Flatwater Free Press

New at Flatwater: Larry Small, an 81-year-old Lincoln resident, has collected unusual items since his “waking years,” including wind-up tin toys, Catalin radios and vintage chalkware string holders. Now he’s sharing his collection with others. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/EFl0o0C

New at Flatwater: The University of Nebraska Athletic Department has redirected millions in revenue to NIL deals that pay athletes. At NU, it’s all part of what one top athletic official calls a “talent retention and acquisition-first business model." Read more 🔗 buff.ly/7hoQCgz

Squeezed by data centers, hampered by aging infrastructure and wounded by fights over renewable energy, the Omaha Public Power District projects it has less than 100 megawatts for new or expanding companies for the next few years. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/KUqqlg9

In addition to the two times Omaha area school resource officers used electric shock gloves on students, there were 61 other reported instances of SROs using force on students since 2021, Flatwater found. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/z3HNqYU

All 11 Nebraska counties who vote completely by mail supported President Donald Trump by wide margins in 2024. Now, as he works to restrict mail voting, election officials in those counties defend it, saying it’s saving money and driving higher voter turnout. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/pdLBjqr

New at Flatwater: The Omaha Public Power District is running low on available power capacity for big, new projects. Business leaders worry the situation could cost Omaha and Nebraska new jobs. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/KUqqlg9

A second boy who was sexually abused at a state-run youth center in Kearney is suing state employees in federal court – this time, the suit targets 10 employees and alleges a toxic culture from the top of the administration down. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/LhxCeIn

New at Flatwater: School resource officers with the Omaha Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office have used force on students over 60 times in Omaha-area schools in the last five years. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/z3HNqYU

On Sunday we hosted walking tours at The RiverFront in connection with “Buried Truth,” an investigation with @propublica.org into Omaha’s lead Superfund site. The walk included stops at eight public art displays explaining the findings of our project, which will stay up through the end of October.

Brinker Harding is hoping to carry the torch for the GOP in holding the 2nd District House seat. “I have always said that regardless of your political affiliation — Republican, Democrat or independent — I’m going to represent you,” Harding said. Read the full profile 🔗 buff.ly/cj8oW2H

Denise Powell said she is more comfortable behind the scenes. “I talked to people in the community — people who I thought would be good candidates — and everyone said, ‘You should do it. We’ll have your back.’” Read the full profile 🔗 buff.ly/1cSspSd

New at Flatwater: One wannabe Omaha homebuyer went hunting for housing solutions. She found little houses in Benson, cash incentives in North Platte and a midwest city that just kept building. Could these solutions make a difference for Nebraskans? Read more 🔗 buff.ly/vtjW6Fq

The Bethesda Foundation decided to close both of its senior centers in Nebraska, but before that was announced, staff in Kearney happened to find their center listed for sale on a real estate agent’s website. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/yOjWgrQ

New from SBH: What started just four years ago as a cottage bakery out of a basement has now expanded into a full-blown brick-and-mortar off 54th and Leavenworth. Food writer Sarah Baker Hansen says the bagels at Omaha Bagel Co. have only gotten better since the move. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/BvUPpJG

Denise Powell is looking to flip the seat to the Democrats, while Brinker Harding would keep it in Republican hands. Flatwater reporter Margery Beck profiles each of the candidates ahead of the Nov. 3 election. ⬇️

Denise Powell profile 🔗 buff.ly/1cSspSd

Der Viener Schlinger, the world’s first handheld hot dog launcher, can now fire a 2.67-ounce Fairbury Tomboy at 90 mph from Tom Osborne Field over the 165-foot-high skyboxes. The machine has come a long way, in part thanks to 170 UNL engineering students. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/RUjRedg

New at Flatwater: As Medicaid reimbursement rates in Nebraska fail to match the rising costs of healthcare, it has put a squeeze on facilities that rely on the program. Two senior living centers are now closing, sending almost 100 people scrambling for a place to live. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/yOjWgrQ

When the “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed in July 2025, officials warned some of the cuts within the bill could devastate rural hospitals. Those cuts are set to hit after the midterm election this fall, and some members of Congress are working to offset them. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/7RYAud0

Nebraska's Der Viener Schlinger has been fired at Ribfest, a GermanFest and famously, Memorial Stadium. It was even fired at a funeral. "It has become the odd pride of Nebraska, one of our most cherished institutions," writes freelance correspondent J.J. Harder. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/RUjRedg

New at Flatwater: Nebraska football’s budget has more than doubled in just three years, but a Flatwater analysis shows the school hasn't gotten much bang for its buck. By one metric, the team has spent more per win than every college except for one: Rutgers. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/eFAsVMJ