DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the easing of further business restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic today. The governor announced the 50% capacity limit for Iowa businesses will be lifted at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 12. Social-distancing requirements of 6 feet for certain businesses like restaurants, bars and theaters, will stay in place.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State University students will return to campus this fall. The semester will start August 17th, one week early, and wrap up the day before Thanksgiving. University of Northern Iowa officials also released a plan for the fall semester. That includes returning to campus on August 17th, a week earlier than usual, in order to provide flexibility during the winter flu season. Classes will be a mix of face to face, hybrid, and online instruction.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The latest numbers from the Iowa Department of Public Health show the state saw seven more deaths attributed to COVID-19 over the 24-hour period between 10:00 a.m. Tuesday and 10:00 a.m. Wednesday. The data from the IDPH shows there have been 629 total deaths from the coronavirus in the state so far. Of those deaths, 312 were residents of long term care facilities. There are currently 38 outbreaks of the virus at Iowa long term care facilities.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad and other lawmakers shared new demands from Des Moines Black Lives Matter with Gov. Kim Reynolds. Four of the organization’s five demands are directed toward the Iowa Legislature. The fifth is for Gov. Kim Reynolds. Des Moines BLM asks lawmakers to reject HF 2532, which they said legalizes corporal punishment in public schools. They also seek to ban police chokeholds, permit the Iowa Attorney General to investigate police misconduct and prevent the rehiring of police fired for misconduct.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Republican legislators are fast-tracking a bill that offers businesses including meatpacking plants and nursing homes broad immunity from coronavirus lawsuits amid criticism that it would also enable them to ignore workplace safety requirements.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa House Republicans have proposed keeping state spending mostly the same in the coming fiscal year, but they have yet to reach an agreement with their Senate colleagues about where to spend Iowa’s slimmer-than-planned resources. Under the bill, most state departments and agencies would be funded at the same level in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, as they received in the current fiscal year.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Leaders with the Iowa State Fair will meet this afternoon to discuss this summer’s fair. State fairs in other states such as Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin have already canceled due to the coronavirus. The Iowa State Fair Board will meet at 3 p.m. to discuss the status of the 2020 Iowa State Fair.