This story was originally published on the Nebraska News Service Reduce, reuse, recycle. Everyone recognizes the phrase, but the emphasis is commonly misplaced on the “recycle” part when the first two may be more important, at least when it comes to plastic. According to a 2022 article by The Atlantic, a mere 5% of plastic is actually […]
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Prairie Lawns Help Nebraskans Alleviate Climate Change and Promote Biodiversity
This story was originally published in the Nebraska News Service In the midst of droughts during the state’s driest year on record, homeowners struggle to maintain the ideal image of the impeccably-manicured, emerald-green front yard. As the weather turns to fall and Nebraskans finish up summer’s final yard work and prepare their lawns for cold weather, […]
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“This is home.” Omaha Organizations Help Low-Income Homebuyers as Obstacles Increase
This story is part of (DIS)Invested — a longterm Reader investigation into Omaha’s inequities. *** As Jose Castañeda walked into the living room, he shut the door behind him. He looked to his left, then his right. There were no couches or rugs on the fresh gray carpet. No pictures on the beige walls. In […]
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The Kids Aren’t OK: Mental Health Issues Skyrocketed for Nebraska Children during Pandemic
This story was originally published on the Flatwater Free Press. Six-year-old Elijah Wastell, of Omaha, started feeling anxious last fall. It came hard for the kindergartener at bedtime. His parents tried breathing exercise.They attempted to build up his confidence. They tried everything they could think of, but the anxiety only got worse. It got to […]
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Housing Affordability Action Plan Passes, and the Omaha City Council Authorizes Streetcar Bonds. Tablets Provide Opportunities for Douglas County Corrections Inmates.
After two meetings with several hours of public hearing, the Omaha City Council approved both the Housing Affordability Action Plan and bonds for the streetcar project Tuesday. The Housing Affordability Action Plan was approved 5-2, with Councilmembers Brinker Harding and Aimee Melton voting against. Councilmember Harding had moved for amendments to remove recommendations for a […]
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Douglas County Corrections Struggles with COVID, but Health Director Says Declining Hospitalizations Provide Breathing Room. City Council Approves Extending Infrastructure into Northwest Omaha.
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday to receive reports on the corrections department and COVID-19, as the Omicron variant wave subsides. Douglas County Corrections Director Mike Myers said that the department experienced an “unprecedented” 95 staff members who missed time because of COVID throughout January. This resulted in nearly $600,000 being spent on […]
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Omaha’s Little Shop of Oddities
Some call him Derek. A few call him Dad. But most just call him Voodoo. Derek Everhart has always had an affinity for the abnormal. But now he specializes in it, selling a smorgasbord of skulls, stuffed animal heads and other finds at Voodoo’s Odd Shop on the corner of 13th and Martha Streets. “The […]
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Six Small Nebraska Towns are Trying to Ban Abortion. Will it Change Anything?
This story was originally published in the Flatwater Free Press. For three weeks this July, Pastor Bill Forbes left his house around 5 p.m. and didn’t return until sundown. The Lutheran pastor went door to door his western Nebraska town asking his neighbors the same question: Would they sign a petition in support of banning […]
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Past Union President, Now Running for Sheriff, Was Deemed to Have Used Excessive Force. Then Omaha’s Police Chief Stepped in.
This story is a collaboration between The Omaha Reader and Flatwater Free Press. Sgt. Aaron Hanson, a former president of Omaha’s police union, used excessive force when he kneed an already-handcuffed Omaha man, the Omaha Police Department’s Safety Review Board unanimously decided in 2018. The board recommended a low-level punishment. But that punishment never happened. […]
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No Nitrate Police: State and Local Regulators Can’t, or Won’t, Stop Our Drinking Water from Getting Worse
This story was originally published in Flatwater Free Press. The farmer was growing impatient. He folded his arms. Shook his head angrily. He and dozens of other central Nebraska farmers had gathered for mandatory training in Columbus a few weeks before Christmas last year. In response to stubbornly high nitrate levels, the Lower Loup Natural […]
