicants were granted pardons after describing decades of sobriety, community involvement or stable post-conviction lives, with the meeting concluding after several hours of deliberations. 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
You may have noticed that it’s terrible outside. So, time to do the time-honored Nebraska January tradition of finding indoor activities that make you forget for a moment that you are silly enough to live in Nebraska in January.
The Oscar nominations will be announced by the time you read this, and several movies expected to be serious contenders are playing at my fave Omaha movie theaters. “Marty Supreme,” “No Other Choice” and “Hamnet” can be found at Film Streams. You can see “One Battle After Another,” “Frankenstein” and “Sinners” at the Alamo Drafthouse this weekend. The Aksarben Cinema also has “Marty” and “Hamnet.”
The Bemis Center is a fantastic spot to hide from the cold. I’m intrigued by this new exhibition, by Austin-based artist Ezra Masch, that is an “immersive audio-visual performance that reimagines the relationship between sound, light, and architecture.” I mean, look at the photo!
Sarah and I are going.
And finally, screw it, let’s have a drink. And not just any drink: My favorite cocktail spot in the city, Mercury, has a new menu they are unveiling tonight. I have seen a sneak preview, and it looks like one of their absolute best. Just a hint: The new menu will feature cocktails inspired by some of our city’s most iconic restaurants. (Here’s their Instagram.)
Bundle up, friends, and speed walk from your parking spot into Mercury, the Bemis or your fave theater.
— Matthew Hansen, Flatwater Free Press
Nebraska Medicine filed a lawsuit arguing the University of Nebraska’s Board of Regents and Clarkson Regional Health Services may have violated agreements in the nonprofit hospital’s governing documents. Regents voted last week to move forward on an $800 million deal to buy out Clarkson’s half of Nebraska Medicine, writes Zach Wendling at the Nebraska Examiner. A new bill in the Nebraska Legislature would require deals like this to receive lawmaker approval, reports Mike Bell at WOWT.
The Omaha area’s food bank announced record food and money donations at a time of increased demand and rising costs. The annual drive raised nearly $5 million and collected 216,237 pounds of food, The World-Herald’s Dan Crisler reports.
(You may need a subscription to read this story.)
You might be living under a rock (or inside a dam) if you haven’t heard this yet: Buc-ee’s is coming. Gretna’s mayor announced there are plans to build one of those “Disney World of gas stations” near Nebraska Crossing. The 74,000-square-foot travel center will take advantage of so-far-inactive tax credits that got caught up in a contentious battle between the city and Nebraska Crossing’s developer, writes Cindy Gonzalez at the Nebraska Examiner.
Bellevue city officials got extreme discounts on surplus city vehicles by circumventing a public bidding process, according to Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley. The city’s administrator and finance director purchased cars for themselves or their families, though Dan Crisler at The World-Herald writes that the scheme also included lawnmowers, bicycles and boats. (You may need a subscription to read this story.)
The Flatwater Free Press is published by the Nebraska Journalism Trust, a 501(c)(3) public charity