COVID-19

Many Businesses Cautious About Restarting Economy

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 03/30/2020 - 3:00am

Providence, R.I. – President Donald Trump wants the country open for business by mid-April, but some experts warn it’s not as easy as flipping a switch: Economies run on confidence, and that is likely to be in short supply for as long as coronavirus cases in the United States are still rising.

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Golfers Play on, for Now, With Social Distancing Precautions

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 03/30/2020 - 2:00am

Ypsilanti, Mich. – Washtenaw Golf Club, one of the oldest courses in Michigan, typically only has to worry about the weather in March. Now there is a far more serious issue to contemplate: the new coronavirus.

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Legislature OKs $83.6M Emergency Package to Fight Virus

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 03/30/2020 - 12:00am

Lincoln – Nebraska lawmakers approved an $83.6 million emergency relief package last week to help public health officials respond to the coronavirus pandemic, as the number of cases continued to rise and Lincoln ordered some businesses to close and restricted how others can operate.

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Lancaster, Saunders Counties Placed Under State Directed Health Measures

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 03/30/2020 - 12:00am

Confirmed cases of community spread in Lancaster and Saunders counties last Wednesday resulted in the implementation of a second directed health measure announced by Gov. Pete Ricketts

The new order is similar to one already in effect for Douglas, Sarpy, Cass and Washington counties. Douglas and Lancaster counties have issued their own county-level directives.

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Nebraska School Leaders Told They Ought To Stay Shut for Remainder of School Year

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 03/30/2020 - 12:00am

Nebraska’s top education official is asking school districts to stay closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.

That recommendation was made by Education Commissioner Matthew L. Blomstedt in a letter last Wednesday to public school superintendents, private school administrators and educational service units.

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Nebraska Reports First Deaths From COVID-19

Published by Scott Stewart on Sun, 03/29/2020 - 11:36am

Nebraska joined the list of states reporting deaths from COVID-19 last Friday.

A Douglas County man in his 50s and a Hall County woman in her 60s, both with underlying health conditions, died of the disease caused by the coronavirus.

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Access to COVID-19 Tests Remains Limited in State

Published by Scott Stewart on Fri, 03/27/2020 - 6:47am

Not enough tests are available for COVID-19 across the United States, including in Nebraska.

On that point, seemingly all officials agree, regardless of who is judged to carry the blame.

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Douglas County Court Postpones Arraignments

Published by Scott Stewart on Fri, 03/27/2020 - 6:45am

The Douglas County Court has postponed all criminal and traffic arraignments beginning today.

The court will reschedule court appearances set for March 27 through April 20, according to a news release issued by City Prosecutor Matthew M. Kuhse.

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Coronavirus Prompt Questions for Court Operations, Preserving the Rule of Law

Published by Scott Stewart on Fri, 03/27/2020 - 12:00am

The coronavirus outbreak is affecting broad swaths of American life, including all levels of government. On March 16, the U.S. Supreme Court took the unusual step of indefinitely postponing oral arguments scheduled for at least the next two weeks.

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Lawyers Judges Push to Close Immigration Courts Amid Virus

Published by Scott Stewart on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 3:20pm

San Diego – Immigration attorneys have 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.