COVID-19

Nebraska Economy Contracts Sharply in COVID-19 Pandemic

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 05/12/2020 - 6:27am

Lincoln – The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the outlook for Nebraska’s economy.

The state’s economy has contracted sharply this spring, with a spike in unemployment and revenue losses for businesses.

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Iowa GOP Holding Convention By Mail Because of Virus Risk

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 05/12/2020 - 6:26am

Des Moines, Iowa – The Republican Party of Iowa plans to hold its state convention via mail-in ballot, rather than gathering in Des Moines this summer because of concerns about the coronavirus.

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Ricketts: Too Soon to Determine Virus Impact on Budget

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 05/12/2020 - 12:00am

Lincoln – Nebraska officials will likely have to wait at least another few months to learn how much the coronavirus has cut into the state’s revenue and budget, Gov. Pete Ricketts said last Friday.

Ricketts said state officials are starting to look at what they might need to do to continue providing state services, but he offered few specifics.

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Official: Closed Nebraska Schools Should Be Able to Reopen in Fall

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 05/11/2020 - 9:07pm

Nebraska schools that are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic should be able to reopen on schedule this fall, the state’s education commissioner said.

Commissioner Matt Blomstedt said during a news conference last Thursday with Gov. Pete Ricketts that opening dates would depend on local health conditions, the Omaha World-Herald reported.

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Ricketts: Nearly 1 in 6 Cases in Nebraska Linked to Meat Plants

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 05/11/2020 - 9:02pm

Lincoln – Nearly one out of six coronavirus cases in Nebraska have been linked to the state’s meatpacking plants, Gov. Pete Ricketts said amid criticism that not enough is being done to protect the health of their workers.

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Reynolds Eases Limits as Iowa Sees 12 New Coronavirus Deaths

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 05/11/2020 - 6:52am

Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa residents will be allowed to resume dental appointments as Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds made more moves to ease restrictions that were imposed to slow the spread of COVID-19.

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More Guard Members Deployed for COVID-19 Than ’19 Flood

Published by Scott Stewart on Mon, 05/11/2020 - 3:00am

Lincoln – Nebraska has officially dispatched more National Guard members to respond to the coronavirus pandemic than it did during last year’s record-setting, statewide floods, state officials said.

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Debate Flares Over Protections as Businesses Reopening

Published by Scott Stewart on Fri, 05/08/2020 - 5:00am

Salt Lake City – The effort to reopen the economy in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic has set off a conflict at the state and federal level that is escalating by the day over how much legal protection companies should get if their returning workers get sick.

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How Some Companies Survive, Even Thrive, During Crisis

Published by Scott Stewart on Fri, 05/08/2020 - 4:00am

Washington – When the coronavirus struck the United States hard last month, 22-year-old entrepreneur David Zamarin knew his company needed a Plan B – fast. As the economy essentially shut down, demand for his stain-resistant coatings was sure to drop.

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Coronavirus Cuts ‘Deep Scars’ Through Meatpacking Cities

Published by Scott Stewart on Fri, 05/08/2020 - 3:00am

As the coronavirus spread from the nation’s meatpacking plants to the broader communities where they are located, it burned through a modest duplex in Waterloo, Iowa.