The Flatwater Free Press

The Flatwater Free Press is the first independent and nonprofit news organization in Nebraska, dedicated to producing important investigative reports and compelling feature articles.

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Steak Town USA: Down a remote road, find a ghost town — and one of Nebraska's best steaks - Flatwater Free Press

1 week ago | flatwaterfreepress.org | Sarah Baker Hansen

It’s not unusual these days to sit down at a table at The Speakeasy, the old-school steakhouse located in an honest-to-goodness ghost town a few miles outside Holdrege, and be served a decidedly new-school cut of meat. On a recent Saturday night it was a 14-ounce WinterFrost American wagyu ribeye, harvested from Japanese Black, American-bred cattle raised hormone free, then served with a deliciously charred exterior and a juicy, fatty red center.
Washington to Wahoo: Nebraska towns delay projects after Trump freezes infrastructure grants

2 weeks ago | flatwaterfreepress.org | Jeremy Turley

Melissa Harrell watched from the crowd as three smiling members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation presented an oversized check for $1.3 million to her City of Wahoo colleagues. The federal grant would allow the city of 5,000 to replace 2 miles of century-old, leak-prone natural gas pipes. Sen.
Our Dirty Water: Emails reveal Nebraska leaders cast doubt on nitrate research

3 weeks ago | flatwaterfreepress.org | Yanqi Xu

In 2022, University of Nebraska Medical Center researchers published a study showing a correlation between rural areas with high levels of nitrate in water and high rates of childhood cancer. That study drew suspicion from an interesting source: the state’s top drinking water administrator, Sue Dempsey.
Steak Town USA: At Brother Sebastian's, a blessedly odd vision becomes Nebraska beef gospel

3 weeks ago | flatwaterfreepress.org | Sarah Baker Hansen

The original idea for Brother Sebastian’s, the monastery-themed steakhouse in west Omaha that’s now been around for nearly 50 years, was sketched out on the back of a pizza box. Loren Koch, the original owner, drew his idea for the themed restaurant, with its many small dining rooms, fireplaces and cozy ambiance. “All of it came completely from his imagination,” said Scott Lurry, who bought the restaurant two years ago after working for Koch for 43 years.
Our Dirty Water: State didn't release some info showing worsening nitrate

3 weeks ago | flatwaterfreepress.org | Yanqi Xu

A new $1 million state study on nitrate in drinking water showed, in its final report, that nitrate levels are, on average, decreasing in Nebraskans’ tap water provided by cities and towns. But an interim version of the report, included in a batch of emails obtained via Flatwater Free Press’ public records request, shows the state didn’t publicly release information suggesting that nitrate appears to be increasing in the wells supplying water to these public water systems.
Nebraska child care advocates on defense as providers struggle and legislative fixes languish

3 weeks ago | flatwaterfreepress.org | Sara Gentzler

As strong winds and heavy snow battered Lincoln, Shannon Hampson’s house was unusually quiet – absent the dozen kids who fill her in-home child care with laughter, cries and questions. Between snow and sicknesses that week, Hampson said she’d be out $540. She’d have to rebudget: maybe she’d buy beans instead of chicken breasts, skip a field trip. If the kids’ families paid full tuition themselves, absences wouldn’t affect her bottom line.
Omaha mayoral candidate wants to slam the brakes on the city’s streetcar. What would it cost?

4 weeks ago | flatwaterfreepress.org | Chris Bowling

Early in the 2025 Omaha mayoral campaign, one candidate made a bold promise. Mike McDonnell, a former South Omaha state senator, said he would stop the “streetcar named disaster.” Or at least put it to a vote. Other candidates echoed McDonnell’s criticism of the $459 million project, but said it is too far along to derail. Mayor Jean Stothert said doing so would carry “devastating” effects. The city has already paid at least $43 million for the project, according to the city.
Meteorologists raise alarm over grounding of Omaha weather balloons amid federal cuts

1 month ago | flatwaterfreepress.org | Nancy Gaarder

Last week’s blizzard, the deadly Pilger tornadoes and Hurricane Sandy share something in common: People got a better heads-up due to a forecasting tool now being grounded as the Trump administration slashes the federal government. On Thursday, National Weather Service offices in Omaha and Rapid City, South Dakota, stopped deploying weather balloons, a key tool in forecasting. On the same day, six other weather stations in the central U.S, including at North Platte, halved their use of balloons.
Roadblocked: A Nebraska county and its road workers have been stuck bargaining for years. It’s costing thousands.

1 month ago | flatwaterfreepress.org | Natalia Alamdari

The legal bills have been piling up in Richardson County. Since 2022, this southeast Nebraska county of fewer than 8,000 people has poured at least $143,000 into fighting a lengthy and contentious legal battle – not with an out-of-state business, or problem property owners. Richardson County is at odds with its own employees.
The SBH Review: At buzzy new Omaha bar and grill, come for sports, stay for food

1 month ago | flatwaterfreepress.org | Sarah Baker Hansen

30hop, which opened its first Omaha location two months ago, is all about the beer. That’s in fact where it gets its name: The upscale bar and grill’s first location, in Coralville, Iowa, had 30 beers on tap. In Omaha, it’s actually 32 beers, 27 of which are brewed in Nebraska, Iowa or Kansas. I knew before my two recent visits that beer was a big deal at the restaurant. The hop in its logo gives that much away. But what I did not realize was twofold: 1.