Deb Scholten, director of the Northeast Nebraska Health Department in Wayne, says she’s seeing numerous reports of people coming down with norovirus.

“There isn’t any way you can prevent that,” Scholten says. “It’s highly contagious as most family members know, if you’ve had somebody come down with norovirus. When we talk about norovirus, we’re talking about the stomach flu, which actually isn’t an influenza but we’ve always called it that.”

Scholten says if you catch it, you will feel pretty sick for 24 to 48 hours, likely with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

She says, “The important thing is, even when you are done having the symptoms, you should probably wait at least 24 hours because your body still might be shedding some of that virus and you can still pass it on to other people.”

Scholten says there is no shot or antibiotic to treat norovirus. If you or your kids are sick, she recommends a simple course of action.

“Stay home,” she says. “It’s sometimes a hard call because kids love to wake up in the morning and say they have a tummy ache so they don’t have to go to school, but if there’s norovirus around, you may want to do a little extra listening, especially if they have the symptoms.”

She says the virus can be transmitted through the air or by direct contact.

Jerry Oster, WNAX, Yankton

All of the children have been screened in their local communities and have been recommended for treatment.

Dr. Reinhardt says College of Dentistry students will perform extractions, root canals, fillings, cleaning and apply fluoride treatment and sealants.

An estimated 200 Nebraska children from 14 communities including Crete, Columbus, Norfolk, Stanton, Wayne, Wisner, Beemer, Lyons, West Point and Wisner to name a few, are taking part. Roughly 240 College of Dentistry students will provide the service free of charge. Dr. Reinhardt says one of their goals is to make this a fun event for the children so they don’t develop a fear of going to the dentist for future work. He says they are providing a carnival atmosphere with lots of activities to entertain the children and keep them smiling.

The College of Dentistry holds two Children’s Dental Day events each year. The next event will be held in the Panhandle.

Aaron Curry — 7:45 a.m. The 6’2, 275-pound defensive tackle will choose Nebraska and Iowa.

Alonzo Moore — 9 a.m. Nebraska, Northwestern State and Louisiana Tech. 6-’2, 175-pound athlete.

Devian Shelton — 11 a.m. 6’2, 185-pound cornerback, is considering Nebraska, Washington and Oregon State.

Andrus Peat — ESPNU will carry his live announcement at 12:30 p.m. The 6’7, 305-pound offensive tackle will pick between Nebraska, Stanford and USC

Vincent Valentine — 1 p.m. The 6’4, 313-pound defensive tackle narrows choices to Nebraska, Illinois and Florida

Raymond Ford — TBD. Nebraska, Washington State, Cal, or Utah are among the 5-’10, 165-pound cornerback’s choices.

State health officials have only confirmed about a dozen cases and one death from the flu — an elderly Douglas County woman.

Deb Scholten, head of the Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department in Wayne, says there have been sporadic flu reports.

“It’s just been a few situations here and there but it hasn’t been real strong,” Scholten says. “We’re hoping it’s because so many people have responded and gotten flu shots already.”

Scholten says flu cases normally hit their highest levels about now.

“They peak in January or February and, of course, we’ve gotten through January and February is about to start,” Scholten says. “Our weather has been so unusual this year. We don’t know if that’s a factor also. We still urge people, if they haven’t gotten a flu shot yet, it’s in their best interests to go out and get one.”

Scholten says there are also minor outbreaks of pertussis, or whooping cough, especially in the Sioux City area. She recommends people who haven’t had a booster shot for that illness to get one.

Jerry Oster, WNAX, Yankton

A letter was read at all masses in the Lincoln Catholic Diocese over the weekend stating that Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz would not comply with what it terms “the unjust decree” issued by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Diocese Chancellor Father Daniel Rayer told Nebraska Radio Network affiliate KLIN that the federal government has overstepped its bounds.

“The diocese of Lincoln feels that this is an intrusion on the religious liberty of all Catholics and it really is also an intrusion on the religious liberty of all Christians as well,” Rayer said. “There are other Christians who also who would be opposed to this.”

The diocese will not extend coverage of conception services to employees at the diocese or at the hospitals and schools it operates.

Rayer stated the requirement intrudes on religious liberty.

“Never before has the federal government mandated that people have to buy something that violates their conscience, their moral consciences,” Rayer told KLIN.

Jane Monnich with KLIN contributed to this report.

John Cavanaugh with Building Bright Futures speaks for Children's Health Alliance at news conference

A coalition of Nebraska physicians complains that state budget cuts have hurt access to health care.

Physicians representing the Nebraska Children’s Health Alliance held a news conference in the Capitol rotunda to denounce the 2 ½% cut to the Medicaid budget and argue that the cuts don’t make economic sense.

Dr. Scott Applegate, chairman of the Nebraska Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, says the legislature needs to restore the cut to Medicaid.

“In the year 2011, if you lived in Lincoln, Nebraska, our state’s capital (city), and you are a child new to the Medicaid program, you had access to no pediatricians,” Applegate stated. “There were no pediatricians in the city of Lincoln in 2011 who were able to accept new Medicaid patients.”

John Cavanaugh, executive director of Building Bright Futures of Omaha, stated the Medicaid cuts undermine the ability of poorer children to stay healthy, learn and become productive workers. Cavanaugh said the alliance hopes to persuade the legislature to restore funding and remove regulations that he said keeps some from seeking care.

Cavanaugh and Applegate were joined by Center Pointe Executive Director Topher Hansen and Dr. Robert Rauner, representing the Nebraska Medical Association, at the news conference.

All four emphasized the economics of the cut to the Medicaid budget. The news conference stressed that Nebraska receives $1.40 in federal matching funds for every $1 spent on Medicaid.

Cavanaugh stated that with the federal match and the long-term effects of a lack of health care, budget cuts to Medicaid cannot be justified economically.

“These are without question the most expensive cuts that we can make to our public budget. They cost us more than they gain,” Cavanaugh stated.

AUDIO: Nebraska Children’s Health Alliance news conference [11:40]

It was one year ago Connot was preparing for the annual St. Cecilia Cathedral flower show when another woman fell and hit her head. Martha was trained in first aid by the Red Cross and she stopped the bleeding and comforted the woman until paramedics arrived. Schlegelmilch says they were very happy to present Connot with the award at the same flower show where one year ago she saved a woman’s life.

The certificate Martha will receive bears the signature of President Obama, who was an honorary chairman of the American Red Cross.

Schlegelmilch urges everyone to take the time and attend one of their many life saving classes. The Nebraska – southwest Iowa region covers eight counties in Iowa and all the way from the Missouri River west to Scottsbluff in Nebraska.

Colleen Weubben says living with Parkinson’s is a balancing act and compares it to skiing. She stated one has to be very attentive to shift weight properly and go with the flow. She says one never knows from one minute to the next if they will be able to walk easily or movement will be coordinated.

Last year the event moved to the UNMC ice rink and the larger scale event raised $40,000 for research. Hundreds of skaters are taking part this year and they hope to raise $100.000. The public is invited to come and skate or take part in a number of other events including horse and carriage rides and autographs with both former and current Husker football players.