COVID-19

Ricketts: April Will Be ‘Tough Month’ for Nebraska

Published by Scott Stewart on Wed, 04/01/2020 - 12:00am

Lincoln – Gov. Pete Ricketts extended Nebraska’s statewide restrictions on social gatherings last Monday until at least April 30 and urged residents to brace for another “tough month” in April, when the number of new coronavirus cases is expected to peak.

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Nebraska Federal Court Allowing Video, Phone Appearances

Published by Scott Stewart on Wed, 04/01/2020 - 12:00am

A general order from the U.S. District Court of the District of Nebraska expanding the use of videoconferencing and teleconferencing during the pandemic.

Chief Judge John M. Gerrard is allowing judges to use those technologies to the fullest extent allowed by the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

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Cases Expected to Grow as Testing Expands to More Patients

Published by Scott Stewart on Wed, 04/01/2020 - 12:00am

Growing numbers of cases of COVID-19 in Nebraska is largely the result of additional testing.

Testing ramped up over the last several days. Nebraska Medicine and the Nebraska Public Health Lab have both increased testing, the Douglas County Health Department said last Sunday, and CHI Health and private labs have also started to provide test results.

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Order Allows Bars, Restaurants to Sell Mixed Drinks To Go

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 03/30/2020 - 5:00pm

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has lifted the requirement that liquor be sold in its original packaging, allowing mixed drinks to be sold by bars and restaurants during the pandemic.

Executive Order 20-09 modifies Ricketts’ earlier order allowing bars and restaurants to sell alcohol for takeout, curbside or delivery.

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Nebraska Forging Ahead With Primary Despite Pandemic

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 03/30/2020 - 5:00pm

Nebraska won’t join several states that have delayed May primaries until June, but voters are encouraged to use the state’s “no excuse” early voting option to avoid the polls.

Gov. Pete Ricketts said the May 12 primary will proceed as scheduled. The governor said the state has a duty to carry out elections, and previous generations have held elections during times of pandemic and war.

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Iowa Abortion Providers Sue Governor Over Health Order

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 03/30/2020 - 12:01pm

Des Moines, Iowa – Abortion providers with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa on Monday sued Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds for suspending abortion procedures as part of her blanket order to halt all elective and non-emergency medical procedures.

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Virus Outbreak Means Misinformation Overload

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 03/30/2020 - 11:37am

The coronavirus pandemic is leading to information overload for many people, often making it difficult to separate fact from fiction and rumor from deliberate efforts to mislead.

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Home Internet Jammed Up? Try These Simple Steps Before Paying for Service Upgrade

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 03/30/2020 - 11:36am

With so much of the U.S. workforce, and their families, cooped up at home to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, it’s not a surprise that home internet is showing the strain. If you’ve had a videoconference stutter while your teenagers play Call of Duty online, you have a good idea of the problem.

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Ethanol Plants Seek Rule Changes To Help Resupply Hand Sanitizer

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 03/30/2020 - 11:35am

Des Moines, Iowa – As hospitals and nursing homes desperately search for hand sanitizer amid the coronavirus outbreak, federal regulators are preventing ethanol producers from providing millions of gallons of alcohol that could be transformed into the germ-killing mixture.

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Lawyers, Judges Push to Close Immigration Courts Amid Virus

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 03/30/2020 - 11:33am

San Diego – Immigration attorneys sported swim goggles and masks borrowed from friends to meet with clients in detention centers. Masked judges are stocking their cramped courtrooms with hand sanitizer for hearings they want to do by phone.