If you haven’t headed deep into the Sandhills, traveled south from Valentine, scored a perfectly clear night and then stared up at the Heavens, well, friend, you haven’t really lived your best Nebraska life.
The Nebraska Star Party is one of the coolest things you can do during a sweltering Nebraska summer. Our fearless Sandhills correspondent Carson Vaughan journeyed to the heart of the darkness — to one of the darkest night skies on Earth — to look up at the stars, and to write about what happens when stargazing smashes into bureaucracy.
Our latest Seward County eyebrow raiser: Blake Swicord got fired as a Georgia state trooper after he sold guns to a pardoned felon, allegedly sexted, then later got arrested in a domestic violence dispute, though prosecutors dropped the charge.
He got a job in Nebraska, in Seward County, but he had to give it up after the state agency that oversees police training barred him from becoming a Nebraska police officer. Twice.
So the Seward County Sheriff created a new position, a civilian position that looked incredibly similar to the captain’s job that Swicord had just vacated … and then gave the job to a civilian named Blake Swicord.
Today, Swicord continues to coordinate a Homeland Security task force that seizes millions from motorists — including money seized while using the controversial practice of civil asset forfeiture — despite the fact that the Nebraska Supreme Court has twice ruled against him in his quest to become a Nebraska police officer.
FFP’s Natalia Alamdari, who has been doing an amazing job covering the county’s rampant use of civil asset forfeiture, with another one from Seward County.
This is the place where I remind you: That the first annual Flatwater Free Press Festival, better known (by me) as FlatFest, is a mere six weeks from going down. It’s high time to get your tickets, as they are moving fast.
Why should you buy a ticket?
A. It’s a party in a barn. B. Great way to support the work of the Flatwater Free Press and the future of Nebraska journalism. C. Food. D. Booze. E. MAGIC (just kidding, no magic act.) F. A star-studded panel of American journalists you will get to meet. G. Did I mention the barn part? H. All of the above.
That’s a lot of reasons. See you there, Sept. 14. More info and tickets here.
Thanks to our sponsor: This week, it’s the Nebraska Community Foundation, which is helping small Nebraska towns secure their futures. We’re here in part to tell small-town stories. Thanks to NCF for supporting the mission of Nebraska nonprofit journalism. .
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].
See you next week,
—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:
- Bud Crawford is the best boxer in the world. He’s the best Nebraska athlete since … Bob Gibson? Anyone? I along with so many Nebraskans rooted hard for Bud against Errol Spence Jr., last Saturday. I also really enjoyed this story, from the Los Angeles Times, on what Bud did to get ready for last weekend’s title bout. It’s a great read with a simple message: Bud’s the best boxer in the world in large part because he simply outworks everyone else.
- “Omaha’s data center growth is leading what’s believed to be the largest spike in demand for electricity in the Omaha Public Power District’s 77-year history.” Well, that’s pretty interesting, as is this story from the World-Herald legend who wrote that sentence, Henry Cordes.
- The Legislature passed a modest plan to try to curb rising nitrate levels in some Nebraskans’ drinking water. More than a year later, and the plan hasn’t been put into place, reports the Nebraska Examiner’s Paul Hammel.
- A Nebraska governor is again deploying Nebraska National Guard troops to the Texas-Mexico border. Lincoln’s 10/11 with the story.
- Omaha City Council earlier this week unanimously voted to remove jailed Councilman Vinny Palermo. The council will now look to appoint a successor, reports WOWT. In case you missed it, our reporter in Omaha dove into Palermo’s political rise and how his fall reverberated in South Omaha.
- Let’s end with a cool one. An Afghan who fled the Taliban and came to the United States couldn’t get hired for the job he wanted. He fought and fought and figured it out. And then, when he was running his own company … he began to hire people who were also being overlooked for the jobs they wanted. People like him. Story from Fast Company via the Lincoln Journal Star.
