DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Department of Public Health data shows positive coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are trending upward. As of Friday at 10 a.m., IDPH reported 744 new positive cases and three additional deaths.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – A coalition of construction trades will offer a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for placing a noose at a work site in Altoona. Authorities were called to a building at the Facebook Data Center on June 19 after a supervisor found a noose hanging from a lockbox holding construction plans.

IOWA (IRN) – A racial discrimination complaint has been filed against Iowa meanpacking plants. A group of worker advocacy organizations has filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, saying corporate management is failing to protect minority workers from the coronavirus. Workers rights groups accuse Tyson Foods and JBS of putting profits before people.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Workforce Development reports 10,698 unemployment claims were filed in Iowa between June 28 and July 4. The industries with the most claims were manufacturing, self-employed/independent contractors, health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, and retail.

NEW YORK, NY (IRN) – The Big Ten Conference confirmed Thursday that it will limit fall sports to conference-only schedules, effectively canceling the annual Cy-Hawk football game. The conference will limit sports schedules as a preventative measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision comes one day after the Ivy League announced that it will not hold intercollegiate sports in the fall.