For Local Theater Productions,
2021 Offered a Renewal

Doors opened again, curtains rose and audiences returned to seats — with some COVID-19 precautions.

Story by Natalie Christie. Published in The Reader.

Reed Moore’s Daily Rundown

Happy National Banana Bread Day

Today’s news doesn’t understand why baking banana bread didn’t catch on the way baking sourdough bread did during the infamous spring of 2020: Seven bills seek to spend a combined $294.5 million worth of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to support nurses, nursing homes, rural care providers and more, women in the Legislature offer their own stories of being harassed and marginalized in the workplace and call for change as former state Sen. Mike Groene is under investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol, and the mascots of 22 Nebraska schools are Native American caricatures, according to the Nebraska Examiner — Sen. Megan Hunt introduces a bill offering each school up to $200,000 to change its mascot.

Harper’s Index Facts of the Day

1. Average number of times people switch between screens or tabs per day: 566
2. Average number of minutes it takes to get back on task after
checking a cell phone notification: 25

Source: Gloria Mark, University of California, Irvine

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Reed Moore’s COVID-19 Roundup

As announced in the Wednesday, Dec. 29, bonus newsletter, in light of the Omicron variant, Reed Moore will replace the “Thing To Do” section with a COVID-19 spotlight featuring coronavirus-related content. The Reader believes it’s irresponsible to promote events when hospitals are nearing capacity and some community members refuse to get vaccinated. As cases continue, The Reader won’t promote any events — be they concerts, plays, art-gallery openings or stand-up comedy — that don’t require
masks, vaccination and social distancing.

For nationwide COVID-19 case
and vaccination trends, click here.

Around Omaha

Around Nebraska

  • The mascots of 22 Nebraska schools are Native American caricatures, according to the Nebraska Examiner. Sen. Megan Hunt introduces a bill offering each school up to $200,000 to change its mascot. Judi gaiashkibos, executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, isn’t fully behind it at first, voicing her support instead for a ban of Native American mascots and saying the bill “dangled a carrot, in a way bribing the schools to do the right thing,” but she reconsiders her position upon listening to others testify.  
  • “You’re having to … rebuild that trust that … the next cab driver won’t attack you. Or your next boss won’t. Or your next colleague won’t”: As former state Sen. Mike Groene is under investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol, women in the Legislature offer their own stories of being harassed and marginalized in the workplace and call for change.
  • The Lincoln Public Schools board unanimously appoints a new superintendent: Dr. Paul Gausman.
  • Small schools forge ahead in the face of low enrollment.
  • Suspended UNL fraternity Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) is suing the university, claiming to have been targeted by UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green and others for supporting former President Donald Trump.
  • According to a report from Rent.com, rent prices in Lincoln are dropping — but a Lincoln-based housing advocate isn’t buying it.
  • Farmers worry about a dry winter and hefty prices.

This Week in Your Local Government

The Omaha City Council and Douglas County Board of Commissioners are not meeting this week. They’ll resume on Tuesday, March 1.

The Daily Funny

Comic by Koterba. Support him on Patreon. 
To see more daily funnies, click the image.

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