DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reported two additional deaths and 125 new COVID-19 cases in Iowa Thursday. This brings the statewide total to 1,270 cases, and 29 deaths. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Workforce Development reported 67,334 new jobless claims in Iowa filed between Sunday, March 29 and Saturday, April 4 amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The number of continuing weekly unemployment claims is 92,962. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday said the state is expanding a grant program for small businesses, after receiving thousands of applications requesting assistance to alleviate financial burdens sustained due to the pandemic. Reynolds said the program will increase funding from $4 million to $24 million to help more businesses suffering due to closures. These grants totaled $10 million, with each one ranging from $5,000-$25,000. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Public Schools announced Wednesday the district will finish the academic year with online classes. Des Moines staff and students will begin distance learning through online courses beginning Monday for high school seniors, on April 20 for grades 9-11, and April 27 for pre-K through eighth grade. EARLHAM, IA (IRN) – Every household in Earlham received a generous surprise through the mail by an anonymous person to help keep the community afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. WHO-TV reports 549 households received three gift cards each worth $50.

CLINTON, IA (IRN) – A suspect has been shot and killed by an officer during a police chase in eastern Iowa. KWWL-TV reports the shooting happened around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday after an officer tried to stop a vehicle that fled. The vehicle was chased into nearby Camanche and back to Clinton when a pursuing officer fired his service weapon at the vehicle, hitting the suspect. The person was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reported one additional death and 97 new COVID-19 cases in Iowa Wednesday. This brings the statewide total to 1,145 cases, and 27 deaths. Currently 122 Iowans are hospitalized with the virus. IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health identified two long-term care facilities with novel coronavirus outbreaks. McCreedy Home in Washington County and Premier Estates of Toledo in Tama County each have reported outbreaks. State officials previously confirmed a COVID-19 outbreak at Heritage Specialty Care in Linn County. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Paramedics were on scene at Cedar Lake in Cedar Rapids where an unresponsive 30-year-old man was pulled from the water shortly before 2pm on Tuesday. KGAN-TV reports the man was in the water for 15 minutes before a police officer and two civilians were able to pull him out. He was transported to a local hospital. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Strong storms produced large, damaging hail as they moved through parts of east-central Iowa Tuesday evening. Hail, in excess of two inches in diameter, was reported with some of the storms moving through Linn County between 6:30 and 8 p.m. Tuesday.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reported one additional death and 102 new COVID-19 cases in Iowa Tuesday. That brings the statewide total to 1,048 positive cases and 26 deaths. COLUMBUS JUNCTION, IA (IRN) – The Tyson pork plant in Columbus Junction is suspending operations after more than two dozen employees tested positive for COVID-19. Officials say this is in effort to “minimize the impact on our overall production.” The livestock supply that was originally scheduled for delivery to that plant in Columbus Junction is now being diverted elsewhere. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Law enforcement across the state will get involved when Iowans refuse to follow Gov. Kim Reynolds’ rules on business closures and social gathering limits. Citations come with a fine up to $250. Many law enforcement agencies say they will give warnings before issuing citations. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An antiviral drug that some doctors believe to be the most promising therapeutic treatment available for patients suffering from the illness caused by the novel coronavirus is being tested at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. Clinical trials have begun using Remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19. IOWA (IRN) – Dr. Anthony Fauci on Monday praised Iowa for its response to the coronavirus pandemic and said the state’s measures to slow the spread of the virus are “compatible with what everyone else is doing.” Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that even though Iowa does not have an official stay-at-home order, the measures in place are “functionally equivalent” to one.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health announced 46 new positive cases of COVID-19 in Iowa, bringing the state’s total to 946. Linn County remains the county with the highest number of cases, now at 176. Seventy-one cases are in long-term care facilities. A total of 284 people are known to have recovered. There have been three additional deaths which included an older adult (age 61-80) in Linn County and two elderly people (older than 81) in Tama County. That brings the death toll in Iowa to 25. IOWA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered more businesses closed through April 30 to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus, including malls, bowling alleys, zoos, campgrounds, playgrounds and libraries, among others. MIDDLE AMANA, IA (IRN) – Whirlpool’s Middle Amana plant is open for the first time in almost two weeks after multiple COVID-19 cases were confirmed last month, according to KGAN-TV. The Iowa County facility reopened with third-shift workers on Sunday night, the first time workers there had gone back since an initial confirmed case was reported at the facility on March 24. The facility was deep-cleaned. MITCHELLVILLE, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man is dead after police say he led officers on a high-speed chase that ended in a multi-vehicle crash. The Iowa State Patrol says an officer spotted the motorcyclist driving over 100 mph on Interstate 80 near Altoona on Saturday. The motorcycle slammed into the back of a car, which then rear-ended a third vehicle. The motorcyclist, later identified as 21-year-old Aaron Bjork, died at the scene. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – One person was injured after losing control of a motorcycle Sunday in Linn County. KCRG-TV reports a 51-year-old resident of Marion lost control of her motorcycle on the loose sand on the edge of the roadway. She put her motorcycle on its side, sliding into a ditch. She wasn’t wearing a helmet. ATLANTIC, IA (IRN) – Two men were arguing over an excessive amount of toilet paper purchased on Friday in Atlantic. Police were called to the Dollar General when one of the men reportedly showed a gun. Authorities said no one was hurt and police plan to review in-store video. Charges are pending.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reported three deaths and 87 additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19. That brings the state total to 786 positive cases and 14 deaths. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency informed Gov. Kim Reynolds on Saturday that Iowa will be receiving more than $44 million to reimburse expenses related to COVID-19. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Supreme Court has issued an order suspending grand jury hearings and criminal jury trials until mid-July in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Chief Justice Susan Christensen issued the order Thursday, saying trials and hearings already in progress will continue, but those that have not begun and are scheduled to begin over the coming weeks have been postponed. AMES, IA (IRN) – As hospitals continue to be in need of more personal protective equipment, some Iowa State University students are back on campus to manufacture PPE for health care workers. A rotation pairs eight students with 30 3D printers to make face shields.