DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Closures of businesses and schools have been extended in Iowa due to COVID-19, as announced by Governor Kim Reynolds in her daily press conference Thursday. The closures currently in place have been extended to April 30th. Reynolds said school districts should continue to find ways to serve students remotely, and such decisions should be made at the local level. She said it is up to each district to decide how best to serve students which could include virtual educational options. The governor added that gatherings should continue to be limited to 10 or fewer people. The governor also said that as of today, Iowa has 614 total cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Iowa with 11 deaths.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) Iowa Workforce Development shared sobering new numbers on jobless claims during the COVID-19 outbreak. According to IWD, 58,453 Iowans filed for unemployment between March 22 and March 28. The previous week approximately 41,000 filed, and the week before that, only about 2,400.

AMES, IA (IRN) – The cancellation of the NCAA and Big 12 Tournaments has cost the Iowa State Athletics department $5 million. Athletic Director Jamie Pollard is implementing a one-year pay reduction for athletics department coaches and some staff – which will save $3 million. He’s also suspending bonuses for coaches for one year – which will save $1 million dollars.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A “No April Fools Joke” event was held on the east edge of Newton yesterday. WHO-TV reports over the noon hour rows of semi trucks pulled in the Love’s Truck Stop and were greeted with offers of a free meal. Jeff Arment of Lynnville’s Smokin’ J’s and friends served pulled pork sandwiches, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, brats and baked goods to approximately 300 truckers.

MARION, IA (IRN) – A Marion middle schooler is using his time at home to do what he can to educate his classmates about COVID-19. Timothy Laubach, a student at Excelsior Middle School, made his own video titled “The Fresh Prince of COVID-19” to help remind us to wash our hands and self-isolate. Laubach says, “I just wanted to appeal to younger viewers and make them laugh but also tell them the guidelines of the COVID-19 virus.”