UPDATE: A community-transmitted case of COVID-19 was identified in Buffalo County. Community transmission is when people have COVID-19 but public health officials are unable to identify how or where they became infected. In coordination with the office of Governor Pete Ricketts, Two Rivers Public Health Department will be enacting Directed Health Measures on all seven counties in the district. These counties include Buffalo, Dawson, Franklin, Gosper, Harlan, Kearney, and Phelps. Directed Health Measures impose enforceable limits on public gatherings.
UPDATE: CHI Health locations in Kearney and Grand Island have officially gone to a No Visitor policy until further notice. Only the Emergency Room Entrance remains open at this time.
UPDATE: The University of Nebraska at Kearney announced that a combined commencement for both spring and summer 2020 graduates will occur at UNK Health and Sports Center on July 31. With a scheduled May 8 commencement for spring graduates and uncertainty over allowed crowd sizes, combining spring and summer exercises enables maximum opportunity for graduates who are able to join in a celebration ceremony and walk across the stage. All May 2020 graduates will be listed in a traditional commencement program that will be downloadable and posted on a special commencement website, and also mailed to the graduates – along with their diploma. May and July graduates can get direct access to information about the ceremony and how to report their planned participation by visiting the website unk.edu/about/commencement.
UPDATE: UNL, UNMC, and UNO have canceled Spring Commencement. UNL’s was scheduled for May 8-9. This year’s college graduates will be given the option to participate in future commencement ceremonies, including the Aug. 15 summer commencement and the Dec. 18-19 winter commencement ceremonies, also slated for Pinnacle Bank Arena. Graduates will also have the opportunity to participate in spring 2021 commencement events. For those wanting to still participate this year, UNL will hold an online livestream with the originally scheduled speaker — Husker volleyball coach John Cook — and allow graduates to tell the university how they feel about completing their degree.
UPDATE: The Nebraska National Guard is providing tents to help with COVID-19 testing in Kearney. NTV News reports tents are being added at Family Practice and Buffalo County Emergency Management has requested tents for Kearney Regional Medical Center. Gov. Pete Ricketts has added 12 panhandle counties to his DHM shutting down dining areas and enforcing limits on gathering sizes. 30 Nebraska counties are now under Directed Health Measures.
A Directed Health Measure was issued for Hall, Hamilton, Merrick, Polk, Seward, York and Butler counties over the weekend in response to the COVID-19 death of a Hall County woman in her 60s with underlying health conditions. The DMH enforces limits on public gatherings, closes restaurant and bar dining rooms and officially requires schools to educate remotely, among other steps.
UPDATE: The Nebraska game and Parks commission has suspended the sale of nonresident spring turkey permits.
The April 9th Granger Smith concert at UNK has been canceled. Those who have purchased tickets will receive refund. Inquire at 308.865.1563 or lopertickets@unk.edu.
Nebraska State Tax Day moved back to July 15th
Live horse racing at Fonner Park has resumed without spectators. www.fonnerpark.com for more.
Kane Brown’s May 7th concert in Lincoln has been postponed to September 10th.
The Big Ten has suspended ALL athletic activities now until May 4th. This affects the University of Nebraska Lincoln athletic department.