It’s kind of thrilling to me, your resident nerd, how many Flatwater Free Press story ideas begin with a number. In fact, one could argue, if one was so inclined, that both of our stories this week begin with a digit. They start as simple math and are then birthed into a bona fide piece of Nebraska journalism by our talented reporters. (Who are all better at math than I am.)
Let’s start with that most jarring of numbers, an anti-number really.
Zero. Zilch. Nothing. Nada. Nyet. The big ol’ goose egg.
Sixty three times in the past decade, a citizen has made a formal complaint to the Omaha Police Department alleging bias or discrimination during an encounter with a police officer. On none of those occasions has the police department sustained, or in any way agreed with, that citizen’s complaint.
Instead, all 63 times, they have dismissed it.
That sounded like an interesting number when FFP Omaha reporter Chris Bowling brought it to me. And he’s turned it into a really nice story, one that explains things from OPD’s point of view, brings in outside experts who cast some doubt on the police explanation and also includes the lived experience of those who have made a formal complaint and struck out.
Slashin’ red tape: 170. That’s roughly the number of Nebraska professions that require an occupational license — including a few that seem eyebrow raising to this unlicensed editor. In many cases, this licensing process hasn’t honored work experience in other states. So 170 is a frustrating number to many new Nebraskans who want to work but must first jump through some bureaucratic hoops.
Today, Naomi Delkamiller with the story of a bipartisan effort that’s making it easier to cut through that red tape — while also making it easier for formerly incarcerated Nebraskans to get back to work after prison.
A number near my heart: 562. That’s the number of you who are monthly donors to Flatwater Free Press, people who give $10 or $20 or $50 each month or sign up for a renewing annual gift to support this little nonprofit newsroom that can.
It is hard to overstate how much these recurring donors mean to us. You provide us income we can count on, budget for, rely upon. It’s fuel.
Any one of these gifts is great. But together, you 562 donors are positively mighty. You are allowing us to grow our reporting team. You are allowing us to do more and better stories. And, I can’t spill the beans quite yet — but you are allowing us to roll out new, exciting things VERY SOON.
So here’s another number. 700. That’s the total number of monthly donors we’re hoping to reach during our current spring fundraising drive.
Are you ready to join the mighty 562? Are you ready to help fund our important stories, free for all Nebraskans to read and free for Nebraska media outlets to republish?
If the spirit moves you, click here and claim your sexy Flatwater gift, including a T-shirt, a new Flatwater baseball cap, or one of these oh-so-cool prints made by local artists all across Nebraska.
(If you’re already a recurring donor like me … you get a free gift, too! Watch your email inbox for your order form.)
Thanks to our sponsor: This week it’s KIOS, Omaha’s National Public Radio station and 91.5 on your FM radio dial. My car radio spends most of its time there, listening to Fresh Air, This American Life, Morning Edition and a host of the public radio station’s local shows. And our very own Chris Bowling is now occasionally hosting Riverside Chats, one of those local programs. Thank you to KIOS for supporting the mission of, and practicing the art of, Nebraska nonprofit news.
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:
- Omaha’s downtown, like most major American downtowns, is coming back in a pretty big way in the past two years, according to this study by researchers at the University of Toronto. It appears visitor activity increased a bit this year in downtown Omaha, but a much bigger increase happened between 2022 and 2023.
- Want some good news, Lincoln? Your air quality is better than almost all your Midwest neighbors, including Omaha. Story by Holly Edgell of the Midwest Newsroom, seen here in Nebraska Public Media.
- Gov. Jim Pillen vetoed a bill this week that would have allowed sexual abuse survivors to sue schools and other public entities in Nebraska that failed to protect them. Pillen’s veto — he termed the bill overly broad — set out of a round of criticism from some state lawmakers, reports the Nebraska Examiner’s Zach Wendling.
The Journal Star’s Andrew Wegley with the story of a mom who had hoped that the law would provide some measure of justice for her intellectually disabled daughter. She called the veto a “gut punch.” (Readers may need subscription access to read the Journal Star story.) - Another western Nebraska school is going to a four-day school week, reports KNOP News 2 in North Platte. FFP’s Natalia Alamdari did an in-depth look at this trend last year, including whether it harms student learning.
- Chris Burbach of the Omaha World-Herald had two good ones this week about the future of PACE, the police-allied nonprofit that long ran youth sports in Omaha until a federal investigation uncovered fraud that now has its former leader behind bars.
The youth sports program is now at risk, Burbach reported this week. And while the summer sports programs may get an assist from the city, city leaders are squabbling about when and how.
(Readers may need subscription access to read both stories.) - Corn planting season is underway in Nebraska. NTV’s Steve White with a splendid little story illustrating the gigantic economic impact of this annual spring ritual.
- And finally, a newsletter shoutout to LaSharah Bunting, who longtime FFP supporters know as one of our star panelists at the first-ever Flatwater Free Press Festival (code name: FlatFest) at the Bennington barn last fall. Bunting, an Omaha native and UNL grad, has done giant things in American journalism. And recently she took some time to write an appreciation of one of her UNL mentors, a professor who helped launch her on her way. It makes me wanna put on red and hum the goshdarn fight song.
