Flatwater Free Press
Nebraska’s Dirty Water
Yanqi Xu’s series linked the source of cancer-causing nitrate and uranium in Nebraska’s water to fertilizer for corn (the state’s top crop), exposed the state government and local boards who denied the problem and provided solutions for staying safe. A resulting water quality town hall brought together 250 residents and a panel of experts to continue the conversation. Following Xu’s reporting, the state’s legislature introduced four new water quality bills.
Finalists
Circle of Blue
Danger Looms Where Algae Blooms