COVID-19

ADM Idles Two Large Nebraska, Iowa Ethanol Production Plants

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 7:35am

Des Moines, Iowa – Ethanol producer ADM said last Thursday it is idling production at its corn ethanol plants in Columbus, Nebraska, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, furloughing 90 employees in each facility for at least four months.

The plants, each capable of annually producing about 300 million gallons of the typically corn-based fuel additive, are among the largest of their type in the nation.

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I Don’t Want House Arrest, But I’ll Stick to Playing it Safe

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 7:23am

Which is worse:

• An angry crowd shouting for an instant return to cocktails at their favorite bar, followed by dinner in a nice restaurant and an evening ballgame in a bustling stadium, or

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Southern States Largely Go It Alone in Reopening Decisions

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 7:05am

Baton Rouge, La. – Governors in 17 states have committed to regional coordination to reopen their economies during the coronavirus outbreak, but none are in the South, where leaders are going it alone, as they did in imposing restrictions.

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Judge Strikes Down Oklahoma Abortion Ban Amid Outbreak

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 7:05am

Oklahoma City – Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s attempt to ban abortions during the coronavirus pandemic cannot be enforced, a federal judge has ruled.

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Federal Judge Rejects Request to Temporarily Halt Closures

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 7:04am

Columbus, Ohio – A federal judge gave Ohio officials an early victory in a lawsuit challenging the shuttering of nonessential employers in response to the pandemic.

The judge rejected a Columbus bridal shop’s bid for a temporary restraining order that would have allowed it to reopen.

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Iowa Extends School Closures

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 7:04am

Des Moines, Iowa – Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education announced last week that all school districts and nonpublic schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year and will continue to offer e-learning to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. This decision also includes the cancellation of spring sports activities.

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State Releasing Daily Updates on Hospitalizations, Capacity

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 7:03am

Information on available hospital beds will be release statewide, not just the Omaha metropolitan area.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts announced that new hospital capacity information will get released daily on the state’s online coronavirus tracking portal, bit.ly/2VvjlgG.

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DCHD Urges Residents to Help Senior Citizens With Pandemic

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 7:03am

Senior citizens are among the Nebraskan residents who are most vulnerable to complications from the COVID-19 outbreak. The Douglas County Health Department is suggesting you limit or avoid visits to senior living facilities unless it is absolutely needed during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“This is one of the most important messages we can share,” Health Director Dr. Adi Pour said.

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Nebraska Crossing Backtracks Plans to Reopen Mall to Public

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 7:00am

Gretna – The Nebraska Crossing outlet mall had announced plans to reopen this week amid the pandemic, but managers appeared to back away from those plans last Tuesday with a post that said the opening was primarily for employees to get their stores ready for business.

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Nebraska Unveils Plan to Boost Coronavirus Testing

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 6:52am

Lincoln – Over the next few weeks, Nebraska will dramatically increase the number of people tested for COVID-19 using a program that was recently launched in Utah and Iowa, Gov. Pete Ricketts announced.