WINGING IT 🪽

Happy Friday Ledgers,

To most, Zesto is a beloved Nebraska summer staple best known for its crunch cones and walking tacos. But look a little closer, and you’ll find the story of a national upstart chain that once threatened to take down the DQ Frozen Empire… 🍦

In this week’s issue:

• Startup: NE tech company tackling dyslexia.

• What To Do: Hub, wings, and a hike.

• Sportz: I don’t have friends. I have Le-family.

• Neighborhood Watch: Cheaper by the double dozen.

Time flies.

Six months and 24 weekly issues later—and here we are. It’s been a pleasure to keep your inbox company every week. We hope you feel the same.

- Landon

Last Week’s Poll Results:
How's your slice looking, Tiger?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 👑 I'm more of a cart princess/prince. (65.50%)
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ 😬 Poor, I point my feet 45° to compensate for my slice. (30.80%)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🏌️ Great, I hit 'em long and straight. (3.7%)

Reminder to self: don’t plan a TLL golf invitational.

STARTUP

Lincoln software company tackling dyslexia.

While some startup founders are focused on being the “it” product in the latest AI funding hype cycle. Others, like Grace Clausen and co-founder Bridget Peterkin from the UNL Raikes School of Computer Science and Management, are using the technology to solve real-world problems for real people.

Their company, Dyslexico, is a breath of fresh air in a world of B2B SaaS startups and is designed to help those with dyslexia understand their disorder through data and coaching.

How it works… Users simply copy and paste their writing into Dyslexico. Using AI, the product provides feedback across five categories and gives suggestions to users that help them develop skills to mitigate their dyslexia.

Early progress… Dyslexico, currently free, is being adopted by a steadily growing number of schools nationwide. The team is focused on gathering feedback to refine the product before implementing a subscription model in the future.

📌 Why it matters… Dyslexia is a disorder that follows you through life. It impacts childhood learning and is tough on self-esteem. While research and funding have come a long way, the disorder is complex and requires those diagnosed to put large amounts of effort into doing that which others may take for granted.

Dyslexia simulator… Curious to learn more about what living with dyslexia feels like? Check out this simulation video.

WHAT TO DO

Hub, wings, and a hike.

This weekend is brought to you by Prilosec OTC, the hero of gut bomb warriors across these star-spangled states.

🪗 Hub and Soul
Friday is for music, and tonight, you’re going to Hub and Soul. You’ll watch Orion Walsh and The Wildwoods while looking over the beautiful Antelope Creek Project. The weather should only be in the 80s, so you won’t need to worry about melting through your shorts.

🍗 WING FEST
You’ll spend Saturday morning warming up for your Hot Ones audition. It is Wingfest at Haymarket Park and you will be there to taste the best wings from 17 competitors across Lincoln. Doors open at 5:00 PM. Be sure to bring a jug of milk and moist hand towelettes; you’re going to need them.

🥾 Platte River State Park
On Sunday, we’re going on a day trip to Platte River State Park to hike the loop. We’ll travel the 40 minutes to Louisville, NE, to tackle the 6.7mi trail. Bring a comfy pair of walking/hiking shoes, a snack, and water. The hike will take you around 3 hours to complete. Afterward, you’ll head to Round the Bend Steakhouse, home of the testicle festival (IYKYK), for a hearty bit of dinner.

SPORTZ

Sporting headlines from around the capital.

• 🏆 HOF: Nebraska announced its Hall of Fame class of 2024.

• 🏅 Directors Cup: Huskers finished 22nd in the Directors’ Cup, the highest finish since 2010.

• 🎮 NCAA ‘24: Memorial Stadium snubbed from EA Sports list of “Toughest Places to Play”.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

2541 N 50th St, Lincoln, NE 68504

Cheaper by the double dozen.

It’s a familiar plot line from an early 2000s movie. A man with 12 kids meets a woman with 12 kids. Things move quickly, and wedding bells are ringing. But wait! Where are they going to live when their families join together?

If only there was a home with 23 bedrooms and 6 baths designed to house them all… Starring a young Eugene Levy and Natasha Richardson (RIP), these parents will have to work together to find the home of their dreams while holding their brand-new family’s fragile core together…

This week, we’ve got the perfect home for our cast. A former sorority house, perfect for raising a growing army of children. It is also conveniently located across from the beautiful Nebraska Wesleyan campus (when they’re ready for college). Boasting 12,922 square feet of space, this building comes complete with a commercial kitchen, dozens of bunk beds, and 16 parking stalls.

Not into having a school busload of kids? No sweat. Convert it into a bed & breakfast, student housing, or something else entirely.

The Details:

• 23 beds, 6 baths

• 12,922 sq/ft

• Built in 1920

• So much sisterhood.

❤️ KEEP: The pillars, the location, the industrial kitchen, the insanely large parking lot, the living room, and all of the enthusiasm of countless rush weeks.

🗑️ TOSS: 100 years of flooring and tile inconsistency and the vodka-drenched ghosts of the past.

CHECKLIST

An over-ambitious weekend to-do list.

• Brush your dog’s teeth.

• Pick up a new pair of airpods. Yours are sounding pretty crunchy.

• Clean out the litter box.

• Get rid of those old kitchen knives.

• Reserve your camping spot for your trip coming up in a few weeks.

HEADLINES

More news from around the capital.

• LNK: Lincoln Airport Authority will receive more of your property tax percentage despite a history of dreadful decision-making.

• Housing: Midwest salaries aren't keeping up with rent, especially in Lincoln.

• Emergency: The city of Lincoln gets an all-new Emergency Communications Center.

• Penguin: The Lincoln Children’s Zoo is ready to show off its baby penguins to the public.

🐯 Weekly Wildcard:
One headline (or post) we never saw coming.

• Sad: A beloved pet cockatoo has been found. And spoiler, it’s not a happy ending…