LINCOLN — Several Nebraska State Troopers are among those being honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). The annual MADD Heroes Awards are used to honor prevention, enforcement, and treatment efforts by law enforcement and probation officers throughout Nebraska.

“DUI enforcement and education are pillars of the work done by agencies and safety partners across Nebraska to keep roads safe,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “MADD is one of the key players in this effort. We thank them for honoring our troopers’ efforts and for their constant work to bring awareness to this important issue.”

Six troopers were recognized this week by MADD in the 2020 Heroes Awards. Those awards include individual and team recognition for DUI Enforcement and a team award for education.

In 2019, troopers across Nebraska arrested more than 1,100 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The troopers honored in the 2020 MADD awards accounted for more than 150 DUI arrests and helped educate Nebraska’s youth with hundreds of presentations to show the dangers of impaired driving.

The annual MADD Heroes ceremony was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but MADD will present the awards to recipients from ten agencies around the state at a later date.

LINCOLN — Several Nebraska State Troopers are among those being honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). The annual MADD Heroes Awards are used to honor prevention, enforcement, and treatment efforts by law enforcement and probation officers throughout Nebraska.“DUI enforcement and education are pillars of the work done by agencies and safety partners across Nebraska to keep roads safe,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “MADD is one of the key players in this effort. We thank them for honoring our troopers’ efforts and for their constant work to bring awareness to this important issue.”Six troopers were recognized this week by MADD in the 2020 Heroes Awards. Those awards include individual and team recognition for DUI Enforcement and a team award for education.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590073669533.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In 2019, troopers across Nebraska arrested more than 1,100 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The troopers honored in the 2020 MADD awards accounted for more than 150 DUI arrests and helped educate Nebraska’s youth with hundreds of presentations to show the dangers of impaired driving.The annual MADD Heroes ceremony was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but MADD will present the awards to recipients from ten agencies around the state at a later date.

Troopers honored for impaired driving enforcement efforts

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker who’s worried about the spread of the coronavirus is calling for a legislative rule change that would allow state senators to vote on bills remotely when this year’s session resumes on July 20. 

Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, of Lincoln, sent a memo to her fellow lawmakers arguing for the change. 

Legislative leaders have said the Nebraska Constitution requires state lawmakers to vote in-person.

 Pansing Brooks made a similar argument in March, just before lawmakers briefly reconvened to approve emergency state funding to fight the coronavirus.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker who’s worried about the spread of the coronavirus is calling for a legislative rule change that would allow state senators to vote on bills remotely when this year’s session resumes on July 20. Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, of Lincoln, sent a memo to her fellow lawmakers arguing for the change. Legislative leaders have said the Nebraska Constitution requires state lawmakers to vote in-person. Pansing Brooks made a similar argument in March, just before lawmakers briefly reconvened to approve emergency state funding to fight the coronavirus.

Nebraska senator seeks remote voting option for legislators

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Two Wyoming residents who died of the coronavirus in Colorado have been added to Wyoming’s count of fatalities from the illness.

 The change brought Wyoming’s total number of deaths from COVID-19 to 10, the Wyoming Department of Health announced Monday.

 An older woman from Carbon County died in Colorado in late April. 

The woman had other health conditions that made her more susceptible to the illness. 

An older man from Laramie County died in Colorado in late March, which would make him the first person from Wyoming known to die from the virus. 

It wasn’t known if the man had health conditions putting him at higher risk.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Two Wyoming residents who died of the coronavirus in Colorado have been added to Wyoming’s count of fatalities from the illness. The change brought Wyoming’s total number of deaths from COVID-19 to 10, the Wyoming Department of Health announced Monday. An older woman from Carbon County died in Colorado in late April. The woman had other health conditions that made her more susceptible to the illness. An older man from Laramie County died in Colorado in late March, which would make him the first person from Wyoming known to die from the virus. It wasn’t known if the man had health conditions putting him at higher risk.

Two COVID-19 deaths in Colorado added to Wyoming's count

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The Rapid City Police Department says one of its officers has tested positive for COVID-19. 

Police officials learned of the positive test result late Monday afternoon. The officer informed his supervisor when he first began developing symptoms. 

Supervisors are in the process of determining a timeline of contacts the officer may have made within the last two weeks. 

The department is monitoring the health of employees who may have had contact with the officer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The Rapid City Police Department says one of its officers has tested positive for COVID-19. Police officials learned of the positive test result late Monday afternoon. The officer informed his supervisor when he first began developing symptoms. He remains in self-quarantine. Supervisors are in the process of determining a timeline of contacts the officer may have made within the last two weeks. The department is monitoring the health of employees who may have had contact with the officer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rapid City officer tests positive for COVID-19

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Prosecutors say a 44-year-old Nebraska man was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for transportation of child pornography.

 The U.S. attorney's office says in a news release that Gregory Hanssen, of Omaha, Nebraska, was also ordered to serve 20 years of supervised release after he finishes his prison sentence. 

The case stems from a tip received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicating a Google photos user had uploaded apparent child pornography. 

Federal agents seized his cell phone and tablet device and found more than 700 images of child pornography.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Prosecutors say a 44-year-old Nebraska man was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for transportation of child pornography. The U.S. attorney's office says in a news release that Gregory Hanssen, of Omaha, Nebraska, was also ordered to serve 20 years of supervised release after he finishes his prison sentence. The case stems from a tip received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicating a Google photos user had uploaded apparent child pornography. Federal agents seized his cell phone and tablet device and found more than 700 images of child pornography.

Nebraska man sentenced to 15 years in child pornography case

Authorities say a 17-year-old suspect was arrested Tuesday in a shooting at Fairbury that left a man in critical condition suffering from five gunshot wounds.

 The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Jake Gonzalez, of Fairbury, is set to go to court on Wednesday to face felony charges of first-degree assault, use of a firearm to commit a felony and unlawful discharge of a firearm at an occupied house. 

The complaint filed against him identifies the shooting victim as Lance Powers. 

Deputies responding to a report of multiple shots fired Monday night found the 31-year-old victim outside the house.

Authorities say a 17-year-old suspect was arrested Tuesday in a shooting at Fairbury that left a man in critical condition suffering from five gunshot wounds. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Jake Gonzalez, of Fairbury, is set to go to court on Wednesday to face felony charges of first-degree assault, use of a firearm to commit a felony and unlawful discharge of a firearm at an occupied house. The complaint filed against him identifies the shooting victim as Lance Powers. Deputies responding to a report of multiple shots fired Monday night found the 31-year-old victim outside the house.

Police arrest teen in Fairbury that left man critically hurt

KINGSTON, Mo. (The Kansas City Star) — The family of two Wisconsin brothers who were killed in Missouri have settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the suspect and his mother.

A Callaway County judge approved a $2 million settlement in a lawsuit filed in the deaths of Nicholas and Justin Diemel of Shawano County, Wisconsin. 

The family sued Garland Nelson, his mother, Tomme Feil; and their cattle business. Nelson is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of the brothers and could face the death penalty if he's convicted. 

Nelson has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1568667012637.png" alt="Garland Nelson" />
 <figcaption>Garland Nelson</figcaption>
 </figure>KINGSTON, Mo. (The Kansas City Star) — The family of two Wisconsin brothers who were killed in Missouri have settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the suspect and his mother.A Callaway County judge approved a $2 million settlement in a lawsuit filed in the deaths of Nicholas and Justin Diemel of Shawano County, Wisconsin. The family sued Garland Nelson, his mother, Tomme Feil; and their cattle business. Nelson is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of the brothers and could face the death penalty if he's convicted. Nelson has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

Family of missing Wisconsin brothers settles lawsuit

WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing the gravest U.S. economic crisis in decades, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell offered U.S. Senators contrasting views Tuesday of what the government’s most urgent priority should be.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPDl_xETXoI">Click here to watch&nbsp;</a>Senator Moran's turn at questioning Mnuchin and Powell.

Striking a theme frequently pushed by President Donald Trump, Mnuchin warned that prolonged business shutdowns would pose long-term threats to the economy, from widespread bankruptcies for small businesses to long-term unemployment for millions of Americans.

“There is risk of permanent damage,” Mnuchin said.

Powell, by contrast, stressed, as he has in recent weeks, that the nation is gripped by an economic shock “without modern precedent” and that Congress must consider providing further financial aid soon to support states, localities, businesses and individuals to prevent an even deeper recession.

“What Congress has done to date has been remarkably timely and forceful,” Powell said. “But we need to step back and ask, ’Is it enough?”

Their points of emphasis reflect the contours of a debate occurring across the country, among individuals, business people and political leaders, about when and under what circumstances the economy should reopen and what further help the government can or should provide.

Mnuchin and Powell offered their views at an oversight hearing of the Senate Banking Committee at which members of both parties questioned them about when their agencies will distribute more of the emergency aid that Congress provided in late March to struggling small businesses and households.

Powell said that a highly anticipated lending program the Fed is creating for small businesses should be operating by the end of the month. And&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0abbc3e930e7d8cff7da05bbd7921ee2">in a turnaround</a>, Mnuchin said the Treasury is now prepared to absorb some losses in that program, which is funded by Treasury. Doing so could enable the Fed to take on further risk with the program and help more struggling companies.

During the hearing, Mnuchin clashed sharply with Democratic Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts over the administration’s support for a phased reopening of the economy and over its reluctance to require that all companies that receive government aid keep their workers on the payroll.

Brown charged that the Trump administration was risking the lives of lower-income workers by supporting reopening efforts and was doing so simply to boost financial markets. He asserted that the administration hasn’t done enough to protect front-line workers — by, for example, ramping up viral testing — even as most states start allowing restaurants, stores and gyms to reopen.

“The administration wants to put more workers at risk to boost the stock market,” Brown said.

“Your characterization is unfair,” Mnuchin responded.

The hearing was the first in a planned series of quarterly oversight sessions focused on spending programs authorized in the $2 trillion&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20200409a.htm">federal relief package</a>&nbsp;that is overseen by the Treasury Department and Fed. They include the $660 billion small business lending facility, known as the paycheck protection program, as well as $46 billion in grants to airlines and $454 billion to support the Fed’s lending.

The Fed announced in March that it would set up the Main Street Lending Program, which will provide up to $600 billion in loans to medium-sized businesses that are too large to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program. The Treasury has provided $75 billion, drawn from the $454 billion set aside by Congress, to cover any losses from the Main Street program.

Mnuchin said that under some scenarios the Treasury could lose some or all of that $75 billion.

“Our intention is that we intend to take some losses,” he said.

The Fed has also said it will buy debt issued by state and local governments, which are facing plummeting revenues as the viral outbreak has eliminated tens of millions of jobs and slashed income tax and sales tax revenue. At the same time, states and cities are facing much higher health care costs.

Yet the Fed’s program will make it easier for governments to borrow in the municipal bond market. Powell, under questioning, said that states might need more direct help from the federal government to avoid laying off workers, with the unemployment rate, at 14.7%, already the highest since the Great Depression.

Mnuchin came under sharp questioning from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who charged that he wasn’t doing enough to force companies that receive aid from the Main Street Lending program, as well as other aid provided by the Fed and Treasury, to keep workers on their payrolls.

The senator pressed Mnuchin to ensure that the loans include that requirement. When Mnuchin declined to commit to that change, Warren said, “You’re boosting your Wall Street buddies.”

Mnuchin told Warren that the legislation providing the funds includes restrictions on top executive pay and on company dividends and stock buybacks.

Mnuchin said in prepared testimony that so far, the paycheck program has processed more than 4.2 million loans for over $530 billion “to keep tens of millions of hardworking Americans on the payroll.” The loans need not be repaid as long as the borrowing business uses 75% of the money to cover workers’ paychecks.

But many small companies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/380b07b9292ea7ae4d382f091d99bf10">say the terms are too onerous</a>. To have the loans forgiven, they must rehire all their employees within eight weeks of receiving the funds, even if they have little business or work for them to do. These companies argue that they might have to lay off their workers again at the end of the eight weeks — and may have little money left to help ramp up when business does return.

Mnuchin, pressed about those issues and about opening the loan program to more nonprofits, said his department was considering making changes.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will likely come under tough questioning from senators Tuesday about a small business lending program included in the government’s $2 trillion relief package.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?472163-1/fed-reserve-chair-powell-treasury-secretary-mnuchin-testify-cares-act-coronavirus-relief-bill&amp;live">Click here to watch</a>&nbsp;Tuesday's hearing that started at 9a.m. CDT

Lawmakers from both parties have criticized the Payroll Protection Program, which initially provided $349 billion in forgivable loans to small companies but has been plagued by a host of problems.

Many businesses were unable to get loans before the initial funding was exhausted. A second round of loans faced computer processing delays and a number of publicly traded companies ended up receiving money that Mnuchin demanded be paid back to the government.

<a href="https://www.banking.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Mnuchin%20Testimony%205-19-201.pdf">Click here to read</a> Treasury Secretary Mnuchin's opening statement.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A small, overlooked federal agency is shouldering a massive relief effort for the nation’s small businesses and their workers left reeling by the pandemic.

The Small Business Administration has committed to auditing every sizable emergency loan it approves.

But six weeks after the $600 billion-plus program was launched, the agency has yet to make public the recipients of taxpayer aid.

A signature piece of Congress’ multitrillion-dollar pandemic rescue, the unprecedented lending program is targeted to help small employers stay afloat and preserve jobs in a cratering economy losing tens of millions of them.

“Our swift action supported or saved 30 million American jobs at least,” President Donald Trump said at a White House event on small business late last month with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza.

Managing the program fell to the SBA, an agency with some 3,200 employees and an $819 million annual budget that’s one-tenth the size of the Commerce Department’s. On at least two occasions last month, the SBA’s computer system slowed under the crush of loan applications, creating a bottleneck. The agency says it has processed 4.2 million loans for some $530 billion in awards.

The need for a detailed public accounting of the small-business relief program is amplified by controversy over how it has unfolded since early April. It’s important as a way for the public to know whether the program is working as Congress intended.

Several hundred publicly traded companies received hundreds of millions of the low-interest, potentially forgivable loans. They tapped the federal aid despite their likely ability to get the money from private financial sources. Some had market values well over $100 million, and many had executives earning millions annually.

On its website, the SBA says it “is becoming more transparent, participatory and collaborative through open government.” It cites, among other things, its Freedom of Information Act program and improvements to online services.

So far, the agency has only provided general information, such as the total amounts of loans awarded in a given time period.

With huge amounts of money flying out the government’s door in a crisis, full public disclosure can help prevent fraud and improper spending, says Kathleen Clark, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis and expert in government ethics.

Otherwise, “the risks to taxpayers are greater,” Clark said. “I would think the SBA would be proactive in making information public.”

Asked by news organizations for information on the companies receiving loans and when it might be provided, the SBA has said it’s too consumed now by the urgent effort of helping small businesses through the economic downturn. It says specific loan data may be released sometime “in the near future.”

“At this time, the agency is focusing its efforts on assisting small businesses during this unprecedented disruption to the economy,” the SBA says. “The agency recognizes the need to balance the interests of transparency with the privacy and confidentiality issues release of loan information raises.”

The loans made to big deep-pocketed companies in the Paycheck Protection Program meant that less money was available for smaller businesses. Publicly shamed, big corporations, including national restaurant chains Shake Shack, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Potbelly Sandwich Shop, said they would return their loans.

It was news reports of big companies receiving loans that sparked the public outcry. The Associated Press and several other news organizations combed through voluminous filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission to unearth public companies that had received PPP loans. The SBA did not make the information public.

That may be surprising because, until now, the SBA has regularly released information on businesses that have borrowed under its main lending program, the so-called 7(a) program.

In fact, the loan application for the Paycheck Protection Program includes this notice to potential borrowers: Under the Freedom of Information Act and with certain exceptions, the SBA “must supply information reflected in agency files and records to a person requesting it.”

Several news organizations, including The Washington Post and The New York Times, have sued the SBA in federal court over its not having released the loan data despite several FOIA requests. They accuse the agency of violating the FOIA law. The SBA has declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Amid the public outcry, Mnuchin recently threatened criminal prosecution and warned companies they must return the money if they falsely certified that they needed federal aid to operate and couldn’t get it elsewhere. SBA set a deadline of Monday for companies with improperly received loans to return the money without penalty.

But last week, SBA issued revised guidance indicating that criminal action won’t be pursued if companies found to have falsely certified their needs return the money.

Elsewhere in the government, the Treasury Department recently released an accounting of its emergency lending program for airlines and air cargo carriers under the pandemic relief legislation.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589905117701.png" alt="As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, Senator Jerry Moran attended the virtual hearing&nbsp; with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell " />
 <figcaption>As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, Senator Jerry Moran attended the virtual hearing&nbsp; with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing the gravest U.S. economic crisis in decades, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell offered U.S. Senators contrasting views Tuesday of what the government’s most urgent priority should be.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPDl_xETXoI">Click here to watch&nbsp;</a>Senator Moran's turn at questioning Mnuchin and Powell.Striking a theme frequently pushed by President Donald Trump, Mnuchin warned that prolonged business shutdowns would pose long-term threats to the economy, from widespread bankruptcies for small businesses to long-term unemployment for millions of Americans.“There is risk of permanent damage,” Mnuchin said.Powell, by contrast, stressed, as he has in recent weeks, that the nation is gripped by an economic shock “without modern precedent” and that Congress must consider providing further financial aid soon to support states, localities, businesses and individuals to prevent an even deeper recession.“What Congress has done to date has been remarkably timely and forceful,” Powell said. “But we need to step back and ask, ’Is it enough?”Their points of emphasis reflect the contours of a debate occurring across the country, among individuals, business people and political leaders, about when and under what circumstances the economy should reopen and what further help the government can or should provide.Mnuchin and Powell offered their views at an oversight hearing of the Senate Banking Committee at which members of both parties questioned them about when their agencies will distribute more of the emergency aid that Congress provided in late March to struggling small businesses and households.Powell said that a highly anticipated lending program the Fed is creating for small businesses should be operating by the end of the month. And&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0abbc3e930e7d8cff7da05bbd7921ee2">in a turnaround</a>, Mnuchin said the Treasury is now prepared to absorb some losses in that program, which is funded by Treasury. Doing so could enable the Fed to take on further risk with the program and help more struggling companies.During the hearing, Mnuchin clashed sharply with Democratic Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts over the administration’s support for a phased reopening of the economy and over its reluctance to require that all companies that receive government aid keep their workers on the payroll.Brown charged that the Trump administration was risking the lives of lower-income workers by supporting reopening efforts and was doing so simply to boost financial markets. He asserted that the administration hasn’t done enough to protect front-line workers — by, for example, ramping up viral testing — even as most states start allowing restaurants, stores and gyms to reopen.“The administration wants to put more workers at risk to boost the stock market,” Brown said.“Your characterization is unfair,” Mnuchin responded.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589897693671.png" alt="Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin during Tuesday's virtual Senate Banking Committee hearing" />
 <figcaption>Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin during Tuesday's virtual Senate Banking Committee hearing</figcaption>
 </figure>The hearing was the first in a planned series of quarterly oversight sessions focused on spending programs authorized in the $2 trillion&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20200409a.htm">federal relief package</a>&nbsp;that is overseen by the Treasury Department and Fed. They include the $660 billion small business lending facility, known as the paycheck protection program, as well as $46 billion in grants to airlines and $454 billion to support the Fed’s lending.The Fed announced in March that it would set up the Main Street Lending Program, which will provide up to $600 billion in loans to medium-sized businesses that are too large to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program. The Treasury has provided $75 billion, drawn from the $454 billion set aside by Congress, to cover any losses from the Main Street program.Mnuchin said that under some scenarios the Treasury could lose some or all of that $75 billion.“Our intention is that we intend to take some losses,” he said.The Fed has also said it will buy debt issued by state and local governments, which are facing plummeting revenues as the viral outbreak has eliminated tens of millions of jobs and slashed income tax and sales tax revenue. At the same time, states and cities are facing much higher health care costs.Yet the Fed’s program will make it easier for governments to borrow in the municipal bond market. Powell, under questioning, said that states might need more direct help from the federal government to avoid laying off workers, with the unemployment rate, at 14.7%, already the highest since the Great Depression.Mnuchin came under sharp questioning from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who charged that he wasn’t doing enough to force companies that receive aid from the Main Street Lending program, as well as other aid provided by the Fed and Treasury, to keep workers on their payrolls.The senator pressed Mnuchin to ensure that the loans include that requirement. When Mnuchin declined to commit to that change, Warren said, “You’re boosting your Wall Street buddies.”Mnuchin told Warren that the legislation providing the funds includes restrictions on top executive pay and on company dividends and stock buybacks.Mnuchin said in prepared testimony that so far, the paycheck program has processed more than 4.2 million loans for over $530 billion “to keep tens of millions of hardworking Americans on the payroll.” The loans need not be repaid as long as the borrowing business uses 75% of the money to cover workers’ paychecks.But many small companies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/380b07b9292ea7ae4d382f091d99bf10">say the terms are too onerous</a>. To have the loans forgiven, they must rehire all their employees within eight weeks of receiving the funds, even if they have little business or work for them to do. These companies argue that they might have to lay off their workers again at the end of the eight weeks — and may have little money left to help ramp up when business does return.Mnuchin, pressed about those issues and about opening the loan program to more nonprofits, said his department was considering making changes.---------WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will likely come under tough questioning from senators Tuesday about a small business lending program included in the government’s $2 trillion relief package.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?472163-1/fed-reserve-chair-powell-treasury-secretary-mnuchin-testify-cares-act-coronavirus-relief-bill&amp;live">Click here to watch</a>&nbsp;Tuesday's hearing that started at 9a.m. CDTLawmakers from both parties have criticized the Payroll Protection Program, which initially provided $349 billion in forgivable loans to small companies but has been plagued by a host of problems.Many businesses were unable to get loans before the initial funding was exhausted. A second round of loans faced computer processing delays and a number of publicly traded companies ended up receiving money that Mnuchin demanded be paid back to the government.<a href="https://www.banking.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Mnuchin%20Testimony%205-19-201.pdf">Click here to read</a> Treasury Secretary Mnuchin's opening statement.---------WASHINGTON (AP) — A small, overlooked federal agency is shouldering a massive relief effort for the nation’s small businesses and their workers left reeling by the pandemic.The Small Business Administration has committed to auditing every sizable emergency loan it approves.But six weeks after the $600 billion-plus program was launched, the agency has yet to make public the recipients of taxpayer aid.A signature piece of Congress’ multitrillion-dollar pandemic rescue, the unprecedented lending program is targeted to help small employers stay afloat and preserve jobs in a cratering economy losing tens of millions of them.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584462219509.png" alt="President Trump listens to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin during a Coronavirus Task Force meeting last month. -Image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump listens to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin during a Coronavirus Task Force meeting last month. -Image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>“Our swift action supported or saved 30 million American jobs at least,” President Donald Trump said at a White House event on small business late last month with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza.Managing the program fell to the SBA, an agency with some 3,200 employees and an $819 million annual budget that’s one-tenth the size of the Commerce Department’s. On at least two occasions last month, the SBA’s computer system slowed under the crush of loan applications, creating a bottleneck. The agency says it has processed 4.2 million loans for some $530 billion in awards.The need for a detailed public accounting of the small-business relief program is amplified by controversy over how it has unfolded since early April. It’s important as a way for the public to know whether the program is working as Congress intended.Several hundred publicly traded companies received hundreds of millions of the low-interest, potentially forgivable loans. They tapped the federal aid despite their likely ability to get the money from private financial sources. Some had market values well over $100 million, and many had executives earning millions annually.On its website, the SBA says it “is becoming more transparent, participatory and collaborative through open government.” It cites, among other things, its Freedom of Information Act program and improvements to online services.So far, the agency has only provided general information, such as the total amounts of loans awarded in a given time period.With huge amounts of money flying out the government’s door in a crisis, full public disclosure can help prevent fraud and improper spending, says Kathleen Clark, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis and expert in government ethics.Otherwise, “the risks to taxpayers are greater,” Clark said. “I would think the SBA would be proactive in making information public.”Asked by news organizations for information on the companies receiving loans and when it might be provided, the SBA has said it’s too consumed now by the urgent effort of helping small businesses through the economic downturn. It says specific loan data may be released sometime “in the near future.”“At this time, the agency is focusing its efforts on assisting small businesses during this unprecedented disruption to the economy,” the SBA says. “The agency recognizes the need to balance the interests of transparency with the privacy and confidentiality issues release of loan information raises.”The loans made to big deep-pocketed companies in the Paycheck Protection Program meant that less money was available for smaller businesses. Publicly shamed, big corporations, including national restaurant chains Shake Shack, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Potbelly Sandwich Shop, said they would return their loans.It was news reports of big companies receiving loans that sparked the public outcry. The Associated Press and several other news organizations combed through voluminous filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission to unearth public companies that had received PPP loans. The SBA did not make the information public.That may be surprising because, until now, the SBA has regularly released information on businesses that have borrowed under its main lending program, the so-called 7(a) program.In fact, the loan application for the Paycheck Protection Program includes this notice to potential borrowers: Under the Freedom of Information Act and with certain exceptions, the SBA “must supply information reflected in agency files and records to a person requesting it.”Several news organizations, including The Washington Post and The New York Times, have sued the SBA in federal court over its not having released the loan data despite several FOIA requests. They accuse the agency of violating the FOIA law. The SBA has declined to comment on the lawsuit.Amid the public outcry, Mnuchin recently threatened criminal prosecution and warned companies they must return the money if they falsely certified that they needed federal aid to operate and couldn’t get it elsewhere. SBA set a deadline of Monday for companies with improperly received loans to return the money without penalty.But last week, SBA issued revised guidance indicating that criminal action won’t be pursued if companies found to have falsely certified their needs return the money.Elsewhere in the government, the Treasury Department recently released an accounting of its emergency lending program for airlines and air cargo carriers under the pandemic relief legislation.&nbsp;

🎥 Who got what? Moran questions small-business virus relief effort

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The 24-year-old Lincoln man has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the shooting death of teenager in September.

Majdal K. Elias was scheduled to appear at a hearing Wednesday but instead entered the not guilty plea Friday in the death of 15-year-old Ali Al-Burkat in north Lincoln, The Lincoln Journal-Star&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/local/24-year-old-pleads-not-guilty-to-second-degree-murder-in-shooting-death-of-15/article_6cb57761-66fa-51be-ab3e-fe16a0a52e15.html" target="_blank">reported.</a>

Al-Burkat was shot while he was in the backseat of a vehicle In September.

Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister has said there was no evidence that Elias knew Al-Burkat. He said Al-Burkat and people he was with encountered Elias as they were going to rob someone else who had marijuana.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589926174502.png" alt="Majdal Elias" />
 <figcaption>Majdal Elias</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The 24-year-old Lincoln man has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the shooting death of teenager in September.Majdal K. Elias was scheduled to appear at a hearing Wednesday but instead entered the not guilty plea Friday in the death of 15-year-old Ali Al-Burkat in north Lincoln, The Lincoln Journal-Star&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/local/24-year-old-pleads-not-guilty-to-second-degree-murder-in-shooting-death-of-15/article_6cb57761-66fa-51be-ab3e-fe16a0a52e15.html" target="_blank">reported.</a>Al-Burkat was shot while he was in the backseat of a vehicle In September.Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister has said there was no evidence that Elias knew Al-Burkat. He said Al-Burkat and people he was with encountered Elias as they were going to rob someone else who had marijuana.No trial date has been set.

Man pleads not guilty in shooting death of Lincoln teen

LINCOLN — As traffic volume slowly rises, Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol are seeing a dramatic increase in excessive speeding. In the two months since the first Directed Health Measures&nbsp;(DHMs) were issued, Troopers have cited more than 200 motorists for driving more than 100 miles per hour.

Between March 19 and May 18, Nebraska State Troopers issued 204 speeding citations for drivers traveling at more than 100&nbsp;miles per hour. Those citations have been issued across 26 different Nebraska counties. During the same two-month time period in 2019, troopers issued 101 such citations.

“The increase in excessive speeding has been dramatic,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State&nbsp;Patrol. “Those speeds are dangerous, especially as traffic volume increases. Our troopers have remained diligent during the pandemic and continue to patrol Nebraska roads.”

In the first 35 days since the first DHMs were issued, troopers issued 100 citations for speeding at 100 miles per hour&nbsp;of more. It only took 25 days for troopers to find the next 100 such speeding violations.

So far in May, troopers have cited 80 speeders for traveling more than 100 miles per hour. The most in any full month last&nbsp;year was 65, in May 2019.

“May is traditionally the start of the summer driving season and, even though circumstances are different this year, we&nbsp;expect to see traffic volume continue to increase across the state,” said Colonel Bolduc. “We encourage all motorists to voluntarily comply with traffic safety laws.”

While Nebraska continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, troopers remain focused on the mission of keeping Nebraska&nbsp;roads safe. NSP launched the annual spring “Click It or Ticket” campaign Monday and will kick-off the annual 100 days of summer initiative later this month.

LINCOLN — As traffic volume slowly rises, Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol are seeing a dramatic increase in excessive speeding. In the two months since the first Directed Health Measures&nbsp;(DHMs) were issued, Troopers have cited more than 200 motorists for driving more than 100 miles per hour.Between March 19 and May 18, Nebraska State Troopers issued 204 speeding citations for drivers traveling at more than 100&nbsp;miles per hour. Those citations have been issued across 26 different Nebraska counties. During the same two-month time period in 2019, troopers issued 101 such citations.“The increase in excessive speeding has been dramatic,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State&nbsp;Patrol. “Those speeds are dangerous, especially as traffic volume increases. Our troopers have remained diligent during the pandemic and continue to patrol Nebraska roads.”In the first 35 days since the first DHMs were issued, troopers issued 100 citations for speeding at 100 miles per hour&nbsp;of more. It only took 25 days for troopers to find the next 100 such speeding violations.So far in May, troopers have cited 80 speeders for traveling more than 100 miles per hour. The most in any full month last&nbsp;year was 65, in May 2019.“May is traditionally the start of the summer driving season and, even though circumstances are different this year, we&nbsp;expect to see traffic volume continue to increase across the state,” said Colonel Bolduc. “We encourage all motorists to voluntarily comply with traffic safety laws.”While Nebraska continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, troopers remain focused on the mission of keeping Nebraska&nbsp;roads safe. NSP launched the annual spring “Click It or Ticket” campaign Monday and will kick-off the annual 100 days of summer initiative later this month.

200 speeders cited for 100 MPH in two months

WASHINGTON, D.C.– President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP, which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. 

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?472280-1/president-trump-remarks-food-supply#">Click here to watch</a> the White House Press conference.

In addition to this direct support to farmers and ranchers, USDA’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/farmers-to-families-food-box" target="_blank">Farmers to Families Food Box</a>&nbsp;program is partnering with regional and local distributors, whose workforces have been significantly impacted by the closure of many restaurants, hotels, and other food service entities, to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy, and meat and deliver boxes to Americans in need.

Producers should&nbsp;<a href="https://www.farmers.gov/cfap">click here</a>&nbsp;to view details and to sign up for the program.

“I thank President Trump and Secretary Perdue for their efforts to help our farmers, ranchers, and growers manage their operations during these unprecedented times,” said Kansas Senator Pat Roberts.&nbsp;“I encourage producers to contact their local FSA office to enroll in the program.”

“I will visit with President Trump later today to continue delivering messages from farm country, and we will continue working to make sure our producers have the tools they need during the COVID-19 emergency and beyond.”

“America’s farming community is facing an unprecedented situation as our nation tackles the coronavirus. President Trump has authorized USDA to ensure our patriotic farmers, ranchers, and producers are supported and we are moving quickly to open applications to get payments out the door and into the pockets of farmers,” said Secretary Perdue. 

“These payments will help keep farmers afloat while market demand returns as our nation reopens and recovers. America’s farmers are resilient and will get through this challenge just like they always do with faith, hard work, and determination.”

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept CFAP applications May 26 – August 28, 2020. Producers should&nbsp;<a href="https://www.farmers.gov/cfap">click here</a>&nbsp;to view details and to sign up for the program.

Congress authorized a portion of the funding for CFAP in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was a unanimous vote in the U.S. Senate. President Trump signed the CARES Act into law on March 27. The CARES Act included $9.5 billion in funds to assist agricultural producers, as well as additional resources to partially replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation. Additionally, Congress provided flexibility for the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase commodities for emergency distribution in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589910894677.png" alt="<a href="https://www.c-span.org/person/?ivankatrump">President Trump&nbsp;</a>met with ranchers and farmers in the Roosevelt Room of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/organization/?929/White">White House</a>&nbsp;to talk about maintaining the nation’s food supply during the pandemic. Other participants included Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/organization/?929/White">White House</a>&nbsp;adviser Ivanka Trump-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://www.c-span.org/person/?ivankatrump">President Trump&nbsp;</a>met with ranchers and farmers in the Roosevelt Room of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/organization/?929/White">White House</a>&nbsp;to talk about maintaining the nation’s food supply during the pandemic. Other participants included Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/organization/?929/White">White House</a>&nbsp;adviser Ivanka Trump-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON, D.C.– President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP, which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?472280-1/president-trump-remarks-food-supply#">Click here to watch</a> the White House Press conference.In addition to this direct support to farmers and ranchers, USDA’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/farmers-to-families-food-box" target="_blank">Farmers to Families Food Box</a>&nbsp;program is partnering with regional and local distributors, whose workforces have been significantly impacted by the closure of many restaurants, hotels, and other food service entities, to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy, and meat and deliver boxes to Americans in need.Producers should&nbsp;<a href="https://www.farmers.gov/cfap">click here</a>&nbsp;to view details and to sign up for the program.“I thank President Trump and Secretary Perdue for their efforts to help our farmers, ranchers, and growers manage their operations during these unprecedented times,” said Kansas Senator Pat Roberts.&nbsp;“I encourage producers to contact their local FSA office to enroll in the program.”“I will visit with President Trump later today to continue delivering messages from farm country, and we will continue working to make sure our producers have the tools they need during the COVID-19 emergency and beyond.”“America’s farming community is facing an unprecedented situation as our nation tackles the coronavirus. President Trump has authorized USDA to ensure our patriotic farmers, ranchers, and producers are supported and we are moving quickly to open applications to get payments out the door and into the pockets of farmers,” said Secretary Perdue. “These payments will help keep farmers afloat while market demand returns as our nation reopens and recovers. America’s farmers are resilient and will get through this challenge just like they always do with faith, hard work, and determination.”USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept CFAP applications May 26 – August 28, 2020. Producers should&nbsp;<a href="https://www.farmers.gov/cfap">click here</a>&nbsp;to view details and to sign up for the program.Congress authorized a portion of the funding for CFAP in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was a unanimous vote in the U.S. Senate. President Trump signed the CARES Act into law on March 27. The CARES Act included $9.5 billion in funds to assist agricultural producers, as well as additional resources to partially replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation. Additionally, Congress provided flexibility for the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase commodities for emergency distribution in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

🎥 USDA takes action to support farmers, ranchers and growers

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Authorities say a Rapid City man who died in a shootout with police last week was positive for COVID-19. 

South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg said Monday that the Division of Criminal Investigation and the Rapid City Police Department confirmed that 30-year-old Anthony Angel was positive for the disease caused by the coronavirus. 

Ravnsborg says all police officers and DCI agents who were potentially exposed came back negative. 

A Rapid City police officer shot Angel on Wednesday night after a routine traffic stop escalated into a shootout. Angel died the next day. 

The officer who fired has not been identified and was placed on administrative leave. No officers were hurt.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Authorities say a Rapid City man who died in a shootout with police last week was positive for COVID-19. South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg said Monday that the Division of Criminal Investigation and the Rapid City Police Department confirmed that 30-year-old Anthony Angel was positive for the disease caused by the coronavirus. Ravnsborg says all police officers and DCI agents who were potentially exposed came back negative. A Rapid City police officer shot Angel on Wednesday night after a routine traffic stop escalated into a shootout. Angel died the next day. The officer who fired has not been identified and was placed on administrative leave. No officers were hurt.

Man killed in shootout with Rapid City police had COVID-19

(AAA)-Pump prices continue to increase across the country with nearly every state’s average pushing more expensive on the week, on average by four cents. At the start of the Memorial Day work week, the national gas price average is $1.87.

The last time the national gas price average leading into the holiday was under $2/gallon was 17 years ago in 2003. That year motorists paid, on average, $1.50 to fill-up. Gas prices this year won’t be as cheap as 2003, but today’s national average is a dollar cheaper than one year ago.

Despite inexpensive gas prices, AAA anticipates this year’s holiday will likely set a record low for travel volume.

For the first time in 20 years, AAA will not issue a Memorial Day travel forecast due to COVID-19 impacts on the underlying economic data used to create the forecast.

Americans can expect gas prices to continue to push more expensive, possibly hitting $2/gallon in the next few weeks. This is mostly due to demand increasing as states re-open.

The nation’s largest weekly gas price increases can be found for a second week in the Great Lakes and Central States region. Five states from the region land on the top 10 list for largest jumps, though this week’s increases are less than a dime: Wisconsin (+7 cents, Iowa (+7 cents, Kansas (+7 cents, Nebraska (+5 cents) and Minnesota (+5 cents).

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that regional gasoline stocks have decreased for six straight weeks in the Great Lakes and Central States region, bringing total stock levels down to the lowest measurement of the year at 54 million bbl. However, stocks remain above the year-ago level of 49.5 million barrels and the five-year average of 52.6 million barrels.

(AAA)-Pump prices continue to increase across the country with nearly every state’s average pushing more expensive on the week, on average by four cents. At the start of the Memorial Day work week, the national gas price average is $1.87.The last time the national gas price average leading into the holiday was under $2/gallon was 17 years ago in 2003. That year motorists paid, on average, $1.50 to fill-up. Gas prices this year won’t be as cheap as 2003, but today’s national average is a dollar cheaper than one year ago.Despite inexpensive gas prices, AAA anticipates this year’s holiday will likely set a record low for travel volume.For the first time in 20 years, AAA will not issue a Memorial Day travel forecast due to COVID-19 impacts on the underlying economic data used to create the forecast.Americans can expect gas prices to continue to push more expensive, possibly hitting $2/gallon in the next few weeks. This is mostly due to demand increasing as states re-open.The nation’s largest weekly gas price increases can be found for a second week in the Great Lakes and Central States region. Five states from the region land on the top 10 list for largest jumps, though this week’s increases are less than a dime: Wisconsin (+7 cents, Iowa (+7 cents, Kansas (+7 cents, Nebraska (+5 cents) and Minnesota (+5 cents).The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that regional gasoline stocks have decreased for six straight weeks in the Great Lakes and Central States region, bringing total stock levels down to the lowest measurement of the year at 54 million bbl. However, stocks remain above the year-ago level of 49.5 million barrels and the five-year average of 52.6 million barrels.

Motorists to see cheapest Memorial Day pump prices in nearly two decades

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Officials report 12 deaths on Nebraska roadways in April

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The coronavirus has sparked concerns about how private medical information is being used. 

An Associated Press review shows that health officials in at least 35 U.S. states are sharing the addresses of those who test positive for coronavirus to first responders who request it. Ten of those states also share names. 

Law enforcement officials say first responders use the information to take extra precautions that help them avoid contracting and spreading the disease.

 But civil liberty and community activists have expressed concerns of potential profiling in African American and Hispanic communities that already have an uneasy relationship with law enforcement.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The coronavirus has sparked concerns about how private medical information is being used. An Associated Press review shows that health officials in at least 35 U.S. states are sharing the addresses of those who test positive for coronavirus to first responders who request it. Ten of those states also share names. Law enforcement officials say first responders use the information to take extra precautions that help them avoid contracting and spreading the disease. But civil liberty and community activists have expressed concerns of potential profiling in African American and Hispanic communities that already have an uneasy relationship with law enforcement.

COVID-19 data sharing with law enforcement sparks concern

LINCOLN, Neb. (Lincoln Journal Star) — Police say a 48-year-old woman who refused to put on a mask when being treated for COVID-19 at a Nebraska hospital spit on the walls and floor and punched a nurse.

 The Lincoln Journal Star reports Nyadak Tut of Lincoln was charged  with felony assault on a health care professional. 

A nurse at CHI St. Elizabeth told police Tut left her room without wearing a mask. An arrest affidavit says the nurse followed Tut, asking her to put on a mask.

 Tut started spitting. When the nurse tried to call security, Tut punched her in the face. 

Police arrested Tut after she was medically cleared from the hospital.

LINCOLN, Neb. (Lincoln Journal Star) — Police say a 48-year-old woman who refused to put on a mask when being treated for COVID-19 at a Nebraska hospital spit on the walls and floor and punched a nurse. The Lincoln Journal Star reports Nyadak Tut of Lincoln was charged with felony assault on a health care professional. A nurse at CHI St. Elizabeth told police Tut left her room without wearing a mask. An arrest affidavit says the nurse followed Tut, asking her to put on a mask. Tut started spitting. When the nurse tried to call security, Tut punched her in the face. Police arrested Tut after she was medically cleared from the hospital.

Hospital patient refuses to wear mask, punches nurse

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Police said Tuesday that detectives have arrested a man suspected in the killing of another man whose body was found last weekend in northeast Omaha.

Police said James Fairbanks, 43, was booked into the Douglas County Jail after his arrest on suspicion of criminal homicide in the shooting death of Mattieo Condoluci, 64.

Officers found Condoluci's body Saturday after responding to a shooting.

Police didn't give details about the arrest but on Monday had acknowledged they were investigating an email sent to media outlets in which an anonymous author claimed to have shot Condoluci after learning he was on the Nebraska sex offender registry.

Condoluci was named on the registry, which noted offenses from Florida and Nebraska.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589893425958.png" alt="James Fairbanks" />
 <figcaption>James Fairbanks</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Police said Tuesday that detectives have arrested a man suspected in the killing of another man whose body was found last weekend in northeast Omaha.Police said James Fairbanks, 43, was booked into the Douglas County Jail after his arrest on suspicion of criminal homicide in the shooting death of Mattieo Condoluci, 64.Officers found Condoluci's body Saturday after responding to a shooting.Police didn't give details about the arrest but on Monday had acknowledged they were investigating an email sent to media outlets in which an anonymous author claimed to have shot Condoluci after learning he was on the Nebraska sex offender registry.Condoluci was named on the registry, which noted offenses from Florida and Nebraska.

Omaha police arrest man suspected in shooting death

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska farmers have planted most of the expected corn crop and are making good progress on soybean planting. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Monday that farmers had planted 91% of the corn crop as of Sunday, putting them far ahead of the 63% that had been planted by this time last year. 

The five-year average for this date is 78%. Farmers had planted 78% of expected soybeans, more than doubling the 34% from last year.

 The five-year average is 42%. They were helped by good weather that made for 5.2 days suitable for field work.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska farmers have planted most of the expected corn crop and are making good progress on soybean planting. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Monday that farmers had planted 91% of the corn crop as of Sunday, putting them far ahead of the 63% that had been planted by this time last year. The five-year average for this date is 78%. Farmers had planted 78% of expected soybeans, more than doubling the 34% from last year. The five-year average is 42%. They were helped by good weather that made for 5.2 days suitable for field work.

Nebraska farmers making progress on corn, soybean planting

NEW YORK (AP) — J.C. Penney will close almost 30% of its 846 stores as part of a restructuring under bankruptcy protection. The ailing department store said Monday that it plans to close about 192 stores by February 2021, and then 50 additional stores in the year after that. 

That would leave the company with just over 600 locations. J.C. Penney filed for bankruptcy reorganization on Friday, making it the biggest retailer to do since the coronavirus pandemic forced them to shut down all stores.

The company has not released a list of stores that will close.

NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic has pushed troubled department store chain J.C. Penney into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 

It is the fourth major retailer to meet that fate. Texas-based Penney said late Friday it will be reducing its store count and will be disclosing details and timing in the next few weeks. 

It currently operates 850 stores and employs nearly 90,000 workers. It said that it received $900 million in financing to help it operate during the restructuring. Penney joins luxury department store chain Neiman Marcus and J.Crew in filing for bankruptcy reorganization. Others are expected to follow. Still many experts are pessimistic about Penney’s long-term survival.

Check the Post for additional details,&nbsp;as they become available&nbsp;on how the bankruptcy impacts local stores.

U.S. retail sales tumbled by a record 16.4% from March to April as business shutdowns caused by the coronavirus kept shoppers away, threatened stores across the country and weighed down a sinking economy. 

The Commerce Department’s report on retail purchases showed a sector that has collapsed so quickly that sales over the past 12 months are down a crippling 21.6%. The sharpest drops from March to April were at clothiers, electronics stores, furniture stores and restaurants. 

A long-standing migration of consumers toward online purchases is accelerating, with that segment posting a 8.4% monthly gain. Measured year over year, online sales surged 21.6%.

NEW YORK (AP) — J.C. Penney will close almost 30% of its 846 stores as part of a restructuring under bankruptcy protection. The ailing department store said Monday that it plans to close about 192 stores by February 2021, and then 50 additional stores in the year after that. That would leave the company with just over 600 locations. J.C. Penney filed for bankruptcy reorganization on Friday, making it the biggest retailer to do since the coronavirus pandemic forced them to shut down all stores.The company has not released a list of stores that will close.-------NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic has pushed troubled department store chain J.C. Penney into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It is the fourth major retailer to meet that fate. Texas-based Penney said late Friday it will be reducing its store count and will be disclosing details and timing in the next few weeks. It currently operates 850 stores and employs nearly 90,000 workers. It said that it received $900 million in financing to help it operate during the restructuring. Penney joins luxury department store chain Neiman Marcus and J.Crew in filing for bankruptcy reorganization. Others are expected to follow. Still many experts are pessimistic about Penney’s long-term survival.Check the Post for additional details,&nbsp;as they become available&nbsp;on how the bankruptcy impacts local stores.--------U.S. retail sales tumbled by a record 16.4% from March to April as business shutdowns caused by the coronavirus kept shoppers away, threatened stores across the country and weighed down a sinking economy. The Commerce Department’s report on retail purchases showed a sector that has collapsed so quickly that sales over the past 12 months are down a crippling 21.6%. The sharpest drops from March to April were at clothiers, electronics stores, furniture stores and restaurants. A long-standing migration of consumers toward online purchases is accelerating, with that segment posting a 8.4% monthly gain. Measured year over year, online sales surged 21.6%.

Pandemic casualty: JC Penney to close 240 stores

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (KGAB-AM) — A man is dead and an elementary school teacher in jail after a shooting in Wyoming’s capital city. 

Laramie County sheriff’s officials say they arrested 33-year-old Danell Moyte for the death of 39-year-old Christopher Garcia. 

Deputies arrived at a home in Cheyenne around 2 a.m. Saturday to find Garcia with a 9-millimeter gunshot wound.

 KGAB radio reports Garcia died at a hospital. 

Moyte faces a charge of second-degree homicide and remains jailed. 

She has no attorney on record to comment on her behalf. 

A school district statement identifies Moyte as a local elementary school teacher who has been suspended with pay.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (KGAB-AM) — A man is dead and an elementary school teacher in jail after a shooting in Wyoming’s capital city. Laramie County sheriff’s officials say they arrested 33-year-old Danell Moyte for the death of 39-year-old Christopher Garcia. Deputies arrived at a home in Cheyenne around 2 a.m. Saturday to find Garcia with a 9-millimeter gunshot wound. KGAB radio reports Garcia died at a hospital. Moyte faces a charge of second-degree homicide and remains jailed. She has no attorney on record to comment on her behalf. A school district statement identifies Moyte as a local elementary school teacher who has been suspended with pay.

Elementary school teacher jailed for deadly Wyoming shooting

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Rapid City Journal) — Hotel and campground operators in the Black Hills say the past couple of months have been rough on business due to the coronavirus outbreak, but they’re encouraged that tourists are making reservations for summer travel. 

Hospitality businesses are preparing for visitors with extra cleaning protocols and safety practices.

 Visit Rapid City CEO Julie Schmitz Jensen tells the Rapid City Journal that businesses are familiar with the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

She says with safety protocol in place, it will not be a typical tourist season.&nbsp;

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Rapid City Journal) — Hotel and campground operators in the Black Hills say the past couple of months have been rough on business due to the coronavirus outbreak, but they’re encouraged that tourists are making reservations for summer travel. Hospitality businesses are preparing for visitors with extra cleaning protocols and safety practices. Visit Rapid City CEO Julie Schmitz Jensen tells the Rapid City Journal that businesses are familiar with the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She says with safety protocol in place, it will not be a typical tourist season.&nbsp;

Black Hills tourism businesses say there's reason for hope

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials say more cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed at a western Omaha nursing home that reported scores of cases last week.

 The Omaha World-Herald reports that two more residents and five more staff members of Life Care Center of Elkhorn have tested positive for COVID-19. 

Last week, officials reported that 68 cases of the virus had been confirmed among residents and staff at the nursing facility in Omaha's Elkhorn community. 

The state's online coronavirus tracker showed no new COVID-19 deaths were reported Sunday, but 128 new cases were confirmed across the state.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials say more cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed at a western Omaha nursing home that reported scores of cases last week. The Omaha World-Herald reports that two more residents and five more staff members of Life Care Center of Elkhorn have tested positive for COVID-19. The new cases were reported Sunday. Last week, officials reported that 68 cases of the virus had been confirmed among residents and staff at the nursing facility in Omaha's Elkhorn community. The state's online coronavirus tracker showed no new COVID-19 deaths were reported Sunday, but 128 new cases were confirmed across the state.