Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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The final annuals have been pulled and perennials that still stand in the garden are drained of color as November is here. There does remain one spot of color as I look out my kitchen window. The flowering kale or ornamental cabbage is still in a fairly good form even after the recent ice storm. The medium green outer leaves surround the rich purple center that has evolved as the plant continues to share color. Flowering kale blooms are actually just the colored leaves or are known as rosettes....
Greetings, SAM readers. For the past two weeks, I have shared a breakdown of the differences between news articles and editorial items, after SAM began a partnership with Trusting News, a project of the Reynolds Journalism Institute and American Press Institute. We worked to devise strategies that promote responsible and ethical journalism. One goal I established, through the project, is to provide a breakdown of what makes a news article, an editorial and a column. This week, I will address...
With a crazy 2020 almost on the books, let’s take a look at the opportunities your business has had available and what you need to do to cross the finish line on Dec. 31. Have you spent your Payment Protection Program dollars? This Small Business Administration loan program is closed and now is the time to seek forgiveness. According to the SBA, borrowers may be eligible for loan forgiveness if the funds were used for eligible payroll costs, payments on business mortgage interest payments, r...
What is the difference between news and opinion? This, friends, is the question of the week. In last week's issue, I explained how SAM began a partnership with Trusting News, a project of the Reynolds Journalism Institute and American Press Institute. We worked to devise strategies that promote responsible and ethical journalism. One goal I established, through the project, is to provide a breakdown of what makes a news article, an editorial and a column. In the Advocate-Messenger, opinion and...
It goes without saying that 2020 is a year we will never forget. It was a year of change, challenge and pivots. Some things slowed down. Others stopped altogether. Despite considerable hardship, the Nebraska Community Foundation network’s resolve to build a Greater Nebraska proved impervious to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid efforts to flatten the curve, neighbors stepped up to help those in need. Goals were met. Grants were made. Work got done. Total assets now exceed $180 m...
For those who have served in the military, agriculture can be a rewarding next move. Veterans who have gotten involved with farming after retiring from the military have found possibilities they hadn't previously imagined. Caring for plants, animals and the land can be an antidote to PTSD, an avenue to channel a strong work ethic and skill set and a chance to reach new horizons and connect with new and supportive networks. But, how does one get started? Many resources exist for veterans...
A common conversation at our house focuses on the difference between fact and opinion. I’m positive Scott knows the first words I’ll say when we discuss news or politics: Have you fact-checked it? Recently, during discussions with friends and other families, I’ve noticed similar trends. I know, I say fact check a lot. At a time when so many options exist for your news listening or reading habit, and considering how the fast-paced nature of news bombards consumers, fact versus opinion findi...
untry will participate in one of our most cherished democratic traditions, voting. And while election season is always ripe with debate and differences of opinion, this year somehow feels different. Maybe that's because it seems this election is no longer just a case of different ways of approaching the same issues, but rather it is about what will happen if the other side wins. People on both sides of the proverbial political aisle are mired in division and swimming in the idea that if things...
The way we use and generate electricity has undergone a historic shift in the last decade due, in part, to changes in technology. The most noteworthy change has been the retirement of centralized fossil fuel generation like coal plants and the development of renewable energy like wind and solar. In addition to producing cleaner electricity, wind and solar development have brought new economic opportunities to states and rural communities, especially in the midwest. The benefits of these projects have included additional tax revenue for small...
She was a spitfire. From the first moment she walked into my classroom at Lutheran High Northeast, I knew Janelle would be one of those students: the ones you forge a bond with and see the potential for infinite growth. It didn’t hurt that she was a younger sister to one of Courtney’s best friends and I knew the type of person she was and wanted to be. With Janelle, there was no illusion or pretense. She was simply Janelle, a confident young woman, comfortable in her own skin. She loved Jes...
Together, and only together, Nebraskans can rebuild the state’s struggling child care system, which is reeling during COVID-19. We can do it in a way that makes age-old problems, like a statewide shortage of quality child care, largely disappear. And we can do it in a way that benefits families, companies, communities and our state economy. That was the message Nebraskans delivered to the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee at a recent hearing. Child care providers, the University of Nebraska’s president, business leaders and experts made...
Discussion and debate has always been a part of rural America. From coffee shops to the local co-op, rural residents aren't afraid to show their loyalty for one candidate or another, share their thoughts on the issues of the day and voice their distrust of the government. Sometimes opinions can spur disagreement and raise tensions. But, in the end, most of us will agree to disagree, shake hands, and go about our day. Lately, this seems to have changed. The divisive politics of Washington have ma...
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” When our 10-year-old grandson was relaying a story about reading aloud in class, Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote came to mind. It’s not that he dislikes reading outloud. He told us he wants to feel confident about speaking in front of a group of people, and to do that, he will need to step outside his comfort zone. It’s okay, Jorden. It doesn’t matter if you’re 10 or 60. We all have a comfort zone. How we approach that area filled with fear is what sets indivi...
d it to make informed decisions as we navigate life. But, we must challenge ourselves to think deeper about the media we consume. Misinformation and disinformation campaigns are increasingly everywhere and we must be prepared to identify falsehoods, verify truths and protect ourselves from too much news. As a media maker and content consumer, I know firsthand how fatiguing the news cycle can be. From the endless comments, push notifications, social feeds, emails and more. Yet, it is important...
Last week, I spent part of Thursday, Friday and Saturday meeting colleagues via Zoom, taking part in sessions of the National Newspaper Conference. The socially-distanced version offered multiple chances for sharpening skills and networking with newspaper publishers and reporters from across the United States. The event renewed nearly all of the ethics I believe are key to providing community journalism. And, several sessions left me re-evaluating some ideas newspapers use because “it’s the way...
In a year of fighting a global pandemic, historic protests for racial equality and the rapidly approaching presidential election, America needs journalists to bring them critical reporting. The events of this year have led to significant increases in traffic to news publisher websites, as Americans look to local journalists to inform them about the news and events in their communities. People trust and appreciate their local news publishers. But publishers are also losing tremendous advertising...
Fall is here which is the perfect time for students to bite into local foods. October is Farm to School Month when Nebraska will be defending its title in the Mountain Plains Crunch Off. During this event, our state competes with Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota on the number of students who crunch into local foods. While the event is only one day, it can be a valuable experience and inspire teachers, administrators and students to learn more about...
There’s a rustle as I walk through the flower garden. It’s autumn and leaves are scattered on the ground. Moving indoors and looking out the kitchen window, the color in the flower garden has changed as the weather slowly creeps into cooler days and nights. It’s the kind of weather that makes a person want to cuddle up in a favorite sweatshirt and stoke a fire in the backyard fire pit. I’ve resisted the urge for the wood in the fire pit due to the extreme dry conditions and low dew point in the...
We, at the Advocate-Messenger, are gearing up for National Newspaper Week, which is celebrated Oct. 4 through 10. This year’s theme - America Needs Journalists - has never been more timely. In a time when we hear “fake news” uttered on a daily basis, it’s time to clear the air and face the truth. Ethical journalists do not file fake news stories. We fact check (a term Scott has learned a lot about in the last year because I use it all the time), fact check again and fact check one final time be...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture opened applications on Sept. 21 for the new Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2. This program will offer payments to farmers and ranchers who may have suffered economic impacts caused by the coronavirus. Many farmers and ranchers are eligible to apply for CFAP 2. This includes row crop and livestock producers, as well as those who produce newly-eligible commodities such as broilers and eggs, additional specialty crops and specialty livestock. Those who...
I’ve said it before. I’ll say it again. I have a love-hate relationship with social media. While I appreciate being able stay informed about family members, I don’t like the divisiveness I see brewing. Whatever happened to the “we can agree to disagree” mantra? That is the beauty of free speech. If you don’t agree, scroll by. If you are inclined to comment, great, but civility goes a long way. But the reality of social media, especially when it comes to social media seen as a means of “free ad...
With the recent rain, I’m able to look out my kitchen window and still enjoy color in the flower garden. Just a few weeks ago I was ready to pull flowers out and hope for the best for wintering over perennials. It’s surprising what almost two inches of rain can do. All summer I dumped water on the beds. It takes rain to really make the color pop in the landscape. I realize we aren’t out of the woods yet. It will take a lot more moisture to bring up our water table. Plants need deep watering. Tha...
Walt Disney once said, “There’s no magic in magic. It’s all in the details.” I have a feeling Walt’s magical wisdom applied to people, too. If you’re lucky enough to have an edge when it comes to reading people, you’ve more than likely mastered the art of the details - paying attention to tiny clues that provide huge amounts of data about others. Take a moment and think about your best friend. What about them stands out? What do they do that continues to build on your friendship? Now, think ab...
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hit the Midwest hard, Nebraska stands apart as the only state in the union halting the emergency boost to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from the federal government, which allows recipients to receive the maximum benefit in food assistance. Khalilah LeGrand, Nebraska Health and Human Services spokeswoman, argued that things are getting back to normal for workers and the assistance is no longer needed. Although unemployment is not as high...
Since Breonna Taylor’s death in March and George Floyd’s death in May, I have heard people from all walks proclaim racism does not exist in our country, let alone in the great state in which we live. Yet, an incident Saturday, in Lincoln, shows that belief is alive in Nebraska. It’s unfortunate because I want to believe the underlying message displayed on the back window of a pickup does not represent the majority of residents of the state I love. I realize we don’t reside in a Pollyan...
