COVID-19

Iowa Seeks Younger People to Work Polls Because of Virus

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 04/21/2020 - 8:10am

Iowa City, Iowa – An Iowa lawmaker wants to persuade younger people to sign up to be election workers because the retirees who typically staff the polls are more at risk of complications if they contract the coronavirus.

Read more about Iowa Seeks Younger People to Work Polls Because of Virus

Reynolds Won’t Say Whether Iowa Invited to Join State Pact

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 04/21/2020 - 8:10am

Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds refused to say last Thursday whether she was asked to join with other Midwest governors in coordinating the reopening of their state economies.

Governors of seven Midwestern states announced they had agreed to work together to restart their economies amid the coronavirus pandemic, following similar pacts in the Northeast and West Coast.

Read more about Reynolds Won’t Say Whether Iowa Invited to Join State Pact

Nebraska Jobless Claims Drop, Still Remain Above Average

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 04/21/2020 - 8:08am

Lincoln – Nebraska’s unemployment claims have fallen from their recent record highs but were still far above average last week, according to new numbers last week.

Nebraska residents filed 16,391 new claims during the week that ended April 11, down from around 27,000 the week prior, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Read more about Nebraska Jobless Claims Drop, Still Remain Above Average

Iowa Governor Orders Stricter Social Distancing in Region

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 04/21/2020 - 8:07am

Johnston, Iowa – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered residents in northeastern Iowa to practice stricter social distancing last Thursday as she confirmed that workers at a second Tyson Foods plant are infected with the coronavirus.

Read more about Iowa Governor Orders Stricter Social Distancing in Region

Virus Drives Unemployment Claims Surge in Iowa

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 04/21/2020 - 7:00am

Des Moines, Iowa – Claims for unemployment benefits continued to surge last week in Iowa as more workers lost their jobs amid efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus, but the numbers came in lower than the previous record high.

The U.S. Department of Labor reported last Thursday that 46,356 people in Iowa filed for unemployment benefits in the week that ended April 11.

Read more about Virus Drives Unemployment Claims Surge in Iowa

Trump Unveils Guidelines for Governors to Reopen States

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 04/21/2020 - 5:00am

Federalism is on full display in the nation’s plans to move toward reopening the economy and lifting restrictions on social distancing.

President Donald Trump gave a road map last Thursday for states to follow while loosening their emergency provisions.

Read more about Trump Unveils Guidelines for Governors to Reopen States

Need for Blood Donors Continues During Lockdowns

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 04/21/2020 - 3:00am

Kearney – There always is a critical need for blood donations, but that need skyrockets when a crisis means fewer people are available and able to donate. Such situations usually involve localized natural disasters. Now, it’s a nationwide pandemic.

Read more about Need for Blood Donors Continues During Lockdowns

Peterson: Use Caution if Garnishing Stimulus Payments

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 04/21/2020 - 2:00am

Creditors, debt collectors and financial institutions should proceed with caution if they decide to garnish federal stimulus checks.

An announcement by Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson states that Nebraska law may exempt checks issued under the CARES Act from attachment, garnishment or execution for certain low-income consumers.

Read more about Peterson: Use Caution if Garnishing Stimulus Payments

Grand Island Area Now Has Most Coronavirus Cases in Nebraska

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 04/21/2020 - 12:00am

Lincoln – A central Nebraska county with a major meatpacking plant and a lot of nursing homes and manufacturing facilities now has more COVID-19 cases than any other county in the state, according to new public health data.

Hall County had 278 residents with the coronavirus as of last Wednesday, surpassing the 263 known cases Douglas County, which has nearly nine times as many residents.

Read more about Grand Island Area Now Has Most Coronavirus Cases in Nebraska

Ricketts May Take Regional Approach to Lifting Restrictions

Published by Scott Stewart on Tue, 04/21/2020 - 12:00am

Lincoln – Gov. Pete Ricketts may take a regional approach to lifting state social distancing restrictions, similar to the way he tightened Nebraska’s rules to fight the coronavirus.

Ricketts said he will follow a phased, “one step at a time” approach to avoid another flare-up of the virus. Nebraska’s statewide social distancing mandates are in place until at least April 30.