DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As the coronavirus pandemic continues to force the closure of meatpacking plants across the country, hog farmers have had to respond quickly to a rapidly growing backlog of animals in their barns by killing and disposing of pigs.

 Many large-scale hog farmers have little choice once barns reach full capacity. 

Officials estimate about 700,000 pigs across the nation can’t be processed each week and will be euthanized if plants don't resume operations. 

To help farmers, the USDA has set up a center that can supply the tools needed to euthanize hogs. 

That includes captive bolt guns and cartridges that can be shot into the heads of larger animals as well as chutes, trailers and personal protective equipment.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As the coronavirus pandemic continues to force the closure of meatpacking plants across the country, hog farmers have had to respond quickly to a rapidly growing backlog of animals in their barns by killing and disposing of pigs. Many large-scale hog farmers have little choice once barns reach full capacity. Officials estimate about 700,000 pigs across the nation can’t be processed each week and will be euthanized if plants don't resume operations. To help farmers, the USDA has set up a center that can supply the tools needed to euthanize hogs. That includes captive bolt guns and cartridges that can be shot into the heads of larger animals as well as chutes, trailers and personal protective equipment.

Healthy pigs being killed as meatpacking backlog hits farms

Community spread has been identified in both Custer and Howard Counties. Precautions should be taken in those counties with every public interaction. Precautions to take include: wearing a mask in public, frequent hand washing, limiting outings to essential medical visits and grocery shopping once a week, and shopping alone. Anyone who is sick with symptoms (congestion, fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, diarrhea, vomiting, cough, etc.) should isolate and notify their medical provider of their symptoms and consider testing.

As a reminder, testing is becoming more readily available and therefore we do anticipate an increase in case numbers. Loup Basin along with Nebraska DHHS continue to monitor the situation closely to protect those within our district.

Community spread has been identified in both Custer and Howard Counties. Precautions should be taken in those counties with every public interaction. Precautions to take include: wearing a mask in public, frequent hand washing, limiting outings to essential medical visits and grocery shopping once a week, and shopping alone. Anyone who is sick with symptoms (congestion, fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, diarrhea, vomiting, cough, etc.) should isolate and notify their medical provider of their symptoms and consider testing.As a reminder, testing is becoming more readily available and therefore we do anticipate an increase in case numbers. Loup Basin along with Nebraska DHHS continue to monitor the situation closely to protect those within our district.

Community spread of COVID-19 identified in Custer, Howard counties

LINCOLN –&nbsp;Two additional deaths related to COVID-19 were reported to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) today.

The deaths were reported in Hall and Hamilton counties --&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cdhd.ne.gov/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/cdhd.ne.gov/&nbsp;</a>. In addition, Hitchcock County recorded its first case.

Local health departments are reporting deaths and cases in their jurisdictions. In the event of a discrepancy between DHHS dashboard data and deaths or cases reported by local public health officials, data reported by the local health department should be considered the most up to date.

The total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the state to date is 70, according to the DHHS data dashboard. Technical difficulties with the dashboard have been resolved and statewide case totals are now fully reflected. The state case total, as of 5:45 pm Central Daylight Time, is 4,281. Nebraska's COVID-19 case totals are updated daily at&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>.&nbsp;

Governor Pete Ricketts recently announced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/" target="_blank">TestNebraska&nbsp;</a>, a public-private partnership designed to increase testing capacity and #CrushTheCurve in Nebraska. The Governor is urging all Nebraskans to take the assessment provided on the TestNebraska website to help identify cases of COVID-19 in the state. After taking the assessment participants who fit the criteria will be notified via phone or email that they qualify to be tested for COVID-19. Nebraskans can take the assessment at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/" target="_blank">https://www.testnebraska.com/&nbsp;</a>

DHHS supports Governor Ricketts in urging Nebraskans to follow the&nbsp;Six Rules to Keep Nebraska Healthy.&nbsp;

Recent studies show that a significant portion of people with COVID-19 lack symptoms and those who eventually develop symptoms can pass the virus to others before showing symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (grocery stores, pharmacies, etc.) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-faq.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-faq.html&nbsp;</a>.

Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing. Public health officials continue to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing is crucial to slowing the spread of the virus.

Here's where to find tools and resources for individuals and families, schools, communities, businesses, healthcare facilities, and first responders on the DHHS website -&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;and CDC's website –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid19" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19&nbsp;</a>.

DHHS opened a statewide COVID-19 information line to help answer general questions and share the latest information and resources with Nebraskans to help keep them informed. The number is (402) 552-6645; hours of operation are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. CDT, 7 days a week.

DHHS will continue to update Nebraskans through the DHHS website and on Facebook and Twitter as we have new information. The CDC's website is also a good resource for COVID-19 information -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid19" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19&nbsp;</a>.

LINCOLN –&nbsp;Two additional deaths related to COVID-19 were reported to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) today.The deaths were reported in Hall and Hamilton counties --&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cdhd.ne.gov/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/cdhd.ne.gov/&nbsp;</a>. In addition, Hitchcock County recorded its first case.Local health departments are reporting deaths and cases in their jurisdictions. In the event of a discrepancy between DHHS dashboard data and deaths or cases reported by local public health officials, data reported by the local health department should be considered the most up to date.The total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the state to date is 70, according to the DHHS data dashboard. Technical difficulties with the dashboard have been resolved and statewide case totals are now fully reflected. The state case total, as of 5:45 pm Central Daylight Time, is 4,281. Nebraska's COVID-19 case totals are updated daily at&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>.&nbsp;Governor Pete Ricketts recently announced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/" target="_blank">TestNebraska&nbsp;</a>, a public-private partnership designed to increase testing capacity and #CrushTheCurve in Nebraska. The Governor is urging all Nebraskans to take the assessment provided on the TestNebraska website to help identify cases of COVID-19 in the state. After taking the assessment participants who fit the criteria will be notified via phone or email that they qualify to be tested for COVID-19. Nebraskans can take the assessment at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.testnebraska.com/" target="_blank">https://www.testnebraska.com/&nbsp;</a>DHHS supports Governor Ricketts in urging Nebraskans to follow the&nbsp;Six Rules to Keep Nebraska Healthy.&nbsp;<ol>
 <li>Stay home.&nbsp; No non-essential errands and no social gatherings.&nbsp; Respect the ten-person limits.</li><li>Socially distance your work.&nbsp; Work from home or use the six-foot rule as much as possible in the workplace.&nbsp;</li><li>Shop alone.&nbsp; Do this only once a week and do not take your family with you.</li><li>Help kids social distance. Play at home, no group sports and no playgrounds.</li><li>Help seniors stay at home.&nbsp; This can be done by shopping for them.&nbsp; Do not visit long-term facilities.&nbsp;</li><li>Exercise daily.&nbsp; Do your best to stay as healthy and safe as you can.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>Recent studies show that a significant portion of people with COVID-19 lack symptoms and those who eventually develop symptoms can pass the virus to others before showing symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (grocery stores, pharmacies, etc.) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-faq.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-faq.html&nbsp;</a>.Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing. Public health officials continue to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing is crucial to slowing the spread of the virus.Here's where to find tools and resources for individuals and families, schools, communities, businesses, healthcare facilities, and first responders on the DHHS website -&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus">http://dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;and CDC's website –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid19" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19&nbsp;</a>.DHHS opened a statewide COVID-19 information line to help answer general questions and share the latest information and resources with Nebraskans to help keep them informed. The number is (402) 552-6645; hours of operation are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. CDT, 7 days a week.DHHS will continue to update Nebraskans through the DHHS website and on Facebook and Twitter as we have new information. The CDC's website is also a good resource for COVID-19 information -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid19" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/covid19&nbsp;</a>.

COVID-19 related deaths in Hall, Hamilton counties bring state total to 70

GRAND ISLAND, Neb.&nbsp; —A multi-agency effort, including the Nebraska State Patrol and Clay County Sheriff’s Office, arrested a Sutton man after an extensive investigation into allegations of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Linus Cloet, 58, of Sutton, was arrested in Clay County this morning on charges of sex trafficking of a minor, child abuse, three counts of pandering, and two counts of solicitation. Cloet was lodged in Clay County Jail.

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation or other allegations is encouraged to call the Nebraska State Patrol Troop C office at 308-385-6000.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb.&nbsp; —A multi-agency effort, including the Nebraska State Patrol and Clay County Sheriff’s Office, arrested a Sutton man after an extensive investigation into allegations of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.Linus Cloet, 58, of Sutton, was arrested in Clay County this morning on charges of sex trafficking of a minor, child abuse, three counts of pandering, and two counts of solicitation. Cloet was lodged in Clay County Jail.Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation or other allegations is encouraged to call the Nebraska State Patrol Troop C office at 308-385-6000.

Sutton man arrested following human trafficking investigation

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The effort to reopen the economy in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic has set off a conflict at the state and federal level that is escalating by the day over how much legal protection companies should get if their returning workers get sick.

The White House, governors, members of congress and state lawmakers are all getting pressured by business leaders who want to be shielded from potential lawsuits brought by sick workers. They are also feeling heat on the other side from unions that want bolstered safety at workplaces and from the influential trial lawyers lobby, which hopes to preserve legal protections to go after corporations in court if people are sickened on the job.

The issue has vaulted to the forefront of the debate in Congress over the next, and fifth, coronavirus relief bill that’s still in its infancy. The safety of returning workers has dominated union negotiations between casino workers and their employers in Las Vegas. And governors in some states are imposing restrictions on the ability of people to collect unemployment if they choose not to return to work out of fear for their safety.

The debate has put policy makers on the hot seat at the same time that they are moving forward with reopening their states.

Utah lawmakers have moved to protect businesses from being sued if a customer or employee is exposed to the coronavirus after reopening, with supporters like Republican Rep. Norm Thurston saying establishments need to be rewarded for being willing to open their doors again.

The proposal passed the Republican-controlled Legislature the day before Gov. Gary Herbert announced the state would allow the reopening of restaurants, gyms and salons starting Friday. The governor has not yet signed it.

Skeptics like Democratic Rep. Brian King called the legislation a “get-out-of-liability-free card.”

“If a business wants to get open and make some money, that means they have to be responsible for the safety of both their employees and the public,” King said Wednesday. “They don’t get it both ways. They don’t get to both make money and be insulated from their negligent decision-making.”

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is pushing the Republican-led state Legislature to expand protections from liability lawsuits to manufacturers, businesses, health care workers and first responders. Mississippi and North Carolina are considering similar protections for businesses.

“They don’t need to be concerned about liability from opportunistic people that might be trying to find a chink in their armor, to sue them for trying to do the right thing,” said chamber president Dan Mehan on Tuesday. “Lawsuit protection is paramount for this recovery.”

President Donald Trump’s executive action Tuesday ordering meat processing plants to stay open amid concerns about the nation’s food supply also put a spotlight on the delicate balance between protecting companies without leaving workers unfairly exposed.

The order, which was developed in consultation with industry leaders including Tyson and Smithfield, is designed, in part, to provide companies with additional liability protections in case workers get sick.

Unions fired back at Trump’s action, saying the White House was jeopardizing lives and prioritizing cold cuts over workers’ health.

In California, Democratic state Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez proposed legislation that would allow employees to qualify for workers’ compensation if they contracted coronavirus on the job, a provision that unions have advocated.

Business, insurers and local government organizations pushed back with a letter this week to legislative leaders and Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, saying the move could cost $2.2 billion to $33.6 billion annually, depending on the details of the plan. The workers are already covered under state law if they get the virus, opponents argue.

A separate legislative proposal by a Republican Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez of California would protect small businesses by barring those who obtain unemployment benefits from also suing their employers.

As Congress prepares the next coronavirus relief bill, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made the issue a top priority. He has portrayed the protections as necessary to fend off opportunistic trial lawyers.

“Just as soon as the pandemic recedes, the lawyers will come in, and this is the important part of getting our country back to business,” McConnell said Wednesday on Fox News’ “The Brian Kilmeade Show.”

The casino workers’ Culinary Union in Las Vegas said it is negotiating reopening protocols with casino companies to ensure there are stronger safety standards. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, has not said when he will allow casinos to reopen.

John Whiting isn’t going to rely on an employer to keep him safe. He was working at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta when the pandemic hit and had been planning to find a summer job until he returns to his job as a teacher next school year. But the 26-year-old is intentionally staying away from public-facing jobs out of fear he’ll get sick and infect the aunt and uncle he’s staying with. He’s instead trying to find a job where he can telecommute in a field like tech support.

“I have to think about them as well. I’d rather not risk that because we only go out for groceries, in terms of being out in the public like that. So I thought it was better to find something virtual,” Whiting said.

States are also focusing on unemployment rules as some leaders fret that workers’ fears of getting the virus or comfort with expanded unemployment benefits could keep them home.

State officials in Iowa this week warned furloughed workers that they will lose their unemployment benefits if they refuse to return when their employer calls them back to work, which is considered a “voluntary quit.” Restaurants, some bars, malls and retail stores will reopen in 77 of the state’s 99 counties Friday.

Iowa Workforce Development urged employers to report workers who don’t return for a good reason as soon as possible and warned that the federal law providing an additional $600 weekly in benefits contains “serious consequences” for fraudulent claims.

In Texas, several groups representing workers sent a letter Wednesday calling on state regulators to change unemployment rules to allow people who can’t go back to work because they or their family member face a high risk of contracting the coronavirus to still get unemployment benefits.

Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, on Monday outlined a plan to allow the state’s restaurants, retailers, movie theaters and malls to start letting customers trickle into their establishments starting Friday. He didn’t address whether employees might lose their jobs if they didn’t return to work, but said he understands the concerns and that no worker or business is required to return to work.

“You have every right to choose your own pathway in life and you have ultimate control over your own personal safety,” Abbott said.

The recent suggestion by an Oklahoma official that the state might ask the federal government to stop the $600-a-week federal government payments to unemployed people raised eyebrows, but the state’s Department of Commerce spokeswoman Leslie Blair said in a statement Wednesday there is no plan to stop those federal payments.

She did acknowledge, however, that there is “legitimate concern” that people won’t go back to work because they can make more money in unemployment with the added federal stimulus fund than at their jobs.

“We really do need them to return so our economy can get started again,” Blair said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587120134875.png" alt="President Trump announced initial plans to reopen the country during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing -Photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump announced initial plans to reopen the country during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing -Photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The effort to reopen the economy in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic has set off a conflict at the state and federal level that is escalating by the day over how much legal protection companies should get if their returning workers get sick.The White House, governors, members of congress and state lawmakers are all getting pressured by business leaders who want to be shielded from potential lawsuits brought by sick workers. They are also feeling heat on the other side from unions that want bolstered safety at workplaces and from the influential trial lawyers lobby, which hopes to preserve legal protections to go after corporations in court if people are sickened on the job.The issue has vaulted to the forefront of the debate in Congress over the next, and fifth, coronavirus relief bill that’s still in its infancy. The safety of returning workers has dominated union negotiations between casino workers and their employers in Las Vegas. And governors in some states are imposing restrictions on the ability of people to collect unemployment if they choose not to return to work out of fear for their safety.The debate has put policy makers on the hot seat at the same time that they are moving forward with reopening their states.Utah lawmakers have moved to protect businesses from being sued if a customer or employee is exposed to the coronavirus after reopening, with supporters like Republican Rep. Norm Thurston saying establishments need to be rewarded for being willing to open their doors again.The proposal passed the Republican-controlled Legislature the day before Gov. Gary Herbert announced the state would allow the reopening of restaurants, gyms and salons starting Friday. The governor has not yet signed it.Skeptics like Democratic Rep. Brian King called the legislation a “get-out-of-liability-free card.”“If a business wants to get open and make some money, that means they have to be responsible for the safety of both their employees and the public,” King said Wednesday. “They don’t get it both ways. They don’t get to both make money and be insulated from their negligent decision-making.”The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is pushing the Republican-led state Legislature to expand protections from liability lawsuits to manufacturers, businesses, health care workers and first responders. Mississippi and North Carolina are considering similar protections for businesses.“They don’t need to be concerned about liability from opportunistic people that might be trying to find a chink in their armor, to sue them for trying to do the right thing,” said chamber president Dan Mehan on Tuesday. “Lawsuit protection is paramount for this recovery.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587045646390.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>President Donald Trump’s executive action Tuesday ordering meat processing plants to stay open amid concerns about the nation’s food supply also put a spotlight on the delicate balance between protecting companies without leaving workers unfairly exposed.The order, which was developed in consultation with industry leaders including Tyson and Smithfield, is designed, in part, to provide companies with additional liability protections in case workers get sick.Unions fired back at Trump’s action, saying the White House was jeopardizing lives and prioritizing cold cuts over workers’ health.In California, Democratic state Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez proposed legislation that would allow employees to qualify for workers’ compensation if they contracted coronavirus on the job, a provision that unions have advocated.Business, insurers and local government organizations pushed back with a letter this week to legislative leaders and Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, saying the move could cost $2.2 billion to $33.6 billion annually, depending on the details of the plan. The workers are already covered under state law if they get the virus, opponents argue.A separate legislative proposal by a Republican Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez of California would protect small businesses by barring those who obtain unemployment benefits from also suing their employers.As Congress prepares the next coronavirus relief bill, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made the issue a top priority. He has portrayed the protections as necessary to fend off opportunistic trial lawyers.“Just as soon as the pandemic recedes, the lawyers will come in, and this is the important part of getting our country back to business,” McConnell said Wednesday on Fox News’ “The Brian Kilmeade Show.”The casino workers’ Culinary Union in Las Vegas said it is negotiating reopening protocols with casino companies to ensure there are stronger safety standards. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, has not said when he will allow casinos to reopen.John Whiting isn’t going to rely on an employer to keep him safe. He was working at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta when the pandemic hit and had been planning to find a summer job until he returns to his job as a teacher next school year. But the 26-year-old is intentionally staying away from public-facing jobs out of fear he’ll get sick and infect the aunt and uncle he’s staying with. He’s instead trying to find a job where he can telecommute in a field like tech support.“I have to think about them as well. I’d rather not risk that because we only go out for groceries, in terms of being out in the public like that. So I thought it was better to find something virtual,” Whiting said.States are also focusing on unemployment rules as some leaders fret that workers’ fears of getting the virus or comfort with expanded unemployment benefits could keep them home.State officials in Iowa this week warned furloughed workers that they will lose their unemployment benefits if they refuse to return when their employer calls them back to work, which is considered a “voluntary quit.” Restaurants, some bars, malls and retail stores will reopen in 77 of the state’s 99 counties Friday.Iowa Workforce Development urged employers to report workers who don’t return for a good reason as soon as possible and warned that the federal law providing an additional $600 weekly in benefits contains “serious consequences” for fraudulent claims.In Texas, several groups representing workers sent a letter Wednesday calling on state regulators to change unemployment rules to allow people who can’t go back to work because they or their family member face a high risk of contracting the coronavirus to still get unemployment benefits.Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, on Monday outlined a plan to allow the state’s restaurants, retailers, movie theaters and malls to start letting customers trickle into their establishments starting Friday. He didn’t address whether employees might lose their jobs if they didn’t return to work, but said he understands the concerns and that no worker or business is required to return to work.“You have every right to choose your own pathway in life and you have ultimate control over your own personal safety,” Abbott said.The recent suggestion by an Oklahoma official that the state might ask the federal government to stop the $600-a-week federal government payments to unemployed people raised eyebrows, but the state’s Department of Commerce spokeswoman Leslie Blair said in a statement Wednesday there is no plan to stop those federal payments.She did acknowledge, however, that there is “legitimate concern” that people won’t go back to work because they can make more money in unemployment with the added federal stimulus fund than at their jobs.“We really do need them to return so our economy can get started again,” Blair said.____

Debate flares over legal protections as businesses open up

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Big meatpacking companies that have struggled to keep plants open during the coronavirus crisis say they welcome President Donald Trump’s executive order that plants must remain open. But unions, some employees and Democrats raised questions about whether workers could be kept safe. 

Trump has used the Defense Production Act to classify meat processors as critical infrastructure to try to prevent supermarket shelves from running out. 

Some employees and unions say the president’s order was not enough.

 They are calling on authorities to ensure social distancing in plants and to offer greater protections such as priority access to testing and protective equipment.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Big meatpacking companies that have struggled to keep plants open during the coronavirus crisis say they welcome President Donald Trump’s executive order that plants must remain open. But unions, some employees and Democrats raised questions about whether workers could be kept safe. Trump has used the Defense Production Act to classify meat processors as critical infrastructure to try to prevent supermarket shelves from running out. Some employees and unions say the president’s order was not enough. They are calling on authorities to ensure social distancing in plants and to offer greater protections such as priority access to testing and protective equipment.

Meatpackers welcome Trump order; others question virus risks

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Patrol says a trooper injured in a two-vehicle crash in Lincoln is recovering after being released from the hospital. 

The patrol says the crash happened Wednesday morning on O Street in Lincoln when a eastbound car making a left turn collided with the trooper's westbound cruiser.

 The trooper was taken to a Lincoln hospital for several broken bones in one of his hands. 

The driver of the car was also taken to a Lincoln hospital with serious injuries not believed to be life-threatening. 

The Lincoln Police Department investigate the crash.&nbsp;

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Patrol says a trooper injured in a two-vehicle crash in Lincoln is recovering after being released from the hospital. The patrol says the crash happened Wednesday morning on O Street in Lincoln when a eastbound car making a left turn collided with the trooper's westbound cruiser. The trooper was taken to a Lincoln hospital for several broken bones in one of his hands. The driver of the car was also taken to a Lincoln hospital with serious injuries not believed to be life-threatening. The Lincoln Police Department investigate the crash.&nbsp;

Nebraska trooper injured in 2-vehicle Lincoln crash

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AP) — Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha says it has shut down an off-base child care center after a child care provider there tested position for COVID-19. 

The base says in a news release Wednesday that infected person had been in contact with staff and children at the Child Development Center 1 before self-quarantining. 

Officials say contact tracing is currently being conducted by the Offutt Public Health section, which will contact those who may have been exposed. 

Offutt says the Child Development Center will be professionally sanitized before reopening. 

No date has been set to reopen the center.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AP) — Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha says it has shut down an off-base child care center after a child care provider there tested position for COVID-19. The base says in a news release Wednesday that infected person had been in contact with staff and children at the Child Development Center 1 before self-quarantining. Officials say contact tracing is currently being conducted by the Offutt Public Health section, which will contact those who may have been exposed. Offutt says the Child Development Center will be professionally sanitized before reopening. No date has been set to reopen the center.

Virus shuts down Offutt Air Force Base child care center

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A surge in unemployment stemming from the coronavirus shutdown of large parts of the U.S. economy is starting to push some state jobless funds toward insolvency.

At least a half-dozen states already have notified the federal government that they could need to borrow billions of dollars to pay unemployment benefits because their own trust funds are running out of money.

While the shortfalls won't prevent unemployed workers from getting government aid, the federal loans could lead to higher taxes for businesses in future years to repay the debt.

U.S. Treasury data shows&nbsp;California,&nbsp;Connecticut&nbsp;and&nbsp;Illinois&nbsp;all expect to borrow soon from the federal government to prop up their unemployment funds. Officials in&nbsp;Massachusetts,&nbsp;New York&nbsp;and&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;confirmed to The Associated Press that they also have notified the federal government of their anticipated need for loans.

All six of those states' unemployment funds ranked among those at the greatest risk of insolvency because they didn't have adequate reserves to weather a recession, according to a U.S. Department of Labor report released before the coronavirus outbreak. Many more states also could need federal loans given the widespread economic damage.

“I can't imagine a state that's not going to have to borrow by the end of this year,” said Michele Evermore, a senior policy analyst at the National Employment Law Project, a New York-based group that advocates for low-wage workers and the unemployed.

As of mid-April, about 26 million Americans had filed unemployment claims in the first five weeks since governments began ordering people to stay home and some businesses to close as a precaution against spreading the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. It's already the worst stretch of job losses in U.S. history. New unemployment data to be released Thursday is expected to push that total even higher.

State unemployment benefits are funded by special taxes on employers and paid through state trust funds. Each state sets its own tax rate and benefit payment amounts. When trust funds run low, states can get federal loans that must be repaid with interest. Loans taken out this year would need to be repaid by November 2022, or else the federal government could raise taxes on businesses to recoup the money.

A law signed by President Donald Trump last month waived the interest on state unemployment loans through the end of this year. But that's a shorter reprieve than was granted during the Great Recession, when interest was waived from February 2009 through December 2010.

The last recession led to the insolvency of unemployment trust funds in 35 states that collectively racked up more than $40 billion of debt to keep paying unemployed workers. It took years for states to repay that.

“Unfortunately, many of them got caught in this vicious cycle now, where they spent most of the 11 years of economic growth looking backwards, paying off the prior accrued debt rather than being able to save and invest for this current crisis,” said Jared Walczak, director of state tax policy at the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit.

From the beginning of March through mid-April, state unemployment trust funds have declined by a median of 10%, according to an AP analysis of U.S. Treasury data. But the drop has been far more dramatic in states that were among the first to shut down their economies and among the quickest to pay benefits to the unemployed.

Massachusetts, which provides among the most generous unemployment benefits nationally, saw its trust fund cut in half from early March to mid-April, from $1.6 billion to less than $750 million. That marked the largest percentage decline nationally.

In a letter to the U.S. labor secretary, Gov. Charlie Baker estimated the state could need to borrow $1.2 billion in May and June to pay unemployment benefits.

New York's unemployment trust fund also declined by nearly half during that six-week period, from almost $2.5 billion to less than $1.3 billion. The state has applied for up to $4 billion in federal loans, said New York Department of Labor spokeswoman Deanna Cohen.

How much help New York ultimately needs will depend on how many more people seek unemployment benefits and how long they are without work, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

“But it’s in the billions of dollars," he said. “There’s no doubt about that.”

At the start of this year, California's trust fund had barely one-fifth of the recommended amount needed to weather a recession, the worst rating among all states. It's trust fund balance fell from $3.1 billion in early March to $1.9 billion in mid-April and has continued to slide.

The state could need to start borrowing from the federal government by the beginning of May, said Barry White, a spokesman for the California Employment Development Department.

Officials in Connecticut and Texas also said they could need to start borrowing in May to pay unemployment claims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588193128049.png" alt="Empty gas pumps at station in Kansas-google image" />
 <figcaption>Empty gas pumps at station in Kansas-google image</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A surge in unemployment stemming from the coronavirus shutdown of large parts of the U.S. economy is starting to push some state jobless funds toward insolvency.At least a half-dozen states already have notified the federal government that they could need to borrow billions of dollars to pay unemployment benefits because their own trust funds are running out of money.While the shortfalls won't prevent unemployed workers from getting government aid, the federal loans could lead to higher taxes for businesses in future years to repay the debt.U.S. Treasury data shows&nbsp;California,&nbsp;Connecticut&nbsp;and&nbsp;Illinois&nbsp;all expect to borrow soon from the federal government to prop up their unemployment funds. Officials in&nbsp;Massachusetts,&nbsp;New York&nbsp;and&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;confirmed to The Associated Press that they also have notified the federal government of their anticipated need for loans.All six of those states' unemployment funds ranked among those at the greatest risk of insolvency because they didn't have adequate reserves to weather a recession, according to a U.S. Department of Labor report released before the coronavirus outbreak. Many more states also could need federal loans given the widespread economic damage.“I can't imagine a state that's not going to have to borrow by the end of this year,” said Michele Evermore, a senior policy analyst at the National Employment Law Project, a New York-based group that advocates for low-wage workers and the unemployed.As of mid-April, about 26 million Americans had filed unemployment claims in the first five weeks since governments began ordering people to stay home and some businesses to close as a precaution against spreading the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. It's already the worst stretch of job losses in U.S. history. New unemployment data to be released Thursday is expected to push that total even higher.State unemployment benefits are funded by special taxes on employers and paid through state trust funds. Each state sets its own tax rate and benefit payment amounts. When trust funds run low, states can get federal loans that must be repaid with interest. Loans taken out this year would need to be repaid by November 2022, or else the federal government could raise taxes on businesses to recoup the money.A law signed by President Donald Trump last month waived the interest on state unemployment loans through the end of this year. But that's a shorter reprieve than was granted during the Great Recession, when interest was waived from February 2009 through December 2010.The last recession led to the insolvency of unemployment trust funds in 35 states that collectively racked up more than $40 billion of debt to keep paying unemployed workers. It took years for states to repay that.“Unfortunately, many of them got caught in this vicious cycle now, where they spent most of the 11 years of economic growth looking backwards, paying off the prior accrued debt rather than being able to save and invest for this current crisis,” said Jared Walczak, director of state tax policy at the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit.From the beginning of March through mid-April, state unemployment trust funds have declined by a median of 10%, according to an AP analysis of U.S. Treasury data. But the drop has been far more dramatic in states that were among the first to shut down their economies and among the quickest to pay benefits to the unemployed.Massachusetts, which provides among the most generous unemployment benefits nationally, saw its trust fund cut in half from early March to mid-April, from $1.6 billion to less than $750 million. That marked the largest percentage decline nationally.In a letter to the U.S. labor secretary, Gov. Charlie Baker estimated the state could need to borrow $1.2 billion in May and June to pay unemployment benefits.New York's unemployment trust fund also declined by nearly half during that six-week period, from almost $2.5 billion to less than $1.3 billion. The state has applied for up to $4 billion in federal loans, said New York Department of Labor spokeswoman Deanna Cohen.How much help New York ultimately needs will depend on how many more people seek unemployment benefits and how long they are without work, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.“But it’s in the billions of dollars," he said. “There’s no doubt about that.”At the start of this year, California's trust fund had barely one-fifth of the recommended amount needed to weather a recession, the worst rating among all states. It's trust fund balance fell from $3.1 billion in early March to $1.9 billion in mid-April and has continued to slide.The state could need to start borrowing from the federal government by the beginning of May, said Barry White, a spokesman for the California Employment Development Department.Officials in Connecticut and Texas also said they could need to start borrowing in May to pay unemployment claims.

Unemployment surge pushing state funds toward insolvency

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday the federal government will not be extending its coronavirus social distancing guidelines once they expire Thursday, and his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, predicted that by July the country will be “really rocking again.”

Putting a positive face on the latest grim numbers — the U.S. death toll has now surpassed the Vietnam War — Trump delivered his daily upbeat update and Kushner described the administration’s much-criticized response to the pandemic as “a great success story.”

Trump also talked up the good news the day provided: Hopeful results for a possible COVID-19 treatment. But the government announced dismal new economic numbers as the pandemic took hold and shut down much of the country.

The U.S. economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate in first quarter of the year — a precursor to far grimmer reports that are expected this summer from the severe recession triggered by the pandemic.

The White House has been trying to pivot to a new stage of the crisis, focused on efforts to reopen the nation’s economy state-by-state amid concerns that lifting restrictions too quickly and without sufficient testing and contact tracing will spur a resurgence.

As part of that effort, Trump, who has both threatened to force states to reopen and said decisions will be left to them, said the White House will not be extending its “30 Days to Slow the Spread” guidelines when they expire Thursday.

“They’ll be fading out because now the governors are doing it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he met with John Bel Edwards, the Democratic governor of Louisiana.

Those guidelines — which were originally supposed to last 15 days and were then extended an additional 30 — encouraged Americans to work from home and avoid restaurants and discretionary travel and advised older Americans and those with serious underlying health conditions to isolate themselves.

Vice President Mike Pence said the guidelines have been incorporated into the new guidance issued by the White House earlier this month that lays out how states can gradually ease restrictions and begin to reopen as the rate of new cases slows.

Edwards, who recently extended Louisiana’s stay-at-home order through May 15, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2aa854e201d19ecddf18326b926fb19f">currently under fire</a>&nbsp;from Republican lawmakers in his state after he extended Louisiana’s stay-at-home order through May 15. As he was in Washington, some GOP legislators were trying to rally support to take the extraordinary step of trying to override the governor’s emergency decision-making about the state’s outbreak.

But Trump commended Edwards on the job he’s done after New Orleans became one of the nation’s coronavirus hot spots. “I just wanted to congratulate you,” Trump said.

The White House on Wednesday was also pointing to the prospect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b894f3b39f6915dcc3cc402438deaf0b">an experimental drug</a>, Remdesivir, which proved effective against the virus in a major new study run by the National Institutes of Health, shortening the time it takes for patients to recover by four days on average.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, said the drug reduced the time it takes patients to recover by 31% — 11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care.

“It’s highly significant,′ said the usually cautious doctor. “What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus.”

The White House and Trump in particular have been eager to give the country positive news as they work to move past the crisis and rebuild the economy, even as the country’s death tally continues to rise. The U.S. has now recorded more than 58,000 deaths from the virus, surpassing the total number of Americans&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-statistics" target="_blank">who were killed</a>&nbsp;in the Vietnam War. More than one million people have now tested positive.

Trump said that number has risen so high in large part because of increased U.S. testing.

“That’s a tremendous amount and the reason is because of testing,” he said.

The U.S. has dramatically increased its testing after a slow and rocky start, but many health experts say the country still must do more — as many as 5 million a day — to safely reopen the economy. Otherwise, they warn, cases will skyrocket as Americans return to work, creating another deadly spike.

Trump has dismissed that recommended number, calling it unnecessary and a “media trap.”

Meanwhile Kushner, who has been helping with the effort to get medical supplies to states that need them, suggested in an interview with “Fox and Friends” that the federal government has accomplished its mission.

“We’re on the other side of the medical aspect of this. And I think that we’ve achieved all the different milestones that are needed. So the federal government rose to the challenge, and this is a great success story,” he said.

The administration, he added, is preparing the country to “get as close back to normal as possible as quickly as possible.”

“I think what you’ll see in May, as the states are reopening now, is May will be a transition month,” he said. “And I think you’ll see by June, a lot of the country should be back to normal and the hope is that ... by July the country is really rocking again.”

Fox News Channel will be holding a two-hour “virtual town hall” with Trump on Sunday evening at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588194794796.png" alt="President Trump answered questions during a roundtable with industry executives Wednesday-White House image" />
 <figcaption>President Trump answered questions during a roundtable with industry executives Wednesday-White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday the federal government will not be extending its coronavirus social distancing guidelines once they expire Thursday, and his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, predicted that by July the country will be “really rocking again.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585696207171.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Putting a positive face on the latest grim numbers — the U.S. death toll has now surpassed the Vietnam War — Trump delivered his daily upbeat update and Kushner described the administration’s much-criticized response to the pandemic as “a great success story.”Trump also talked up the good news the day provided: Hopeful results for a possible COVID-19 treatment. But the government announced dismal new economic numbers as the pandemic took hold and shut down much of the country.The U.S. economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate in first quarter of the year — a precursor to far grimmer reports that are expected this summer from the severe recession triggered by the pandemic.The White House has been trying to pivot to a new stage of the crisis, focused on efforts to reopen the nation’s economy state-by-state amid concerns that lifting restrictions too quickly and without sufficient testing and contact tracing will spur a resurgence.As part of that effort, Trump, who has both threatened to force states to reopen and said decisions will be left to them, said the White House will not be extending its “30 Days to Slow the Spread” guidelines when they expire Thursday.“They’ll be fading out because now the governors are doing it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he met with John Bel Edwards, the Democratic governor of Louisiana.Those guidelines — which were originally supposed to last 15 days and were then extended an additional 30 — encouraged Americans to work from home and avoid restaurants and discretionary travel and advised older Americans and those with serious underlying health conditions to isolate themselves.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585696236815.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Vice President Mike Pence said the guidelines have been incorporated into the new guidance issued by the White House earlier this month that lays out how states can gradually ease restrictions and begin to reopen as the rate of new cases slows.Edwards, who recently extended Louisiana’s stay-at-home order through May 15, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2aa854e201d19ecddf18326b926fb19f">currently under fire</a>&nbsp;from Republican lawmakers in his state after he extended Louisiana’s stay-at-home order through May 15. As he was in Washington, some GOP legislators were trying to rally support to take the extraordinary step of trying to override the governor’s emergency decision-making about the state’s outbreak.But Trump commended Edwards on the job he’s done after New Orleans became one of the nation’s coronavirus hot spots. “I just wanted to congratulate you,” Trump said.The White House on Wednesday was also pointing to the prospect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b894f3b39f6915dcc3cc402438deaf0b">an experimental drug</a>, Remdesivir, which proved effective against the virus in a major new study run by the National Institutes of Health, shortening the time it takes for patients to recover by four days on average.Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, said the drug reduced the time it takes patients to recover by 31% — 11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care.“It’s highly significant,′ said the usually cautious doctor. “What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus.”The White House and Trump in particular have been eager to give the country positive news as they work to move past the crisis and rebuild the economy, even as the country’s death tally continues to rise. The U.S. has now recorded more than 58,000 deaths from the virus, surpassing the total number of Americans&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-statistics" target="_blank">who were killed</a>&nbsp;in the Vietnam War. More than one million people have now tested positive.Trump said that number has risen so high in large part because of increased U.S. testing.“That’s a tremendous amount and the reason is because of testing,” he said.The U.S. has dramatically increased its testing after a slow and rocky start, but many health experts say the country still must do more — as many as 5 million a day — to safely reopen the economy. Otherwise, they warn, cases will skyrocket as Americans return to work, creating another deadly spike.Trump has dismissed that recommended number, calling it unnecessary and a “media trap.”Meanwhile Kushner, who has been helping with the effort to get medical supplies to states that need them, suggested in an interview with “Fox and Friends” that the federal government has accomplished its mission.“We’re on the other side of the medical aspect of this. And I think that we’ve achieved all the different milestones that are needed. So the federal government rose to the challenge, and this is a great success story,” he said.The administration, he added, is preparing the country to “get as close back to normal as possible as quickly as possible.”“I think what you’ll see in May, as the states are reopening now, is May will be a transition month,” he said. “And I think you’ll see by June, a lot of the country should be back to normal and the hope is that ... by July the country is really rocking again.”Fox News Channel will be holding a two-hour “virtual town hall” with Trump on Sunday evening at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.___

Federal social distancing guidelines to expire

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Argus Leader) — Police say the adult son of a woman found fatally shot in their Sioux Falls apartment has been arrested.

 The body of 63-year-old Teresa Cate was found Monday afternoon after police were called to check on a foul odor. 

Police Lt. Terrance Matia said at a briefing Wednesday that Cate had died sometime in the past 10 days. 

Officers arrested 36-year-old Anthony Pritchard Tuesday evening on probable first-degree murder. 

He was expected to make an appearance in Lincoln County court later Wednesday. 

Matia said Cate was killed in the apartment, but declined to be specific about where on her body she was shot.&nbsp;

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Argus Leader) — Police say the adult son of a woman found fatally shot in their Sioux Falls apartment has been arrested. The body of 63-year-old Teresa Cate was found Monday afternoon after police were called to check on a foul odor. Police Lt. Terrance Matia said at a briefing Wednesday that Cate had died sometime in the past 10 days. Officers arrested 36-year-old Anthony Pritchard Tuesday evening on probable first-degree murder. He was expected to make an appearance in Lincoln County court later Wednesday. Matia said Cate was killed in the apartment, but declined to be specific about where on her body she was shot.&nbsp;

Son arrested, suspected of killing mother in South Dakota

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State prison system officials say an inmate has assaulted two staffers at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln.

 A Nebraska Department of Correctional Services news release says the assaulted happened Tuesday morning in the prison's yard, when multiple groups of men started fighting, and staff had to intervene. 

The release says one inmate managed to slip out of his restraints as the group was being escorted back inside and repeatedly punched a nearby staffer and attacked another staffer who came to help. 

Both staffers were treated at a local hospital for injuries described as serious. 

The release says the Lancaster County Attorney will determine whether to bring charges in the attack once the investigation is complete.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State prison system officials say an inmate has assaulted two staffers at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln. A Nebraska Department of Correctional Services news release says the assaulted happened Tuesday morning in the prison's yard, when multiple groups of men started fighting, and staff had to intervene. The release says one inmate managed to slip out of his restraints as the group was being escorted back inside and repeatedly punched a nearby staffer and attacked another staffer who came to help. Both staffers were treated at a local hospital for injuries described as serious. The release says the Lancaster County Attorney will determine whether to bring charges in the attack once the investigation is complete.

Inmate assaults 2 Nebraska State Pen staffers

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming will ease some coronavirus restrictions later this week. 

Gov. Mark Gordon announced Tuesday that barbershops, gyms, nail salons, tattoo parlors and child care centers will be allowed to reopen with restrictions on Friday. 

Restaurants will be able to let five people inside at a time to pick up food. 

Face masks will be required at most personal-services shops. 

Gyms must keep locker rooms closed and one-on-one fitness classes are not allowed. 

Gordon says the new orders will last until at least May 15.&nbsp;

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming will ease some coronavirus restrictions later this week. Gov. Mark Gordon announced Tuesday that barbershops, gyms, nail salons, tattoo parlors and child care centers will be allowed to reopen with restrictions on Friday. Restaurants will be able to let five people inside at a time to pick up food. In-person dining is still prohibited. Face masks will be required at most personal-services shops. Gyms must keep locker rooms closed and one-on-one fitness classes are not allowed. Gordon says the new orders will last until at least May 15.&nbsp;

Wyoming to ease some coronavirus restrictions on Friday

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Some Wyoming school districts are deciding to remain closed for the rest of the school year. 

The Casper Star-Tribune reports that Natrona County on Monday joined a handful of other districts in deciding against reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Others include Albany and Campbell counties, and the Green River-based Sweetwater County district. 

Wyoming’s 48 school districts have been closed for more than a month in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. 

They are scheduled to remain that way until at least Thursday, pending any new directives. 

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Wyoming increased by 19 on Monday to 389

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Some Wyoming school districts are deciding to remain closed for the rest of the school year. The Casper Star-Tribune reports that Natrona County on Monday joined a handful of other districts in deciding against reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. Others include Albany and Campbell counties, and the Green River-based Sweetwater County district. Wyoming’s 48 school districts have been closed for more than a month in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. They are scheduled to remain that way until at least Thursday, pending any new directives. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Wyoming increased by 19 on Monday to 389

Some Wyoming schools decide to remain closed for year

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prisons officials say a third department employee has tested positive for COVID-19. 

The Department of Correctional Services said late Tuesday that the staffer works at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln and has been isolated at home. 

Department Director Scott Frakes directed anyone who may have had close contact with the employee in the last three days to self-quarantine until they are medically cleared to return to work. 

Earlier Tuesday, the prisons department had announced that an employee at its Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln had tested positive for the virus. 

The department says no inmates have tested positive.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prisons officials say a third department employee has tested positive for COVID-19. The Department of Correctional Services said late Tuesday that the staffer works at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln and has been isolated at home. Department Director Scott Frakes directed anyone who may have had close contact with the employee in the last three days to self-quarantine until they are medically cleared to return to work. Earlier Tuesday, the prisons department had announced that an employee at its Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln had tested positive for the virus. The department says no inmates have tested positive.

Third Nebraska prisons employee tests positive for COVID-19

Central District Health Department reports that as of today, April 28, 2020, the number of positive COVID-19 cases confirmed by a laboratory is 990, and there are 25 deaths. There are 9 cases in Merrick County, 48 cases in Hamilton County and 933 in Hall County.

The Central District Health Department reports that today, April 28, 2020, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed by a laboratory is 990, and there are 25 deaths ...... There are 9 cases in Merrick County, 48 cases in Hamilton County and 933 in Hall County.

News ReleaseCentral District Health Department reports that as of today, April 28, 2020, the number of positive COVID-19 cases confirmed by a laboratory is 990, and there are 25 deaths. There are 9 cases in Merrick County, 48 cases in Hamilton County and 933 in Hall County.The Central District Health Department reports that today, April 28, 2020, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed by a laboratory is 990, and there are 25 deaths ...... There are 9 cases in Merrick County, 48 cases in Hamilton County and 933 in Hall County.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 rise to 933 in Hall County, 25 deaths

NEW YORK (AP) — The government says it has approved an additional $50 billion in loans to small businesses, although banks are complaining that a bottleneck at the Small Business Administration is severely slowing the process.

Banking industry groups said Tuesday that the SBA’s loan processing system is still unable to handle the heavy volume of loan applications from business owners trying to get aid under the Paychceck Protection Program, part of the government’s $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package.

“Today is just another slow, frustrating slog for getting PPP loans through,” said Paul Merski, a vice president at the Independent Community Bankers of America.

The government’s small business loan program was replenished with $310 billion and started taking applications again Monday. Without addressing any glitches, President Donald Trump said at a press conference with small business owners Tuesday that twice as many users had accessed the SBA’s processing system as on any day during the first round of funding, during which about 1.7 million loans totaling $349 billion were approved.

At Bank of America, which submitted 184,000 applications by Monday morning and has tried sending in another 48,000 since then, only 1,000 have beeen approved, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the process.

Tuesday afternoon the SBA said about 476,000 loans had been approved totaling more than $52 billion. Trump said most of the loans approved were for smaller amounts, an indication that loans were going to smaller companies. The average loan during the first round of funding was $206,000.

The loans are aimed at helping small businesses retain workers or rehire those who they laid off in response to the virus outbreak. Any money from the loan used toward payroll will be forgiven. Restaurants, retailers, gyms and other businesses were forced to shut down to try to contain the virus’s spread, and other companies have seen a steep drop in revenue as customers stayed home or cut back their spending.

The SBA did not immediately respond for a request for comment Tuesday on the delays. But in a memo the agency sent to banks at midday Tuesday and obtained by The Associated Press, the SBA said it would stop banks from using a system that automatically submits applications into the agency’s ETran system. Without that system, “the loan processing system will be more reliable, accessible and equitable for all businesses,” the memo said.

At some banks, the change means having to manually submit the applications, a much slower process, said Nick Simpson, a spokesman for the Consumer Bankers Association. Others are able to submit applications in batches of more than 5,000, but it wasn’t known how or when the SBA would process them, he said.

The $349 billion first round of funding was exhausted in less than two weeks. In this round, banks have reported that they were being allowed to submit only 350 applications an hour, if that many. Meanwhile, they have thousands on hand.

“I don’t know of any bank who’s reaching 350 per hour,” said Richard Hunt, president of the Consumer Bankers Association. He said there appeared to be technical issues at the SBA similar to ones that held up processing early in the first round of funding.

PNC Financial said it has submitted 55,000 loan applications since the program reopened Monday. In a statement, the bank said that given the overall volume of applications, “it is quite possible that not every qualified applicant will receive loan proceeds under the PPP.”

The Treasury, which oversees the loan program, has come under criticism for allowing large public companies to obtain loans, some of which have been returned. Speaking at the Tuesday press conference, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said any loans approved for more than $2 million would be subject to an SBA review.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586986967714.png" alt="This closed thrift store is one of thousands of business shuttered across Kansas.&nbsp; Photo by Jim McLean, Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>This closed thrift store is one of thousands of business shuttered across Kansas.&nbsp; Photo by Jim McLean, Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The government says it has approved an additional $50 billion in loans to small businesses, although banks are complaining that a bottleneck at the Small Business Administration is severely slowing the process.Banking industry groups said Tuesday that the SBA’s loan processing system is still unable to handle the heavy volume of loan applications from business owners trying to get aid under the Paychceck Protection Program, part of the government’s $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package.“Today is just another slow, frustrating slog for getting PPP loans through,” said Paul Merski, a vice president at the Independent Community Bankers of America.The government’s small business loan program was replenished with $310 billion and started taking applications again Monday. Without addressing any glitches, President Donald Trump said at a press conference with small business owners Tuesday that twice as many users had accessed the SBA’s processing system as on any day during the first round of funding, during which about 1.7 million loans totaling $349 billion were approved.At Bank of America, which submitted 184,000 applications by Monday morning and has tried sending in another 48,000 since then, only 1,000 have beeen approved, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the process.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588075781384.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Tuesday afternoon the SBA said about 476,000 loans had been approved totaling more than $52 billion. Trump said most of the loans approved were for smaller amounts, an indication that loans were going to smaller companies. The average loan during the first round of funding was $206,000.The loans are aimed at helping small businesses retain workers or rehire those who they laid off in response to the virus outbreak. Any money from the loan used toward payroll will be forgiven. Restaurants, retailers, gyms and other businesses were forced to shut down to try to contain the virus’s spread, and other companies have seen a steep drop in revenue as customers stayed home or cut back their spending.The SBA did not immediately respond for a request for comment Tuesday on the delays. But in a memo the agency sent to banks at midday Tuesday and obtained by The Associated Press, the SBA said it would stop banks from using a system that automatically submits applications into the agency’s ETran system. Without that system, “the loan processing system will be more reliable, accessible and equitable for all businesses,” the memo said.At some banks, the change means having to manually submit the applications, a much slower process, said Nick Simpson, a spokesman for the Consumer Bankers Association. Others are able to submit applications in batches of more than 5,000, but it wasn’t known how or when the SBA would process them, he said.The $349 billion first round of funding was exhausted in less than two weeks. In this round, banks have reported that they were being allowed to submit only 350 applications an hour, if that many. Meanwhile, they have thousands on hand.“I don’t know of any bank who’s reaching 350 per hour,” said Richard Hunt, president of the Consumer Bankers Association. He said there appeared to be technical issues at the SBA similar to ones that held up processing early in the first round of funding.PNC Financial said it has submitted 55,000 loan applications since the program reopened Monday. In a statement, the bank said that given the overall volume of applications, “it is quite possible that not every qualified applicant will receive loan proceeds under the PPP.”The Treasury, which oversees the loan program, has come under criticism for allowing large public companies to obtain loans, some of which have been returned. Speaking at the Tuesday press conference, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said any loans approved for more than $2 million would be subject to an SBA review.

Gov't OKs $50B in small biz loans, banks complain of snags

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump took executive action Tuesday to order meat processing plants to stay open amid concerns over growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus cases&nbsp;</a>and the impact on the nation’s food supply.

The order uses the Defense Production Act to classify meat processing as critical infrastructure to try to prevent a shortage of chicken, pork and other meat on supermarket shelves. Unions fired back, saying the White House was jeopardizing lives and prioritizing cold cuts over workers’ health.

More than 20 meatpacking plants have closed temporarily under pressure from local authorities and their own workers because of the virus, including two of the nation’s largest, one in Iowa and one in South Dakota. Others have slowed production as workers have fallen ill or stayed home to avoid getting sick.

“Such closures threaten the continued functioning of the national meat and poultry supply chain, undermining critical infrastructure during the national emergency,” the order states.

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million food and retail workers, said Tuesday that 20 food-processing and meatpacking union workers in the U.S. have died of the virus. An estimated 6,500 are sick or have been exposed while working near someone who tested positive, the union says.

As a result, industry leaders have warned that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/cb9fd324e9e3276dd56075a78223b7bb">consumers could see meat shortages</a>&nbsp;in a matter of days. Tyson Foods Inc., one of the world’s largest food companies, ran a full-page advertisement in The New York Times and other newspapers Sunday warning, “The food supply chain is breaking.”

“As pork, beef and chicken plants are being forced to close, even for short periods of time, millions of pounds of meat will disappear from the supply chain,” it read.

Tyson suspended operations at its pork plant in Waterloo, Iowa after a slew of infections, and Smithfield Foods halted production at its plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after an outbreak infected 853 workers there.

The 15 largest pork-packing plants account for 60% of all pork processed in the U.S., and the country has already seen a 25% reduction in pork slaughter capacity, according to UFCW.

A senior White House official said the administration was trying to prevent a situation in which a “vast majority” of the nation’s meat processing plants might have temporarily closed operations, reducing the availability of meat in supermarkets by as much as 80%.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the order before its release, said the White House was also working with the Labor Department to provide enhanced safety guidance for meatpacking workers. That will include trying to minimize the risk to workers who may be prone to serious complications from the virus, including strongly recommending those over the age of 65 and with preexisting conditions stay home.

Trump on Tuesday said the order would address what he described as a “legal roadblock.” It will “solve any liability problems where they had certain liability problems and we’ll be in very good shape.”

But UFCW International President Marc Perrone said that more must be done to protect the safety of workers.

“Simply put, we cannot have a secure food supply without the safety of these workers,” he said in a statement, urging the administration “to immediately enact clear and enforceable safety standards” and compel companies to provide protective equipment, make daily testing available to workers, and enforce physical distancing, among other measures.

Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, said the administration should have acted earlier to put safety measures in place.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588106235019.png" alt="President Trump during&nbsp; a celebration of American workers and small businesses Tuesday -White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Trump during&nbsp; a celebration of American workers and small businesses Tuesday -White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump took executive action Tuesday to order meat processing plants to stay open amid concerns over growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus cases&nbsp;</a>and the impact on the nation’s food supply.The order uses the Defense Production Act to classify meat processing as critical infrastructure to try to prevent a shortage of chicken, pork and other meat on supermarket shelves. Unions fired back, saying the White House was jeopardizing lives and prioritizing cold cuts over workers’ health.More than 20 meatpacking plants have closed temporarily under pressure from local authorities and their own workers because of the virus, including two of the nation’s largest, one in Iowa and one in South Dakota. Others have slowed production as workers have fallen ill or stayed home to avoid getting sick.“Such closures threaten the continued functioning of the national meat and poultry supply chain, undermining critical infrastructure during the national emergency,” the order states.The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million food and retail workers, said Tuesday that 20 food-processing and meatpacking union workers in the U.S. have died of the virus. An estimated 6,500 are sick or have been exposed while working near someone who tested positive, the union says.As a result, industry leaders have warned that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/cb9fd324e9e3276dd56075a78223b7bb">consumers could see meat shortages</a>&nbsp;in a matter of days. Tyson Foods Inc., one of the world’s largest food companies, ran a full-page advertisement in The New York Times and other newspapers Sunday warning, “The food supply chain is breaking.”“As pork, beef and chicken plants are being forced to close, even for short periods of time, millions of pounds of meat will disappear from the supply chain,” it read.Tyson suspended operations at its pork plant in Waterloo, Iowa after a slew of infections, and Smithfield Foods halted production at its plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after an outbreak infected 853 workers there.The 15 largest pork-packing plants account for 60% of all pork processed in the U.S., and the country has already seen a 25% reduction in pork slaughter capacity, according to UFCW.A senior White House official said the administration was trying to prevent a situation in which a “vast majority” of the nation’s meat processing plants might have temporarily closed operations, reducing the availability of meat in supermarkets by as much as 80%.The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the order before its release, said the White House was also working with the Labor Department to provide enhanced safety guidance for meatpacking workers. That will include trying to minimize the risk to workers who may be prone to serious complications from the virus, including strongly recommending those over the age of 65 and with preexisting conditions stay home.The order, which was developed in consultation with industry leaders including Tyson and Smithfield, is designed, in part, to provide companies with additional liability protections in case workers get sick.Trump on Tuesday said the order would address what he described as a “legal roadblock.” It will “solve any liability problems where they had certain liability problems and we’ll be in very good shape.”But UFCW International President Marc Perrone said that more must be done to protect the safety of workers.“Simply put, we cannot have a secure food supply without the safety of these workers,” he said in a statement, urging the administration “to immediately enact clear and enforceable safety standards” and compel companies to provide protective equipment, make daily testing available to workers, and enforce physical distancing, among other measures.Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, said the administration should have acted earlier to put safety measures in place.“We only wish that this administration cared as much about the lives of working people as it does about meat, pork and poultry products,” he said.And Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7, which represents 3,000 workers at the JBS meat processing plant in Greeley, Colorado, said the order “will only ensure that more workers get sick, jeopardizing lives, family’s income, communities, and of course, the country’s food supply chain.”The administration is working with companies to help them secure protective equipment, like face shields and masks, and ramp up testing, the official said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have issued&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/meat-poultry-processing-workers-employers.html" target="_blank">extensive guidelines</a>&nbsp;on steps companies and workers should take.Protecting workers can be especially challenging at plants that typically employ thousands of people who often work side-by-side carving meat, making social distancing all but impossible. Some companies have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/3245fe475b5552e493cfeb288ce04131">been working to reduce infections</a>&nbsp;by checking workers’ temperatures, staggering breaks and altering start times. Owners said they have also done more to clean plants and added plastic shields between workstations.When outbreaks have happened, local public health agencies have pushed in some cases for temporary closures so they can limit wider outbreaks in communities and conduct mass testing to determine who is carrying the virus. Some plants have also briefly closed for deep cleaning and to install new safety measures.Yet concerns about working conditions persist and have led some to walk off the job. In central Minnesota, some workers at the Pilgrim’s Pride poultry plant walked out Monday night to protest the company’s record on worker safety.Mohamed Goni, an organizer with Greater Minnesota Worker Center, said workers have complained the company is not sharing information about sick colleagues, has not implemented social distancing on the line, and that workers who were sick returned after just two or three days, and some workers who developed symptoms were not allowed to leave when they asked to go home.“The company refused, saying there would be a shortage of workers,” Goni said, adding that 80% to 85% of the plant’s workers are Somali.“They have other family members living with them — elderly, children, people with underlying conditions. So if one of them brings that to their homes, it’s going to be more worse and a more serious problem,” Goni said.Cameron Bruett, head of corporate affairs for JBS USA and Pilgrim’s, said in an email that employees are never forced to work or punished for an absence due to health reasons.“We will endeavor to keep our facilities open to help feed the nation, but we will not operate a facility if we do not believe it is safe. The health and safety of our team members remains our number one priority,” Bruett said.In South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem has said she hopes to see a reopening plan for Smithfield this week, but sidestepped questions Tuesday about whether she agreed with Trump’s order, which might have prevented the Sioux Falls plant from shutting down if it had been in place earlier.“We need to keep (plants) running, but we also need to protect people,” Noem said.___---------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will sign an executive order Tuesday meant to stave off a shortage of chicken, pork and other meat on American supermarket shelves because of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus</a>.The order will use the Defense Production Act to classify meat processing as critical infrastructure to keep production plants open.The order comes after industry leaders warned that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/cb9fd324e9e3276dd56075a78223b7bb">consumers could see meat shortages</a>&nbsp;in a matter of days after workers at major facilities tested positive for the virus. A senior White House official said the administration was working to prevent a situation in which a majority of processing plants shut down for a period of time, which could lead to an 80% drop in the availability of meat in supermarkets. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the order before its release.Trump on Tuesday told reporters that “there’s plenty of supply,” but that supply chains had hit what he called a “road block. It’s sort of a legal roadblock more than anything else,” he said.Two of the nation’s biggest pork processing plants are currently closed. Meat processing giant Tyson Foods suspended operations at its plant in Waterloo, Iowa. And Smithfield Foods halted production at its plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The 15 largest pork-packing plants account for 60% of all pork processed in the country.GOP Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota had written a letter to Trump asking him to use the DPA to declare the food supply industry an essential industry, warning that consumers would see a meat shortage in a matter of days akin to the panic over toilet paper the virus created in its early days.<figure>
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 </figure>Tyson ran a full-page advertisement in The New York Times and other newspapers Sunday outlining the difficulty of producing meat while keeping more than 100,000 workers safe and shutting some plants.“As pork, beef and chicken plants are being forced to close, even for short periods of time, millions of pounds of meat will disappear from the supply chain,” it read.The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million food and retail workers, said Tuesday that 20 U.S. food-processing and meatpacking union workers in the U.S. have died and that an estimated 6,500 are sick or have been exposed to the virus while working near someone who tested positive.COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, has infected hundreds of workers at meat-processing plants and forced some of the largest to close and others to slow production. While the output at beef and poultry plants has diminished, pork plants in the Midwest have been hit especially hard. The viral outbreaks have persisted despite efforts by the meat companies to keep workers at home with pay if they become sick.