THE CORONAVIRUS IN AMERICA: THE YEAR AHEAD

NEW YORK-  Most experts believed that once the crisis was over, the nation and its economy would revive quickly. But there would be no escaping a period of intense pain.The tighter the restrictions, experts say, the fewer the deaths and the longer the periods between lockdowns. Most models assume states will eventually do widespread temperature checks, rapid testing and contact tracing, as is routine in Asia.

Even the “Opening Up America Again” guidelines Mr. Trump issued on Thursday have three levels of social distancing, and recommend that vulnerable Americans stay hidden. The plan endorses testing, isolation and contact tracing — but does not specify how these measures will be paid for, or how long it will take to put them in place.

On Friday, none of that stopped the president from contradicting his own message by sending out tweets encouraging protesters in Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia to fight their states’ shutdowns. China did not allow Wuhan, Nanjing or other cities to reopen until intensive surveillance found zero new cases for 14 straight days, the virus’s incubation period. Compared with China or Italy, the United States is still a playground.

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CORONAVIRUS CASES IN LEXINGTON AREA HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED IN A WEEK

LEXINGTON- The western Nebraska county that is home to Lexington has seen a surge in coronavirus cases in the past week and now ranks third-highest in the state.

Nebraska had recorded 1,474 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, as of Sunday evening. That’s an increase of 187 from the day before. So far, 28 deaths have been reported in Nebraska, with no new deaths reported Sunday.

As of Sunday evening, Dawson County had reported 124 cases, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, placing it third behind Hall and Douglas Counties. That is more than double the cases reported a week earlier. Hall County, where Grand Island is located, still has the state’s highest number of coronavirus cases, with 468 cases as of Saturday. 

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WE DON'T WANT TO GO RISK OUR LIVES': MANAGERS CONCERNED ABOUT NEBRASKA CROSSING OPENING

GRETNA, Neb. — Some general and store managers who work at Nebraska Crossing said they are concerned for their health and yours when the mall opens April 24.

We are keeping their identities anonymous because they fear they'll lose their jobs for good.

"These people who think that it's okay to go shopping, have they been living under a rock?" said one general manager.

The managers said they found out last week through a text alert from the owner of Nebraska Crossing Rod Yates that he had plans to originally open on April 18 and then changed it to April 24.

"I don't know why we need to jump the gun and go a week early. It doesn't seem right," one store manager said.

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HOW THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS' SUPER BOWL WIN SLOWED THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS

It’s been a little more than two months since the Kansas City Chiefs came back from a 10-point deficit in Super Bowl LIV to defeat the San Francisco 49ers. It was a huge win for Kansas City. Now, according to one Coronavirus expert, it may have been a victory for the whole country. 

Dr. Niraj Sehgal, a professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco and co-leader of UCSF’s COVID-19 command center, said that the novel Coronavirus would have likely experienced a widespread transmission if San Francisco had held a Super Bowl parade.

He explained his reasoning in more detail in a Zoom call the school shared on YouTube.

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KEYSTONE XL RULING HAS 'SWEEPING' IMPACTS FOR OTHER PROJECTS (2)

A federal court’s decision striking down a critical Keystone XL permit has broad implications beyond the embattled oil pipeline.

The Wednesday ruling from the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana tossed a nationwide permit the Army Corps of Engineers uses to approve water crossings for projects all over the country, concluding the agency hadn’t properly considered impacts on endangered species.

“This is a sweeping ruling,” said Larry Liebesman, a former Justice Department environmental lawyer now at the water resources consulting firm Dawson & Associates. “This judge used his authority to enjoin it nationwide.”

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ANOTHER SETBACK FOR THE KEYSTONE XL OIL PIPELINE

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A U.S. judge canceled a key permit Wednesday for the Keystone XL oil pipeline that’s expected to stretch from Canada to Nebraska, another setback for the disputed project that got underway less than two weeks ago following years of delays.

Judge Brian Morris said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failed to adequately consider effects on endangered species such as pallid sturgeon, a massive, dinosaur-like fish that lives in rivers the pipeline would cross.

The ruling, however, does not shut down work that has begun at the U.S.-Canada border crossing in Montana, according to attorneys in the case. Pipeline sponsor TC Energy will need the permit for future construction across hundreds of rivers and streams along Keystone’s 1,200-mile route.

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U.S. WEIGHS PAYING DRILLERS TO LEAVE OIL IN GROUND AMID GLUT

The Trump administration is considering paying U.S. oil producers to leave crude in the ground to help alleviate a glut that has caused prices to plummet and pushed some drillers into bankruptcy.

The Energy Department has drafted a plan to compensate companies for sitting on as much as 365 million barrels worth of oil reserves by effectively making that untapped crude part of the U.S. government’s emergency stockpile, said senior administration officials, who asked not to be identified describing deliberations prior to a decision and announcement.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures for May rose about 20 cents to $20.42 a barrel on the news. Earlier Wednesday, crude futures settled below $20 a barrel for the first time in 18 years.

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THREE SCENARIOS FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION

The coronavirus is paralyzing — from the fear of the physical toll, to the economy, to the end (at least for now) of normal everyday life. There’s also a temptation to put a pause on political analysis. If the country is in the middle, or even beginning, of a once-in-a-generation (or two) event, how can we even think about elections or know what the political fallout might be?
That’s not an unreasonable approach. But the fall elections are going to happen whether the country is ready or not, and the results are arguably more important than ever as voters choose politicians to lead the country into an unprecedented chapter.

And even though there is significant uncertainty, particularly in the physical and economic impact, it’s possible to identify some potential scenarios that could play out.

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MIDLANDS VOICES: FEDERAL AID CAN HELP WITH LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS

OMAHA - The latest federal efforts to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic are focusing on how to best help states and municipalities. I would urge consideration for a path that could have a dramatic impact on every community in the nation while driving economic growth and rebuilding our country’s infrastructure.

If proposed stimulus legislation or other programs included help for municipalities financing or refinancing bonds, we could substantially impact the fiscal condition of American communities while stimulating the economy. It is a great solution for all municipalities.

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CITIES, COUNTIES FEAR LOSING OUT ON U.S. VIRUS RESCUE FUNDING

WASHINGTON (AP) — The $2.2 trillion federal rescue package could fail to deliver badly needed financial aid to thousands of smaller cities and counties where a majority of Americans live, according to documents and interviews with local officials.

The coronavirus outbreak has blown holes in the budgets of communities as the costs of battling it skyrocket and critical sources of revenue like sales and income taxes plummet.

The Coronavirus Relief Fund uses a formula based on population to parcel out tens of billions of dollars to the states while allowing cities and counties with more than 500,000 residents to apply directly to the Treasury Department for cash infusions. But localities below that population threshold are in limbo.

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THE STRUGGLE TO COPE WITH DEPRESSION AMID CORONAVIRUS

WASHINGTON - During the two weeks after Minnesota issued its stay-at-home order in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Jane Egerdal cried every day.

Ms. Egerdal, 62, has a history of depression. Almost overnight, the things she had been doing to successfully cope with her condition—going to the gym, meeting friends at coffee shops, her job as a school nurse—disappeared.

“I lost that network of people and sense of job and purpose,” says Ms. Egerdal, who lives alone in Faribault, Minn. “The loneliness is unbearable.”

The pandemic is upending everyone’s lives. But it has been particularly destabilizing for the millions of people who deal with depression and anxiety.

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THEY CAN'T MEET AT THE CAPITOL, BUT TECHNOLOGY IS KEEPING STATE SENATORS TOGETHER

LINCOLN - While Nebraska state senators wait to find out when and if they will reconvene this year to finish up the final 17 days of the 2020 session, some have been communicating via Zoom and other technology.

One Omaha political observer, Ricky Fulton, noticed the Zoom activity among senators and was prompted to send a letter to Speaker Jim Scheer asking if meeting on Zoom was any kind of open-meetings violation.

He also wanted to know how many senators could legally meet on a Zoom chat. And whether those who don't use Zoom or other type of video conferencing would be left out of such meetings.

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HOW WILL NEBRASKA SCHOOLS SPEND $128 MILLION AID PACKAGE? COLLEGE STUDENTS TO GET HELP

LINCOLN - Nebraska K-12 school districts, colleges and universities will split a $128 million federal care package to deal with the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak, with a good chunk of the money aimed at helping college students.

How the money for students will be allocated is uncertain.

The law gives local and state education leaders latitude on allocating and spending the aid.

One Nebraska state official has cautioned school district leaders against using the extra money for pay raises during the crisis.

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GOV. RICKETTS, ELECTION CHIEF CONFIDENT NEBRASKA PRIMARY WON'T BE REPEAT OF WISCONSIN

LINCOLN - This week, the world watched as Wisconsin voters stood for hours in long lines to cast ballots during a pandemic.

Nebraska is next in line May 12, when polling places open for the state’s primary election. Officials are pressing Nebraskans to vote early by mail, but they still expect thousands to head to the polls on Election Day.

The Cornhusker State remains an outlier by proceeding as scheduled with in-person voting. At last count, 16 states had postponed primaries due to COVID-19.

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HAMMEL: NEBRASKA STATE CAPITOL IS STILL OPEN FOR TOURS, BUT THERE AREN'T MANY TAKERS

LINCOLN — Kirk Woita is a lot like a Maytag repairman these days.

Woita, a tour guide at the Nebraska State Capitol, is still on duty, willing to lead anyone on an educational trek through the unique and historic building. But he’s had no takers for at least the last week and only a few before that.

The U.S. Capitol quit public tours a month ago because of the coronavirus. And the Iowa State Capitol, like many state capitols, is closed, so no tours.

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OPINION: STATE SENATORS HALLORAN AND ERDMAN OFFER ANALYSIS ON COVID-19 PANDEMIC

HASTINGS: Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard (Legislative District 47) and I have received numerous emails, phone calls and text messages concerning the coronavirus. They are all very similar in nature. The details may change a little, but the message is usually the same: “If these restrictions continue, my business will close and never reopen.”

The coronavirus will continue to spread across the country, despite our feeble attempts to try to contain it. Herd immunity is the only way to defeat COVID-19 once and for all.Moreover, the current mitigation policies have led to 13 percent unemployment, a 5,000 point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, a potential 40 percent drop in the GDP, and a two trillion dollar bailout package from the Federal Reserve.

If Nebraska continues to operate within its current mitigation policy, civil unrest will eventually ensue. All life is sacred and valuable, but Nebraskans also need to re-open their businesses, go back to work, go back to school, and get the elective surgeries they need. What better time to get elective surgery and recuperate than while businesses are shut down?

But, we cannot afford to go another day with this current failed policy.Historically, civilized societies have crumbled from failed economies, leaving them vulnerable to attack from enemies, but they did not dissipate from diseases.

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LONGER-TERM PROSPECTS OF CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE: BIGGER STATE, HIGHER TAXES

World leaders from President Trump to President Emmanuel Macron of France and Queen Elizabeth II of Britain have invoked the wartime spirit as they rally citizens to defeat the new coronavirus.

Like the great wars of the 20th century, some analysts and historians think the current crisis could fuel a new era of big government in which public officials control more of the levers of the economy, for better or for worse.

“National institutions tend to get significantly better funding during wartime, and it’s very difficult to reverse that when people are used to it,” said Tony Travers, a professor of government at the London School of Economics who advises the U.K. government.

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NO STAY-AT-HOME ORDER? NEBRASKA STILL RATES WELL IN CORONAVIRUS CASES AND DEATHS

LINCOLN - Critics see Nebraska’s lack of a stay-at-home order as a sign that it isn’t doing enough to combat coronavirus, but a World-Herald analysis finds that its results stack up well against other states.

The comparison of all 50 states shows that only two have fewer confirmed cases per capita of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

While Nebraska ranks quite low in testing for the disease, it also has a low per-capita death rate from coronavirus — 40th in the nation. And Nebraska is doing better than nearly all of its neighbors in deaths and cases.

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MEATPACKING WORKERS ARE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL. BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY GET COVID-19?

OMAHA - Shoppers are filling their carts and freezers with meat as the coronavirus crisis forces Americans to stay home and cook more meals there.

But what happens when the workers who slice, process and package those chicken breasts, pot roasts and sausage links start to get sick?

As of Thursday, 28 workers at the massive JBS USA beef plant in Grand Island had tested positive for the coronavirus, representing a quarter of the 105 confirmed cases in the Grand Island area. The meatpacking plant is Grand Island’s largest employer, with 3,600 workers clocking in for different shifts.

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CDC 'REALLY MISSING THE MARK': EMAILS SHOW UNMC DOC CONCERNED BY FEDERAL VIRUS RESPONSE

OMAHA - Weeks before the novel coronavirus hit Nebraska, medical experts from around the nation communicated regularly by email, pondering the severity of the outbreak, sharing frustrations and planning for the worst.

The chain of emails includes several messages from Dr. James Lawler, a director in the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Global Center for Health Security, who worked with Gov. Pete Ricketts to develop Nebraska’s pandemic plan.

The group of experts nicknamed the email chain “Red Dawn,” a nod to the 1984 film starring Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen about an invasion of the United States. The emails were obtained by the New York Times.

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