Monday, May 18, 2020

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released new statistics on COVID-19 in the state Monday. IDPH reported 304 new positive cases and 4 deaths. That brings the statewide total to 14,955 positive cases and 355 deaths.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Goodwill of Central Iowa has permanently closed four retail stores and its outlet and career center because of “extreme financial hardships” brought on by coronavirus-related closures. The organization announced it is closing the Grinnell, Oskaloosa, Waukee and south Des Moines locations. In addition, the south Des Moines Outlet and Career Connection Center will be closed, with plans to relocate the outlet to its headquarters in Johnston by 2021.

CEDAR RAPID, IA (IRN) – Travel at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids has diminished in the COVID-19 pandemic. Traffic was down 97% in April compared to April 2019. That means just 1,500 people boarded a plane last month.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A California farm animal sanctuary spent thousands of dollars to send two cargo planes to Iowa to rescue 1,000 chickens that were going to be euthanized at a struggling egg farm. WHO-TV reports workers affiliated with the sanctuary Animal Place loaded chickens onto the planes Saturday at the Fort Dodge, Iowa, airport. The group planned to fly the hens in more than 60 crates to California, where they will be taken to the group’s sanctuary northeast of Sacramento.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The 2020 Julien Dubuque International Film Festival will be a virtual event. There will be an extended live festival in April of 2021. All films and programming will be presented online.