LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would require schools to accommodate pregnant and parenting students is headed to a final vote in the Nebraska Legislature despite opposition from rural lawmakers.
Senators advanced the bill Tuesday after defeating an amendment backed by conservative lawmakers that would remove most of the requirements. Opponents argue the measure is an unfunded mandate on school districts.
The bill would require schools to give breastfeeding students a space to express and store milk and adopt written policies for how to handle absences and coursework.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha, says the measure’s requirements are necessary to ensure teen parents have the flexibility they need to raise children and finish high school.
During the evening hours of Friday, April 14, 2017, the Nebraska State Patrol conducted alcohol compliance checks at retail outlets in Red Willow County.
12 businesses were checked, with one of them, Sehnert’s Bakery, 312 Norris Ave, McCook, found to be non-compliant after selling alcohol to a minor. The retail outlets checked included convenience stores, liquor stores, restaurants, and bars.
Law enforcement performs compliance checks to ensure businesses are complying with the state’s alcohol laws and to decrease youth access to alcohol. The compliance checks were conducted thanks in part to a grant from Region II Human Services
Parents of students in the North Platte Public School system received a message at around 5:35 p.m., on Tuesday, stating that students who are not fully vaccinated will not be able to return to school or attend school-related activities until April 27, 2017.
In the message, Simpson said this action was taken in accordance with State regulations.
He also asked that people who have traveled to Lincoln, Omaha, Denver or Minneapolis, from March 12-17, and show signs of Measles to contact the West Central District Health Department.
A case of measles has been identified in Lincoln County and three additional persons are being tested due to measles-like symptoms. The West Central District Health Department and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services continue to investigate but no link to the confirmed case in Omaha last month has been identified at this time.
To ensure early recognition, appropriate testing, and thorough epidemiologic investigation of suspected cases, it is strongly encouraged that providers contact their local health department immediately if they suspect a measles diagnosis. This is very important for public health’s ability to identify transmission and provide recommendations to affected persons.
Persons known to have been exposed are being notified.
What are the signs and symptoms of Measles? The signs and symptoms of measles generally begin about 7‐14 days after exposure. A typical case of measles begins with mild to moderate fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes and a sore throat. Two or three days after the symptoms begin, tiny white spots, called Koplick’s spots, may appear inside the mouth. Three to five days after the start of symptoms a red or reddish‐brown rash appears. The rash usually begins on the face at the hairline and spreads downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet.
Exposures Included:
Madison Middle School April 1, 2017 to April 10, 2017 North Platte Public Transit April 3, 207 to April 10, 2017 New Life Church Youth Group April 5, 2017 (6:00pm – 10:30 pm) Great Plains Health Emergency Room April 10, 2017 (6:00pm – 2:30 am) Precise Family Care April 11, 2017 (8:00am – 2:00pm) Great Plains Health Pavilion in Pathology Services April 11, 2017 (11:00 am – 3:00pm) and April 17, 2017 (12:30pm to 2:30pm) Eisenhower Elementary School April 2, 2017 to April 13, 2017 North Platte Airport Diner April 17, 2017 (11:00am – 3:00pm) Suspect Exposure at GNAC Soccer Tournament April 7, 2017 to April 8, 2017 Adams and Madison Soccer Fields,Restrooms, and Concession AreasBig Apple in Kearney, Nebraska April 15, 2017 (4:00pm – 10:30pm) Shell Gas Station (108 2nd Ave in Kearney, Ne) April 15, 2017 (8:00pm – 10:30pm) Kwik Stop (4th and Poplar in North Platte, Ne) April 17, 2017 (4:30pm – 6:30pm)
What should I do if I attended one of these locations? Watch closely for the onset of signs and symptoms of measles. Those who were infected at the locations listed above could develop symptoms up to 21 days after their exposure. If you attended one the of locations on the dates and times listed above and develop symptoms of measles, call your healthcare provider right away to discuss your symptoms and potential exposure before showing up at a clinic. The provider will advise you to either come to the clinic or arrange a visit at a different location so that other people are not exposed.
We want to hear from you: Nebraska had a measles case in and around Omaha over North Platte Public Schools Spring Break (March 9 – 15, 2017). If you have traveled to Omaha and attended any of the below locations, please contact West Central District Health Department at (308) 696-1201. Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum March 13, 2017 (8:00am-2pm) Delta flight 798 from Minneapolis to Omaha March 12, 2017 (8:00pm-10:30pm) Eppley Airfield South Terminal, Omaha March 12, 2017 (10:30pm – 1:30am) Eppley Airfield South baggage claim, Omaha March 12, 2017 (10:30pm – 1:30am) Hampton Inn, 12331 Southport Pkwy La Vista March 12, 2017 – March 17, 2017 Urgent Care of Papillion, S 73rd Plaza March 15, 2017 (6:00pm – 8:30pm) CHI Urgent Care, S 96th St La Vista March 15, 2017 (7:00pm – 10:00pm) Bergan Mercy Hospital ED, Omaha March 15, 2017 (8:30pm – 12:00am)
If I have been vaccinated or had measles in the past am I protected? You are protected against measles if you have been adequately vaccinated against measles or if you have had measles in the past.
• People born prior to 1957 are considered to be immune because at that time most people were infected with measles as children.
• Most persons under 40 years of age who were compliant with school entry requirements have had two doses of MMR and have a very low risk of developing measles if exposed. Persons who were non‐compliant with that requirement are at high risk if exposed to a person shedding the measles virus.
• Preschool children 12 months of age or older should have had at least one dose of measles‐ containing vaccine.
• Infants less than 12 months of age are too young to be vaccinated and should be monitored closely for symptoms if they attended one of the events listed above. Call your health care provider if your infant has been exposed and is too young to be vaccinated to discuss options. Healthcare personnel and frequent international travelers should have 2 MMR doses.
Adults born in or after 1957 who are not healthcare personnel or frequent international travelers and cannot confirm that they have been vaccinated or had measles in the past should consider getting a dose of vaccine at this time to minimize the risk of acquiring measles in the future.
What should I do if I have questions about my vaccination status? You can call your healthcare provider or the West Central District Health Department at (308) 221- 6831 or (308) 696-1201 to discuss your immunization history and whether you need to get a vaccination at this time. Where can I get vaccinated against measles? You can call your healthcare provider or West Central District Health Department at (308) 221-6831 or (308) 696-1201.
AINSWORTH, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a wildfire has blackened hundreds of acres of pasture in eastern Cherry County.
No injuries have been reported from the blaze. Firefighters were dispatched around 2:30 p.m. Saturday to a spot a few miles southeast of the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge.
Ainsworth Assistant Fire Chief Tony Ruhter said lightning likely started the fire, which eventually burned an abandoned building and charred around 2.3 square miles (6 square kilometers) of pasture.
Firefighters from several departments responded to calls, and Ruhter says the fire was extinguished within a couple hours.
After learning this weekend that a student at Madison Middle School has been confirmed as having measles, we’ve now learned of a possible case at a North Platte elementary school.
On Monday evening, parents of students at Eisenhower Elementary received an automated message from Principal Mary Derby, stating that they have been made aware of a suspected case of measles at the school.
Derby said health officials have not confirmed this case but parents were being notified as a precaution.
In the message, Derby said any student who has not been vaccinated or who are immunocompromised are most at risk. Again, this case has not yet been confirmed by a laboratory.
Officials did not release anymore information and said more information will be released at a later time.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska secretary of state’s office has put more than 24,000 business entities on notice that their annual and biennial reports and associated fees are delinquent.
Secretary of State John Gale says all 2017 reports should have been filed with his office by April 1. He says a reminder has been mailed to all nonprofits and limited liability companies and partnerships that missed the deadline. Gales says the businesses can all file reports and make payments online until June 1.
Business entities that fail to file by June 1, but wish to remain in good standing, will be required to reinstate or refile, depending on the business type. They will be assessed a reinstatement fee in addition to any payments that are past due.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Organizers say 650 Vietnam veterans will be flying free to Washington, D.C., soon to visit memorials in and near the nation’s capital.
Bill Williams of Patriotic Productions says four chartered jets will leave early on May 1 from Omaha’s Eppley Airfield and return by 8:30 p.m. the same day at Lincoln Airport. Williams says thousands of people are expected to greet and cheer the veterans upon their return from Washington.
Williams says that of the 650 veterans, 55 are Purple Heart recipients.
BENNINGTON, Neb. (AP) — The current commander of the 4th Marines interviewed a World War II veteran in Nebraska to chronicle his experiences for the 75th anniversary of the surrender of Corregidor and for teaching future Marines.
Col. Kevin Norton stopped by the Bennington retirement home last week and interviewed 96-year-old Warren Jorgenson about his life and experiences in the Marines.
While Iowa native Jorgenson was touring with the 4th Marine Regiment, he witnessed the departure of the “China Marines” from Shanghai in 1941, the Japanese attack on Manila after Pearl Harbor and the fall of Corregidor in 1942.
The filmed interview with Jorgenson will be shown next month during services commemorating the 75th anniversary of the surrender of Corregidor. The film will also be used to teach young Marines about the Corps’ history.
DENVER (AP) — A new national poll says Americans think it’s safer to use marijuana than opioids to relieve pain.
The Yahoo/Marist poll out Monday says two-thirds of the respondents in the telephone survey said opioid drugs such as Vicodin or OxyContin are “riskier” to use than pot, even when the pain pills are prescribed by a doctor.
Only one in five said marijuana was riskier than opioids. The rest weren’t sure.
Those answering the poll overwhelmingly said pot should be legal for medical use. But they were less comfortable with children and pregnant women using pot to treat medical conditions.
The telephone poll of 1,122 adults was conducted last month. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would require schools to accommodate pregnant and parenting students is headed to a final vote in the Nebraska Legislature despite opposition from rural lawmakers.
