first place

“Pillen’s Plan Saves Him $1 Million in Taxes”

Andrew Wegley & Chris Dunker, Lincoln Journal Star

With clarity and tenacity, Andrew Wegley and Chris Dunker answered a question at the heart of Nebraska’s most contentious policy debate: What would Gov. Jim Pillen stand to gain from his own sweeping tax proposal?

Their investigation, published ahead of a high-stakes special session, revealed that the governor — one of the state’s wealthiest landowners — stood to save nearly $1 million in property taxes if his plan passed.

By building a database of more than 200 properties across 27 counties and analyzing the plan’s real impact, their reporting exposed the exaggerated promises behind the governor’s pitch and the self-interest embedded in its design.

Their work gave Nebraskans the facts they needed to see through political spin and understand how a complex tax plan could benefit the man behind it most of all.

second place

“Ricketts’ Riches”

Sara Gentzler & Alex Richards, Flatwater Free Press

For the first time in Nebraska history, “Ricketts’ Riches” pulled back the curtain on how immense personal wealth can be transformed into unmatched political power.

In a groundbreaking four-part series, Sara Gentzler and Alex Richards revealed that Sen. Pete Ricketts and his parents were responsible for nearly 1 in every 11 political dollars spent in the state during the 2024 election cycle.

But this was more than a story about money — it was an investigation into influence, control, and the quiet reshaping of Nebraska’s political landscape.

With meticulous reporting and original data analysis, the series exposed how Ricketts used campaign cash to silence dissent, dominate primaries, and remake the Legislature in his image — leaving a mark on state politics that will endure for generations.

third place

“Why Didn’t Anyone Do Something”

Molly Ashford, Omaha World-Herald

When Jim Walter first called the newsroom, it was to correct a small detail — the date his grandson killed two beloved family members.

But what followed was a months-long collaboration grounded in trust, pain, and a shared desire to answer a heartbreaking question: Why didn’t anyone do something before this happened?

Through dozens of interviews, deep reporting, and courageous storytelling, this piece not only honored the Walter family’s grief but also exposed systemic failures in mental health care and criminal justice.

It moved readers, stirred public officials to call for reform, and inspired new investigative efforts into mental health policy.

This story is a testament to the power of journalism to bring light to dark places — and to earn the trust of those still living in the shadow of loss.