The word “miracle” probably gets thrown around a little too easily but seems perfect for our top story today.
The Woollen quadruplets were born more than four months early. They all weighed less than 1.8 pounds.
The percentage chance that all four would survive? Four percent, according to the doctor who delivered them into this world.
Next month, all four turn 18. This spring, all four graduate from Wilcox-Hildreth High School.
An early congratulations to Brett, Cooper, Kaden and Parker Woollen.
And a shoutout to Lori Potter, our central Nebraska correspondent who told this story and who has deep roots in the Kearney area.
How deep?
Lori wrote about the Woollen kids soon after they were born.
Nearly 18 years later, she is still telling their miraculous story to Nebraska readers like you. Thank you for that, Lori.
Mayoral pardons? I didn’t have a clue that the mayors of Omaha and Lincoln have the power to grant pardons to people who have broken the law in those cities.
But reporter Emily Wolf dug in. She showed us that this is far more than a ceremonial act. She found the people behind those pardon requests. She also discovered that Omaha mayors have done this a lot, while Lincoln’s mayor rarely does.
A fascinating story from Flatwater’s Lincoln reporter.
Next chapter for troubled center? Last year, Flatwater investigative reporter Sara Gentzler broke the news of alleged sexual assaults happening at Kearney’s state-run youth treatment center. This week, she broke the story that the state now has a plan to move the boys there out of Kearney — and to Omaha. Important work from Gentzler.
Big event announcement: We are coming to Kearney. And we’re throwing a “journalism on stage” event — and a party, too.
If you live in central Nebraska, join us on April 10 for our first-ever Flatwater Forum in the Tri-Cities.
In the afternoon, we will be at the World Theatre, with planned “journalism on stage” panels to include a discussion on the fallout from the Lexington Tyson plant closure, a chat about the future of higher education in central Nebraska, a one-on-one convo with the chief justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court, discussions about mental health, Nebraska agriculture, business and more.
Then, we’ll walk across the street to the Museum of Nebraska Art, where we will have a Happy Hour party.
The afternoon event is free. The evening event is a freewill donation. Thank you to the title sponsor for the event, Clarkson Regional Health Services, as it focuses on the important issue of mental health and Nebraskans’ access to mental health services.
Learn more and register for one or both events here. See you soon, Tri-Cities!
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Matthew Hansen, Executive Editor
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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:
- A few weeks ago, Yanqi Xu’s story on the mysterious death of a teen at a Pillen Family Farms operation appeared in both the Flatwater Free Press and the New York Times.
Now you can watch Yanqi Xu (it’s pronounced “Yen-chee Shoe”) discussing that story while being interviewed by Lincoln legend Dan Parsons on his podcast. A really insightful conversation. - A 40,000-acre Sandhills ranch just sold, for a record $56 million, to a billionaire couple from Texas. Story by Nebraska Examiner’s Cindy Gonzalez. The story reminded me of our series, “Who’s Buying Nebraska?” which focused on the out-of-state buyers who are gobbling up Nebraska farmland and ranchland. Here’s the Quick Hit summary of that series.
- You must be dead 35 years before you can be inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. A new bill in the Legislature seeks to change that — so we can induct Tom Osborne while he’s alive. Story by Nebraska Public Media’s Matt Olberding.
- Nebraska Medicine is suing the University of Nebraska over a plan to stop a deal that would give the university sole ownership of the hospital. The university responded by removing Nebraska Medicine’s board members and installing a new, temporary board. Stories by Nebraska Public Media and KETV.
- Bellevue city leaders hatched a scheme to buy city vehicles at discounted rates, Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley is alleging. The city leaders deny the accusations. Stories by the World-Herald’s Dan Crisler and by the Nebraska Examiner’s Cindy Gonzalez. (You may need OWH subscriber access to view the OWH story.)
- University of Nebraska President Jeffrey Gold told UNL professors and staff that Gold himself had been misled during the university’s budget- cutting process, according to a recording obtained by the Journal Star’s Chris Dunker. Read Dunker’s story here. (You may need LJS subscriber info to do so.)
- So, how did Omaha become a sushi city? The Matador Network with the story on David Utterback and his acclaimed Nebraska sushi joint, featuring quotes from none other than Flatwater food critic Sarah Baker Hansen.
- Need something to do on this frigid weekend? I’m planning to watch a documentary, Secret Mall Apartment, that came to Netflix today. Watch the trailer here.
