FFP managing editor Ryan Hoffman here. Some of my favorite Flatwater stories are what we call “stories that bind us together.” They’re pieces that shine a light on a person or place deserving of the attention — stories that make us proud of the state we call home. This week, we’ve got two such stories.
The first takes us to tiny North Loup, where a family-run business transformed from a humble popcorn operation into an international popcorn seed heavyweight. The Zangger family produces a sizable amount of the global hybrid seed supply — and they employ a lot of people in the process. Their Nebraska-made seeds have gone to more than 40 countries, which has helped make North Loup, home to fewer than 300 people, an unassuming international destination.
FFP contributor Nasrin Nawa brings us the surprising story of how the Zangger family built a popcorn giant.
‘A living reunion’: If you’re like me, you’ve probably heard of Native Omaha Days. And if you’re like me, you probably had no clue that this celebration of Black pride and unity brings thousands and thousands of Omahans from across the country back home every two years.
Contributor Leo Adam Biga dug into the event’s history and spoke with more than a dozen people about why this longstanding North Omaha tradition matters so much to so many people.
Bierock, anyone? If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve probably downed a Runza or two. It’s hard to name a more quintessentially Nebraska food. But how much do you know about the history of the Runza? Our latest Flatwater Explains has you covered.
Reporter Natalia Alamdari, who I’m fairly certain has had a Runza or two while traversing the state as our Seacrest Greater Nebraska reporter, with the backstory on a Nebraska dietary staple.
See you in Hastings: Flatwater staffers will be in Hastings Thursday, July 24, for a moderated discussion about domestic violence. FFP reporter Emily Wolf, who reported on the troubling spate of murder-suicides in our state, will moderate the talk, featuring experts and advocates working to support survivors and prevent this violence in the first place.
Learn more and register for the event here. We hope to see you there.
Earlier that afternoon, we’ll be joining our partners at the Hastings Tribune and Civic Nebraska for an open house. The Trib, which is about to celebrate its 120th anniversary of publishing, is graciously hosting this casual gathering from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at 908 W. Second St. Stop by if you want to meet our staff, share a news tip or just talk journalism.
Athletes wanted: We’re looking for current and former Omaha-area high school athletes who transferred to a new school or district through option enrollment. If you or someone you know fits that bill, reach out to FFP reporter Jeremy Turley at [email protected].
Mail time … maybe: Delivering the mail in rural America is an objectively inefficient endeavor. But it’s vitally important for people like Alan Smith, a 72-year-old retired psychologist and Navy veteran living 16 miles outside Scottsbluff. Most of the medications he relies on come via the mail.
Smith is among those voicing concerns about ideas for fixing the Postal Service’s ballooning budget problem — ideas that include further cuts to rural mail service and potential privatization of the USPS.
This story, by The Midwest Newsroom’s Nick Loomis, is well worth the read.
New era for college sports: The college sports landscape has changed in some major ways in recent years, and that evolution will continue in the wake of the NCAA’s landmark $2.77 billion settlement.
Ani Schutz at Silicon Prairie News, our sister outlet covering tech, entrepreneurship and business news, provides an in-depth look at the changing business of college sports here in Nebraska.
Questions, please: Some of our best journalism originates with a tip from you. Have a question that our reporters need to look into? Complete this form or reach our newsroom at [email protected].
Sincerely,
—Ryan Hoffman, managing 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:
- The Lincoln-based contractor picked to build the state’s new prison is facing claims of millions of dollars in damages for construction errors and delays on a jail it built in Iowa, reports Fred Knapp at Nebraska Public Media.
- A 10-year-old girl hasn’t been sleeping or eating. A 6-year-old boy cries all the time. A 7-year-old has fallen into a depression. These are just some of the young children of women detained during the ICE raid at Glenn Valley Foods. Grace Lewis at the Omaha World-Herald continues her must-read coverage of the raid’s fallout.
Meanwhile, federal prosecutors won’t pursue Social Security fraud charges against many of the workers due to a “unique set of facts,” Lewis reported. (May need a World-Herald subscription to access these articles.) - When the health clinic in Curtis announced it was closing, it cited the Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump’s signature tax and spending bill. Residents aren’t buying it, according to the Washington Post. One Nebraskan’s response to the clinic pinning the blame on Trump: “Horse feathers.” (May need a Washington Post subscription to read this article.)
- U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts bought 3,459 acres of land in northwest Nebraska in December, reports Paul Hammel at the Nebraska Examiner.
Major purchases by wealthy individuals and organizations have generated plenty of controversy in recent years, as the FFP team documented during our series Who’s Buying Nebraska? - Speaking of land, the average value of farmland in Nebraska fell for the first time in six years, reports NTV’s Ariana Joy Cobler.
- Home buyers in Nebraska, including some whose houses were destroyed in the 2024 tornadoes, say they’re living a nightmare after paying hundreds of thousands of dollars only to have the home builder disappear, reports Mike McKnight with WOWT.
- Nebraska ended the fiscal year about $86 million below its expected tax revenues, adding to the budget woes lawmakers will have to address next year, reports Erin Bamer of the Nebraska Examiner.
- Meanwhile, Gov. Jim Pillen has asked state agencies to identify $500 million in cuts, a lofty goal that would inevitably lead to some layoffs, reports Andrew Wegley at the Journal Star. (May need a Journal Star subscription to access this article.)
- Ending on a positive note: When a Lincoln couple wanted another child but faced pregnancy complications, they opted for foster care. The decision and a commitment to keep five siblings together resulted in a blended family with two moms, four dads and six kids. A heartwarming story from Margaret Reist at the Journal Star. (May need a subscription to access this article.)
