Chris Dunker Profile picture
Apr 14, 2020 22 tweets 4 min read Read on X
Alright, I'm covering Gov. Pete Ricketts' daily #coronavirus briefing. Today's guests are from the Dept. of Ag and the Nebraska Restauarant Association.
I submitted some Qs ahead of time:
1. Is Neb. considering any kind of “shared regional strategy” with surrounding states for reopening?
2. Neb Crossing's plan to open April 24?
3. Can the president tell us what to do?
Ricketts runs down the rules for staying healthy:

Stay home, work from home if possible, shop alone, no sports/playgrounds, help seniors, exercise daily in an appropriate way.
Ricketts had Qdoba today and Grey Whale Poke last week. He touts #TakeoutTuesday, says Nebraska is No. 2 in the country for supporting its restaurants in this way.
Ag Director Steve Wellman is discussing the FDA's move to allow restaurants to sell packaged food that lacks a nutrient label, as long as the package doesn't have an nutrition claims. Packages still need to tell you what's in them, though.
The move will allow restaurants to sell food and keep some cash coming in to further weather the pandemic, Wellman says.

More information available at nda.nebraska.gov/covid19.
Zoe Olson of the Nebraska Restaurant Association says businesses across the state have changed the business model several times in recent weeks as they try to keep staff employed.

They are thrilled by the temporary waiver of retail sales.
Olson says there is a scam going around with her name attached.

If Zoe Olson texts you asking you to buy a gift card and you do not personally know Zoe, it's a scam. Don't fall for it.
Ricketts back up, says traffic remains 28% down across the state, and 30% down in Lincoln and Omaha.

"Nebraskans are doing their part" in slowing the spread of the virus, he says.
Q: Is state Dept. of Ag. doing anything to remove regulations to help small businesses/producers?

A: state is taking all ideas. "We want to make sure people have the tools they need to stay in business," Ricketts says.
Q: Does Dr. James Lawler's comments in emails about Trump admin actions hurt Nebraska's preparedness?

A: He was talking about CDC. The president has moved quickly when given advice.
Q: About Trump's comments he has authority to open country?

A: We work with federal officials and will continue to work collaboratively to do what's right for Nebraska.

Ricketts says not to get caught up in Washington D.C. politics.
"I'd urge all folks to keep their eye on the big picture, which is to keep Nebraskans safe," Ricketts adds.

Restrictions will be loosened over time, but there are no specific plans in place right now, he says.
Ricketts wants Nebraska to stay the course for another 2.5 weeks, or until the end of April which has been the goal for awhile.
Q: Does situation in Adams Co., where there is a high per capita infection rate mean the plan is not working?

A: The plan is working because the health care system is not being overrun. Patients can be moved around to where there is capacity if needed, he says.
The plan is to ensure everyone who needs a hospital bed, ICU or ventilator can get one, he says. Right now, that's happening in Nebraska.
Q: What about Nebraska Crossing?

A: We didn't close down shopping centers, anybody who closed did that on a voluntary basis. What we have done though is limit the number of people who can gather to 10 people.
A: We're asking people to shop once a week. But if companies are preparing for down the road, that's fine. People should still mind the social distancing guidelines, he says.
Q: Any plan for a shared regional strategy?

A: We want to be consistent with neighbors, but no plans have been made at this time.
Ricketts says he was unaware Nebraska Crossing closed; says he did not ask them to reopen.
Q: Are you considering a plan for herd immunity? (This is about the proposal put forward by Sens. Erdman and Halloran).

A: Herd immunity really isn't a plan, although if your plan was to do nothing, that would eventually happen.
Q: If feds drop 10 person guideline, what will Nebraska do?

A: We're going to do what's best for Nebraska. Won't drop all our recommendations at once, will phase them out.

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More from @ChrisDunkerLJS

Jul 31, 2023
Good afternoon from the #neleg, where the Education Committee will conduct a trio of interim hearings related to parental involvement in schools, social-emotion learning, and the use of federal funds for the Launch Nebraska website.

Updates will be in this thread:
Educ Comm. Chair Sen. Dave Murman, the sponsor of the interim hearings, says the hearings were motivated by Westside school officials discussing how they would look for ways around limits put on teaching critical race theory.
Murman says he handed out a packet of screenshots of material he finds objectionable to the committee.

It includes info related to HIV education (I think he objects to references of race, sex, gender), the Trevor Project, culturally relevant teaching.
Read 45 tweets
May 16, 2023
It's Day 78 of your #neleg and we're nearing debate over a proposal to combine two of the most controversial bills introduced this session:

--A ban on gender-affirming care for Nebraskans under 19
--A ban on abortion after 12 weeks gestation.

Updates will follow in this thread:
Several senators have mentioned they are trying to kill time -- apparently not all of the supporters of the transgender care/abortion ban are here right now.

The trio of senators who introduced a bunch of filibuster motions have pulled them all.
If there are only 32 senators for a cloture vote on LB574, the measure would fail today. The abortion ban amendment would not get attached.

There are a lot of conversations going on underneath the balconies and the breakroom.
Read 66 tweets
Apr 19, 2023
On LB77 from Sen. Tom Brewer, which would allow Nebraskans to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, lawmakers got the 33 votes needed to shut off debate.

(Fixed an unfortunate typo in previous tweet.) Image
LB77 passes on final reading 33-14.

Someone in the north balcony starts yelling “Shame” and is escorted from the chamber. Image
Another woman just yelled “We’ll remember you guys” and the said she’d see herself out.

Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly just ordered the balcony cleared.
Read 8 tweets
Aug 22, 2022
Jack Riggins, the host Drive Time Lincoln on 1400 KLIN, is not on air this evening. Riggins was apparently behind a tweet by NEGOP last week posting sexual images from a graphic novel. Station management said they are discussing the situation with Riggins.
Drive Time Lincoln is otherwise continuing with guest Matt Innis, who is on to basically defend the NEGOP tweet that the book in question is available in Nebraska schools — something dozens of teachers have said isn’t the case.
Innis is using a letter from the Nebraska Library Association asking the State Board of Education not to censor library books as evidence that the books in question shouldn’t be in schools.
Read 6 tweets
Aug 22, 2022
BREAKING: Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana says the pair of initiatives to legalize medical cannabis failed to qualify for the November ballot.
Clarification: The Nebraska Secretary of State says it notified NMM that the ballot initiatives did not qualify.
Both petitions fell well short of the 86,776 signatures needed, and did not hit the 5% threshold in 38 counties, per Evnen's office.
Read 7 tweets
May 1, 2022
GREENWOOD — We’re a little more than an hour away from Charles Herbster speaking at a rally at I-80 Speedway that was rescheduled from Friday due to severe weather.

Trump is scheduled to appear at 5 pm.
A dance party has broken out up front, as others wait in line. I believe they are going to fill out the bleachers and some standing room only areas in the wings.
Herbster is speaking with reporters in the press section. Here he is being interviewed by OAN.

Hearing the speakers are being moved back to 3 pm, which I’m sure means Trump will be later as well.
Read 85 tweets

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