Wednesday, May 27 • 24 Days Under New DHM • At Least 5 Days to Go
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Coping with COVID-19 Amidst All the Sturm and Drang
Mike Krainak and his Artful Dodgers are adapting creatively to the “new normal.”
View our guide to local resources at TheReader.com
Good morning,
Today we have stories about the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office busting “the most egregious violation” of state health mandates, fears of evictions as the first of June approaches and police and protestors stand off in the Twin Cities following the death of 47-year-old George Floyd while in police custody.
Your Top Local Stories
Check out an interactive version of this map on our website.
In Omaha
- The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office busted the “most egregious violation” of state health mandates they’ve seen at the Surfside Club north of Omaha.
- COVID-19 hospitalizations fell over the weekend while the number of people on ventilators grew.
- The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium will reopen next week with attendance limited to less than a fifth of capacity and all indoor exhibits closed.
- A third Douglas County Corrections officer has tested positive for COVID-19.
- Joslyn Castle will hold a socially distanced picnic this Thursday with catered food available for purchase.
- As holds on evictions run out, some in Nebraska and Iowa are worried about losing their homes as the first of the month approaches.
- After the murder of a registered sex offender on May 16, others are worried they could be targeted, too.
- While pregnant women are considered “high-risk,” the effects of COVID-19 on them and their babies are still murky.
- Twin Cities Cinema in Bellevue is expanding its ad-hoc drive-in theater, now offering showings Wednesday through Sunday.
- Iowa will open a new testing site in Council Bluffs on Friday.
- Omaha’s forecast for today is cloudy and grey, but sunny skies are on the way.
- In lieu of the College World Series, an ESPN commentator is now broadcasting about Korean baseball from his home in Omaha.
Around the State
- Two-thirds of Nebraska’s meatpacking workers are immigrants, a non-profit says. The industry faces serious concerns as worker shortages loom.
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletic Director Bill Moos talked about plans to safely bring student-athletes back to Lincoln and fans back to seats this fall.
- New testing sites in Omaha and across the state will open this week.
- A 22-year-old Illinois man was arrested in Grand Island for driving his Chevy Camaro 174 mph.
- The Nebraska Department of Labor has flagged 1,500 unemployment claims to investigate them further following national increases in unemployment fraud.
- Some state colleges announced they would start and end their fall semester early this year with a shortened December session for those making up classes.
- Omaha World-Herald reporter Paul Hammel shares his experience getting swabbed for a TestNebraska test.
- Colleagues and other state officials share their concerns for the Nebraska state senator who was diagnosed with COVID-19.
- State senators’ opinions differ on whether remote voting should be implemented at the Nebraska Legislature.
What to do during quarantine?
From our list of things to do during quarantine:
Get Reacquainted with Nebraska’s Local Music Scene.
Try these artists out on streaming services: Thick Paint, David Nance or Garst for indie rock; Conny Franko, HAKIM or Flannel Lewis for hip-hop; Jocko, BIB or No Thanks for punk/metal; Andrea von Kampen, Evan Bartels or Sean Pratt and the Sweats (on Bandcamp.com only) for country/folk.
What’s Happening In The United States?
Police, Protestors Clash Over Death of Man in Custody
- In Minneapolis, crowds endured tear gas and anti-riot measures as they protested the death of George Floyd. Floyd died in police custody following an altercation in which one officer kneeled on his throat as the 47-year-old said, “I can’t breathe.”
An ‘Avalanche of Evictions’ Could Be Incoming
- Holds on evictions in many states will run out even as many still haven’t seen unemployment benefits and struggle financially amid the pandemic.
- Congress approved billions to feed kids and make up for lost school meals. But bureaucratic hang-ups have slowed the program which has only reached about 15% of the 30 million kids it aimed to help.
- The social media platform that President Donald Trump has used emphatically and pointedly has started putting disclaimers on his tweets about mail-in voting.
What’s Happening Across The World?
EU $825 Billion Recovery Plan Would Strengthen Brussels’ Powers
- The stimulus plan would allow the European Union to raise money on its own, separate from its 27 member states and strengthen the image of the bloc as a unified governing body.
Omaha, NE 68107