COVID-19

Staff Members Don’t Count Against 10 Person Limit Under County Emergency Health Order

Published by Scott Stewart on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 7:38am

Douglas County clarified rules for its restrictions on public gatherings, bringing it in line with a state directive for Douglas, Sarpy, Cass and Washington counties.

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Blood Donors Sought During Virus Outbreak

Published by Scott Stewart on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 7:37am

Donations are needed to maintain blood supplies provided by the American Red Cross and Nebraska Community Blood Bank.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts called on Nebraskans this week to make appointments to give blood, as regular blood drives are being canceled across the country.

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CLEs Offer COVID-19 Advice to Lawyers

Published by Scott Stewart on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 7:36am

With attorneys being asked to respond to novel issues arising from a pandemic, continuing legal education providers have shifted to focus on COVID-19 topics.

The American Bar Association offers a collection of on-demand and scheduled CLEs related to the coronavirus and the various legal issues connected with its spread.

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Virtual Public Hearings, Meetings Held Due to Virus Outbreak

Published by Scott Stewart on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 7:35am

Local and state public meetings are starting to shift to telephonic or videoconference gatherings to keep participants safe from exposure to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has scheduled two upcoming public hearings to have a hybrid of in-person and remote testimony.

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Nebraska Extends Income Tax Deadline to July 15

Published by Scott Stewart on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 7:34am

Nebraska will follow the national example and move its income tax filing deadline.

The deadline will shift from April 15 to July 15, Gov. Pete Ricketts announced last Monday in his daily update on the state’s response to COVID-19.

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Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator Named in Nebraska

Published by Scott Stewart on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 7:33am

Law enforcement officials are seeing a recent uptick in fraudulent schemes that prey upon people’s anxieties about the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Innovation Keeps Health Care Workers Protected

Published by Scott Stewart on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 7:31am

Ultraviolet light is used to disinfect single-use masks and other personal protective equipment in a new process at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. (Courtesy Nebraska Medicine)

A national shortage of protective equipment for doctors, nurses and other health care workers is driving innovation to bridge the gap until supplies are restored.

Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center have developed a new method to decontaminate single-use personal protective equipment to extend their usefulness.

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State Court Restrictions Don’t Block Journalists’ Access

Published by Scott Stewart on Wed, 03/25/2020 - 6:42am

Limitations on court proceedings in light of the pandemic are not a reason to exclude journalists from the administration of justice.

The Nebraska Press Association shared new guidance with its members, including The Daily Record, last Friday from the Nebraska Judicial Branch.

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Nebraska Federal Court Extends Jury Trials Delay

Published by Scott Stewart on Wed, 03/25/2020 - 6:41am

The U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska has suspended all criminal and civil jury trials through at least April.

Chief U.S. District Judge John M. Gerrard announced Friday that all jury trials would be continued until further order by the court. Other court proceedings are being conducted by videoconferencing to the greatest extent possible.