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North Platte Public Schools buildings reopen with restrictions

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved recommendations for 2020 deer, antelope, and elk hunting seasons at its meeting on May 8 in Lincoln.

Commissioners adopted the proposed staff amendments to Commission orders pertaining to season dates, bag limits, permit quantities, and areas open for deer, antelope, and elk hunting.

The following is a summary of the big game recommendations that were approved:

Deer – Many units have seen bag limit and permit quota changes to accomplish management goals and a few units will see a bonus antlerless white-tailed deer added to their regular and season choice permits.

Elk – Bull permits will increase by 25% and antlerless permits will increase by 40%. The antlerless season will be extended and run from Aug. 1 – Jan. 31, 2021, with three units being split between early and late antlerless seasons.

Antelope – Most units will see an increase in permit quotas in response to population levels and social tolerances. Similar to the Landowner October Firearm bag limit change in 2019, the Landowner Late Doe/Fawn permits also will include a bonus doe/fawn tag to help landowners harvest more doe/fawn antelope on their land if they desire.

Staff said it is continuing to address depredation issues through regulations, outreach to landowners about available resources, encouraging public hunting access, and promotion of antlerless deer opportunities.

To see all of the big game recommendations that were approved, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA1MDguMjEyNjM3NzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9yZWd1bGF0aW9ucy8ifQ.JHYYUkE9YD0UGPtX7i6Qm2ajbt8Liag-jfC3weEmLcY/br/78428530739-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov/regulations</a>.

In other business, the commissioners approved a staff recommendation for waterfowl hunting boundary changes. The changes will go on to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for approval and will go into effect in the fall of 2021.

In addition, the staff presented an update on mountain lion research. Results from the latest mountain lion survey of the Pine Ridge population provide an estimate of 34 mountain lions in the Pine Ridge during the survey period of May and June of 2019. The previous estimate from 2017 was 59 mountain lions in the Pine Ridge. The estimated density of mountain lions in the Pine Ridge had been higher than most western states but now is on target with management goals and similar to other states. No livestock depredations have been documented in the Pine Ridge since the 2019 harvest season began. Additional harvest will likely be needed to maintain the population within management objectives.

Seven mountain lions were harvested in 2020. Four (three males and one female) were taken in the south subunit of the Pine Ridge during Season 1. No mountain lions were harvested during Season 1 in the north subunit, so an Auxiliary Season was held, where three mountain lions (two males and one female) were harvested.

Regulated harvest seasons have allowed the population to remain resilient and healthy while bringing the density of mountain lions in the Pine Ridge in line with western states that allow mountain lion hunting.

For more information about mountain lions in Nebraska, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA1MDguMjEyNjM3NzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9tb3VudGFpbmxpb25zLyJ9.aiYUYG659KtDYNIHTkvu8JnCE9lLkk-vk8FK6FTNuhQ/br/78428530739-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov/mountainlions</a>.

Also, the commissioners heard a report on Free Fishing and Park Entry Day being delayed because of COVID-19 concerns until later this year when more of the public might participate. There is not yet a rescheduled date for Free Fishing and Park Entry Day.

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved recommendations for 2020 deer, antelope, and elk hunting seasons at its meeting on May 8 in Lincoln.Commissioners adopted the proposed staff amendments to Commission orders pertaining to season dates, bag limits, permit quantities, and areas open for deer, antelope, and elk hunting.The following is a summary of the big game recommendations that were approved:Deer – Many units have seen bag limit and permit quota changes to accomplish management goals and a few units will see a bonus antlerless white-tailed deer added to their regular and season choice permits.Elk – Bull permits will increase by 25% and antlerless permits will increase by 40%. The antlerless season will be extended and run from Aug. 1 – Jan. 31, 2021, with three units being split between early and late antlerless seasons.Antelope – Most units will see an increase in permit quotas in response to population levels and social tolerances. Similar to the Landowner October Firearm bag limit change in 2019, the Landowner Late Doe/Fawn permits also will include a bonus doe/fawn tag to help landowners harvest more doe/fawn antelope on their land if they desire.Staff said it is continuing to address depredation issues through regulations, outreach to landowners about available resources, encouraging public hunting access, and promotion of antlerless deer opportunities.To see all of the big game recommendations that were approved, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA1MDguMjEyNjM3NzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9yZWd1bGF0aW9ucy8ifQ.JHYYUkE9YD0UGPtX7i6Qm2ajbt8Liag-jfC3weEmLcY/br/78428530739-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov/regulations</a>.In other business, the commissioners approved a staff recommendation for waterfowl hunting boundary changes. The changes will go on to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for approval and will go into effect in the fall of 2021.In addition, the staff presented an update on mountain lion research. Results from the latest mountain lion survey of the Pine Ridge population provide an estimate of 34 mountain lions in the Pine Ridge during the survey period of May and June of 2019. The previous estimate from 2017 was 59 mountain lions in the Pine Ridge. The estimated density of mountain lions in the Pine Ridge had been higher than most western states but now is on target with management goals and similar to other states. No livestock depredations have been documented in the Pine Ridge since the 2019 harvest season began. Additional harvest will likely be needed to maintain the population within management objectives.Seven mountain lions were harvested in 2020. Four (three males and one female) were taken in the south subunit of the Pine Ridge during Season 1. No mountain lions were harvested during Season 1 in the north subunit, so an Auxiliary Season was held, where three mountain lions (two males and one female) were harvested.Regulated harvest seasons have allowed the population to remain resilient and healthy while bringing the density of mountain lions in the Pine Ridge in line with western states that allow mountain lion hunting.For more information about mountain lions in Nebraska, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA1MDguMjEyNjM3NzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9tb3VudGFpbmxpb25zLyJ9.aiYUYG659KtDYNIHTkvu8JnCE9lLkk-vk8FK6FTNuhQ/br/78428530739-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov/mountainlions</a>.Also, the commissioners heard a report on Free Fishing and Park Entry Day being delayed because of COVID-19 concerns until later this year when more of the public might participate. There is not yet a rescheduled date for Free Fishing and Park Entry Day.

Game and Parks Commission approves deer, antelope and elk hunting recommendations

GOSPER COUNTY-A Gosper County teen was killed when the ATV she was on collided with a pickup.

According to the Gosper County Sheriff's Office, on May 6 at 4:32 p.m., the Gosper County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a vehicle accident involving an ATV and a pickup. 

The accident occurred on Drive 415 one half mile north of Drive 726. 

The investigation showed that a Yamaha ATV that was being operated by a 17-year-old female and a 15-year-old female traveling east, entered Drive 415 from a private driveway. 

The ATV was struck by an F250 Ford pickup that was southbound on Drive&nbsp;415. The pickup was driven by 48-year-old Chad Johnson of rural Cambridge. 

It has not yet been determined who the driver of the ATV was. The 17-year-old female, Allysha Fischer of rural Gosper County was deceased at the scene. The 15-year-old female of McCook was transported to Cambridge Hospital and then life-flighted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. 

Alcohol nor drugs appear to be involved. No citations were issued. 

The Gosper County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Furnas County Sheriff’s Office, Arapahoe Fire and Rescue and the Nebraska State Patrol.

GOSPER COUNTY-A Gosper County teen was killed when the ATV she was on collided with a pickup.According to the Gosper County Sheriff's Office, on May 6 at 4:32 p.m., the Gosper County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a vehicle accident involving an ATV and a pickup. The accident occurred on Drive 415 one half mile north of Drive 726. The investigation showed that a Yamaha ATV that was being operated by a 17-year-old female and a 15-year-old female traveling east, entered Drive 415 from a private driveway. The ATV was struck by an F250 Ford pickup that was southbound on Drive&nbsp;415. The pickup was driven by 48-year-old Chad Johnson of rural Cambridge. It has not yet been determined who the driver of the ATV was. The 17-year-old female, Allysha Fischer of rural Gosper County was deceased at the scene. The 15-year-old female of McCook was transported to Cambridge Hospital and then life-flighted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Alcohol nor drugs appear to be involved. No citations were issued. The Gosper County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Furnas County Sheriff’s Office, Arapahoe Fire and Rescue and the Nebraska State Patrol.

Gosper County teen killed in ATV collision with pickup

McCOOK, Neb.-McCook Community College has released its list of graduates for the 2019-20 academic year.

The students were originally supposed to be recognized May 8, but due to COVID-19, commencement has been pushed back to July 31. The ceremony at McCook Community College will begin at 10 a.m. followed by commencement at North Platte Community College at 3 p.m.&nbsp;

More details will be released closer to the events. The graduates are as follows:

Imperial – Clarissa Chaparro (Entrepreneurship)

McCook – Nicholas Macfee (Agribusiness, Harrison Wietzki ((Business Administration)

Ord – Chance Williams (Agribusiness, Wyatt Williams (Agribusiness)

Oxford – Jacinda Vollmer (Business Administration)

Valentine – Sheyenne Hammond (Accounting)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Whiting – Austin Madison (Agribusiness)

Glade – Trenton Solida (Business Administration, Entrepreneurship)

McCook – Tyler Hayes (Administrative Assistant, Tamra Kofler (Administrative Assistant)

Scottsbluff –&nbsp;Payton Franklin

Madison – Jeffrey Puciato&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bend – Andrew Blake , Ted Hinrichs, Casey Husk

Revere – Michael Patterson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Omaha – Tanner Cissell&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Graphic Design/Visual Communications:

McCook – Brayden Cribbs, Beth Hoyt, Elise Stevens, Sydney Thompson, Kyler Wagner, Monique Witt

North Platte – Kade Wroot, Kyle Zimbelman

Oconto – Marshall Still&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lexington – Hana Brock&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

McCook – Brittanie Nolan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Associate of General Studies Degree

Loomis – Ethan McKenna&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Walton – Zayne Watson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Benkelman – Justin Owens&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cambridge – Aubri Ross, Jan TenBensel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cozad – Karleigh Kleinknecht&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Culbertson – Kiera Barr, Madison Hanke, Adelina Wilcox

Imperial – Kaycee Tucker&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

McCook – Shayne Coleman, Kaleb Gillen, Bailey Honn, Melissa Jones, Emily Laurie, Julia Lytle, Trevor Oberg, Rebecca O’Connor, Kyle Rowe, Clayton Stevens, Ethan Wilcox

Colorado Springs – Makenna Bodette, Mallory Brown, Cregan McCulloch

Delta - KC Carlson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Windsor – Kali Kelley&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Norman – Holden Hopkins&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

El Paso – Jessika Espinoza&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Val-des-Monts, Quebec – Anthony Kingsbury&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Indianola – Rhonda Tryon&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Diesel Technology:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Wellfleet – Gage Seiler&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

McCOOK, Neb.-McCook Community College has released its list of graduates for the 2019-20 academic year.The students were originally supposed to be recognized May 8, but due to COVID-19, commencement has been pushed back to July 31. The ceremony at McCook Community College will begin at 10 a.m. followed by commencement at North Platte Community College at 3 p.m.&nbsp;More details will be released closer to the events. The graduates are as follows:Associate of Applied ScienceBusiness:Imperial – Clarissa Chaparro (Entrepreneurship)McCook – Nicholas Macfee (Agribusiness, Harrison Wietzki ((Business Administration)Ord – Chance Williams (Agribusiness, Wyatt Williams (Agribusiness)Oxford – Jacinda Vollmer (Business Administration)Valentine – Sheyenne Hammond (Accounting)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;IowaWhiting – Austin Madison (Agribusiness)KansasGlade – Trenton Solida (Business Administration, Entrepreneurship)Oakley – John Draper (Agribusiness)Business Office Technology:McCook – Tyler Hayes (Administrative Assistant, Tamra Kofler (Administrative Assistant)Emergency Medical Services:Gothenburg – Haley Olsen-ClinePaxton – Amanda SchureScottsbluff –&nbsp;Payton FranklinCaliforniaLong Beach – Paul MurchieConnecticutMadison – Jeffrey Puciato&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;OregonBend – Andrew Blake , Ted Hinrichs, Casey HuskSpringfield – Clarke WillisMarylandBrooklyn Park – Annalise Radford-TuttMassachusettsRevere – Michael Patterson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fire Science Technology:Omaha – Tanner Cissell&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Graphic Design/Visual Communications:Culbertson - Matthew JohnsonMcCook – Alyson Marin, Mary OsborneAssociate of Arts Degree:Culbertson – Derrek MintlingIndianola – Kayliegh SughroueMcCook – Brayden Cribbs, Beth Hoyt, Elise Stevens, Sydney Thompson, Kyler Wagner, Monique WittNorth Platte – Kade Wroot, Kyle ZimbelmanOconto – Marshall Still&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ColoradoParachute - Samantha HinkleAssociate of Fine Arts DegreeLexington – Hana Brock&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;McCook – Brittanie Nolan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oconto – Marshall StillAssociate of General Studies DegreeBenkelman - Victoria&nbsp; Tyson&nbsp;Indianola – Jacy Ahlemeyer&nbsp;&nbsp;Loomis – Ethan McKenna&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;McCook – Chantel SawyerWalton – Zayne Watson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KansasNorcatur – David ObermeyerOhioMedina – Caleb KeckAssociate of Science DegreeBenkelman – Justin Owens&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cambridge – Aubri Ross, Jan TenBensel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cozad – Karleigh Kleinknecht&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Culbertson – Kiera Barr, Madison Hanke, Adelina WilcoxImperial – Kaycee Tucker&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;McCook – Shayne Coleman, Kaleb Gillen, Bailey Honn, Melissa Jones, Emily Laurie, Julia Lytle, Trevor Oberg, Rebecca O’Connor, Kyle Rowe, Clayton Stevens, Ethan WilcoxNorth Platte – Kade WrootOconto – Marshall StillOrleans – Parker EhrkeWauneta – Alejandra AlmanzaColoradoColorado Springs – Makenna Bodette, Mallory Brown, Cregan McCullochDelta - KC Carlson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Greeley – Isaac VargasLoveland – Kassidy PowersWindsor – Kali Kelley&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;IllinoisQuincy – Nicholas Wellman&nbsp;&nbsp;OklahomaNorman – Holden Hopkins&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;TexasAlvin – Jade Gordon&nbsp;El Paso – Jessika Espinoza&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;AustraliaBoronia – Nicola CrossNichollas - Mark ZhangCanadaOshawa, Ontario – Braden BabcockVal-des-Monts, Quebec – Anthony Kingsbury&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Braybrook, Vancouver - Achock GumwelRepublic of Trinidad and TobagoSan Fernando - Tyrik SinghSpainBarcelona - Paula Rosello-MateuDiplomaBusiness Office Technology:Indianola – Rhonda Tryon&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Diesel Technology:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Wellfleet – Gage Seiler&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Early Childhood Education:Indianola&nbsp;&nbsp; Jacy Ahlemeyer&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Emergency Medical Services:Arthur – Deanna TurnerScottsbluff – Payton FranklinAlaskaNome – Stephanie NielsonCaliforniaVacaville – Justin DuchscherMinnesotaRochester – Joshua HansonRoseau - Jarek LudwickOregonBend - Jordan&nbsp; Fanning, Robert Stoeckel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Happy Valley – Jaeden BrownStanfield – Joseph Whelan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;West Linn – Kaitlin NiswangerPractical Nursing:McCook – Shelby RoweWelding Technology:Indianola – Wyatt McConville, Patrick SughroueMcCook – Elizabeth Rehor&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;CertificateAccounting:Cozad – Karleigh KleinknechtAgribusiness:McCook – Harrison Wietzki&nbsp;&nbsp;Business Administration:McCook – Kaleb GillenOrd – Chance Williams, Wyatt WilliamsNorth Platte – Kyle ZimbelmanWauneta – Alejandra AlmanzaEarly Childhood Education:ColoradoHolyoke – Rebecca OwensEntrepreneurship:Cozad – Karleigh Kleinknecht&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Logistics:Ord – Chance Williams, Wyatt WilliamsKansasOakley - John&nbsp; DraperMultimedia Design:McCook – Elise Stevens, Monique Witt&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Print Design:McCook - Elise Stevens, Monique Witt

McCook Community College announces graduates

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-North Platte Community College has released its list of graduates for the 2019-20 academic year.

The students were originally supposed to be recognized May 8, but due to COVID-19, commencement was pushed back to July 31. The ceremony at McCook Community College will begin at 10 a.m. followed by commencement at North Platte Community College at 3 p.m.&nbsp;

More details will be released closer to the events. The graduates are as follows.

Associate of Applied Science Degree

Brady – Kyle Mull&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Grant – Kaden Kammerer&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

North Platte – Ian Smith, Daniel Wardyn&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Arnold – Colby Crow (Agribusiness, Marketing)

Broken Bow - Tristen Beck (emphasis in Business Administration)

Gothenburg – Shannondoah Schram (Business Administration)

Lexington – Wyatt Kunkee (Agribusiness)

Lincoln - Brandon Malleck (Business Administration)

Merna – Cynthia Huhman (Business Administration, Marketing)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

North Platte – Tonja Hahn (Business Administration, Gary Koch (Logistics, Christine Pfortmiller (Accounting, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship)

Ogallala – Justine Gall (Accounting, Business Administration)

Thedford - Danya Mintle (emphases in Accounting, Business Administration)

Venango – Valerie Perez (Entrepreneurship)

Wallace – Helena Arvizo (Accounting, Business Administration)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ansley - Terri&nbsp; Gaedke (Administrative Assistant, Medical)

North Platte – Bailey Shurigar (Administrative Assistant, Medical)

Seward – Jessie Burrows (Medical)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

North Platte – Alyssa&nbsp; Bergeron, Mariah Chitwood, Skylar Fisher, Paula Fritz, Alessandra Haddan, J’Naea Matlock, Kaytlynn Spellman, Taylor White&nbsp;

North Platte – Jade Osborn, Shane Roebuck

North Platte – David Banning, Noel Burrell, James Keller

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology:

North Platte – Danny Fourtner (PC Support/Network Tech)

North Platte – Callie Brown, Mercedes Nolda, Carlos Romero

Thedford – Cesar Venegas-Villezcas&nbsp;

North Platte – Christopher Borden, Margaret Dishman, Nicholas Doucet, Kelsey Epp, Elizabeth Goentzel, Amanda Hanson, Haiden Kreber, Elijah Malsbury, Gabrielle Menghini, Angel Murphy, Dalton Prokop, Anders Swanson, Leannah Vasquez

Broomfield –&nbsp;Megan Hernandez-Belew&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fleming – Bailey Chintala

Gothenburg – Ty Clement&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

North Platte - Alexander Cahill, Willow Chitty, J’Naea Matlock, Isaiah Pucket&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Omaha – Weng Gatriay&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gary – Treasure McCrimon&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Macon – DaVonte Tharpe&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Izmir – Mert Halavurte&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582565587260.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-North Platte Community College has released its list of graduates for the 2019-20 academic year.The students were originally supposed to be recognized May 8, but due to COVID-19, commencement was pushed back to July 31. The ceremony at McCook Community College will begin at 10 a.m. followed by commencement at North Platte Community College at 3 p.m.&nbsp;More details will be released closer to the events. The graduates are as follows.Associate of Applied Science DegreeAuto Body Technology:Kearney – Ronald FoutchWyomingWheatland - Rudolph ZinsserAutomotive Technology:North Platte – Dillon WilkersonBuilding Construction Technology:Brady – Kyle Mull&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Grant – Kaden Kammerer&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;North Platte – Ian Smith, Daniel Wardyn&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Business:Arnold – Colby Crow (Agribusiness, Marketing)Broken Bow - Tristen Beck (emphasis in Business Administration)Gothenburg – Shannondoah Schram (Business Administration)Lexington – Wyatt Kunkee (Agribusiness)Lincoln - Brandon Malleck (Business Administration)Merna – Cynthia Huhman (Business Administration, Marketing)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;North Platte – Tonja Hahn (Business Administration, Gary Koch (Logistics, Christine Pfortmiller (Accounting, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship)Ogallala – Justine Gall (Accounting, Business Administration)Thedford - Danya Mintle (emphases in Accounting, Business Administration)Venango – Valerie Perez (Entrepreneurship)Wallace – Helena Arvizo (Accounting, Business Administration)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Business Office Technology:Ansley - Terri&nbsp; Gaedke (Administrative Assistant, Medical)North Platte – Bailey Shurigar (Administrative Assistant, Medical)Seward – Jessie Burrows (Medical)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dental Assisting:North Platte – Alyssa&nbsp; Bergeron, Mariah Chitwood, Skylar Fisher, Paula Fritz, Alessandra Haddan, J’Naea Matlock, Kaytlynn Spellman, Taylor White&nbsp;Sutherland – Dewey DavisUtahElk Ridge – Sienna PfaffDiesel Technology:North Platte – Jade Osborn, Shane RoebuckPaxton – Dalton PerlingerHawaiiHaiku – Koby JacobsonElectrical Technology:Kimball – Jacob WalkerLexington – Spencer JohnsonMcCook – Alexander WolvinNorth Platte – David Banning, Noel Burrell, James KellerOgallala – Conner StevensPaxton – Alexandra McConnellTryon – Jared GaedkeEmergency Medical Services:North Platte – Kylee MoorePaxton – Alexandra McConnellGraphic Design/Visual Communications:North Platte – Travis HalliganSutherland – Angie EvansHeating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology:Cambridge – Eddie JaegerInformation Technology:North Platte – Danny Fourtner (PC Support/Network Tech)Medical Laboratory Technician:Kearney – Emma Larington&nbsp;&nbsp;Maxwell – Kyra FrisbieNorth Platte – Callie Brown, Mercedes Nolda, Carlos RomeroWelding Technology:Cozad – Kolton HeinsNorth Platte – Ty Brouillette&nbsp;Scotia – Colton GydesenThedford – Cesar Venegas-Villezcas&nbsp;Tryon - Caleb&nbsp; GooseyAssociate of Arts DegreeAinsworth – Dena PirnieBrady – Colton LovittImperial – Adelaide MaxwellLincoln – Jordyn KleinowLitchfield – Megan SlocumNorth Platte – Christopher Borden, Margaret Dishman, Nicholas Doucet, Kelsey Epp, Elizabeth Goentzel, Amanda Hanson, Haiden Kreber, Elijah Malsbury, Gabrielle Menghini, Angel Murphy, Dalton Prokop, Anders Swanson, Leannah VasquezOmaha - Nathaniel SmithThedford – Danya MintleVenango – Bryce GrothmanColoradoBroomfield –&nbsp;Megan Hernandez-Belew&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fleming – Bailey ChintalaIowaCouncil Bluffs – Alea BinklyAssociate of Fine Arts DegreeNorth Platte – Jon WardynAssociate of General Studies DegreeGothenburg – Ty Clement&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;North Platte - Alexander Cahill, Willow Chitty, J’Naea Matlock, Isaiah Pucket&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Omaha – Weng Gatriay&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;IndianaGary – Treasure McCrimon&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GeorgiaMacon – DaVonte Tharpe&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;TexasMansfield – Timothy JohnsonTurkeyIzmir – Mert Halavurte&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Associate Degree of NursingBroken Bow – Emily GottschalkBrule - Emilia&nbsp; PachecoMcCook – Neyva Flores, Jasmyn James, Taylor Matson, Ashlee Morosic, Baylie SimmondsMerna – Andrea WilderNorth Platte – Kylin Brooks, Shayla Hecht, Abbey Jones, Allison Kramer, Amanda Mays, Madelyn Peters, Mindy Schmadeke, Mara Wardyn, Emma YoungOgallala – Kelsie MedinaSutherland – Josiah Barmore&nbsp;ColoradoJulesburg – Derek Farmer&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Associate of Science DegreeAnselmo – Luke Christen&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Arthur – MacKenna Turner&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bassett – Michael Clay&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Big Springs - Caprice&nbsp; BrownBrady – Camron Gaona, Jordan Hajj, Colton Lovitt, Rebecca Stearns, Emery Swan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Broken Bow – Audrey LarsonCozad – Kali MeesterGothenburg – Sydney Mullin, Macey Schroeder, Taylor Walker&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Grant – Christopher Terry&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hershey – Alanna WeirImperial – Bryce Zuege&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kearney – Alicia Lonowski&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Long Pine – Emily Draze&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Madrid – Betzy Castellanos&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Maxwell – Grace SommerMullen – Lindsey FayNorth Platte – Emily Anderson, Trey Bahler, Britni Bandy, Abbi Bridge, Mariah Brown, Alexander Cahill, Tracie Clair, Kinzey Cooper, Nathan Dowhower, Remingten Elsen, Natalie Furrow, Benjamin Gosnell, Colleen Griffin, Matthew Haynes, Dawson Heinzen, Brittany&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kava, Maureen Kohn, Haiden Kreber, Tatum Lange, Gabrielle Menghini, Megan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Morash, Brooke Orr, Lauren Pell, Isaiah Pucket, Elliott Purdy, Christian Ramos, Brianna Rico, Vanessa Rodriguez-Sanchez, Tate Simonson, Amanda Smith, Kassandra Stahl, Shyla Stearns, Aurora&nbsp;&nbsp; Storrer, Tayler Trotta, Clayton Vahrenkamp, Jon Wardyn, Gary WhiteOgallala – Annaliese Huffman, Elizabeth Meyer, Brady PochonOmaha – Weng Gatriay&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Paxton – Ryan Fox, Treyton Hebblethwaite&nbsp;&nbsp;Stapleton – DeLynn Aden&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sutherland – Bonita NaughtinTryon – Caleb GooseyWallace – Austin HansonCaliforniaRialto – Kayleigh BucioColoradoDenver – Dehje Belmore, Emily Sanborn&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Evans – Tiana RamirezGreeley – Camile UnreinHolly – Mercedes Rodriguez&nbsp;FloridaNew Port Richey – Katie Cox, Cathryn Whitehead&nbsp;&nbsp;St. Petersburg - Emily JosephTennesseeFranklin - Rebekah Littrell&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;TexasAustin – Donajia BuirstThe Colony – Courtney Murrell&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;British ColumbiaVictoria – Sophia Kiss, Erika McClung&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ItalyRome – Tommaso MostardaSpainBarcelona – Nerea Castellano JarandillaDiplomaAuto Body Technology:Broken Bow - Gabriel CoonBrule – Justin CandyImperial – Kent SilvesterMcCook – Kyle Van PeltNorth Platte – Terry Brown, Blayden Gilbert, Duane MillerAutomotive Technology:Grand Island – Chance BoersenNorth Platte - Tanner PantenburgColoradoBethune - Lex Daugherty&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Building Construction Technology:North Platte – Robert&nbsp; Battreall, Zane TurnerLewellen – Shaun Swoboda&nbsp;&nbsp;Dental Assisting:Whitman – Hannah Phipps&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Diesel Technology:Smithfield – Samuel Siekman&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Electrical Technology:Bartley – Simon MooreGothenburg – Rusty ViterMcCook – Tyler LytleWallace – Bryon Henry&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology:Lexington - Francisco Luna&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;North Platte – Devon Allision&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; , Ali MorrellSargent – Dillan SanerColoradoWray – Jeron Lippert&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Practical NursingBassett – Michael Clay&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hershey – Amanda Reiber, Brooke SheetsLong Pine – Emily DrazeMullen – Lindsey FayNorth Platte – Karen Anthony, Ashley Barnhart, Andrea Clouatre, Xiaofei Croutcher, Thomas Derr, Jordan Goodell, Cristal Gonzalez, Samantha Gutherless, Skyler King, Scarlett Mijares, Jessica Owen, Jessica&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Owens, Nicole Schmit, Tylan Silos, Kaylee YonkersOconto – Kaela McDaniel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Valentine – Heidi Edington, Brittni Hoffman&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Welding Technology:Holdrege – Tyelar SamuelsonNorth Platte – Adam Kelsey&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;CertificatesAutomotive Technology:Brule – Justin Candy&nbsp;Basic Auto Body:North Platte – Dan Wright&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Basic Engine and Electrical RepairBrule – Justin Candy&nbsp;Customization and RestorationGrand Island – Chance Boersen&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;McCook – Kyle Van Pelt&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;LogisticsGothenburg – David Garza&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Medical Billing and CodingNorth Platte – Bailey ShurigarTaylor – Cynthia RallsMedical TranscriptionistNorth Platte – Bailey ShurigarMultimedia DesignNorth Platte – Alexander Cahill, Philip Ryan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Print DesignNorth Platte – Alexander Cahill, Philip Ryan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

North Platte Community College releases list of graduates

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - As coronavirus hotspots&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d21fe9a4864971427d40fd2caa61ad34" target="_blank">erupted</a>&nbsp;at major U.S. meatpacking plants, experts criticized&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/26bf8fc20f2873d9701fd2ea95f87be4" target="_blank">extremely tight working</a>&nbsp;conditions that made the factories natural high risk contagion locations. But some Midwestern politicians have pointed the finger at the workers' living conditions, suggesting crowded homes bear some blame.

The comments - including a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice's remark that an outbreak didn't seem to have come from "regular folks" - outraged workers and advocates who slammed them as elitist and critical of immigrants, who make up a big share of America's meatpacking workforce.

And the remarks stood in contrast to public U.S. outpourings of gratitude for other essential workers like police officers, health care professionals and grocery store workers. The union that represents most packing plant workers on Friday estimated at least 30 have died of the virus.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, generated ire last month when discussing the closure of a Smithfield pork plant in Sioux Falls that infected 1,000 employees and people who came in contact with the workers, saying "99% of what's going on today wasn't happening inside the facility."

The spread of the virus happened "more at home, where these employees were going home and spreading some of the virus because a lot of these folks who work at this plant live in the community, the same building, sometimes in the same apartment," she said on Fox News.

Noem's comments created a foundation for blaming virus outbreaks on the meatpackers' home lives instead of conditions at plants, where employees often worked shoulder to shoulder with little to no protective gear as U.S. virus cases surged, said Taneeza Islam, who runs the refugee and immigrant support group South Dakota Voices for Peace.

Her group organized a letter to Noem to ask "her to listen to the people who have been directly impacted because she has not done that yet, which is very telling about her position in terms of being on the side of the people or being on the side of business."

Noem wasn't alone. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, also a Republican, took heat for remarks last month about "people concentrated together" after a meatpacking plant virus outbreak in his state.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar cited crowded meatpacking worker living conditions in a call last week with members of Congress, according to a story first reported by Politico. Agency spokesman Michael Caputo on Thursday defended Azar's remarks as "nothing more than a statement of the obvious."

Achut Deng, a Sudanese refugee who works at the Sioux Falls plant, said after Noem's remarks that the comments offended her, calling them "ridiculous."

Many of Smithfield's Sioux Falls employees live in well-maintained apartment complexes near the plant, some in multi-generational homes so older family members can be cared for. Others have single-family units. Deng, who was infected and recovered, believes she caught the virus at the plant because she lives only with her three children who have been out of school.

In Wisconsin, Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack appeared to downplay the impact of an outbreak at the JBS Packerland beef plant in Green Bay while hearing arguments on a lawsuit seeking to strike down the state's stay-at-home order. Coronavirus cases in Brown County, where Green Bay lies, jumped from 60 to about 800 in two weeks, a state government lawyer told justices this week.

"These were due to the meatpacking, though," responded Roggensack, part of the court's conservative majority. "That's where Brown County got the flare. It wasn't just the regular folks in Brown County."

Christine Neumann Ortiz, executive director of the Wisconsin-based Latino advocacy group Voces de la Frontera, said Roggensack's comments "reflected elitist disdain for workers."

"It shows she considers their lives less worthy," Ortiz said.

Court spokesman Tom Sheehan said Roggensack was prohibited by court rules from responding.

Many U.S. meat plant workers are Latino but in recent years, particularly in the upper Midwest, African immigrants have taken meatpacking jobs. About 40 languages are spoken by workers at the Sioux Falls plant, the Centers for Disease Control has said.

Ortiz said many Latino and immigrant families with workers in the sector "are very family-oriented" and that could contribute to the virus' spread. But she insisted that the greater threats are workplace conditions and policies she claimed encourage workers to come in sick and do not provide enough worker virus testing.

In South Dakota, Noem said she made her meatpacking company worker living condition comments after the Sioux Falls plant closed and public health officials' focus shifted to stopping the outbreak where the workers lived.

She agreed to speak personally with some meatpacking workers after advocacy groups made the demand. Those calls, organized through Smithfield, were scheduled for Thursday night and Friday.

In Nebraska, meatpacking worker advocates disputed Ricketts' suggestion that an outbreak could have happened because of crowded worker households at the Tyson Foods beef plant in Dakota City, where hundreds were infected.

"The governor's statement that this is a community issue is completely untrue," said Rose Godinez, legal counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, and the daughter of retired meatpacking workers.

She said plant workers told her that most employees who tested positive own or rent their homes and in general do not live in crowded, small dwellings.

Godinez said Ricketts' comments appeared aimed at "trying to deflect some of the companies' failures."

President Donald Trump last week ordered meat companies to stay open, and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue on Friday issued a statement applauding "the safe reopening" of major plants in 10 states.

The United Food and Commercial Workers said in response that the administration is rushing to reopen plants without assuring worker safety, citing at least 30 worker deaths and more than 10,000 workers infected. A Centers for Disease Control report last week cited 20 deaths and nearly 5,000 infections, while noting that some states didn't provide data.

The union is calling on the White House to mandate a range of safety recommendations by the CDC for meat plants and monitor them to make sure they're enforced.

By STEVE KARNOWSKI-Associated PressMINNEAPOLIS (AP) - As coronavirus hotspots&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d21fe9a4864971427d40fd2caa61ad34" target="_blank">erupted</a>&nbsp;at major U.S. meatpacking plants, experts criticized&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/26bf8fc20f2873d9701fd2ea95f87be4" target="_blank">extremely tight working</a>&nbsp;conditions that made the factories natural high risk contagion locations. But some Midwestern politicians have pointed the finger at the workers' living conditions, suggesting crowded homes bear some blame.The comments - including a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice's remark that an outbreak didn't seem to have come from "regular folks" - outraged workers and advocates who slammed them as elitist and critical of immigrants, who make up a big share of America's meatpacking workforce.And the remarks stood in contrast to public U.S. outpourings of gratitude for other essential workers like police officers, health care professionals and grocery store workers. The union that represents most packing plant workers on Friday estimated at least 30 have died of the virus.South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, generated ire last month when discussing the closure of a Smithfield pork plant in Sioux Falls that infected 1,000 employees and people who came in contact with the workers, saying "99% of what's going on today wasn't happening inside the facility."The spread of the virus happened "more at home, where these employees were going home and spreading some of the virus because a lot of these folks who work at this plant live in the community, the same building, sometimes in the same apartment," she said on Fox News.Noem's comments created a foundation for blaming virus outbreaks on the meatpackers' home lives instead of conditions at plants, where employees often worked shoulder to shoulder with little to no protective gear as U.S. virus cases surged, said Taneeza Islam, who runs the refugee and immigrant support group South Dakota Voices for Peace.Her group organized a letter to Noem to ask "her to listen to the people who have been directly impacted because she has not done that yet, which is very telling about her position in terms of being on the side of the people or being on the side of business."Noem wasn't alone. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, also a Republican, took heat for remarks last month about "people concentrated together" after a meatpacking plant virus outbreak in his state.U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar cited crowded meatpacking worker living conditions in a call last week with members of Congress, according to a story first reported by Politico. Agency spokesman Michael Caputo on Thursday defended Azar's remarks as "nothing more than a statement of the obvious."Achut Deng, a Sudanese refugee who works at the Sioux Falls plant, said after Noem's remarks that the comments offended her, calling them "ridiculous."Many of Smithfield's Sioux Falls employees live in well-maintained apartment complexes near the plant, some in multi-generational homes so older family members can be cared for. Others have single-family units. Deng, who was infected and recovered, believes she caught the virus at the plant because she lives only with her three children who have been out of school.In Wisconsin, Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack appeared to downplay the impact of an outbreak at the JBS Packerland beef plant in Green Bay while hearing arguments on a lawsuit seeking to strike down the state's stay-at-home order. Coronavirus cases in Brown County, where Green Bay lies, jumped from 60 to about 800 in two weeks, a state government lawyer told justices this week."These were due to the meatpacking, though," responded Roggensack, part of the court's conservative majority. "That's where Brown County got the flare. It wasn't just the regular folks in Brown County."Christine Neumann Ortiz, executive director of the Wisconsin-based Latino advocacy group Voces de la Frontera, said Roggensack's comments "reflected elitist disdain for workers.""It shows she considers their lives less worthy," Ortiz said.Court spokesman Tom Sheehan said Roggensack was prohibited by court rules from responding.Many U.S. meat plant workers are Latino but in recent years, particularly in the upper Midwest, African immigrants have taken meatpacking jobs. About 40 languages are spoken by workers at the Sioux Falls plant, the Centers for Disease Control has said.Ortiz said many Latino and immigrant families with workers in the sector "are very family-oriented" and that could contribute to the virus' spread. But she insisted that the greater threats are workplace conditions and policies she claimed encourage workers to come in sick and do not provide enough worker virus testing.In South Dakota, Noem said she made her meatpacking company worker living condition comments after the Sioux Falls plant closed and public health officials' focus shifted to stopping the outbreak where the workers lived.She agreed to speak personally with some meatpacking workers after advocacy groups made the demand. Those calls, organized through Smithfield, were scheduled for Thursday night and Friday.In Nebraska, meatpacking worker advocates disputed Ricketts' suggestion that an outbreak could have happened because of crowded worker households at the Tyson Foods beef plant in Dakota City, where hundreds were infected."The governor's statement that this is a community issue is completely untrue," said Rose Godinez, legal counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, and the daughter of retired meatpacking workers.She said plant workers told her that most employees who tested positive own or rent their homes and in general do not live in crowded, small dwellings.Godinez said Ricketts' comments appeared aimed at "trying to deflect some of the companies' failures."President Donald Trump last week ordered meat companies to stay open, and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue on Friday issued a statement applauding "the safe reopening" of major plants in 10 states.The United Food and Commercial Workers said in response that the administration is rushing to reopen plants without assuring worker safety, citing at least 30 worker deaths and more than 10,000 workers infected. A Centers for Disease Control report last week cited 20 deaths and nearly 5,000 infections, while noting that some states didn't provide data.The union is calling on the White House to mandate a range of safety recommendations by the CDC for meat plants and monitor them to make sure they're enforced.

Some blame meatpacking workers, not plants, for virus spread

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska schools that are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic should be able to reopen on schedule this fall, the state's education commissioner said.

Commissioner Matt Blomstedt said during a Thursday news conference with Gov. Pete Ricketts that opening dates would depend on local health conditions, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.omaha.com/news/education/education-commissioner-weighs-in-on-nebraska-schools-potentially-opening-this-fall/article_a7806b3f-e9f7-57d0-81a9-0ac69ff0b432.html" target="_blank">Omaha World-Herald</a>&nbsp;reported.

"I do think that there will be areas of the state that will be able to keep pretty much their regular calendar intact, and I think that's what folks are interested in," Blomstedt said. "But we are also asking schools to be very thoughtful about digital and remote learning as we continue down that path."

Nebraska had 7,190 confirmed cases of the coronavirus as of Friday morning. More than 40,000 people have been tested. Ninety people in Nebraska have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

For most people,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak" target="_blank">the coronavirus</a>&nbsp;causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

The shutdown caused by the virus is forcing Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo &amp; Aquarium to furlough workers and eliminate positions after cutting its budget by 36%.

"Decisions affecting our staff are very difficult and not made lightly knowing their level of commitment," Dennis Pate, president and CEO of the zoo, said in a statement.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska schools that are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic should be able to reopen on schedule this fall, the state's education commissioner said.Commissioner Matt Blomstedt said during a Thursday news conference with Gov. Pete Ricketts that opening dates would depend on local health conditions, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.omaha.com/news/education/education-commissioner-weighs-in-on-nebraska-schools-potentially-opening-this-fall/article_a7806b3f-e9f7-57d0-81a9-0ac69ff0b432.html" target="_blank">Omaha World-Herald</a>&nbsp;reported."I do think that there will be areas of the state that will be able to keep pretty much their regular calendar intact, and I think that's what folks are interested in," Blomstedt said. "But we are also asking schools to be very thoughtful about digital and remote learning as we continue down that path."Nebraska had 7,190 confirmed cases of the coronavirus as of Friday morning. More than 40,000 people have been tested. Ninety people in Nebraska have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.For most people,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak" target="_blank">the coronavirus</a>&nbsp;causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.The shutdown caused by the virus is forcing Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo &amp; Aquarium to furlough workers and eliminate positions after cutting its budget by 36%.The zoo has been closed since March 16."Decisions affecting our staff are very difficult and not made lightly knowing their level of commitment," Dennis Pate, president and CEO of the zoo, said in a statement.

Official: Nebraska schools should be able to reopen on time

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

The Central District Health Department announced two additional deaths in Hall County.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cdhd.ne.gov" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/cdhd.ne.gov&nbsp;</a>

The Loup Basin Public Health Department reported the death of a Custer County woman in her 70s with underlying health conditions.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/lbphd.org/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/lbphd.org/&nbsp;</a>

One death reported was a Dakota County resident -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/dakotacountyhealth" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/dakotacountyhealth&nbsp;</a>. The Dakota County Health Department also announced two additional deaths today that are not yet reflected on the DHHS dashboard. The health department resolved technical difficulties reported yesterday and was able to provide a daily case update for Dakota County today.

A fifth death was also reported. More information is forthcoming.

While it has not yet come into the state dashboard, the Lincoln/Lancaster County Health Department also announced its second death.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/mayor/media/2020/050720a.htm" target="_blank">https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/mayor/media/2020/050720a.htm&nbsp;</a>

The total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the state to date is 90, according to the DHHS data dashboard. The number of deaths in Wednesday's release included one that was entered in error. It has been removed from the total count.

The state case total, as of 5:45 p.m. Central Daylight Time, is 7,190. 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;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.

Governor Pete Ricketts has announced changes to some of the state's Directed Health Measures, including re-openings of selected businesses in specific regions of Nebraska. The new DHM updates can be found by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://www.dropbox.com/sh/iuwv40yommq81m3/AAAYgdnJYg3wWuwiPxPL8SEpa?dl%3D0&amp;data=02%7c01%7ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7c8029d69bffb84a537c1808d7ee2257b7%7c043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7c0%7c0%7c637239703574159964&amp;sdata=N4cPCE72MC6uRzEaRW%2BXn/q%2BiR7Udr7mUd2Pwvv8lPU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here&nbsp;</a>.&nbsp; Not sure which local health department is yours? A map is available by&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/CHPM%20Maps/NE_Health_Dept_Map_Dec_2016.pdf">clicking here&nbsp;</a>.

Governor 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. TestNebraska launched this week in Grand Island and Omaha, and will launch Friday in Lincoln. Additional mobile testing sites are expected to become available shortly.

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>. Because people can develop symptoms quickly, Nebraskans are asked to update their assessments from time to time as needed.

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 or toll-free at (833) 998-2275; 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;Five additional deaths related to COVID-19 were reported to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on Thursday.The Central District Health Department announced two additional deaths in Hall County.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cdhd.ne.gov" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/cdhd.ne.gov&nbsp;</a>The Loup Basin Public Health Department reported the death of a Custer County woman in her 70s with underlying health conditions.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/lbphd.org/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/lbphd.org/&nbsp;</a>One death reported was a Dakota County resident -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/dakotacountyhealth" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/dakotacountyhealth&nbsp;</a>. The Dakota County Health Department also announced two additional deaths today that are not yet reflected on the DHHS dashboard. The health department resolved technical difficulties reported yesterday and was able to provide a daily case update for Dakota County today.A fifth death was also reported. More information is forthcoming.While it has not yet come into the state dashboard, the Lincoln/Lancaster County Health Department also announced its second death.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/mayor/media/2020/050720a.htm" target="_blank">https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/mayor/media/2020/050720a.htm&nbsp;</a>The total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the state to date is 90, according to the DHHS data dashboard. The number of deaths in Wednesday's release included one that was entered in error. It has been removed from the total count.The state case total, as of 5:45 p.m. Central Daylight Time, is 7,190. 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;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.Governor Pete Ricketts has announced changes to some of the state's Directed Health Measures, including re-openings of selected businesses in specific regions of Nebraska. The new DHM updates can be found by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://www.dropbox.com/sh/iuwv40yommq81m3/AAAYgdnJYg3wWuwiPxPL8SEpa?dl%3D0&amp;data=02%7c01%7ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7c8029d69bffb84a537c1808d7ee2257b7%7c043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7c0%7c0%7c637239703574159964&amp;sdata=N4cPCE72MC6uRzEaRW%2BXn/q%2BiR7Udr7mUd2Pwvv8lPU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here&nbsp;</a>.&nbsp; Not sure which local health department is yours? A map is available by&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/CHPM%20Maps/NE_Health_Dept_Map_Dec_2016.pdf">clicking here&nbsp;</a>.Governor 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. TestNebraska launched this week in Grand Island and Omaha, and will launch Friday in Lincoln. Additional mobile testing sites are expected to become available shortly.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>. Because people can develop symptoms quickly, Nebraskans are asked to update their assessments from time to time as needed.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 or toll-free at (833) 998-2275; 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>.

State COVID-19 deaths rise to 90, five new deaths reported Thursday

By GREG DOERING <a href="https://kansaslivingmagazine.com/articles/2020/05/01/food-supply-chain-adjusting-to-second-wave-of-disruption">Kansas Living Magazine</a>

The nation’s food supply is facing a second wave of disruption as Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc on our food system.

Just as distributors were getting a handle on the surging market at 
grocery stores and decimated demand at restaurants, the pandemic 
infiltrated packing plants crimping the meat supply.

“While there was a big demand boost for food in grocery stores, we 
lost much of the market in food away from home,” says Jayson Lusk, head 
of agriculture economics at Purdue University. “Just using milk as the 
example, if you have a processing facility that’s packaging milk in the 
small containers for schools, we don’t have school going on anymore. 
It’s not like that plant can suddenly switch to pumping out gallon 
jugs.”

The supply chain for grocery stores typically forecasts steady growth
 between 3 and 5 percent. In the beginning of the pandemic, sales surged
 25 to 30 percent, with certain items exceeding even those lofty 
numbers.

“I think one of the things this scenario has shown is just how 
complicated our food system is,” Lusk says. “It’s a food system that is 
in constant evolution, constant change, but a lot of it is pretty 
gradual.”

Doug Baker, vice president of industry relations-private brands at 
the Food Marketing Institute, says his organization helped overcome some
 of the logistical challenges of rerouting food destined for restaurants
 to grocery stores.

“It’s not an easy process to bring in a new supplier partner,” Baker 
says. “There’s a significant number of activities that need to happen in
 order to get that supplier set up in the system. That’s difficult even 
if they’re doing retail packaging. It becomes even more difficult if 
they’re doing food service packs.”

One of the challenges involved working with government agencies to 
relax rules on food packaging on things like labels, which have 
differing requirements for institutional consumers versus those buying 
for use in their homes.

“My perspective is by and large, the food system did a remarkable 
job,” Lusk says. “We had this initial run and stocking-up phase, but 
that subsided pretty quickly.”

Grocery stores and their suppliers made adjustments to increase 
product availability and demand settled into a more manageable level 
just as the virus started to disrupt processing facilities that process 
the beef, pork and poultry we eat.

“So far, we know it’s been well over 20 facilities that have closed 
down,” says Michael Nepveux, an economist with the American Farm Bureau 
Federation. “In some cases, those closures are due to outbreaks within 
the facilities among the workers, and in other cases, it’s already a 
struggle to keep labor in these plants. And, when workers are afraid of 
getting sick or having vulnerable populations living with them at home, 
it makes them think twice about coming into the plant.”

This has caused a ripple effect through the protein supply chain. 
While the price for retail cuts has increased, farmers and ranchers have
 seen double-digit declines in the prices they receive for live animals.

The bottleneck at processing plants is the reason for the price 
discrepancy between live animals on ranches and feedlots and the price 
retailers are willing to pay for consumer-ready protein. Plants are 
slaughtering fewer animals, creating a surplus of market-ready livestock
 and a deficit of retail beef, pork and poultry.

The meat supply will face strain with facilities closed and 
throughput capacity reduced at others, but a shortage doesn’t mean zero 
protein at meat counters.

“The data we have on animal processing numbers shows on the beef side
 we’re probably processing 25 percent fewer cattle than the same time 
last year. On the pork side it’s about 20 percent,” Lusk says. “You 
can’t have that reduction without it having some market impact.”

Lusk says higher prices, more whole cuts and different packaging are 
some of the things consumers can expect to see first as the supply chain
 adjusts to the current disruption.

“Hopefully they won’t see reduced availability, but I’d be lying if I
 didn’t say there aren’t some concerns there,” he says. “There’s been 
some fairly high inventories in cold storage. One challenge is those 
inventories might be packaged in ways we aren’t accustomed to seeing and
 aren’t easy to move in to grocery stores.”

Baker says most current inventory problems are sporadic and regional.
 There’s also the chance grocery stores pick up some of the processing 
slack.

“A lot of beef anymore for retailers is case ready,” he says, meaning
 it can go directly onto the shelf. “They still have the equipment in 
their stores — the grinders, the cutters. They might not be able to do 
some of those high-end cuts, but they can do cuts out of primals.”

As distributors straighten out their supply chains, farmers and 
ranchers will continue doing their work growing safe, healthy crops and 
livestock.

Kansas Living Magazine is a publication of Kansas Farm Bureau.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588866472020.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING <a href="https://kansaslivingmagazine.com/articles/2020/05/01/food-supply-chain-adjusting-to-second-wave-of-disruption">Kansas Living Magazine</a>The nation’s food supply is facing a second wave of disruption as Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc on our food system.Just as distributors were getting a handle on the surging market at 
grocery stores and decimated demand at restaurants, the pandemic 
infiltrated packing plants crimping the meat supply.<h2>FIRST WAVE</h2>“While there was a big demand boost for food in grocery stores, we 
lost much of the market in food away from home,” says Jayson Lusk, head 
of agriculture economics at Purdue University. “Just using milk as the 
example, if you have a processing facility that’s packaging milk in the 
small containers for schools, we don’t have school going on anymore. 
It’s not like that plant can suddenly switch to pumping out gallon 
jugs.”The supply chain for grocery stores typically forecasts steady growth
 between 3 and 5 percent. In the beginning of the pandemic, sales surged
 25 to 30 percent, with certain items exceeding even those lofty 
numbers.“I think one of the things this scenario has shown is just how 
complicated our food system is,” Lusk says. “It’s a food system that is 
in constant evolution, constant change, but a lot of it is pretty 
gradual.”Doug Baker, vice president of industry relations-private brands at 
the Food Marketing Institute, says his organization helped overcome some
 of the logistical challenges of rerouting food destined for restaurants
 to grocery stores.“It’s not an easy process to bring in a new supplier partner,” Baker 
says. “There’s a significant number of activities that need to happen in
 order to get that supplier set up in the system. That’s difficult even 
if they’re doing retail packaging. It becomes even more difficult if 
they’re doing food service packs.”One of the challenges involved working with government agencies to 
relax rules on food packaging on things like labels, which have 
differing requirements for institutional consumers versus those buying 
for use in their homes.“My perspective is by and large, the food system did a remarkable 
job,” Lusk says. “We had this initial run and stocking-up phase, but 
that subsided pretty quickly.”<h2>SECOND WAVE</h2>Grocery stores and their suppliers made adjustments to increase 
product availability and demand settled into a more manageable level 
just as the virus started to disrupt processing facilities that process 
the beef, pork and poultry we eat.“So far, we know it’s been well over 20 facilities that have closed 
down,” says Michael Nepveux, an economist with the American Farm Bureau 
Federation. “In some cases, those closures are due to outbreaks within 
the facilities among the workers, and in other cases, it’s already a 
struggle to keep labor in these plants. And, when workers are afraid of 
getting sick or having vulnerable populations living with them at home, 
it makes them think twice about coming into the plant.”This has caused a ripple effect through the protein supply chain. 
While the price for retail cuts has increased, farmers and ranchers have
 seen double-digit declines in the prices they receive for live animals.The bottleneck at processing plants is the reason for the price 
discrepancy between live animals on ranches and feedlots and the price 
retailers are willing to pay for consumer-ready protein. Plants are 
slaughtering fewer animals, creating a surplus of market-ready livestock
 and a deficit of retail beef, pork and poultry.<h2>MEAT SHORTAGE</h2>The meat supply will face strain with facilities closed and 
throughput capacity reduced at others, but a shortage doesn’t mean zero 
protein at meat counters.“The data we have on animal processing numbers shows on the beef side
 we’re probably processing 25 percent fewer cattle than the same time 
last year. On the pork side it’s about 20 percent,” Lusk says. “You 
can’t have that reduction without it having some market impact.”Lusk says higher prices, more whole cuts and different packaging are 
some of the things consumers can expect to see first as the supply chain
 adjusts to the current disruption.“Hopefully they won’t see reduced availability, but I’d be lying if I
 didn’t say there aren’t some concerns there,” he says. “There’s been 
some fairly high inventories in cold storage. One challenge is those 
inventories might be packaged in ways we aren’t accustomed to seeing and
 aren’t easy to move in to grocery stores.”Baker says most current inventory problems are sporadic and regional.
 There’s also the chance grocery stores pick up some of the processing 
slack.“A lot of beef anymore for retailers is case ready,” he says, meaning
 it can go directly onto the shelf. “They still have the equipment in 
their stores — the grinders, the cutters. They might not be able to do 
some of those high-end cuts, but they can do cuts out of primals.”As distributors straighten out their supply chains, farmers and 
ranchers will continue doing their work growing safe, healthy crops and 
livestock.Kansas Living Magazine is a publication of Kansas Farm Bureau.

Food supply chain adjusting to second wave of disruption

LINCOLN, Neb.-Governor Pete Ricketts announced that a Test Nebraska mobile site will be open in Lincoln on Friday and Saturday.&nbsp; Test Nebraska mobile locations have been operating in Grand Island and Omaha since Monday.

At this afternoon’s press event, the Governor also proclaimed this week as Teacher Appreciation Week in Nebraska.&nbsp; Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt joined the Governor to accept the proclamation on behalf of the state’s teachers.&nbsp; He also unveiled a new website,&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.launchne.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cd5f16d4ef0b64479411208d7f2dd64a0%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637244904997588003&amp;sdata=C6S1uAClIxij7OajyyG%2BgQreyRsZ2%2F60C6J1lJUZdG0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.launchne.com</a>, that will serve as a central resource for the state’s education system as it looks to the future.&nbsp; The website features protocols and best practices to aid local decision-makers as they ensure continuity of education in their schools.&nbsp;&nbsp;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;129,462 Nebraskans have taken about 165,000 total assessments at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftestnebraska.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cd5f16d4ef0b64479411208d7f2dd64a0%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637244904997588003&amp;sdata=Jwv%2F2V9VYZsAs%2BMl4uklRqutLZc%2F2VnmpAlKVURNGrw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">TestNebraska.com</a>&nbsp;as of this morning.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Test Nebraska completed 526 tests yesterday in Grand Island and Omaha (combined).

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We are excited to announce that Test Nebraska will start in Lincoln tomorrow.

o&nbsp;&nbsp;The testing site will be open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on Friday and Saturday at the Lancaster County Events Center.&nbsp;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Right now, anyone who takes the assessment (initially or follow up) at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftestnebraska.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cd5f16d4ef0b64479411208d7f2dd64a0%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637244904997588003&amp;sdata=Jwv%2F2V9VYZsAs%2BMl4uklRqutLZc%2F2VnmpAlKVURNGrw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">TestNebraska.com</a>&nbsp;will be selected to be tested if they choose the response “yes, I have symptoms.”&nbsp;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyone who selects health care worker, first responder, or meat packing as their occupation will also be tested, even if they do not report any symptoms of illness on the assessment.

o&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyone who meets these criteria can schedule a time to get tested at one of our Test Nebraska locations.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Everyone who signed up at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftestnebraska.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cd5f16d4ef0b64479411208d7f2dd64a0%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637244904997597959&amp;sdata=WrI5z4l%2F0ZSAJBdUQAw6NT55Hz7qQCAnHtpUumOEnK4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">TestNebraska.com</a>&nbsp;received a follow up email asking them to update their assessment on Sunday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588904957452.png" alt="Gov. Ricketts (podium) and Education Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt (far left) at this afternoon’s press briefing." />
 <figcaption>Gov. Ricketts (podium) and Education Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt (far left) at this afternoon’s press briefing.</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb.-Governor Pete Ricketts announced that a Test Nebraska mobile site will be open in Lincoln on Friday and Saturday.&nbsp; Test Nebraska mobile locations have been operating in Grand Island and Omaha since Monday.At this afternoon’s press event, the Governor also proclaimed this week as Teacher Appreciation Week in Nebraska.&nbsp; Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt joined the Governor to accept the proclamation on behalf of the state’s teachers.&nbsp; He also unveiled a new website,&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.launchne.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cd5f16d4ef0b64479411208d7f2dd64a0%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637244904997588003&amp;sdata=C6S1uAClIxij7OajyyG%2BgQreyRsZ2%2F60C6J1lJUZdG0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.launchne.com</a>, that will serve as a central resource for the state’s education system as it looks to the future.&nbsp; The website features protocols and best practices to aid local decision-makers as they ensure continuity of education in their schools.&nbsp;&nbsp;Gov. Ricketts: Test Nebraska·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;129,462 Nebraskans have taken about 165,000 total assessments at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftestnebraska.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cd5f16d4ef0b64479411208d7f2dd64a0%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637244904997588003&amp;sdata=Jwv%2F2V9VYZsAs%2BMl4uklRqutLZc%2F2VnmpAlKVURNGrw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">TestNebraska.com</a>&nbsp;as of this morning.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Test Nebraska completed 526 tests yesterday in Grand Island and Omaha (combined).·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We are excited to announce that Test Nebraska will start in Lincoln tomorrow.o&nbsp;&nbsp;The testing site will be open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on Friday and Saturday at the Lancaster County Events Center.&nbsp;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Right now, anyone who takes the assessment (initially or follow up) at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftestnebraska.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cd5f16d4ef0b64479411208d7f2dd64a0%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637244904997588003&amp;sdata=Jwv%2F2V9VYZsAs%2BMl4uklRqutLZc%2F2VnmpAlKVURNGrw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">TestNebraska.com</a>&nbsp;will be selected to be tested if they choose the response “yes, I have symptoms.”&nbsp;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyone who selects health care worker, first responder, or meat packing as their occupation will also be tested, even if they do not report any symptoms of illness on the assessment.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyone who meets these criteria can schedule a time to get tested at one of our Test Nebraska locations.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Everyone who signed up at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftestnebraska.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cd5f16d4ef0b64479411208d7f2dd64a0%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637244904997597959&amp;sdata=WrI5z4l%2F0ZSAJBdUQAw6NT55Hz7qQCAnHtpUumOEnK4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">TestNebraska.com</a>&nbsp;received a follow up email asking them to update their assessment on Sunday night.o&nbsp;&nbsp;If you haven’t done so already, please update your assessment.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Symptoms can develop quickly, and we will ask people to update their assessment from time to time as needed.o&nbsp;&nbsp;Nebraskans can expect to see the domain name “qemailserver.com” on communications they receive about their Test Nebraska assessments.Gov. Ricketts: Teacher Appreciation Week·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This week is Teacher Appreciation Week.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;While education is being delivered differently for many kids right now, teachers continue to play a critical role in helping our kids achieve their dreams.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Whether you teach in a public school, private school, or home school, each and every teacher and parent has a responsibility to instill great character and raise up the next generation of citizens.Commissioner Blomstedt: Launch Nebraska·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We’re proud of teachers across Nebraska for the way they’ve adjusted to the change in learning environment.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This situation has given us the opportunity to think differently and innovate.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Today, we’re announcing our Launch Nebraska initiative.&nbsp; You can learn about it at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.launchne.com%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cd5f16d4ef0b64479411208d7f2dd64a0%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637244904997597959&amp;sdata=syPsIj74%2FWfaSUCQOvJxObavwUYraVBwvY%2FLISVkno0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.launchne.com</a>.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On the website, you’ll find protocols and examples on how we plan to move forward as a state education system.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This summer, we have the opportunity to learn about some of the best procedures, policies, and practices that might take place in our buildings next fall.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The website has resources to guide local decision-makers as they think about the conditions for learning. &nbsp;This includes wellness and well-being at facilities, as well as health monitoring in the surrounding community.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The website also has helpful resources in the areas of leadership, planning, governance, operations, and technology usage.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Starting soon, we’ll host webinars on how teachers can be effective in the online learning environment.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I’ll engage with education and public health leaders from all over the state to find best practices and to develop resources for the website to aid decision-makers as they plan for the future.Full video of today’s press briefing is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2F4ux08d4v566rvsi%2FPress%2520Conf%25205.07.2020.mp4%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cd5f16d4ef0b64479411208d7f2dd64a0%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637244904997607913&amp;sdata=R8oB85FwQP2nnlXeAyXjhUnqr6%2F4awn%2BEBIvHZBPVdI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.