10/8/21 • Nebraska vaccine data • Nationwide case trends
As Pandemic Continues, Día de los Muertos Can Help Omaha Grieve
For about 30 years, Jose García and Linda García-Perez have uplifted the indigenous Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, with exhibits and events celebrated throughout the greater Omaha community.
The couple believes the holiday holds even more importance now, as the country reaches a somber juncture in the pandemic.
Story by Bridget Fogarty, Report for America Corps Member. Published in El Perico, The Reader’s bilingual (English/Spanish) sister publication.
Reed Moore’s Daily Rundown
Happy National Hero Day
Today’s news says we all need someone to inspire us: Hospitalizations in Douglas County reach a pandemic high, Nebraskans on Medicaid will receive dental and vision benefits, and the death of a 23-year-old Lincoln woman has been ruled a homicide.
Harper’s Index Facts of the Day
- Factor by which the Earth’s heating rate increased from 2005 to 2020: 2.4
- Percentage by which average nighttime temperatures have increased more quickly than daytime temperatures since 1951: 37
Sources: 1. NASA Langley Research Center (Hampton, Va. (https://www.sweetfixbaker.com) )
2. National Centers for Environmental Information (Asheville, N.C.)
Want to get vaccinated in Douglas County this week? Here are upcoming clinics.
Around Omaha
- Hospitalizations in Douglas County have reached 92% — a pandemic-era high. Infectious disease experts say indoor gatherings are a lead factor in the surge.
- As eviction court gets busier, legal assistance and volunteer lawyers are helping prevent quick evictions in Omaha.
- Omaha’s Ethiopian community welcomes new leadership and looks forward to continuing serving its neighbors.
- Faces from the Interior, a new exhibit at the Joslyn Art Museum, illuminates the histories of indigenous communities.
- As Hispanic Heritage Month continues, local organizations offer opportunities to celebrate Omaha’s Latino communities.
Around Nebraska
- Starting this month, Nebraskans who have health coverage under Medicaid will receive full benefits — including dental and vision. NOISE breaks down what the new benefits entail and how to enroll in the program.
- The death of 23-year-old Lincoln woman has been ruled a homicide, records show, more than four months since investigators found her remains near Pawnee Lake.
- Ponca Tribe community members and descendants of Chief Standing Bear say the new Lincoln school Standing Bear High School will honor and uplift Native voices.
Reed Moore realized the newsletter didn’t make it to some readers’ inboxes on Tuesday. Apologies! If you’d like to catch up on Tuesday news, check out Tuesday’s newsletter in our archives.
Reed Moore’s Thing To Do:
AfroCon 2021
Hosted by the House of Afros, Capes & Curls, this community-building event features conversations with creatives and thought leaders on topics that have an impact on Black lives.
Event Pick by Leo Adam Biga, published in The Reader.
As the delta variant spreads through the community, remember to get fully vaccinated and mask up — even if you’re fully vaxxed — before going to events.
Check out more local guides on our Things To Do page.
The Daily Funny
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