February and March 2020

April 2, 2020

February got away from me. Although, March almost got away from me too. I left the Statesman Journal in Salem, Ore., in mid-February after more than five years. It was so hard to leave, harder than I would’ve expected or wanted to admit, but I’m back in Nebraska now. After a four-day drive, and only a few delays, we made it to Omaha so I could join the World-Herald as a photojournalist. The move was hectic and, yet, dragged. But that was nothing compared to the changes we’d experience just after arriving. The novel coronavirus pandemic has kept me busy, though not with the assignments I had expected. As I’m out and about photographing the impact of COVID-19 in Nebraska, I’m doing my best to stay healthy and prevent spreading anything to others. I don’t want to be that asshole who gets someone else sick.

Anyway, here is a ton of work from a crazy busy couple of months, including my last video with the SJ. It is a feature on a local pastry chef who runs a doughnut shop, so it’s like it was made for me. And a large collection from my first few weeks with my hometown paper.

Emma Lepert, the event planner, brings out a to-go order to a person waiting in a car at Anthony’s Steakhouse in Omaha on Friday, March 20, 2020. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts issued an executive order Thursday that loosens restrictions on bars and restaurants to sell alcohol to customers placing order for takeout or delivery.

Emily Struebing, a physician assistant, adjusts her face shield before meeting with patients at an appointment-only COVID-19 drive-thru testing site in Omaha on Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

The NCAA has announced that all remaining winter and spring championships are being canceled over concerns of the coronavirus, including March Madness and the College World Series. TD Ameritrade Park and the CHI Health Center photographed through a gate in Omaha on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

Bellevue West’s Jonathan Shanklin and Omaha Westside’s Carl Brown go up for the tip-off in their Class A semifinal game on Friday. Bellevue West won the game 89-70.

Emily Moody plays tag with her daughter Janie, 5, as their miniature golden doodle Wrigley joins them for ‘recess’ outside their home in Omaha on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. The Moody family is trying to stick to a schedule while social distancing as the kids are home from school and the parents work from home to help slow the spread of novel coronavirus.

Chloe Corbett and Samuel Stevens stand behind a piece of tape six feet from Chris Stungis, a records clerk, while picking up their marriage license at the Douglas County Clerk, Marriage License Office in Omaha on Thursday, March 19, 2020. The Marriage License office is issuing new marriage licenses by appointment only, and only for ceremonies that are scheduled within two weeks to help slow the spread of novel coronavirus. Corbett and Stevens are getting married on Saturday with exclusively immediate family invited. “We’ve replanned an entire wedding in two days,” Stevens said. “But we’re getting married, and that’s what is important.”

A single traveler walks through Eppley Airfield in Omaha on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Air travel is down as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads around the globe.