Flatwater Free Press
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Nebraska's important stories. Well told. 🗞️ https://flatwaterfreepress.org/subscribe/
New at Flatwater: A small number of state employees are working mind-boggling amounts of overtime. They're doubling their salaries while toiling in extremely short staffed positions. It's costing us, the state auditor says. 🔗 buff.ly/gptXGrx
December 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
New at Flatwater: A small number of state employees are working mind-boggling amounts of overtime. They're doubling their salaries while toiling in extremely short staffed positions. It's costing us, the state auditor says. 🔗 buff.ly/gptXGrx
New at Flatwater: Stigma. Shame. Confusion. Seven Nebraska families say that after they lost a loved one to an overdose, nobody was there to answer their questions, including: What happened? The latest in “Dying Blind.” 🔗 buff.ly/4fzUpmg
December 22, 2025 at 4:32 PM
New at Flatwater: Stigma. Shame. Confusion. Seven Nebraska families say that after they lost a loved one to an overdose, nobody was there to answer their questions, including: What happened? The latest in “Dying Blind.” 🔗 buff.ly/4fzUpmg
ProPublica and Flatwater Free Press want to help Omahans understand the lead risks in their own yard. Sign up for our free soil testing. 🔗 buff.ly/B0MrBGH
December 20, 2025 at 10:00 PM
ProPublica and Flatwater Free Press want to help Omahans understand the lead risks in their own yard. Sign up for our free soil testing. 🔗 buff.ly/B0MrBGH
The Lincoln Diocese removed a priest from his parish after a mother raised concerns about his behavior toward her teenage son. Years later, that teen, now an adult, believes the diocese hasn’t done enough. 🔗 buff.ly/MKT6z5G
December 20, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The Lincoln Diocese removed a priest from his parish after a mother raised concerns about his behavior toward her teenage son. Years later, that teen, now an adult, believes the diocese hasn’t done enough. 🔗 buff.ly/MKT6z5G
The investigation of a teen’s death at Pillen Family Farms was marred by missteps, The New York Times and the Flatwater Free Press found. Among them: The farm blocked investigators from conducting timely air quality tests. 🔗 buff.ly/oy9OswZ
December 20, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The investigation of a teen’s death at Pillen Family Farms was marred by missteps, The New York Times and the Flatwater Free Press found. Among them: The farm blocked investigators from conducting timely air quality tests. 🔗 buff.ly/oy9OswZ
After a teen died at Pillen Family Farms, his mom grew frustrated that no one could say why. She requested tissue from his body to independently test. The county attorney said no. “My son is dead,” says Justy Riggs-Panther. “There ought to be answers.” 🔗 buff.ly/oy9OswZ
December 19, 2025 at 8:00 PM
After a teen died at Pillen Family Farms, his mom grew frustrated that no one could say why. She requested tissue from his body to independently test. The county attorney said no. “My son is dead,” says Justy Riggs-Panther. “There ought to be answers.” 🔗 buff.ly/oy9OswZ
New at Flatwater: Tessa Domingus struggled with mental health issues and addiction before being sent to prison. There, she connected with the nonprofit that would help her find a sense of purpose. This weekend, at age 44, she’ll become a college graduate. 🔗 buff.ly/oY51EfK
December 19, 2025 at 5:03 PM
New at Flatwater: Tessa Domingus struggled with mental health issues and addiction before being sent to prison. There, she connected with the nonprofit that would help her find a sense of purpose. This weekend, at age 44, she’ll become a college graduate. 🔗 buff.ly/oY51EfK
New at Flatwater: The investigation of a teen’s death at Pillen Family Farms was marred by missteps, The New York Times and the Flatwater Free Press found. Said Dr. Erin Linde, who did the autopsy: “The type of investigation that really should have been done wasn’t done.” 🔗 buff.ly/oy9OswZ
December 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM
New at Flatwater: The investigation of a teen’s death at Pillen Family Farms was marred by missteps, The New York Times and the Flatwater Free Press found. Said Dr. Erin Linde, who did the autopsy: “The type of investigation that really should have been done wasn’t done.” 🔗 buff.ly/oy9OswZ
Faced with a bleak financial situation, lawmakers turned to a little-known fund to help domestic violence survivors and pay for other priorities. But now that fund doesn’t have enough money to cover those commitments. 🔗 buff.ly/AlWr51J
December 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Faced with a bleak financial situation, lawmakers turned to a little-known fund to help domestic violence survivors and pay for other priorities. But now that fund doesn’t have enough money to cover those commitments. 🔗 buff.ly/AlWr51J
Do you live in or near the Omaha Superfund site and want to know if you’ve been exposed to lead? ProPublica and Flatwater Free Press will test your soil for free.
🔗 buff.ly/B0MrBGH
🔗 buff.ly/B0MrBGH
December 18, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Do you live in or near the Omaha Superfund site and want to know if you’ve been exposed to lead? ProPublica and Flatwater Free Press will test your soil for free.
🔗 buff.ly/B0MrBGH
🔗 buff.ly/B0MrBGH
New from Flatwater: What’s the best steakhouse in Omaha? After a year of reviewing steakhouses, and ranking them in a variety of steakhouse classic categories, Sarah Baker Hansen thinks she knows. 🔗 buff.ly/ck1V04g
December 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
New from Flatwater: What’s the best steakhouse in Omaha? After a year of reviewing steakhouses, and ranking them in a variety of steakhouse classic categories, Sarah Baker Hansen thinks she knows. 🔗 buff.ly/ck1V04g
New at Flatwater: A department at UNL has produced homegrown meteorologists and geologists who have gone on to serve in critical roles. Earlier this month, NU’s regents eliminated the program. 🔗 buff.ly/bDFeSBm
December 18, 2025 at 3:30 PM
New at Flatwater: A department at UNL has produced homegrown meteorologists and geologists who have gone on to serve in critical roles. Earlier this month, NU’s regents eliminated the program. 🔗 buff.ly/bDFeSBm
New from Flatwater and ProPublica: Omaha residents face a hidden danger – the lead in our yards. 🔗 buff.ly/ckuPQHN
December 17, 2025 at 10:00 PM
New from Flatwater and ProPublica: Omaha residents face a hidden danger – the lead in our yards. 🔗 buff.ly/ckuPQHN
Across the state and country, it has become increasingly difficult for hospitals like The Pender Community Hospital to keep their doors open. 🔗 buff.ly/0dvxvBV
December 17, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Across the state and country, it has become increasingly difficult for hospitals like The Pender Community Hospital to keep their doors open. 🔗 buff.ly/0dvxvBV
New at Flatwater: A Lincoln Diocese parishioner alleged misconduct by a priest. The diocese barred the priest from being alone with kids. But church officials have never publicized the allegations or looked for other victims, the priest’s accuser says. 🔗 buff.ly/MKT6z5G
December 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
New at Flatwater: A Lincoln Diocese parishioner alleged misconduct by a priest. The diocese barred the priest from being alone with kids. But church officials have never publicized the allegations or looked for other victims, the priest’s accuser says. 🔗 buff.ly/MKT6z5G
Heading into the final two matches of the regular season, Dani Busboom Kelly described Allick as a “team player and somebody that’s ultra competitive” and noted her growth as a leader over the past 10 months. 🔗 buff.ly/l4E53nR
December 16, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Heading into the final two matches of the regular season, Dani Busboom Kelly described Allick as a “team player and somebody that’s ultra competitive” and noted her growth as a leader over the past 10 months. 🔗 buff.ly/l4E53nR
As we prepare to wrap up a year of steakhouses, the question remains: Is steak better in Omaha? The owners of one of its most iconic steakhouses think so. Read the final story in the series, about The Drover: 🔗 buff.ly/91YjrDz
December 15, 2025 at 5:30 PM
As we prepare to wrap up a year of steakhouses, the question remains: Is steak better in Omaha? The owners of one of its most iconic steakhouses think so. Read the final story in the series, about The Drover: 🔗 buff.ly/91YjrDz
When an Omaha mother discovered high levels of lead in her son’s blood, she looked up EPA tests and found potentially harmful levels of the metal in her yard. 🔗 buff.ly/ckuPQHN
December 15, 2025 at 3:30 PM
When an Omaha mother discovered high levels of lead in her son’s blood, she looked up EPA tests and found potentially harmful levels of the metal in her yard. 🔗 buff.ly/ckuPQHN
New at Flatwater: Nebraska lawmakers earmarked millions to help domestic violence survivors and pilot a new juvenile justice program. There’s not enough money in the account to go around. 🔗 buff.ly/AlWr51J
December 13, 2025 at 3:30 PM
New at Flatwater: Nebraska lawmakers earmarked millions to help domestic violence survivors and pilot a new juvenile justice program. There’s not enough money in the account to go around. 🔗 buff.ly/AlWr51J
Join the Flatwater Free Press for office hours at the Lexington Public Library, Monday Dec. 15 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Lexington is on the brink of change. We want to hear from you – share your story and let us know what stories you’d like to see covered.
Lexington is on the brink of change. We want to hear from you – share your story and let us know what stories you’d like to see covered.
December 12, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Join the Flatwater Free Press for office hours at the Lexington Public Library, Monday Dec. 15 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Lexington is on the brink of change. We want to hear from you – share your story and let us know what stories you’d like to see covered.
Lexington is on the brink of change. We want to hear from you – share your story and let us know what stories you’d like to see covered.
New at Flatwater: After years of resistance, Nebraska tapped into hundreds of millions of federal dollars to support struggling hospitals. Now the future of that funding is in doubt. 🔗 buff.ly/0dvxvBV
December 12, 2025 at 4:45 PM
New at Flatwater: After years of resistance, Nebraska tapped into hundreds of millions of federal dollars to support struggling hospitals. Now the future of that funding is in doubt. 🔗 buff.ly/0dvxvBV
New from Flatwater and ProPublica: For more than a century, a smelter spewed lead dust over Omaha. For decades, the government cleaned it up. 🔗 buff.ly/ckuPQHN
December 11, 2025 at 3:30 PM
New from Flatwater and ProPublica: For more than a century, a smelter spewed lead dust over Omaha. For decades, the government cleaned it up. 🔗 buff.ly/ckuPQHN
Faith and music held starring roles in Karissa Denae Johnson’s childhood. Both proved pivotal in helping her recover from a stroke when she was 21, and they remain so nearly two decades later as she pursues a theater career in New York City. 🔗 buff.ly/KXiBrj6
December 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Faith and music held starring roles in Karissa Denae Johnson’s childhood. Both proved pivotal in helping her recover from a stroke when she was 21, and they remain so nearly two decades later as she pursues a theater career in New York City. 🔗 buff.ly/KXiBrj6
New at Flatwater: Nebraska volleyball player Rebekah Allick has faced heartbreak on the court. It’s nothing compared to what she and her five siblings endured during their childhood. 🔗 buff.ly/l4E53nR
December 10, 2025 at 4:01 PM
New at Flatwater: Nebraska volleyball player Rebekah Allick has faced heartbreak on the court. It’s nothing compared to what she and her five siblings endured during their childhood. 🔗 buff.ly/l4E53nR
Angie Hanson needed a card for an ill friend, but all the choices felt hollow. She turned to her own history of loss and grief and decided to make her own cards. 🔗 buff.ly/uACmsUF
December 8, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Angie Hanson needed a card for an ill friend, but all the choices felt hollow. She turned to her own history of loss and grief and decided to make her own cards. 🔗 buff.ly/uACmsUF