Wednesday, May 20
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Good morning,
Today we have stories about a man arrested for killing a registered sex offender whose crime has garnered divided responses, COVID-19 testing set to double in North Omaha and Asian Americans facing increased racism across the country.
Your Top Local Stories
Check out an interactive version of this map on our website.
In Omaha
- The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce has released guidelines and created a task force to help businesses figure out how to reopen.
- On Giving Wednesday, Omaha Gives is asking people to make any contribution they can, no matter how small.
- Testing is set to double in North Omaha where the number of cases are double the predominantly African American community’s share of the population.
- The man arrested in the killing of a registered sex offender did so to “protect” children and has received some support to lessen or waive his punishment. The arrested man’s ex-wife said the case is complex and her husband seemed to be acting out of a combination of good faith and fear. The crime has also worried other registered sex offenders who fear copycat killers could come after them and their families.
- The first ORBT bus station has its canopy installed, a milestone for the project set to bring rapid bus transit to Omaha.
- Covering lost tax revenue, bolstering emergency responders and helping reopen arenas: Those were among a few of the requests made yesterday at a Douglas County Board of Commissioners public hearing as the group tries to figure out how to dole out CARES Act funds.
- The son of a man who died at a senior care facility in Elkhorn said officials there have kept him in the dark. His only information has come from nurses who work there.
- With beef prices rising, restaurants are having to adjust their prices.
- A variety of companies are still hiring as the economy emerges from the pandemic.
Around the State
- A national federation has set guidelines to reopen high school sports with a three-phase plan that includes masks, temperature checks and more recommended CDC measures.
- A UNL professor has developed an app that can help contact tracing efforts.
- The Costco chicken plant in Fremont has reported 14 more COVID-19 cases.
- Kate Bolz has earned an endorsement from fellow Democrat and former U.S. Sen. and Nebraska Gov. Bob Kerrey in her effort to unseat long-time U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry.
- Gov. Pete Ricketts said he will allow his executive order to slow eviction hearings to expire at the end of May, citing availability of unemployment benefits.
- Gov. Ricketts to hold daily press briefing today
What to do during quarantine?
From our list of things to do during quarantine:
Best Isolation/Lonely Movies
Given that he’s recovering from COVID-19, we should all spend time with Tom Hanks by spinning Castaway. If you’re more melancholy, give Lost in Translation a go.
What’s Happening In The United States?
- A scientist in Florida says she was fired from her position with the state’s department of health for refusing to hide COVID-19 data from the state’s public reporting model.
CDC Releases Reopening Guidelines Rejected by White House
- The federal agency released a 60-page document that includes guidance for businesses, schools, transit systems and other industries. The CDC released six slides with similiar, simplified information last week. This document is likely its original guidance that was rejected by the White House for being too detailed.
- Across the county, Asian Americans have reported more verbal and physical attacks. Those working in hospitals have the unique obstacle of battling racism and a fatal virus.
- The video claiming the pandemic response was manufactured to benefit society’s elites spread quickly online last week after gaining steam in the recesses of conspiratorial Facebook groups.
What’s Happening Across The World?
EU Response Team: Brace for Second Wave
- As many countries in the European Union ease restrictions, public health officials say increased activity could lead to a second wave of infections.
Omaha, NE 68107