They walk the halls of the Nebraska State Penitentiary rolling oxygen tanks. Entire sections of that century-old prison have been reconfigured to accommodate walkers and wheelchairs. Dozens of other inmates, trained as medical porters, help them get out of bed, eat meals and take their medicine…pills which now cost the state nearly $7 million a year.
One of this week’s FFP stories, by reporter Natalia Alamdari, shines a needed light on a hidden part of our overcrowded prison system. After decades of tough-on-crime sentencing, and after failed attempts at reform, Nebraska imprisons a shocking number of very old and very sick prisoners. And it’s costing Nebraska taxpayers serious money. It’s a well-told, important story by Alamdari, who has been focusing off-and-on on our troubled prison system this year. It’s part of a partnership with the Omaha World-Herald and reporter Henry Cordes.
At FFP, we continue to value these type of partnerships, which we also formed with KETV Channel 7, Nebraska Public Media, News Channel Nebraska, the Omaha Reader and more this year. Why? Because Nebraska journalism is stronger when media outlets band together. Because we need to do things differently in the 21st century than we did in the 20th.
Speaking of doing things differently: Your next chance to participate in a Flatwater Free Forum is coming up Nov. 16. This one, focused on the prison system, is called “Nebraska’s Prisons at a Crossroads.”
Alamdari will be questioning a serious panel, including current and former prison officials, state senators and former inmates, about the present and future of our prison system.
This is what we call “journalism on stage” — an idea that we will do far more in 2023 and beyond. The point of journalism is to transfer information. We can do that with written words, with audio, with video…and with events. So we will. This Flatwater Free Forum is co-sponsored by the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications. It’s slated for 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 16 in the Swanson Auditorium at the University of Nebraska’ Lincoln’s City Campus Union. It’s free. It’s open to the public. See you there.
A heart-pumping story: The man has delivered 13,000 babies. 13,000! And he’s still delivering ‘em in Norfolk…except now he’s doing it with his second heart. Freelancer Leo Adam Biga with the full-hearted story of Dr. Keith Vrbicky, miracle man.
Shoutout to our sponsor: This week it’s the Platte Institute. We don’t do opinion at the Flatwater Free Press, but we do value different viewpoints. We’re proud to have Platte as one of our sponsors.
A heart-pumping week: In the past seven days, 50,000 Nebraskans have read Yanqi Xu’s crucial story about Nebraskans drinking nitrate-laced water and my story about an incredible thing I witnessed at a brand-new skate park in the state’s poorest country.
When we started FFP 15 months ago, there was a bit of self doubt buzzing in the back of my brain. What if people simply don’t want to read investigative journalism? What if we put out good stuff and no one sees it, the proverbial journalistic tree falling in a forest?
Fifty thousand readers on those two stories. That’s on our site alone. That does not count the literally dozen of media outlets that picked up Yanqi’s story. It does not count the “Quick Hit” version we do on our investigative pieces because we realize not everyone has the time to read a long piece.
The average time readers have spent on Yanqi’s story: Nearly four minutes.
My self doubt has been replaced with confidence. We’re getting you important stories. We’re trying to tell them well. And you are coming along for the ride.
Questions wanted: Some of our best story ideas come from readers, and they typically start with a burning question that just cries out for an answer. Have a question that our reporters need to look into? Complete this form or reach our newsroom at [email protected].
Sincerely,
—Matthew Hansen, Executive 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:
- Charles Herbster got involved in a bidding war over a nondescript piece of southeast Nebraska farmland. And the result is quite a splash of cold water across the face. Journal Star scribe extraordinaire Peter Salter tells the tale.
- Make no mistake: Abortion is on the ballot next Tuesday. The World-Herald’s aforementioned Henry Cordes with the story of how a series of close races for the Nebraska Legislature will keep abortion legal in the state, or maybe ban it altogether.
- Also on Tuesday’s ballot: Proposals to increase the minimum wage and require voter ID. Nebraska Public Media did a nice job breaking down both ballot measures.
