Matthew Hansen

Dec 23, 2024 | flatwaterfreepress.org | Matthew Hansen

JANUARY In Loup County, the smallest school district in the state had a freshman class of one. Bailey. FFP Greater Nebraska reporter Natalia Alamdari on what it’s like to be the lone member of the Class of 2027 – and why it’s key to keep the small school open. FEBRUARY FFP reporter Jeremy Turley uncovered the story that 4 of Nebraska’s largest school districts, including Lincoln, were paying debt collectors to go after unpaid lunch tabs.

Jul 10, 2024 | flatwaterfreepress.org | Matthew Hansen

Long before he became governor, Jim Pillen grew a Nebraska livestock empire. For the past year, Flatwater Free Press and its partner on this project, Investigate Midwest, have looked at what Pillen built in the rolling series, “Pigs and Power.”  The series by FFP senior reporter Yanqi Xu and Investigate Midwest senior reporter Sky Chadde illustrates how Pillen, starting from humble beginnings, became Nebraska’s biggest hog producer by anticipating the changes roiling American agriculture.

Mar 15, 2024 | flatwaterfreepress.org | Matthew Hansen

I can’t tell you how disappointed I am to report what follows, but it’s news you deserve to know and need to understand. The Nebraska Supreme Court this morning announced that it was overturning, in part, a lower court’s decision. This clears the way for the State of Nebraska to charge us an ungodly amount of money to gain access to public records related to the state’s growing nitrate-in-groundwater problem.

Sep 7, 2023 | flatwaterfreepress.org | Matthew Hansen |Yanqi Xu |Sky Chadde |Investigate Midwest

Jim Pillen built one of the biggest hog enterprises in the country. Then he got elected governor. It’s a Nebraska success story – one raising questions about potential conflicts of interest. The series, a collaboration between the Flatwater Free Press and Investigate Midwest, details how Pillen built his empire, and examines some issues that arise in his newest role.

Sep 6, 2023 | flatwaterfreepress.org | Matthew Hansen

Gov. Jim Pillen, through a spokesperson, has directed all questions regarding his business history to Pillen Family Farms.