LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska officials are looking to build new prison space to ease chronic overcrowding that's expected to worsen over time, the state corrections director announced Tuesday.

Nebraska Department of Correctional Services Director Scott Frakes said he plans to seek more information about possible new construction projects. One idea is a facility built by a private developer and leased to Nebraska until the state eventually owns it.

"This is a first step to examine what options are out there," Frakes said in a statement. "We will be focusing on medium to maximum custody options in a location that has the population to support required staffing."

Frakes faced questions earlier this month from lawmakers who voiced concern that Nebraska's inmate population will continue growing and outpace the state's efforts to add more space.

Frakes said he doesn't yet know how much any new construction projects would cost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582110008382.png" alt="Scott Frakes" />
 <figcaption>Scott Frakes</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska officials are looking to build new prison space to ease chronic overcrowding that's expected to worsen over time, the state corrections director announced Tuesday.Nebraska Department of Correctional Services Director Scott Frakes said he plans to seek more information about possible new construction projects. One idea is a facility built by a private developer and leased to Nebraska until the state eventually owns it."This is a first step to examine what options are out there," Frakes said in a statement. "We will be focusing on medium to maximum custody options in a location that has the population to support required staffing."Frakes faced questions earlier this month from lawmakers who voiced concern that Nebraska's inmate population will continue growing and outpace the state's efforts to add more space.Frakes said he doesn't yet know how much any new construction projects would cost.

Nebraska eyes new prison projects to ease crowding

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska's pardons board refused Tuesday to pardon the murder conviction of the ex-girlfriend of Charles Starkweather, the infamous killer who went on a rampage in the 1950s that was later immortalized in movies, books and two hit songs.

The board voted 3-0 to deny the application from Caril Ann Clair, even though some relatives of Starkweather's victims lobbied in her favor. The board is composed of Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, Attorney General Doug Peterson and Secretary of State Bob Evnen, all Republicans.

Clair, who was known as Caril Ann Fugate at the time, was 14 when Starkweather, then 19, went on a killing spree in 1957-58 that left 11 people dead in Nebraska and Wyoming, including her mother, stepfather and baby half-sister.

The murders stoked so much fear around Lincoln that law enforcement conducted a house-by-house search of the city and the governor contacted the Nebraska National Guard. It also formed a loose basis for the 1973 movie "Badlands," with Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen, as well as other films. The killings were the subject of Bruce Springsteen's song "Nebraska," and referenced in Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire."

Clair spent 17 years in prison on a murder conviction before she was paroled in 1976. She has since married and lives in Michigan under the name Caril Ann Clair.

Starkweather was executed in 1959 at the age of 20.

Clair, now 76, wrote in her pardon application that the perception that she willingly joined Starkweather on a murder spree is "too much for me to bear anymore."

"Receiving a pardon may somehow alleviate this terrible burden," she wrote.

After the vote, Peterson said he denied the application because the purpose of the pardons board is to restore a felon's rights, and Clair's request was "much, much broader" than what board members could offer.

"That's not the role of the pardons board," he said.

But the vote infuriated some of Clair's allies, who were denied a chance to testify. Clair applied for a pardon once before, in 1996, and was rejected. This time, she had an unusual ally - the granddaughter of two of Starkweather's victims.

Liza Ward, of Duxbury, Massachusetts, said she became convinced that Clair was innocent after researching the case and visiting all the sites where people were killed. Ward is the granddaughter of S. Lauer and Clara Ward, who were killed in their Lincoln home in December 1958.

"There are a lot of people who support her, and we're going to let her know that however we can," Ward said through tears after the board's vote. She said she started investigating the case to discover what had happened to her grandparents, and "the more I learned, the more I realized that something wasn't right."

Clair's attorney, John S. Berry Sr., said his client sought clemency to bring her some closure in the case.

"She's not after anything else other than to clear her name," said Berry, who also co-wrote a book arguing that Clair's conviction was a miscarriage of justice.

But Dave Ellis, a relative of another victim, said he was pleased with the board's decision. Ellis said he believes Clair killed his first cousin once removed, Carol King, because King's body was partially mutilated after Starkweather raped her. Ellis said he thinks Clair mutilated her out of "female rage."

Ward said she could find no evidence of Clair's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and noted that Starkweather was the prosecution's main witness against her, even though he had changed his story multiple times and was likely angry because Clair had told him she never wanted to see him again.

Ward said she believes Clair was a victim of Starkweather's and that the public's perception of her guilt is based on misinformation and hearsay about the case.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska's pardons board refused Tuesday to pardon the murder conviction of the ex-girlfriend of Charles Starkweather, the infamous killer who went on a rampage in the 1950s that was later immortalized in movies, books and two hit songs.The board voted 3-0 to deny the application from Caril Ann Clair, even though some relatives of Starkweather's victims lobbied in her favor. The board is composed of Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, Attorney General Doug Peterson and Secretary of State Bob Evnen, all Republicans.Clair, who was known as Caril Ann Fugate at the time, was 14 when Starkweather, then 19, went on a killing spree in 1957-58 that left 11 people dead in Nebraska and Wyoming, including her mother, stepfather and baby half-sister.The murders stoked so much fear around Lincoln that law enforcement conducted a house-by-house search of the city and the governor contacted the Nebraska National Guard. It also formed a loose basis for the 1973 movie "Badlands," with Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen, as well as other films. The killings were the subject of Bruce Springsteen's song "Nebraska," and referenced in Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire."Clair spent 17 years in prison on a murder conviction before she was paroled in 1976. She has since married and lives in Michigan under the name Caril Ann Clair.Starkweather was executed in 1959 at the age of 20.Clair, now 76, wrote in her pardon application that the perception that she willingly joined Starkweather on a murder spree is "too much for me to bear anymore.""Receiving a pardon may somehow alleviate this terrible burden," she wrote.After the vote, Peterson said he denied the application because the purpose of the pardons board is to restore a felon's rights, and Clair's request was "much, much broader" than what board members could offer."That's not the role of the pardons board," he said.But the vote infuriated some of Clair's allies, who were denied a chance to testify. Clair applied for a pardon once before, in 1996, and was rejected. This time, she had an unusual ally - the granddaughter of two of Starkweather's victims.Liza Ward, of Duxbury, Massachusetts, said she became convinced that Clair was innocent after researching the case and visiting all the sites where people were killed. Ward is the granddaughter of S. Lauer and Clara Ward, who were killed in their Lincoln home in December 1958."There are a lot of people who support her, and we're going to let her know that however we can," Ward said through tears after the board's vote. She said she started investigating the case to discover what had happened to her grandparents, and "the more I learned, the more I realized that something wasn't right."Clair's attorney, John S. Berry Sr., said his client sought clemency to bring her some closure in the case."She's not after anything else other than to clear her name," said Berry, who also co-wrote a book arguing that Clair's conviction was a miscarriage of justice.But Dave Ellis, a relative of another victim, said he was pleased with the board's decision. Ellis said he believes Clair killed his first cousin once removed, Carol King, because King's body was partially mutilated after Starkweather raped her. Ellis said he thinks Clair mutilated her out of "female rage."Ward said she could find no evidence of Clair's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and noted that Starkweather was the prosecution's main witness against her, even though he had changed his story multiple times and was likely angry because Clair had told him she never wanted to see him again.Ward said she believes Clair was a victim of Starkweather's and that the public's perception of her guilt is based on misinformation and hearsay about the case.

Nebraska denies pardon for notorious killer's ex-girlfriend

The United States Constitution guarantees the right to keep and bear arms.&nbsp; The first sentence of Article I of the Nebraska Constitution reasserts this right: “The right to keep and bear arms for security or defense of self, family, home, and others, and for lawful common defense, hunting, recreational use, and all other lawful purposes...shall not be denied or infringed by the state or any subdivision thereof.”

Over the past few years, my team has worked to safeguard your rights.&nbsp; For example, we have created an online process to renew, update, or replace a handgun permit, saving gun owners across the state valuable time.&nbsp; In 2018, I signed LB 902, a bill brought by Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard, which protects the identities of gun owners with concealed carry permits.&nbsp; And when the National Rifle Association (NRA) was under attack, we invited them to Nebraska because the people of our state understand the importance of the Second Amendment.

In addition to protecting the right to bear arms for self-defense, we have worked to position Nebraska as an ideal destination for hunting, offering some of the best turkey and pheasant hunting in the country.&nbsp; Nebraskans shoot clay for recreation.&nbsp; Ranchers across the state carry firearms to protect livestock from predators and to ward off pests that can devastate pastures. &nbsp;Nebraskans also hunt wild game to put food on the table.&nbsp; For these reasons, gun ownership isn’t just an abstract right in our state.&nbsp; It’s a practical, well-established part of everyday life for tens of thousands of Nebraskans.

Hunter education through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission makes sure teens and young adults know how to safely and responsibly handle a firearm. &nbsp;The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) provides handgun training so that residents know how to property hold, load, lock, and fire a gun.&nbsp; The NSP also educates citizens on federal and state gun regulations.&nbsp; These efforts, together with the work done by parents and volunteers around the state, have built a culture of gun safety in Nebraska.&nbsp; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ranks Nebraska ninth-lowest among states in our per capita rate of gun violence (firearm mortality).

While Nebraska has a long tradition of protecting Second Amendment rights, it’s important to be vigilant against legislative attempts to erode them.&nbsp; LB 58, a bill currently under consideration by the Legislature, would infringe on your right to bear arms in Nebraska.&nbsp; The so-called “Red Flag Law” would permit household members or law enforcement to go before a court to “flag” someone as unfit to have a firearm.&nbsp; Based on this allegation, the court could then order a search of the property of law-abiding citizens and the seizure of any guns found.&nbsp; The court order would also prevent the “flagged” person from purchasing a firearm.&nbsp; Under LB 58, all of this could take place&nbsp;prior to the accused persons having the opportunity to defend themselves in court! &nbsp;This is a clear violation of due process rights under the guise of public safety.&nbsp; LB 58 would create a judicial weapon for anti-gun activists who wish to roll back the gun rights enshrined in both our federal and state constitutions.

As the tragic rise of knife attacks and fatal stabbings in the United Kingdom, Japan, and other countries demonstrate, violence is not due to guns. &nbsp;As a society, we together must confront the root causes of violence, one of which is substance abuse.&nbsp;

To this end, the State of Nebraska has made significant investments to prevent and treat addiction. &nbsp;Last summer, Nebraska became the first state to allocate federal funding to train medical experts to combat addiction.&nbsp; The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services launched an addiction medicine fellowship in partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center.&nbsp; It addresses substance use disorders, including illicit drug addiction and also the larger public health issues of alcohol abuse and binge drinking.&nbsp; We’re committed to reducing opioid misuse and other addictions that can lead to violence.

Protecting the Second Amendment rights of Nebraskans and battling addiction is key to keeping people safe in our homes, schools, and businesses.&nbsp; I hope you will contact your State Senator and let them know you oppose LB 58.&nbsp; You can find their information at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nebraskalegislature.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C7140dea67ada4c22531208d7b4974e9b%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637176434266703368&amp;sdata=V1Dbcmf%2BVosyirqdEdmfoTYpXMWlDWzJln7pNcUHNYM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.NebraskaLegislature.gov</a>. &nbsp;If you have ideas of how to enhance public safety in Nebraska, I invite you to share them with me by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov">pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;or by calling 402-471-2244. &nbsp;My administration will continue its diligent efforts to protect public safety and will oppose legislation that tramples on your constitutional rights.

By Governor Pete RickettsThe United States Constitution guarantees the right to keep and bear arms.&nbsp; The first sentence of Article I of the Nebraska Constitution reasserts this right: “The right to keep and bear arms for security or defense of self, family, home, and others, and for lawful common defense, hunting, recreational use, and all other lawful purposes...shall not be denied or infringed by the state or any subdivision thereof.”Over the past few years, my team has worked to safeguard your rights.&nbsp; For example, we have created an online process to renew, update, or replace a handgun permit, saving gun owners across the state valuable time.&nbsp; In 2018, I signed LB 902, a bill brought by Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard, which protects the identities of gun owners with concealed carry permits.&nbsp; And when the National Rifle Association (NRA) was under attack, we invited them to Nebraska because the people of our state understand the importance of the Second Amendment.In addition to protecting the right to bear arms for self-defense, we have worked to position Nebraska as an ideal destination for hunting, offering some of the best turkey and pheasant hunting in the country.&nbsp; Nebraskans shoot clay for recreation.&nbsp; Ranchers across the state carry firearms to protect livestock from predators and to ward off pests that can devastate pastures. &nbsp;Nebraskans also hunt wild game to put food on the table.&nbsp; For these reasons, gun ownership isn’t just an abstract right in our state.&nbsp; It’s a practical, well-established part of everyday life for tens of thousands of Nebraskans.Hunter education through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission makes sure teens and young adults know how to safely and responsibly handle a firearm. &nbsp;The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) provides handgun training so that residents know how to property hold, load, lock, and fire a gun.&nbsp; The NSP also educates citizens on federal and state gun regulations.&nbsp; These efforts, together with the work done by parents and volunteers around the state, have built a culture of gun safety in Nebraska.&nbsp; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ranks Nebraska ninth-lowest among states in our per capita rate of gun violence (firearm mortality).While Nebraska has a long tradition of protecting Second Amendment rights, it’s important to be vigilant against legislative attempts to erode them.&nbsp; LB 58, a bill currently under consideration by the Legislature, would infringe on your right to bear arms in Nebraska.&nbsp; The so-called “Red Flag Law” would permit household members or law enforcement to go before a court to “flag” someone as unfit to have a firearm.&nbsp; Based on this allegation, the court could then order a search of the property of law-abiding citizens and the seizure of any guns found.&nbsp; The court order would also prevent the “flagged” person from purchasing a firearm.&nbsp; Under LB 58, all of this could take place&nbsp;prior to the accused persons having the opportunity to defend themselves in court! &nbsp;This is a clear violation of due process rights under the guise of public safety.&nbsp; LB 58 would create a judicial weapon for anti-gun activists who wish to roll back the gun rights enshrined in both our federal and state constitutions.As the tragic rise of knife attacks and fatal stabbings in the United Kingdom, Japan, and other countries demonstrate, violence is not due to guns. &nbsp;As a society, we together must confront the root causes of violence, one of which is substance abuse.&nbsp;To this end, the State of Nebraska has made significant investments to prevent and treat addiction. &nbsp;Last summer, Nebraska became the first state to allocate federal funding to train medical experts to combat addiction.&nbsp; The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services launched an addiction medicine fellowship in partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center.&nbsp; It addresses substance use disorders, including illicit drug addiction and also the larger public health issues of alcohol abuse and binge drinking.&nbsp; We’re committed to reducing opioid misuse and other addictions that can lead to violence.Protecting the Second Amendment rights of Nebraskans and battling addiction is key to keeping people safe in our homes, schools, and businesses.&nbsp; I hope you will contact your State Senator and let them know you oppose LB 58.&nbsp; You can find their information at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nebraskalegislature.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C7140dea67ada4c22531208d7b4974e9b%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637176434266703368&amp;sdata=V1Dbcmf%2BVosyirqdEdmfoTYpXMWlDWzJln7pNcUHNYM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.NebraskaLegislature.gov</a>. &nbsp;If you have ideas of how to enhance public safety in Nebraska, I invite you to share them with me by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov">pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;or by calling 402-471-2244. &nbsp;My administration will continue its diligent efforts to protect public safety and will oppose legislation that tramples on your constitutional rights.

Governor's Weekly Column: Protecting the Right to Bear Arms

LEXINGTON, Neb.-Dawson Public Power District will have an average two percent rate increase across all rate classes effective April 1, 2020. The vote for approval was made at the Dawson PPD Board Meeting on February 12.

The District has invested more than $135 million into its distribution system over the past ten years. As a result, system reliability increased from a good to an excellent rating, according to a 2019 customer satisfaction survey. Additionally, Dawson PPD employee overtime labor hours resulting from power outages reduced from 2,416 in 2009 to 1,343 in 2019.

“Our customers have indicated that reliable power is a top priority,” said Dawson PPD General Manager Gwen Kautz. “As a publicly owned-utility, our focus is on our customers. We made these investments at a rapid pace, and now that Dawson PPD’s system is more reliable than ever, it’s time to slow down.”

Construction and line upgrade projects have been reduced. Dawson PPD’s overall 2020 budget is about $2.5 million less than the previous year.

Residential customers on the General Service rate could expect their monthly electric statement to increase an average of $2.45. Residential customers on the General Service-Electric Heat rate could see their monthly electric statement increase by $2.83, on average.

Customers are welcome to review Dawson PPD’s rates at any time through its website, DawsonPower.com, or by calling 308-324-2386.

News ReleaseLEXINGTON, Neb.-Dawson Public Power District will have an average two percent rate increase across all rate classes effective April 1, 2020. The vote for approval was made at the Dawson PPD Board Meeting on February 12.The District has invested more than $135 million into its distribution system over the past ten years. As a result, system reliability increased from a good to an excellent rating, according to a 2019 customer satisfaction survey. Additionally, Dawson PPD employee overtime labor hours resulting from power outages reduced from 2,416 in 2009 to 1,343 in 2019.“Our customers have indicated that reliable power is a top priority,” said Dawson PPD General Manager Gwen Kautz. “As a publicly owned-utility, our focus is on our customers. We made these investments at a rapid pace, and now that Dawson PPD’s system is more reliable than ever, it’s time to slow down.”Construction and line upgrade projects have been reduced. Dawson PPD’s overall 2020 budget is about $2.5 million less than the previous year.Residential customers on the General Service rate could expect their monthly electric statement to increase an average of $2.45. Residential customers on the General Service-Electric Heat rate could see their monthly electric statement increase by $2.83, on average.Customers are welcome to review Dawson PPD’s rates at any time through its website, DawsonPower.com, or by calling 308-324-2386.

Dawson PPD rate increase to go in effect April 1

Falls, knife fights, battles for control – they don’t just happen.

That’s according to Mark Hardiman, theater and speech instructor at McCook Community College. For a little over a month, he has been helping the cast of North Platte High School’s upcoming production of “West Side Story” learn the ins and outs of stage combat.

“A lot of times, we think of stage combat as the big things – the fight scenes, events of that nature,” said Hardiman. “In reality, stage combat is anything actors do that involves physical conflict. That includes the little actions as well – something as simple as grabbing someone by the arm. That can be potentially dangerous. There’s a safe way to do it, so there’s no bruising.”

He said there’s a fair amount of stage violence, including a switchblade fight, in “West Side Story.” Even scenes that involve falling must be thought out.

“When people fall, the first instinct is to throw down a hand to catch themselves,” said Hardiman. “The problem with that is wrists can be injured, shoulders can be injured. It’s not safe. Stage combat teaches us the safe way of falling, which is basically sitting down gently and landing on large muscle masses.”

He believes stage combat needs to be considered before beginning any production.

“Any sort of movement is a design element,” Hardiman said. “It’s important for fight choreographers to work with costume and set designers early on because it makes the process smoother, faster and easier.”

Hardiman has spent years honing his stage combat skills. As a member of The Society of American Fight Directors and Dueling Arts International, the two biggest stage combat organizations in the U.S., he regularly attends workshops to learn new techniques.

He has shared his expertise at multiple educational institutions and even developed his own safe weapon forms of fighting.

“I take what people have actually done and turn it into moves that can be used on stage,” Hardiman said. “A large part of my study has been developing forms useful for us in the theater all based on principles of real-life fights. We always try to put the partner - the one receiving the aggression - in control and set up systems of communication so they can do that.”

The sword and buckler method is an example of that.

“It’s out of the oldest living fight book,” Hardiman said. “It’s a technique not taught in standard form by either of the fight organizations that I’m a part of, but it was used in the 14th and 15th centuries and continued through the Renaissance era.”

Hardiman developed a safe approach to sword and buckler dueling using text from the original fight book. He has also designed safe ways to mimic cutlass and saber fighting, which he’s happy to share with area theater departments.

“It’s all part of the growing I want to accomplish here,” Hardiman said. “I want to bring in more combat and movement training to the area. It just makes our students more competitive when they move on to the next program.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582045474236.jpeg" alt="McCook Community College theater instructor Mark Hardiman demonstrates the sword and buckler method of stage combat to members of the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association. Pictured left to right are: Hardiman, Tim Miller, Rachel Gordine, Konnor Witt and Joel Miller." />
 <figcaption>McCook Community College theater instructor Mark Hardiman demonstrates the sword and buckler method of stage combat to members of the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association. Pictured left to right are: Hardiman, Tim Miller, Rachel Gordine, Konnor Witt and Joel Miller.</figcaption>
 </figure>By Heather Johnson-MPCCFalls, knife fights, battles for control – they don’t just happen.At least they shouldn’t.That’s according to Mark Hardiman, theater and speech instructor at McCook Community College. For a little over a month, he has been helping the cast of North Platte High School’s upcoming production of “West Side Story” learn the ins and outs of stage combat.“A lot of times, we think of stage combat as the big things – the fight scenes, events of that nature,” said Hardiman. “In reality, stage combat is anything actors do that involves physical conflict. That includes the little actions as well – something as simple as grabbing someone by the arm. That can be potentially dangerous. There’s a safe way to do it, so there’s no bruising.”He said there’s a fair amount of stage violence, including a switchblade fight, in “West Side Story.” Even scenes that involve falling must be thought out.“When people fall, the first instinct is to throw down a hand to catch themselves,” said Hardiman. “The problem with that is wrists can be injured, shoulders can be injured. It’s not safe. Stage combat teaches us the safe way of falling, which is basically sitting down gently and landing on large muscle masses.”He believes stage combat needs to be considered before beginning any production.“Any sort of movement is a design element,” Hardiman said. “It’s important for fight choreographers to work with costume and set designers early on because it makes the process smoother, faster and easier.”Hardiman’s experienceHardiman has spent years honing his stage combat skills. As a member of The Society of American Fight Directors and Dueling Arts International, the two biggest stage combat organizations in the U.S., he regularly attends workshops to learn new techniques.He has shared his expertise at multiple educational institutions and even developed his own safe weapon forms of fighting.“I take what people have actually done and turn it into moves that can be used on stage,” Hardiman said. “A large part of my study has been developing forms useful for us in the theater all based on principles of real-life fights. We always try to put the partner - the one receiving the aggression - in control and set up systems of communication so they can do that.”The sword and buckler method is an example of that.“It’s out of the oldest living fight book,” Hardiman said. “It’s a technique not taught in standard form by either of the fight organizations that I’m a part of, but it was used in the 14th and 15th centuries and continued through the Renaissance era.”Hardiman developed a safe approach to sword and buckler dueling using text from the original fight book. He has also designed safe ways to mimic cutlass and saber fighting, which he’s happy to share with area theater departments.“It’s all part of the growing I want to accomplish here,” Hardiman said. “I want to bring in more combat and movement training to the area. It just makes our students more competitive when they move on to the next program.”

MCC theater instructor trains area students in stage combat

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582041892156.jpeg" alt="Arby's presented&nbsp; North Platte Public Schools Director of Business and Finance Stewart Simpson and Superintendent Dr. Ron Hansen a check for the schools food pantry. Dr. Ron Hansen said that they serve 70+ kids who don't receive a meal daily.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Arby's presented&nbsp; North Platte Public Schools Director of Business and Finance Stewart Simpson and Superintendent Dr. Ron Hansen a check for the schools food pantry. Dr. Ron Hansen said that they serve 70+ kids who don't receive a meal daily.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>

Arby's makes donation NPPS food program

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-“Love” will be the theme of an upcoming choir concert hosted by the North Platte Community College music department.

The concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 3 in the McDonald-Belton Theater on NPCC’s south campus, 601 W. State Farm Rd. The event is free and open to the public.

“Our concert will be a very enjoyable evening for all who come,” said Kristin Simpson, interim music instructor. “It has music for the hopeless romantic – longing, heartbreak, sacred love, a bit of comedic love – even songs about loving the weekend and our beautiful nature. The audience will have their emotions brought to the surface by the gorgeous melodies and energetic rhythms.”

Simpson will direct the choirs, and Jennifer Winder will serve as the collaborative accompanist.

The performers are as follows. A * denotes Select Choir members.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582029986533.jpeg" alt="Dylan Rogge, of Fairbury, performs a song at North Platte Community College. He will be one of many performers at NPCC’s choral concert March 3." />
 <figcaption>Dylan Rogge, of Fairbury, performs a song at North Platte Community College. He will be one of many performers at NPCC’s choral concert March 3.</figcaption>
 </figure>NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-“Love” will be the theme of an upcoming choir concert hosted by the North Platte Community College music department.The concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 3 in the McDonald-Belton Theater on NPCC’s south campus, 601 W. State Farm Rd. The event is free and open to the public.“Our concert will be a very enjoyable evening for all who come,” said Kristin Simpson, interim music instructor. “It has music for the hopeless romantic – longing, heartbreak, sacred love, a bit of comedic love – even songs about loving the weekend and our beautiful nature. The audience will have their emotions brought to the surface by the gorgeous melodies and energetic rhythms.”Simpson will direct the choirs, and Jennifer Winder will serve as the collaborative accompanist.The performers are as follows. A * denotes Select Choir members.Soprano:Emilee Gibson* - North PlatteChelsea Leal* - North PlatteLisa Pickett* - North PlatteTenor:Christian Bartling* - North PlatteBryce Grothman - VenangoBrandon Montgomery - MaxwellChristopher Terry* - GrantAlto:Grace Ford* - CodyElizabeth Goentzel – North PlatteAlex McConnell - PaxtonAshtyn Winder – North PlatteBass:Austin Leal – North PlatteDylan Rogge* - Fairbury

NPCC choir concert will focus on love

Gering police seek information on missing teen

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Authorities have reopened Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 30 in western Nebraska to westbound traffic into Wyoming.

U.S. Highway 30 was closed from 9 miles west of Brule to the Wyoming state line, the Nebraska Transportation Department said. Interstate 80 was closed from Big Springs west to the state line.

Wyoming authorities had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c3d75d9a5de37316bc2ce2b9e5497ab0" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that much of I-80 was closed to travelers because of whiteout and other winter conditions. It's been reopened throughout the state, although officials said some slick spots remain.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Authorities have reopened Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 30 in western Nebraska to westbound traffic into Wyoming.U.S. Highway 30 was closed from 9 miles west of Brule to the Wyoming state line, the Nebraska Transportation Department said. Interstate 80 was closed from Big Springs west to the state line.Wyoming authorities had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c3d75d9a5de37316bc2ce2b9e5497ab0" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that much of I-80 was closed to travelers because of whiteout and other winter conditions. It's been reopened throughout the state, although officials said some slick spots remain.

US 30, I-80 reopened to westbound traffic in Nebraska

The Boy Scouts of America has filed for bankruptcy protection as it faces a barrage of new sex-abuse lawsuits. 

The filing Tuesday in Wilmington, Delaware, is an attempt to work out a potentially mammoth compensation plan for abuse victims that will allow the 110-year-old organization to carry on. It could be one of the biggest, most complex bankruptcies ever seen. 

 Scores of lawyers are seeking settlements on behalf of several thousand men who say they were molested as boys by Scout leaders decades ago. 

The organization could be forced to sell off some of its vast property holdings to raise money for a compensation fund that could surpass $1 billion.

By DAVID CRARY-Associated PressThe Boy Scouts of America has filed for bankruptcy protection as it faces a barrage of new sex-abuse lawsuits. The filing Tuesday in Wilmington, Delaware, is an attempt to work out a potentially mammoth compensation plan for abuse victims that will allow the 110-year-old organization to carry on. It could be one of the biggest, most complex bankruptcies ever seen. Scores of lawyers are seeking settlements on behalf of several thousand men who say they were molested as boys by Scout leaders decades ago. The organization could be forced to sell off some of its vast property holdings to raise money for a compensation fund that could surpass $1 billion.

Boy Scouts file for bankruptcy due to sex-abuse lawsuits

Omaha, Neb&nbsp;–&nbsp;Thirteen&nbsp;Americans who have been on a cruise ship docked off the coast of Japan for two weeks have arrived in Omaha, Nebraska, for further monitoring and treatment if needed. Some of these citizens have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease that was first discovered in late 2019 and is believed to have originated in Wuhan, China.&nbsp;Those who have&nbsp;tested positive for this novel coronavirus, are only showing mild symptoms of the disease.

The recently opened National Quarantine Unit, on the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine campus, was designed for this very purpose – to safely monitor Americans after exposure to an infectious disease. The unit, which has a 20-bed capacity, is strategically located in close proximity to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, should a higher level of care be needed. After the passengers arrived, it was determined one person needed to be taken to the Biocontainment Unit for additional care. Our Nebraska Biocontainment Unit team cared for three patients with Ebola in late 2014.

“We were there for Ebola, we were there for the rescued Americans now being monitored at Camp Ashland and we’re going to be there for these American citizens as well,” said Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. “Because we are one of the world leaders in this arena, we were asked by our federal partners, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to rise to the challenge when our nation once more critically needs our expertise. Clearly, this is again, one of those times.”

The Americans coming to Omaha from the cruise ship will be closely monitored for and then will be tested for the coronavirus before leaving the Quarantine Unit.

Like the Americans staying at Camp Ashland, the Americans from the cruise ship arrived at a remote and isolated aircraft parking area at Eppley Airfield and did not enter the terminal.&nbsp;They boarded a bus and were driven straight to the National Quarantine Unit.&nbsp;Flight operations at Eppley Airfield will remain normal and unaffected.

“We understand the significance of providing effective quarantine and isolation, and are grateful that we can help fellow Americans at a time of need,” said James Linder, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine. “I want to assure everyone that our Nebraska Medicine/UNMC colleagues are among the best in the world at handling situations like these. In many instances, they’ve written the book on the most effective methods of quarantine and treatment. The Nebraska method is the tested standard.”

Currently, there have been 15 documented cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and zero deaths. While this disease has been more infectious than the SARS outbreak in 2003, it has been far less lethal. Our experts estimate a fatality rate between one and two percent for COVID-19, with the majority of the fatalities being in people with other medical conditions.

The list of initiatives involving biopreparedness on the med center campus is extensive. The Global Center for Health Security features the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit which serves as the Region VII Special Pathogen Treatment Center. The Global Center also includes the National Ebola Training and Education Center (NETEC, National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) training and the recently opened National Quarantine Unit, just to name a few. In addition to providing quarantine for Americans exposed to infectious diseases, the Training, Simulation and Quarantine Center is also designed to train federal personnel to treat highly infectious diseases. It was made possible via a contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

News ReleaseOmaha, Neb&nbsp;–&nbsp;Thirteen&nbsp;Americans who have been on a cruise ship docked off the coast of Japan for two weeks have arrived in Omaha, Nebraska, for further monitoring and treatment if needed. Some of these citizens have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease that was first discovered in late 2019 and is believed to have originated in Wuhan, China.&nbsp;Those who have&nbsp;tested positive for this novel coronavirus, are only showing mild symptoms of the disease.The recently opened National Quarantine Unit, on the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine campus, was designed for this very purpose – to safely monitor Americans after exposure to an infectious disease. The unit, which has a 20-bed capacity, is strategically located in close proximity to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, should a higher level of care be needed. After the passengers arrived, it was determined one person needed to be taken to the Biocontainment Unit for additional care. Our Nebraska Biocontainment Unit team cared for three patients with Ebola in late 2014.“We were there for Ebola, we were there for the rescued Americans now being monitored at Camp Ashland and we’re going to be there for these American citizens as well,” said Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. “Because we are one of the world leaders in this arena, we were asked by our federal partners, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to rise to the challenge when our nation once more critically needs our expertise. Clearly, this is again, one of those times.”The Americans coming to Omaha from the cruise ship will be closely monitored for and then will be tested for the coronavirus before leaving the Quarantine Unit.Like the Americans staying at Camp Ashland, the Americans from the cruise ship arrived at a remote and isolated aircraft parking area at Eppley Airfield and did not enter the terminal.&nbsp;They boarded a bus and were driven straight to the National Quarantine Unit.&nbsp;Flight operations at Eppley Airfield will remain normal and unaffected.“We understand the significance of providing effective quarantine and isolation, and are grateful that we can help fellow Americans at a time of need,” said James Linder, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine. “I want to assure everyone that our Nebraska Medicine/UNMC colleagues are among the best in the world at handling situations like these. In many instances, they’ve written the book on the most effective methods of quarantine and treatment. The Nebraska method is the tested standard.”Currently, there have been 15 documented cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and zero deaths. While this disease has been more infectious than the SARS outbreak in 2003, it has been far less lethal. Our experts estimate a fatality rate between one and two percent for COVID-19, with the majority of the fatalities being in people with other medical conditions.The list of initiatives involving biopreparedness on the med center campus is extensive. The Global Center for Health Security features the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit which serves as the Region VII Special Pathogen Treatment Center. The Global Center also includes the National Ebola Training and Education Center (NETEC, National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) training and the recently opened National Quarantine Unit, just to name a few. In addition to providing quarantine for Americans exposed to infectious diseases, the Training, Simulation and Quarantine Center is also designed to train federal personnel to treat highly infectious diseases. It was made possible via a contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

National Quarantine Unit at Nebraska Medicine/UNMC to be used to monitor Americans from docked cruise ship

A new offering at Mid-Plains Community College will help non-native English speakers improve their communication skills and train for jobs as nursing assistants.

“This is something we’ve been working toward for about nine months,” said Robin Rankin, area director of Adult Education. “We’ve already had two area businesses come forward in support.”

Both the Linden Court nursing home in North Platte and Imperial Manor nursing home in Imperial have agreed to cover the cost of the course for some of their employees.

Individuals don’t have to be employed with one of the nursing homes or have previous experience in health care to take advantage of the program, however. It’s open to almost anyone with limited English-speaking skills who is interested in becoming a nursing assistant.

“Students do have to have some proficiency in English to be accepted into the program,” said Renee Miller, area Adult Education instructor. “There’s a pre-assessment they complete to determine their level of English. They have to be at level five or higher.”

That’s because there is no translation during the nursing assistant portion of the program. All materials are also in English.

“Basically, what we’re doing is providing support with the English language and helping them if they don’t understand a particular term,” Miller said. “We have a distance learning curriculum that is designed to support nursing assistants, and it will be used to supplement learning. Students can access it at home or in the classroom.”

<a></a><a>Students will spend a minimum of 76 hours in nursing assistant training and up to 16 hours per week in an English as a Second Language class.</a>

Exams will be a combination of written and hands-on skills. Students will be responsible for taking the nursing assistant certification test on their own.

Financial assistance may be available for qualified applicants to help cover the cost of the nursing assistant instruction. The ESL portion of the program is free.

Those interested in applying for the program can contact the Adult Education office at (308) 535-3637.

MPCC News ReleaseA new offering at Mid-Plains Community College will help non-native English speakers improve their communication skills and train for jobs as nursing assistants.“This is something we’ve been working toward for about nine months,” said Robin Rankin, area director of Adult Education. “We’ve already had two area businesses come forward in support.”Both the Linden Court nursing home in North Platte and Imperial Manor nursing home in Imperial have agreed to cover the cost of the course for some of their employees.Individuals don’t have to be employed with one of the nursing homes or have previous experience in health care to take advantage of the program, however. It’s open to almost anyone with limited English-speaking skills who is interested in becoming a nursing assistant.“Students do have to have some proficiency in English to be accepted into the program,” said Renee Miller, area Adult Education instructor. “There’s a pre-assessment they complete to determine their level of English. They have to be at level five or higher.”That’s because there is no translation during the nursing assistant portion of the program. All materials are also in English.“Basically, what we’re doing is providing support with the English language and helping them if they don’t understand a particular term,” Miller said. “We have a distance learning curriculum that is designed to support nursing assistants, and it will be used to supplement learning. Students can access it at home or in the classroom.”<a></a><a>Students will spend a minimum of 76 hours in nursing assistant training and up to 16 hours per week in an English as a Second Language class.</a>Exams will be a combination of written and hands-on skills. Students will be responsible for taking the nursing assistant certification test on their own.Financial assistance may be available for qualified applicants to help cover the cost of the nursing assistant instruction. The ESL portion of the program is free.Those interested in applying for the program can contact the Adult Education office at (308) 535-3637.

New MPCC program combines nursing assistant/ESL instruction

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE-AP Chief Medical Writer



Health officials in China have published the first details on nearly 45,000 cases of the novel coronavirus disease that originated there, saying more than 80% have been mild and new ones seem to be falling since early this month, although it's far too soon to tell whether the outbreak has peaked.

Monday's&nbsp;<a href="http://weekly.chinacdc.cn/en/article/id/e53946e2-c6c4-41e9-9a9b-fea8db1a8f51" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention gives the World Health Organization a "clearer picture of the outbreak, how it's developing and where it's headed," WHO's director-general said at a news conference.

"It's too early to tell if this reported decline will continue. Every scenario is still on the table," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

The new disease, called COVID-19, first emerged in late December in Wuhan, the capital of China's Hubei province, and has spread to more than two dozen other countries. China says more than 70,000 people have been infected and 1,770 have died in mainland China, but numbers are squishy because the country is counting many cases based on symptoms rather than the methods WHO uses.

The new study reports on 44,672 cases confirmed in China as of Feb. 11. The virus caused severe disease such as pneumonia in 14% of them and critical illness in 5%.

The fatality rate for these confirmed cases is 2.3% - 2.8% for males versus 1.7% for females.

That's lower than for SARS and MERS, two similar viruses, but COVID-19 ultimately could prove more deadly if it spreads to far more people than the others did. Ordinary flu has a fatality rate of 0.1% yet kills hundreds of thousands because it infects millions each year.

The COVID-19 cases include relatively few children, and the risk of death rises with age. It's higher among those with other health problems - more than 10% for those with heart disease, for example, and higher among those in Hubei province versus elsewhere in China.

Cases seem to have been declining since Feb. 1, but that could change as people return to work and school after the Chinese holidays, the report warns.

Also Monday, Chinese officials said they may postpone the country's annual congress in March, its biggest political meeting of the year. The standing committee for the National People's Congress said it believes it is necessary to postpone the gathering to give top priority to people's lives, safety and health, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

The standing committee said it would meet Feb. 24 to deliberate on a postponement. The meeting is due to start March 5.

Japanese officials, meanwhile, confirmed 99 more people were infected by the new virus aboard the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, bringing the total to 454. The Health Ministry said it has now tested 1,723 people on the ship, which had about 3,700 passengers and crew aboard. Outside China, the ship has the largest number of cases of COVID-19.

On Sunday night and Monday, 328 American cruise ship passengers arrived in the U.S., including 14 who tested positive for the virus and were taken to hospitals in California and Nebraska. Others were being quarantined at military bases in California and Texas.

A charter plane dropped off 170 passengers at Travis Air Force Base in the San Francisco Bay Area late Sunday, while another took about 145 passengers to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas early Monday.

Four of the Americans who tested positive for the virus were taken to California hospitals. Ten others, along with three spouses, were flown to Omaha, Nebraska, to get care at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, officials said.

Chris Kratochvil, an official at the Nebraska medical center, said 12 are in quarantine with no current symptoms. One man is in a different area getting a higher level of care because he had a cough and other symptoms plus a chronic illness that raises his risk for complications. All will remain at the university hospital for at least 14 days.

During the flights, the 14 cruise passengers who tested positive for the virus were placed in isolation in the tail of the planes, said William Walters, director of the State Department's operational medicine staff, a unit created to respond to emergencies such as those requiring large-scale evacuations.

Walters said none of the 14 showed symptoms when they were checked by American personnel before disembarking the cruise ship. While headed to Tokyo's Haneda airport, officials were informed a test for the coronavirus done by Japanese authorities two or three days earlier had come back positive.

"When we received the results, these people were already on a bus and they were already on a pipeline," Walters said Monday. "The next step was to move them to an isolation area and frankly once they were in an isolation area it was safest to keep them in that isolation area and complete the evacuation."

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokesman Scott Pauley said in a statement that the group of passengers who arrived at Lackland Air Force Base will remain quarantined there for 14 days and will have no contact with Department of Defense personnel as the CDC is responsible for all parts of the quarantine operation.

Any of the quarantined passengers who shows symptoms of the virus will be taken to a hospital off the base "for containment and specialized care," according to the statement.

In Asia, with fears of the virus spreading further, Chinese and residents of nearby countries and territories have begun hoarding supplies of everything from masks and other personal protective gear to instant noodles, cooking oil and toilet paper.

New cases in other countries, meanwhile, raised concerns about containment of the virus. Though only a few hundred cases have been confirmed outside mainland China, some recent cases lacked obvious connections to China.

Taiwan on Sunday reported its first death from COVID-19, the fifth fatality outside of mainland China. Taiwan's Central News Agency, citing health minister Chen Shih-chung, said the man who died was in his 60s and had not traveled overseas recently and had no known contact with virus patients.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe convened an experts meeting to discuss containment measures in his country, where more than a dozen cases have emerged in the past few days without any obvious link to China.

"The situation surrounding this virus is changing by the minute," Abe said.

Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said the country was "entering into a phase that is different from before," requiring new steps to stop the spread of the virus.

Japan has 518 confirmed cases, including the 454 from the cruise ship, and one death from the virus.

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE-AP Chief Medical Writer

Health officials in China have published the first details on nearly 45,000 cases of the novel coronavirus disease that originated there, saying more than 80% have been mild and new ones seem to be falling since early this month, although it's far too soon to tell whether the outbreak has peaked.Monday's&nbsp;<a href="http://weekly.chinacdc.cn/en/article/id/e53946e2-c6c4-41e9-9a9b-fea8db1a8f51" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention gives the World Health Organization a "clearer picture of the outbreak, how it's developing and where it's headed," WHO's director-general said at a news conference."It's too early to tell if this reported decline will continue. Every scenario is still on the table," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.The new disease, called COVID-19, first emerged in late December in Wuhan, the capital of China's Hubei province, and has spread to more than two dozen other countries. China says more than 70,000 people have been infected and 1,770 have died in mainland China, but numbers are squishy because the country is counting many cases based on symptoms rather than the methods WHO uses.The new study reports on 44,672 cases confirmed in China as of Feb. 11. The virus caused severe disease such as pneumonia in 14% of them and critical illness in 5%.The fatality rate for these confirmed cases is 2.3% - 2.8% for males versus 1.7% for females.That's lower than for SARS and MERS, two similar viruses, but COVID-19 ultimately could prove more deadly if it spreads to far more people than the others did. Ordinary flu has a fatality rate of 0.1% yet kills hundreds of thousands because it infects millions each year.The COVID-19 cases include relatively few children, and the risk of death rises with age. It's higher among those with other health problems - more than 10% for those with heart disease, for example, and higher among those in Hubei province versus elsewhere in China.Cases seem to have been declining since Feb. 1, but that could change as people return to work and school after the Chinese holidays, the report warns.Also Monday, Chinese officials said they may postpone the country's annual congress in March, its biggest political meeting of the year. The standing committee for the National People's Congress said it believes it is necessary to postpone the gathering to give top priority to people's lives, safety and health, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.The standing committee said it would meet Feb. 24 to deliberate on a postponement. The meeting is due to start March 5.Japanese officials, meanwhile, confirmed 99 more people were infected by the new virus aboard the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, bringing the total to 454. The Health Ministry said it has now tested 1,723 people on the ship, which had about 3,700 passengers and crew aboard. Outside China, the ship has the largest number of cases of COVID-19.On Sunday night and Monday, 328 American cruise ship passengers arrived in the U.S., including 14 who tested positive for the virus and were taken to hospitals in California and Nebraska. Others were being quarantined at military bases in California and Texas.A charter plane dropped off 170 passengers at Travis Air Force Base in the San Francisco Bay Area late Sunday, while another took about 145 passengers to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas early Monday.Four of the Americans who tested positive for the virus were taken to California hospitals. Ten others, along with three spouses, were flown to Omaha, Nebraska, to get care at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, officials said.Chris Kratochvil, an official at the Nebraska medical center, said 12 are in quarantine with no current symptoms. One man is in a different area getting a higher level of care because he had a cough and other symptoms plus a chronic illness that raises his risk for complications. All will remain at the university hospital for at least 14 days.During the flights, the 14 cruise passengers who tested positive for the virus were placed in isolation in the tail of the planes, said William Walters, director of the State Department's operational medicine staff, a unit created to respond to emergencies such as those requiring large-scale evacuations.Walters said none of the 14 showed symptoms when they were checked by American personnel before disembarking the cruise ship. While headed to Tokyo's Haneda airport, officials were informed a test for the coronavirus done by Japanese authorities two or three days earlier had come back positive."When we received the results, these people were already on a bus and they were already on a pipeline," Walters said Monday. "The next step was to move them to an isolation area and frankly once they were in an isolation area it was safest to keep them in that isolation area and complete the evacuation."Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokesman Scott Pauley said in a statement that the group of passengers who arrived at Lackland Air Force Base will remain quarantined there for 14 days and will have no contact with Department of Defense personnel as the CDC is responsible for all parts of the quarantine operation.Any of the quarantined passengers who shows symptoms of the virus will be taken to a hospital off the base "for containment and specialized care," according to the statement.In Asia, with fears of the virus spreading further, Chinese and residents of nearby countries and territories have begun hoarding supplies of everything from masks and other personal protective gear to instant noodles, cooking oil and toilet paper.New cases in other countries, meanwhile, raised concerns about containment of the virus. Though only a few hundred cases have been confirmed outside mainland China, some recent cases lacked obvious connections to China.Taiwan on Sunday reported its first death from COVID-19, the fifth fatality outside of mainland China. Taiwan's Central News Agency, citing health minister Chen Shih-chung, said the man who died was in his 60s and had not traveled overseas recently and had no known contact with virus patients.Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe convened an experts meeting to discuss containment measures in his country, where more than a dozen cases have emerged in the past few days without any obvious link to China."The situation surrounding this virus is changing by the minute," Abe said.Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said the country was "entering into a phase that is different from before," requiring new steps to stop the spread of the virus.Japan has 518 confirmed cases, including the 454 from the cruise ship, and one death from the virus.

Chinese health report says 80% of virus cases have been mild

Four members of Mid-Plains Community College’s employee wellness program participated in the Trek Up the Tower: Presented by The Wellbeing Partners in Omaha on Saturday. They ran up the First National Bank Tower, a 634-foot, 45-story skyscraper in support of the Wellbeing Partners’ mission to build wellbeing into the way communities grow and do business.

Pictured left to right are MPCC employees: Amy Sabatka, area career placement coordinator; Erika Kampschnieder, area financial aid specialist; Bobbi Muehlenkamp, area director of Learning Commons and Jessica Sylte, Project HELP success coach.

Kampschnieder placed 121st out of 1,208 competitors with a time of 7 minutes 56 seconds. In the women’s division, she was 19th out of 673, and in her age division, she was fourth out of 86.

The team trained at the Golden Spike Tower in North Platte leading up to the Trek. It was the first Trek for Kampschnieder, Sylte and Sabatka and the second for Muehlenkamp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581962702761.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Heather Johnson-MPCCFour members of Mid-Plains Community College’s employee wellness program participated in the Trek Up the Tower: Presented by The Wellbeing Partners in Omaha on Saturday. They ran up the First National Bank Tower, a 634-foot, 45-story skyscraper in support of the Wellbeing Partners’ mission to build wellbeing into the way communities grow and do business.Pictured left to right are MPCC employees: Amy Sabatka, area career placement coordinator; Erika Kampschnieder, area financial aid specialist; Bobbi Muehlenkamp, area director of Learning Commons and Jessica Sylte, Project HELP success coach.Kampschnieder placed 121st out of 1,208 competitors with a time of 7 minutes 56 seconds. In the women’s division, she was 19th out of 673, and in her age division, she was fourth out of 86.The team trained at the Golden Spike Tower in North Platte leading up to the Trek. It was the first Trek for Kampschnieder, Sylte and Sabatka and the second for Muehlenkamp.

MPCC well-represented at “Trek Up the Tower”

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Westbound traffic into Wyoming has been halted in western Nebraska, authorities said Monday.

U.S. Highway 30 is closed from 9 miles west of Brule to the Wyoming state line, the Nebraska Transportation Department said. Interstate 80 is closed from Big Springs west to the state line.

Wyoming authorities report that much of I-80 has been closed to travelers because of whiteout and other winter conditions.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Westbound traffic into Wyoming has been halted in western Nebraska, authorities said Monday.U.S. Highway 30 is closed from 9 miles west of Brule to the Wyoming state line, the Nebraska Transportation Department said. Interstate 80 is closed from Big Springs west to the state line.Wyoming authorities report that much of I-80 has been closed to travelers because of whiteout and other winter conditions.

US 30, I-80 closed to westbound traffic in western Nebraska

ELWOOD, Neb. (AP) - A man accused of tossing a dog onto a frozen southern Nebraska lake has pleaded not guilty.

Gosper County Court records say James Pollock, 29, of Elwood, entered a written plea Thursday to misdemeanor animal cruelty. His next hearing is scheduled for March 27.

Authorities have said Pollock threw the year-old dog onto the lake, causing it to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/77815b18804bf9b258482c95a85b9b7e" target="_blank">land on its back</a>&nbsp;and break through the ice. The dog swam back to shore, but it was tossed into the lake two more times, investigators said.

Nineteen-year-old Austin Vanburen, also of Elwood, is accused of taking video of what happened during the Jan. 4 incident.

The court records show he pleaded guilty Friday to attempted animal cruelty. He's been ordered to return to court April 17.

ELWOOD, Neb. (AP) - A man accused of tossing a dog onto a frozen southern Nebraska lake has pleaded not guilty.Gosper County Court records say James Pollock, 29, of Elwood, entered a written plea Thursday to misdemeanor animal cruelty. His next hearing is scheduled for March 27.Authorities have said Pollock threw the year-old dog onto the lake, causing it to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/77815b18804bf9b258482c95a85b9b7e" target="_blank">land on its back</a>&nbsp;and break through the ice. The dog swam back to shore, but it was tossed into the lake two more times, investigators said.Nineteen-year-old Austin Vanburen, also of Elwood, is accused of taking video of what happened during the Jan. 4 incident.The court records show he pleaded guilty Friday to attempted animal cruelty. He's been ordered to return to court April 17.

Man accused of tossing dog onto lake ice pleads not guilty

By DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/two-patients-died-after-surgery-overland-park-hospital-their-families-want-answers#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

On Feb. 6, 2018, Travis Claussen had his right hip replaced at Blue Valley Hospital in Overland Park.

The
 40-year-old resident of Lawson, Missouri, had been experiencing severe 
back pain for years. Before then, he’d been a physical fitness buff who 
was into off-road motorcycle racing.

His back pain got so bad 
that, other than helping out his mother with her small T-shirt and sign 
business, he’d been unable to work for the previous five years.

Claussen
 was considered a poor candidate for back surgery because, at 
six-feet-one-inches tall and 240 pounds, he was considered obese. But 
one of the doctors at Blue Valley thought he was sufficiently young and 
healthy to undergo hip replacement surgery.

Claussen went ahead 
with the procedure, but following his discharge from the hospital he 
developed a surgical site infection. He returned to the hospital 13 days
 after his discharge and was treated with pain medications, intravenous 
antibiotics and a wound dressing to promote healing.

He was 
discharged again a week later but readmitted several more times over the
 following weeks when it became clear the infection wasn’t clearing up. 
On April 9, 2018, the surgeon removed Claussen’s hip implants. During 
the procedure, Claussen’s right femur fractured.

Medical records show that over the next 24 or so hours, he was given 
large quantities of narcotics, including fentanyl and oxycodone, and 
sedatives, including Valium and Ativan. At 3:50 a.m. on April 11, a 
nurse found him unresponsive. He was transported about 50 minutes later 
just down the road to Saint Luke’s South Hospital but it was too late. 
Claussen was dead.

He wasn’t the first patient at privately owned
 Blue Valley Hospital, which was renamed Pinnacle Regional Hospital in 
2018 and on Wednesday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, to die following 
surgery there.

Joseph Metz, who had endured back pain for years, 
underwent spinal fusion surgery at Blue Valley on Dec. 22, 2017. He was 
discharged four days later, although his temperature was elevated and an
 autopsy subsequently showed he had pneumonia. The following day he was 
discovered unresponsive in bed at home. He was pronounced dead at 4:43 
that morning. Metz was 36 years old.

The two men’s deaths came 
during a time when the hospital was in peril of losing its Medicare 
certification because it didn’t have a sufficient number of inpatients. 
In fact, a hospital staffer told CMS inspectors in 2017 that it was 
performing “a lot of extra surgeries to get the numbers we needed.”&nbsp;

Andrea
 Carabetta, the pharmacy director at Blue Valley Hospital for nearly 
three years before she left in the fall of 2018, told KCUR that Claussen
 should have been transferred to another hospital with a higher level of
 care.

“I feel like they killed him,” she said.

In
 October, Metz’s two minor children and the personal representative of 
his estate sued the hospital and two of its physicians for medical 
malpractice, alleging they were negligent in their treatment of Metz. 
The defendants have denied the allegations, claiming the plaintiffs’ 
injuries “were the direct and unavoidable consequence of Joseph Metz’s 
pre-existing condition.”

Claussen’s family filed their own lawsuit against the hospital, two 
of its physicians and a nurse practitioner on Thursday. Like the Metz 
family's lawsuit, it alleges the defendants were negligent in their 
treatment of their son and seeks unspecified damages.

A ‘more intimate hospital experience’

The
 hospital, which is located at 128th Street and Metcalf Avenue, is owned
 by businessman Douglas Palzer, who opened it in 2010 as a seven-bed 
facility with two operating rooms. Palzer, who lives part of the time in
 Las Vegas and could not be reached for comment, had previously owned a 
nearby ambulatory surgical center specializing in weight loss surgery.

A
 news release announcing the hospital’s opening said that while it was 
designed with weight-loss surgery in mind, “it is expanding its range of
 specialties and procedures.”

“We offer a more intimate hospital 
experience than what many people expect,” Palzer was quoted in the 
release as saying. “With only three outpatient and four inpatient beds, 
our patients get a lot of personal attention.”

Federal records 
obtained by KCUR, however, show they may not have gotten enough. In June
 2018, regulators issued a statement of deficiencies report about the 
hospital containing an “immediate jeopardy” finding – or a situation 
where patients could be at risk of injury or even death.

The
 report by inspectors for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
 (CMS) found that both Claussen’s and Metz’s deaths resulted from 
multiple failures by hospital staff to comply with conditions for 
getting Medicare and Medicaid funding.

As part of their 
investigation, the inspectors interviewed members of the hospital’s 
staff, including physicians and nurses. The report, as is customary with
 statements of deficiencies, does not identify the staff members by 
name, but some of their statements are damning.

One said that 
after Claussen (who is identified in the report as Patient 10) was found
 unresponsive, they reviewed the crash cart and discovered that no 
Narcan, epinephrine or any emergency drugs were used.

“We gave 
Patient 10 a lot of narcotics and I believe anyone with experience would
 have recognized a potential for narcotic overdose and would have tried 
at least one dose of Narcan,” the staff member said, referring to a drug
 used to treat narcotic overdoses.

Another staff member said that
 Claussen’s symptoms “screamed of overdose to me. Patient 10 should have
 gotten Narcan. We do stock Narcan here, so it was available.”

The
 CMS report said Claussen’s autopsy report indicated the cause of death 
as coronary artery disease with fentanyl intoxication as a contributing 
factor.

The report said that “oxycodone intoxication,” along with
 underlying medical conditions, likewise contributed to Metz’s death. 
Citing the autopsy report, it said the concentration of oxycodone found 
in Metz, who is identified as Patient 3, was “above the expected 
therapeutic range and within the potentially fatal range.”

A
 hospital staff member told the CMS inspectors that following Metz’s 
death, hospital staff fought over having the reason for his death 
changed. The staff member said “there is a lot of the blame game going 
on …”

At the time, Blue Valley was trying to boost the number of surgeries it performed.

CMS
 had concluded the hospital did not “primarily engage” in providing 
services to inpatients – a requirement for participation in Medicare – 
and said it was going to end Blue Valley’s eligibility for Medicare 
reimbursements. Hospitals that don’t average at least two inpatients per
 day and at least two night average length of stay are considered 
same-day surgical centers, which are reimbursed differently.

Carabetta,
 the pharmacy director who left in the fall of 2018, told KCUR she 
believed Claussen had been kept at the hospital instead of being 
transferred “to keep the patient census up to meet CMS requirements.”

“I took my oath to provide good quality care and I didn’t feel I was living that oath,” she said.

A spokeswoman for the hospital did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Still
 grieving over their loss, the Claussens are angry and upset over what 
they describe as the hospital’s cavalier response to their son’s death.

“The
 doctor never acted like he was sorry this happened. He sure never said 
he was sorry this happened. The hospitalist never said he was sorry. The
 director of nursing never said she was sorry this happened,” says Debra
 Claussen, Travis’ mother.

“Even after he died, nobody in 
management expressed any sympathy or regret. And I know that’s because 
they’re expecting a lawsuit and they’ve got to be careful what they 
say.”

Money was clearly on the minds of the hospital’s administrators over the last few years.

Before
 it lost its Medicare certification, Blue Valley claimed to perform 35% 
of all Missouri Medicaid bariatric surgeries, a procedure performed on 
obese patients. Seeking to restore its Medicare funding, Blue Valley 
filed a <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/overland-park-weight-loss-hospital-sues-after-government-cuts-medicare-funding#stream/0">lawsuit in which it claimed that its</a>
 termination from the program would likely result in the loss of 
Medicaid and commercial coverage as well, which would financially 
cripple it.

In
 an April 2018 statement of deficiencies finding Blue Valley did not 
qualify for participation in Medicare, CMS inspectors said a hospital 
staff member – from the context, it appears to be one of the hospital’s 
executives – told them the hospital performed “a lot of extra surgeries 
to get the numbers we needed.”

“So, I offered a new benefit to 
all employees and their families,” the staff member told the inspectors,
 according to the report. “I told them for those that medically qualify 
for a gastric sleeve, we would pay what insurance didn’t. Our staff has 
requested it for years because the insurance we have won’t cover the 
costs for the surgery here. Unfortunately, I have a lot of obese 
employees and they wanted this surgery. So it was something that could 
help us both. We have done about 50-60 employee/family surgeries to date
 with about 70 more that want it.”

Although <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/overland-park-weight-loss-hospital-loses-bid-regain-its-medicare-funding#stream/0">a federal judge dismissed Blue Valley’s lawsuit</a> on procedural grounds – <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/overland-park-weight-loss-hospital-struggles-regain-its-medicare-certification#stream/0">a decision upheld by a federal appeals court</a>
 – Palzer, the hospital’s owner, managed to get around CMS’ termination 
of its participation in Medicare by buying Cooper County Memorial 
Hospital in Boonville, Missouri, in 2018.

After the purchase, he renamed the Boonville and Overland Park facilities Pinnacle Regional Hospital.

But last month, about two years after he purchased it, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/pinnacle-regional-hospital-boonville-missouri-shuts-down-operations#stream/0">Palzer closed down the Boonville hospital</a>. In a statement, Pinnacle CEO Joseph Conigliaro said that Missouri regulators’ <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/boonville-missouri-hospital-ordered-stop-performing-surgery#stream/0">demand that the hospital upgrade its sterile processing procedures</a> would have proved too costly.

By then Pinnacle was already <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/shuttered-boonville-hospital-s-financial-woes-had-been-piling-year#stream/0">in serious financial trouble</a>.
 Vendors were suing for nonpayment and Pinnacle’s lender, Great Western 
Bank, claimed it was owed more than $24 million in unpaid loans, 
interest, late fees and other charges.

In a lawsuit filed last 
month, Great Western said that both the Boonville and Overland Park 
businesses were “collapsing” and asked the court to appoint a receiver 
to oversee them and assess whether a sale would maximize their value.

Seeking
 to restructure their debts, Pinnacle and its parent company, Pinnacle 
Healthcare System Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization 
on Wednesday. The companies said they hope to emerge from the proceeding
 as more stable, viable businesses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581619424617.jpeg" alt=" Pinnacle Regional Hospital, at 128th Street and Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park, was previously known as Blue Valley Hospital. Dan Margolies / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption> Pinnacle Regional Hospital, at 128th Street and Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park, was previously known as Blue Valley Hospital. Dan Margolies / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/two-patients-died-after-surgery-overland-park-hospital-their-families-want-answers#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>On Feb. 6, 2018, Travis Claussen had his right hip replaced at Blue Valley Hospital in Overland Park.The
 40-year-old resident of Lawson, Missouri, had been experiencing severe 
back pain for years. Before then, he’d been a physical fitness buff who 
was into off-road motorcycle racing.His back pain got so bad 
that, other than helping out his mother with her small T-shirt and sign 
business, he’d been unable to work for the previous five years.Claussen
 was considered a poor candidate for back surgery because, at 
six-feet-one-inches tall and 240 pounds, he was considered obese. But 
one of the doctors at Blue Valley thought he was sufficiently young and 
healthy to undergo hip replacement surgery.Claussen went ahead 
with the procedure, but following his discharge from the hospital he 
developed a surgical site infection. He returned to the hospital 13 days
 after his discharge and was treated with pain medications, intravenous 
antibiotics and a wound dressing to promote healing.He was 
discharged again a week later but readmitted several more times over the
 following weeks when it became clear the infection wasn’t clearing up. 
On April 9, 2018, the surgeon removed Claussen’s hip implants. During 
the procedure, Claussen’s right femur fractured.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581619478474.jpeg" alt=" Travis Claussen was 40 years old when he died. Credit Claussen family" />
 <figcaption> Travis Claussen was 40 years old when he died. Credit Claussen family</figcaption>
 </figure>Medical records show that over the next 24 or so hours, he was given 
large quantities of narcotics, including fentanyl and oxycodone, and 
sedatives, including Valium and Ativan. At 3:50 a.m. on April 11, a 
nurse found him unresponsive. He was transported about 50 minutes later 
just down the road to Saint Luke’s South Hospital but it was too late. 
Claussen was dead.He wasn’t the first patient at privately owned
 Blue Valley Hospital, which was renamed Pinnacle Regional Hospital in 
2018 and on Wednesday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, to die following 
surgery there.Joseph Metz, who had endured back pain for years, 
underwent spinal fusion surgery at Blue Valley on Dec. 22, 2017. He was 
discharged four days later, although his temperature was elevated and an
 autopsy subsequently showed he had pneumonia. The following day he was 
discovered unresponsive in bed at home. He was pronounced dead at 4:43 
that morning. Metz was 36 years old.The two men’s deaths came 
during a time when the hospital was in peril of losing its Medicare 
certification because it didn’t have a sufficient number of inpatients. 
In fact, a hospital staffer told CMS inspectors in 2017 that it was 
performing “a lot of extra surgeries to get the numbers we needed.”&nbsp;Andrea
 Carabetta, the pharmacy director at Blue Valley Hospital for nearly 
three years before she left in the fall of 2018, told KCUR that Claussen
 should have been transferred to another hospital with a higher level of
 care.“I feel like they killed him,” she said.<h2>Families sue</h2>In
 October, Metz’s two minor children and the personal representative of 
his estate sued the hospital and two of its physicians for medical 
malpractice, alleging they were negligent in their treatment of Metz. 
The defendants have denied the allegations, claiming the plaintiffs’ 
injuries “were the direct and unavoidable consequence of Joseph Metz’s 
pre-existing condition.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581619507576.jpeg" alt=" Travis Claussen's parents, Debra and Herm Claussen, say they never got a word of apology from the hospital. Credit Dan Margolies / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption> Travis Claussen's parents, Debra and Herm Claussen, say they never got a word of apology from the hospital. Credit Dan Margolies / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>Claussen’s family filed their own lawsuit against the hospital, two 
of its physicians and a nurse practitioner on Thursday. Like the Metz 
family's lawsuit, it alleges the defendants were negligent in their 
treatment of their son and seeks unspecified damages.<h2>A ‘more intimate hospital experience’</h2>The
 hospital, which is located at 128th Street and Metcalf Avenue, is owned
 by businessman Douglas Palzer, who opened it in 2010 as a seven-bed 
facility with two operating rooms. Palzer, who lives part of the time in
 Las Vegas and could not be reached for comment, had previously owned a 
nearby ambulatory surgical center specializing in weight loss surgery.A
 news release announcing the hospital’s opening said that while it was 
designed with weight-loss surgery in mind, “it is expanding its range of
 specialties and procedures.”“We offer a more intimate hospital 
experience than what many people expect,” Palzer was quoted in the 
release as saying. “With only three outpatient and four inpatient beds, 
our patients get a lot of personal attention.”Federal records 
obtained by KCUR, however, show they may not have gotten enough. In June
 2018, regulators issued a statement of deficiencies report about the 
hospital containing an “immediate jeopardy” finding – or a situation 
where patients could be at risk of injury or even death.<h2>‘Screamed of overdose’ </h2>The
 report by inspectors for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
 (CMS) found that both Claussen’s and Metz’s deaths resulted from 
multiple failures by hospital staff to comply with conditions for 
getting Medicare and Medicaid funding.As part of their 
investigation, the inspectors interviewed members of the hospital’s 
staff, including physicians and nurses. The report, as is customary with
 statements of deficiencies, does not identify the staff members by 
name, but some of their statements are damning.One said that 
after Claussen (who is identified in the report as Patient 10) was found
 unresponsive, they reviewed the crash cart and discovered that no 
Narcan, epinephrine or any emergency drugs were used.“We gave 
Patient 10 a lot of narcotics and I believe anyone with experience would
 have recognized a potential for narcotic overdose and would have tried 
at least one dose of Narcan,” the staff member said, referring to a drug
 used to treat narcotic overdoses.Another staff member said that
 Claussen’s symptoms “screamed of overdose to me. Patient 10 should have
 gotten Narcan. We do stock Narcan here, so it was available.”The
 CMS report said Claussen’s autopsy report indicated the cause of death 
as coronary artery disease with fentanyl intoxication as a contributing 
factor.The report said that “oxycodone intoxication,” along with
 underlying medical conditions, likewise contributed to Metz’s death. 
Citing the autopsy report, it said the concentration of oxycodone found 
in Metz, who is identified as Patient 3, was “above the expected 
therapeutic range and within the potentially fatal range.”<h2>‘Blame game’</h2>A
 hospital staff member told the CMS inspectors that following Metz’s 
death, hospital staff fought over having the reason for his death 
changed. The staff member said “there is a lot of the blame game going 
on …”At the time, Blue Valley was trying to boost the number of surgeries it performed.CMS
 had concluded the hospital did not “primarily engage” in providing 
services to inpatients – a requirement for participation in Medicare – 
and said it was going to end Blue Valley’s eligibility for Medicare 
reimbursements. Hospitals that don’t average at least two inpatients per
 day and at least two night average length of stay are considered 
same-day surgical centers, which are reimbursed differently.Carabetta,
 the pharmacy director who left in the fall of 2018, told KCUR she 
believed Claussen had been kept at the hospital instead of being 
transferred “to keep the patient census up to meet CMS requirements.”“I took my oath to provide good quality care and I didn’t feel I was living that oath,” she said.A spokeswoman for the hospital did not return phone calls seeking comment.<h2>‘No one expressed any sympathy’</h2>Still
 grieving over their loss, the Claussens are angry and upset over what 
they describe as the hospital’s cavalier response to their son’s death.“The
 doctor never acted like he was sorry this happened. He sure never said 
he was sorry this happened. The hospitalist never said he was sorry. The
 director of nursing never said she was sorry this happened,” says Debra
 Claussen, Travis’ mother.“Even after he died, nobody in 
management expressed any sympathy or regret. And I know that’s because 
they’re expecting a lawsuit and they’ve got to be careful what they 
say.”Money was clearly on the minds of the hospital’s administrators over the last few years.Before
 it lost its Medicare certification, Blue Valley claimed to perform 35% 
of all Missouri Medicaid bariatric surgeries, a procedure performed on 
obese patients. Seeking to restore its Medicare funding, Blue Valley 
filed a <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/overland-park-weight-loss-hospital-sues-after-government-cuts-medicare-funding#stream/0">lawsuit in which it claimed that its</a>
 termination from the program would likely result in the loss of 
Medicaid and commercial coverage as well, which would financially 
cripple it.<h2>‘Extra surgeries’</h2>In
 an April 2018 statement of deficiencies finding Blue Valley did not 
qualify for participation in Medicare, CMS inspectors said a hospital 
staff member – from the context, it appears to be one of the hospital’s 
executives – told them the hospital performed “a lot of extra surgeries 
to get the numbers we needed.”“So, I offered a new benefit to 
all employees and their families,” the staff member told the inspectors,
 according to the report. “I told them for those that medically qualify 
for a gastric sleeve, we would pay what insurance didn’t. Our staff has 
requested it for years because the insurance we have won’t cover the 
costs for the surgery here. Unfortunately, I have a lot of obese 
employees and they wanted this surgery. So it was something that could 
help us both. We have done about 50-60 employee/family surgeries to date
 with about 70 more that want it.”Although <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/overland-park-weight-loss-hospital-loses-bid-regain-its-medicare-funding#stream/0">a federal judge dismissed Blue Valley’s lawsuit</a> on procedural grounds – <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/overland-park-weight-loss-hospital-struggles-regain-its-medicare-certification#stream/0">a decision upheld by a federal appeals court</a>
 – Palzer, the hospital’s owner, managed to get around CMS’ termination 
of its participation in Medicare by buying Cooper County Memorial 
Hospital in Boonville, Missouri, in 2018.After the purchase, he renamed the Boonville and Overland Park facilities Pinnacle Regional Hospital.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581619542408.jpeg" alt=" Pinnacle Regional Hospital in Boonville, Missouri, closed its doors last month, although its CEO says it plans to reopen as part of a bankruptcy reorganization. Credit Sebastian Martinez Valdivia / Side Effects Public Media" />
 <figcaption> Pinnacle Regional Hospital in Boonville, Missouri, closed its doors last month, although its CEO says it plans to reopen as part of a bankruptcy reorganization. Credit Sebastian Martinez Valdivia / Side Effects Public Media</figcaption>
 </figure>But last month, about two years after he purchased it, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/pinnacle-regional-hospital-boonville-missouri-shuts-down-operations#stream/0">Palzer closed down the Boonville hospital</a>. In a statement, Pinnacle CEO Joseph Conigliaro said that Missouri regulators’ <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/boonville-missouri-hospital-ordered-stop-performing-surgery#stream/0">demand that the hospital upgrade its sterile processing procedures</a> would have proved too costly.By then Pinnacle was already <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/shuttered-boonville-hospital-s-financial-woes-had-been-piling-year#stream/0">in serious financial trouble</a>.
 Vendors were suing for nonpayment and Pinnacle’s lender, Great Western 
Bank, claimed it was owed more than $24 million in unpaid loans, 
interest, late fees and other charges.In a lawsuit filed last 
month, Great Western said that both the Boonville and Overland Park 
businesses were “collapsing” and asked the court to appoint a receiver 
to oversee them and assess whether a sale would maximize their value.Seeking
 to restructure their debts, Pinnacle and its parent company, Pinnacle 
Healthcare System Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization 
on Wednesday. The companies said they hope to emerge from the proceeding
 as more stable, viable businesses.In astatement Thursday 
announcing the filing, Pinnacle CEO Joe Conigliaro said the Overland 
Park hospital would remain open and the Boonville hospital would be 
reopened.The Chapter 11 filing, Conigliaro said, will allow the 
companies “to restructure our debts and ensure stable, stronger, and 
viable business operations now and when we emerge from Chapter 11”“The
 reorganization proceedings will enable our companies to continue our 
mission of providing high quality and cost effective medical and 
surgical services in our communities,” Conigliaro said.Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor at KCUR. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/DanMargolies">@DanMargolies</a>.

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