For Release Week of May 20, 2024


All Things Nebraska
By Paul Hammel

      Welcome to a new corner of your newspaper.
      For years, this column has been called ÒCapitol ViewÓ and for the past several years, itÕs been written by J.L. Schmidt, an old buddy and former Associated Press reporter at the Lincoln Bureau who could turn a phrase or two.
      Before that, it was written by someone named ÒMelvin Paul,Ó who was really a long line of statehouse reporters (including me) who penned a weekly missive using the nom de plume about happenings from the ÒHall of Hot Winds,Ó an old nickname for the State Capitol.
      Eventually, the governor and other politicians began to wonder Òwho is this Melvin Paul guy and why is he writing that stuff?Ó The griping led to retiring ÒMelvin,Ó and bringing in an old pro like J.L. to write a column under his real name.
      Well, now itÕs my turn, and I gotta say, IÕm kinda shaking in my sandals (it is almost summer).
      Since 1990, IÕve covered the statehouse and all things state government, from the chronic overcrowding of our state prison system to the yearly battles, often lost, to reduce property taxes. IÕve gotten a few state officials in hot water, which I always figured was major part of the job of a government watchdog.
      But I also had the pleasure of traveling the state as a roving reporter for the Omaha World-Herald for several years. I got a wonderful, front-row seat to the trials and triumphs of the stateÕs communities, from tiny Monowi, population 1, to hamlets like Haigler, Holstein and Hartington.
      (As a young kid living on a farm outside Bancroft, I considered any town with more than 1,000 residents to be a Òbig town.Ó IÕve never gotten over that.)
      Over the years, IÕve also been a reporter/editor for the Omaha Sun, the Papillion Times, The Lincoln Journal Star and, most recently, the nonprofit Nebraska Examiner. IÕve written sports columns (interviewed Bear Bryant once), covered more murder trials than I want to admit, and penned countless stories about floods, tornados and wild fires, 
      
      
      For Release Week of May 20, 2024 Ð Page 2
      
as well as missives about ground-breaking legislation and both failed and successful state policies.
      Covering news is not the easiest job in the world, but stories tend to write themselves -- you gather facts, interview folks, boil it down into a readable dispatch that youÕre hoping covers all the bases.
      Writing a column, meanwhile, is more of a blank slate, and you fill in the blanks. Yikes.
      With a new laptop jockey saddling up comes a new name: ÒAll Things Nebraska.Ó
      I considered ÒWondering and WanderingÓ because thereÕs a lot of news these days that makes me wonder, and I do like to wander across the state.
      But letÕs settle on ÒAll Things NebraskaÓ because thatÕs the landscape IÕm hoping to cover with this column. ThereÕs plenty of statehouse news to chew on, but thereÕs more out there than just whether we need to tax hemp gummies or wear helmets when riding a motorcycle.
      I like history, and thereÕs plenty of that in our vast state. Newsmakers are fascinating people, and we might have to learn more about what makes them tick. And IÕm a sucker for a good ÒsuccessÓ story, of all kinds.
      LifeÕs many mysteries confound me. Such as why is gasoline so much cheaper in Omaha than Lincoln? Why do we go outside when the tornado siren sounds? And why donÕt those plastic spray bottles that contain spot remover work anymore?
      So buckle up. LetÕs enjoy the ride.
      
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Paul Hammel has covered the Nebraska state government and the state for decades. He retired in April as senior contributor with the Nebraska Examiner. He was previously with the Omaha World-Herald, Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha Sun.  A native of Ralston, Nebraska, he loves traveling and writing about the state.