Matthew Hansen

Arts organizations across Nebraska are feeling the DOGE cuts. New one from our newest correspondent Tynan Stewart, who did really nice work on this one.

Valley is using public tax $ to build new neighborhoods with multi-million dollar homes & private lakes off limit to the city’s other residents.
It may have fueled growth in one of Nebraska’s fastest growing cities. But state leaders and experts think this use of tax increment financing looks fishy.

It’s time for Nebraska’s best journalism party. It’s the 3rd annual FlatFest, a Sept. 17 afternoon and evening where we put journalism on stage – and give you the mic. Learn more, buy tickets and register here. 🔗 buff.ly/gtCb0nV

We’re hiring! The Flatwater Free Press, in partnership with Grist, is seeking a reporter to cover climate change in Nebraska. Learn more: buff.ly/g8va2D3

What’s a Runza? Why do Nebraskans call it that? The answer goes back a few hundred years and thousands of miles from the first Lincoln restaurant. FFP reporter Natalia Alamdari explains our beloved pocket o’ meat. 🔗 buff.ly/oV5boL3

In the year 2000, there were exactly zero Dollar Generals in small town Nebraska. (Or really in any small town anywhere, I suspect.)
Today: There are 115 in small-town Nebraska alone.

Bananas story out of Sarpy County, where the county attorney has filed a lawsuit against the county board — the board thar controls the county attorney’s purse strings.

I’m definitely going back to see the artwork!

The first time I went to Carhenge I got there and stood there for 45 seconds and said “this is it?”

Not cool: My screen cap and photo editing skills

Attention everyone: I think Carhenge, the weirdest tourism site in Nebraska, might be actually cool now? journalstar.com/life-enterta...

Sure sign of middle age: I have watched CBS Sunday Morning AND 60 Minutes today.
It’s the 20th Century Daily Double!

In Nebraska, you can usually transfer your kid to a nearby public school.
Unless your kid has a disability.
Then the school’s answer is often no.
Important story from @flatwaterfreep.bsky.social and @the74.bsky.social, as reporters Jeremy Turley and Lauren Wagner team up.

Proud of Natalia. Proud of her hard, skilled work. Proud we have built a little nonprofit newsroom where skilled, hardworking journalists can tell these stories.

Fewer Nebraska kids are vaccinated and protected against measles than at any point in many years on the day that the first measles case since 2017 was reported in Nebraska.
Why?
Story by @flatwaterfreep.bsky.social’s newest reporter, Emily Wolf.

Pondering Brooklyn.

At least 8 Nebraska school districts are hiring teachers from the Philippines.
Fascinating story by @flatwaterfreep.bsky.social Greater Nebraska reporter Natalia Alamdari.

This sounds super shady, Nebraskans.

But also another example of the excellent investigative reporting from FFP this year.

Nebraska Public Power District bought land for $5 million — from NPPD executives - Flatwater Free Press The February purchase, which came after little public discussion and no public input, dismayed a legal expert, who said he's never seen anything like it. NPPD leaders defended the land buy, saying it ...

The Nebraska Public Power District just bought land for $5 million, double the appraisal.
They bought it from two of their own executives, including one whose job title is chief ethics officer.
Important one from @flatwaterfreep.bsky.social Destiny Herbers.
flatwaterfreepress.org/nebraska-pub...

Ewing sends Stothert packing, gives heart of ‘blue dot’ a Democratic mayor • Nebraska Examiner Voters elected Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing Jr., the Democrat in charge of the offices where people annually pay their car taxes.

nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/05/13/e...

John Ewing wins decisive victory over Jean Stothert in race for Omaha mayor In an election both history-making and stunning, John Ewing knocked off three-term incumbent Jean Stothert on Tuesday to become Omaha’s first elected Black mayor.

Here are a couple good stories on the results. Among the reasons for the result: National political mood in a Dem-majority city that had previously been content to elect a Republican mayor; Desire for change after 12 years in office; Perceived infrastructure woes.

omaha.com/news/local/g...

If you would have told me yesterday at this time that John Ewing would win by 12%, I woulda looked at you funny.

John Ewing Jr. makes history by winning Omaha’s mayoral election At her Election Night event, Stothert said she called Ewing and conceded in the race.

John Ewing was badly outspent and hit with attack ads while challenging 3-term incumbent Jean Stothert, who had absolutely wiped the floor with her most recent opponent.
Tonight he’s the mayor of Omaha, and he’s winning by a whole bunch of votes.
www.ketv.com/article/omah...

The president of the United States is taking a $400 million plane from the ruling family of Qatar — one he will likely use personally for the rest of his life — and there’s nothing to worry about because there are for sure, 100% no strings attached.

Journalism finished second.
Which doesn’t mean anything, it’s important not to read into this

We are at the Kentucky Derby and just bet all the money on the horse named JOURNALISM.
Because…yeah.

Kennedy Issues Demands for Vaccine Approvals That Could Affect Fall Covid Boosters The plans amount to an extraordinary flex of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s power as health secretary to make decisions ordinarily left to career scientists at the Food and Drug Administration.

Some of the Americans most at risk to severe Covid cases aren’t gonna love this.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/u...

@saragentzler.bsky.social with the scoop. Planned Parenthood in Nebraska is in disarray, employees say, has lost all its nurses and is now rarely performing surgical abortions.
It’s the last place in Nebraska where surgical abortions are performed.

It’s the @flatwaterfreep.bsky.social annual spring donor campaign! You digging what we do? Wann support it with $5 or $10 or $20 a month? Good news! It’s easy as pie! And you get a fresh new piece of FFP merch as a thank you!

The Speakeasy remains our fave small town steakhouse. SBH with her latest steak story for @flatwaterfreep.bsky.social