Category: State News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released new statistics on COVID-19 in Iowa Monday. The IDPH reports 393 new COVID-19 cases and 9 additional deaths. That brings the statewide total to 5,868 positive cases and 127 deaths.

IOWA (IRN) – Campgrounds, bathrooms and other facilities at Iowa State Parks will remain closed through at least May 14 because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The DNR reports state parks and forests remain open now for day-use, but visitors are reminded to strictly abide by social distancing rules and not to gather in groups. Playgrounds, cabins, visitor centers and museums also are closed through at least May 14 because of the outbreak.

U.S. (IRN) The federal government will help U.S. pork producers find new processors — or potentially destroy thousands of pigs that have backed up on farms — because large meatpacking plants have slowed or closed due to COVID-19. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday that livestock and poultry producers face an “unprecedented emergency.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s three major public universities are planning to resume in-person classes in the fall. Iowa Board of Regents President Mike Richards said the schools will follow state and federal guidelines to protect health as they develop plans for thousands of students to return to the campuses of the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Two more Hawkeyes got the call on the final day of the NFL Draft.
Safety Geno Stone was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens with the 219th pick in the seventh round. Quarterback Nate Stanley is going to the Minnesota Vikings with the 244th overall pick. Fellow Hawkeye teammates Tristan Wirfs, A.J. Epenesa and Michael Ojemudia were also selected in this year’s draft.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released new statistics on COVID-19 in Iowa Saturday. The IDPH reported the largest single-day increase in cases with 648 new cases and five deaths.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Friday that she is ending some restrictions, including opening up Iowa farmers markets next week. The Des Moines Farmers’ Market said it’s planning on sharing details next week.

CLAYTON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Clayton County Sheriff and his deputies have been investigating a string of daytime burglaries this week. KWWL-TV reports he burglaries have happened both in homes and vehicles. The burglars have been targeting power tools, cash and credit cards.

BUFFALO, NY (IRN) – The Buffalo Bills selected Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa with the 54th pick in the NFL draft Friday night. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds, Epenesa had 11 1/2 sacks and forced four fumbles to earn second-team All-America honors during his junior season last year.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released new statistics on COVID-19 in Iowa Saturday. The IDPH reported the largest single-day increase in cases with 648 new cases and five deaths.

MITCHELLVILLE, IA (IRN) – State officials have reported a COVID-19 outbreak at the Mitchell Village in Mitchellville, with six positive cases. Four of the cases are residents and two are staff members.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday announced she has signed a proclamation to open some previously closed businesses in Iowa amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The governor said the proclamation allows the resumption of elective surgeries at hospitals and clinics and re-open farmers markets in a phased approach beginning next week.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) -The City of Dubuque is experiencing substantial revenue loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To combat this and to limit the financial burden on residents, the city asked bargaining unit employees to forgo their wage increases for the Fiscal Year 2021. Employees asked to consider this were from the Teamster Local 120, Operating Engineers Local 234, Dubuque Professional Fire Fighters Local 25, and Dubuque Police Protective Association. Each of the units held a vote and the wage freeze was accepted.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Questions are arising why airports are getting so much money after congress passed the CARES Act. WHO-TV reports the Mason City Airport received over $17 million. That’s enough money to operate the airport for the next two decades.

IOWA (IRN) – Another 11 people with COVID-19 have died, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported Friday, bringing the statewide total to 107. Additionally, another 521 people have tested positive, bringing the statewide total to 4445.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Wind Turbine Blade Manufacturer TPI Composites is suspending production at its Newton plant to clean the facility and implement more COVID-19 testing. The company said 28 more TPI Newton workers have tested positive for the disease. TPI will be closed until the middle of next week to do another deep-clean and test all Newton associates. TPI said workers will be paid during the production pause.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds is moving closer to announcing specific plans to slowly reopen the state. She said she understands that people want to return to normal life as soon as possible and her disaster proclamation ends with the month of April. Reynolds did not give a timeline for announcing reopening plans.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Ethanol producer ADM says it is idling production at its corn ethanol plants in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Columbus, Nebraska, furloughing 90 employees in each facility for at least four months. The company says low consumer demand for gasoline also has dramatically cut demand for corn-based ethanol which is blended into gasoline.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health on Thursday released new statistics on COVID-19 in the state. The IDPH reported six deaths and 176 new COVID-19 cases. That brings the statewide total to 3,924 positive cases and 96 deaths.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Workforce Development released new unemployment figures Thursday amid the COVID-19 outbreak. IWD reports the number of initial claims in Iowa, filed between April 12 and April 18, was 27,912. Most job losses are in manufacturing and health care.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department and the Iowa Department of Human Services say fewer child abuse reports are coming in and it’s concerning. KCCI-TV reports in Des Moines, the number of calls for a child in need of assistance is down more than 60% compared to this time last year. Police say since kids aren’t going to schools, teachers and staff aren’t seeing them, and reporting abuse.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – While colleges and universities across the country have closed their campuses and moved to virtual classrooms, many students are having to pay for apartments they aren’t using anymore. KCRG-TV reports many out of state students have returned home, and are stuck in leases for apartments they aren’t using. In Iowa City, the Iowa City Tenants Union says there isn’t any legal recourse to help the students.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Pandemic or not, the June 2 primary elections in Iowa are still going on as scheduled, so organizers are finding ways to keep people safe and healthy, while still protecting the right to vote. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is encouraging Iowans to vote in the June primary through absentee ballots, as a way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Absentee voting begins today.