Matthew Bovee - Investigative Reporter based in Lincoln, Nebraska

Matthew Bovee

Investigative Reporter | Lincoln, Nebraska

Journalism That Holds Power Accountable

I’m an independent investigative journalist based in Lincoln, Nebraska, with deep roots in the Texas Hill Country. My work focuses on exposing institutional wrongdoing, documenting patterns of abuse, and pursuing stories that powerful institutions would prefer remain hidden.

My reporting has contributed to legislative reforms in two states, criminal convictions, and disbarment proceedings against attorneys who exploited vulnerable populations. I believe that transparency is the foundation of democratic governance, and that the public’s right to know outweighs the convenience of those in power.

Recent Investigations

The Settlement Machine (2016-2018)

A three-year investigation into law firms that manufactured abuse allegations for profit, published in Texas Monthly and The American Prospect. The series contributed to the conviction of a Dallas attorney and legislative reforms in Texas and Nebraska requiring enhanced verification in institutional abuse litigation.

The Tax Increment Financing Scandal (2021-2023)

Documented systematic misuse of TIF districts in Lincoln and Omaha, finding $340 million in diverted property taxes. The series contributed to the resignation of a Lincoln City Council President and significant legislative reform.

The Aquifer War (2023-Present)

Ongoing investigation into interstate water rights conflicts between Nebraska and Texas, examining how agricultural conglomerates exploit regulatory gaps.

Recognition

Winner of the 2017 George Polk Award for Legal Reporting, the 2018 Sigma Delta Chi Award for Investigative Reporting, and the 2023 Gerald Loeb Award. Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2021.

Read more about my work →