Dismantle the System, PPP Bailouts and Donations, COVID-19 Supply Shortages and more Top Local News for Wednesday, July 8

• New data from the Payment Protection Program shows that while some businesses asked for big bailouts, they still had funds to donate to political causes.
• The Omaha Police Department added temporary members to its gang unit after a weekend of shootings.
• The family of one man who died from a gunshot wound over the Fourth of July weekend says they want justice.
• The new University of Nebraska Medical Center Director of Inclusion is entering her position at a critical time and says she’s ready for the opportunity.
• Payment Protection Program data shows Nebraska was a top earner but a lot of the money and big loans didn’t go to small businesses.
• Marks in Dundee announced it would close its restaurant and instead offer speciality foods. The restaurant’s owner, Mark Pluhacek, said he was uncomfortable reopening as the virus continues to rage.
• Omaha’s National Night Out, an annual event meant to promote neighborhood unity and reduce crime, is postponed until October.
• The Omaha Marathon is slated to go on as planned in September.
• A new COVID-19 testing site has opened near Crossroads Mall.
• Testing turnaround times are slowing down contact tracers’ ability to track and report on the virus.
• Millard Public School teachers, parents and students all say the district’s back-to-school plan caught them off guard.
• Creighton University is finalizing it’s back-to-school plan.
• Can your boss make you wear a mask? One employment attorney said yes.
• Though data about Payment Protection Program loans is incomplete, it shows a disparity between how much the government gifted white-owned and minority-owned businesses.
• Many participated in Black Out Tuesday, funneling money toward black-owned business.
• After Omaha enacted an emergency to quell protests, other cities in the metro are looking at how they can enact similar declarations.
• New public art in Benson displays messages calling people to action.
• Protests outside Don Kleine’s house will end on July 11 after more than a month.
• Kros Strain is joining other breweries nationwide, branding their beer with “Black is Beautiful” slogans and raising money for The Freedom Fund.

Around the State

• In Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds says cities and counties can’t require people to wear masks.
• New guidelines state international students either need to attend in-person classes or get out of the country. With schools opening in Nebraska, the threat of deportation may be slightly muted.
• Surges in COVID-19 cases nationwide are leading to supply shortages and delayed results in Nebraska.
• An Omaha-based company agreed to pay out $827,500 after allegedly releasing high amounts of waste into the treatment system at its David City location where it processes 1.2 million eggs a day.
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green says the state’s largest university needs to take a deeper look at racism and equity.
• Lincoln police arrested a man who sold undercover officers heroin 14 different times.
• Schools in the University of Nebraska system are moving to a mobile ticketing platform.
• Changes to unemployment benefits will come to Nebraska on Monday.