Shortly after buying her house in 2022, Mary Royers learned from a man across the street that her Omaha neighborhood was contaminated with lead. But her yard, like thousands of others, had been cleaned up, the neighbor said.
Mary Royers washes her hands in her kitchen after being outside in her garden. She has largely stopped gardening after a Flatwater Free Press and ProPublica soil test found high levels of lead contamination.
From left, Brenda González Rocha holds her 8-month-old, Isaías, as González’s daughters Carolina, 6, and Camila, 8, play on the trampoline in their backyard in June. González’s front yard tested high for lead, and she is concerned how the contamination could “affect their quality of life.”
Stephen Matthews, Royers’ partner, in their wildflower garden. Though the soil outside their home was remediated years ago, a recent test by Flatwater Free Press and ProPublica indicated a high level of lead.
Royers saves seeds from flowers in her garden before the soil is scraped away for remediation. Royers considered gardening to be something healing, so she was frustrated to learn it might actually have been harmful.
González and her daughter Camila help feed soup to Isaías at home. González’s front yard tested high for lead, and she is worried about letting her children play outside.
Heavy rain is seen falling over west Omaha, as viewed from the east on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
People set off fireworks in Omaha, on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Kids reach for bubbles on Woolworth Ave. during the annual 4th of July parade held at Omaha’s Field Club neighborhood in Omaha, on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
People set off fireworks in Omaha, on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
People set off fireworks in Omaha, on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
People set off fireworks in Omaha, on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
People set off fireworks in Omaha, on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Damages is seen after a vehicle hit Eyebrow Microblading Specialists at 5723 NW Radial Highway in Omaha, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The neighboring business in the same building, Benson Shoe Repair, was also recently hit by a vehicle and sustained heavy damage.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
A Wednesday night storm knocked a tree onto 710 Donegal Drive in Papillion, as seen on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
A Wednesday night storm knocked a tree onto 710 Donegal Drive in Papillion, as seen on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Participants walk down Woolworth Ave. during the annual 4th of July parade held at Omaha’s Field Club neighborhood in Omaha, on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
People arrive for The RiverFront Fourth of July Celebration featuring the Omaha Symphony at Gene Leahy Mall in Omaha on Saturday, July 4, 2026 .
JOSEPH CIEMBRONIEWICZ, THE WORLD-HERALD
From left, Alexis, 7, Ron Lewis, James, 6, and Jackie Lewis visit Edith German’s headstone in the Omaha National Cemetery in Papillion, on Friday, July 3, 2026. German was Jackie’s mother and the children’s great-grandmother. German’s husband, Kenneth, served in the Airforce, and she was a registered nurse, who worked in the Omaha V.A. hospital.
JOSEPH CIEMBRONIEWICZ, THE WORLD-HERALD
A lightning strike is seen near the Omaha National Cemetery and a Google AI Data-Center in Papillion on Friday, July 3, 2026.
JOSEPH CIEMBRONIEWICZ, THE WORLD-HERALD
Iris Herse, a former Rosie the Riveter who worked in a factory making bombs during World War II, displays her American Spirit Medallion at Lakeside retirement home in Omaha on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
JOSEPH CIEMBRONIEWICZ, THE WORLD-HERALD
Iris Herse, a former Rosie the Riveter who worked in a factory making bombs during World War II, stands for a portrait at Lakeside retirement home in Omaha on Thursday, July 2, 2026. She wears her American Spirit Medallion.
JOSEPH CIEMBRONIEWICZ, THE WORLD-HERALD
A peacock stands at the door of Diane Keane’s home in Omaha on Sunday, July 12, 2026. Keane believes the bird belongs to one of her neighbors, and says “it kind of just does whatever it wants.”
JOSEPH CIEMBRONIEWICZ, THE WORLD-HERALD
A peacock walks across Diane Keane’s porch as her dog, Biscuit, watches in Omaha on Sunday, July 12, 2026. Keane believes the bird belongs to one of her neighbors, and says “it kind of just does whatever it wants.”
JOSEPH CIEMBRONIEWICZ, THE WORLD-HERALD
Lincoln View principal Monica Thompson cuts the ribbon during a ceremony for the new elementary school in Papillion on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Lincoln View is Papillion La Vista Community Schools 17th elementary school to open.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and Brinker Harding, Republican candidate for Nebraska's second congressional district, talk with reporters during a campaign event at WheatFields Eatery and Bakery in Omaha on Saturday, July 18, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Attendees wave as 30 buses pass by along Q Street to launch an anti-child sex trafficking awareness campaign in Omaha on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Keyhden Ramirez stands for a portrait in her Papillion home on Friday, July 24, 2026. Ramirez is taking daraxonrasib in a clinical trial, which is Revolution Medicine's pancreatic cancer drug.
From left, Brenda González Rocha holds her 8-month-old, Isaías, as González’s daughters Carolina, 6, and Camila, 8, play on the trampoline in their backyard in June. González’s front yard tested high for lead, and she is concerned how the contamination could “affect their quality of life.”
Mary Royers washes her hands in her kitchen after being outside in her garden. She has largely stopped gardening after a Flatwater Free Press and ProPublica soil test found high levels of lead contamination.
Stephen Matthews, Royers’ partner, in their wildflower garden. Though the soil outside their home was remediated years ago, a recent test by Flatwater Free Press and ProPublica indicated a high level of lead.
Royers saves seeds from flowers in her garden before the soil is scraped away for remediation. Royers considered gardening to be something healing, so she was frustrated to learn it might actually have been harmful.
González and her daughter Camila help feed soup to Isaías at home. González’s front yard tested high for lead, and she is worried about letting her children play outside.
