ABOUT THIS REPORTING
Jim Pillen built one of the biggest hog enterprises in the country. Then he got elected governor. It’s a Nebraska success story – one raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
The series, a collaboration between the Flatwater Free Press and Investigate Midwest, details how Pillen built his empire, and examine some issues that arise in his newest role.
Pillen’s Rise: After building pork empire, Nebraska’s governor stands at intersection of state and ag power
Jim Pillen built one of the biggest hog enterprises in the country. Then he got elected governor. It’s a Nebraska success story – one raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
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QUICK HIT: Pigs and Power
Before becoming governor, Jim Pillen grew Nebraska's biggest hog empire. A year-long collaboration between the Flatwater Free Press and Investigate Midwest sought to tell the story. How he did it. And how it impacted Nebraskans.
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Pillen’s promises: Economic boom and little harm for neighbors. They haven’t always panned out.
As he grew Nebraska’s largest hog operation, Jim Pillen made economic and environmental assurances to residents of small communities where he was looking to build. Some residents profited. Others say Pillen Family Farms prospered while they suffered.
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Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s office, industry groups crafted bill easing ag permitting process, emails show
At a February legislative hearing, a seemingly mundane bill reforming county zoning procedures drew testimony from a big name: Gov. Jim Pillen. For those seeking to build projects…
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Governor’s comments about FFP reporter infuriating, dead wrong
In August, reporter Yanqi Xu heard her name called from a stage in Philadelphia for a national award recognizing Our Dirty Water, her series examining Nebraska’s high nitrate…
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Pillen’s Water: High nitrate detected on hog farms owned by Nebraska’s governor
Monitoring wells at 16 Pillen family-tied operations have tested for nitrate levels far above legal drinking water limit. One was so high, an expert said, “it should be a 911.”
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Pillen Family Farms’ response to Flatwater Free Press
Gov. Jim Pillen, through a spokesperson, has directed all questions regarding his business history to Pillen Family Farms. The company is currently run by his children Sarah Pillen…
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Four decades of growth: Jim Pillen’s path from dirt lot to top job
This timeline was published with the first story in our series “Pigs and Power.” Read more » 1982 Initiative 300, banning corporations from owning farms, is enacted. 1983…
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Why we’re launching, “Pigs and Power,” series focused on Nebraska’s governor
The series, a collaboration between the Flatwater Free Press and Investigate Midwest, will detail how Pillen built his empire, and examine some issues that arise in his newest role.
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Pillen’s Rise: After building pork empire, Nebraska’s governor stands at intersection of state and ag power
Jim Pillen built one of the biggest hog enterprises in the country. Then he got elected governor. It’s a Nebraska success story – one raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.