COVID-19

Iowa Delays Jury Trials, Grand Juries Until July

Published by Scott Stewart on Wed, 04/08/2020 - 12:00am

Des Moines – The Iowa Supreme Court has issued an order suspending grand jury hearings and criminal jury trials until mid-July in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

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NDCS Reports Two Employees Confirmed Positive for COVID-19

Published by Scott Stewart on Wed, 04/08/2020 - 12:00am

A corrections employee tested positive for COVID-19 last week at the state prison in Lincoln.

A staff member at the Nebraska State Penitentiary tested positive after self-isolating at home for 10 days, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services announced in a news release last Saturday.

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Douglas County Courthouse Mostly Closed for Two Weeks

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 04/07/2020 - 4:00am

The Douglas County Courthouse has largely closed to the public for at least two weeks because of the coronavirus.

Limited proceedings will continue through April 19 at the Douglas County Court, the Omaha Douglas Public Building Commission announced last Friday. The Omaha Douglas Civic Center has restricted access to the general public.

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National Guard Assists YRTC Kearney With Virus Testing

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 04/07/2020 - 1:00am

Residents and staff of Kearney’s Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center were tested for COVID-19 last Sunday after two employees were confirmed positive last week.

DHHS and YRTC staff were supported by the Nebraska National Guard and the Two Rivers Health Department in conducting the tests.

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Secretary of State Actively Recruiting Poll Workers

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 04/07/2020 - 12:00am

As Nebraska presses forward with holding its May 12 primary during a pandemic, the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office is looking to recruit poll workers.

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Governors Defending Not Ordering Shelter-in-Place in Nebraska, Iowa

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 04/07/2020 - 12:00am

Lincoln – Gov. Pete Ricketts on Thursday defended his refusal to issue a stay-at-home order for residents, arguing that it isn’t necessary for Nebraska even though most other governors have done so to try to keep the new coronavirus from spreading.

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Nebraska Doctors Urge Ricketts to Impose Tight Restrictions

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 04/06/2020 - 7:13am

A group of doctors has urged Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts to impose stricter measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, just as the state reported 40 new cases of the coronavirus.

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Q&A: How to Get Aid for a Small Business Hit by Virus Crisis

Published by Scott Stewart on Fri, 04/03/2020 - 12:00am

New York – Millions of small business owners will be turning to the government, seeking help for an individual and nationwide cataclysm, the economic devastation caused by the coronavirus.

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Analysis: Virus Pulls Federalism Debate Into 21st Century

Published by Scott Stewart on Fri, 04/03/2020 - 12:00am

Washington – A flu pandemic was ravaging the world, killing indiscriminately in almost every country, including more than 600,000 deaths in the United States. The states were in a panic, but there was almost no call for broad federal assistance – at least, not one heeded by the president.

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Lawmaker Wants Douglas County Courthouse to Be Closed

Published by Scott Stewart on Fri, 04/03/2020 - 12:00am

A state senator whose Omaha law practice often takes him into the Douglas County Courthouse has raised the volume of his calls to close it, citing the recent diagnosis of COVID-19 for a county prosecuting attorney.