State Offices Close For First Federal Juneteenth

Nebraska state offices will close today in anticipation of a new federal law that will establish Juneteenth as a recognized government holiday. Gov. Pete Ricketts ordered the closure to comply with a state law that grants the same paid holiday benefits to state employees. State employees will receive a paid day of leave. Exceptions may include law enforcement, security, military and state employees engaged in other essential functions. The governor’s office said in a press release that all workers should receive official instruction from their agency director or personnel representative. Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865.