Category: State News

FOREST CITY, IA (IRN) – Forest City based recreational vehicle and boat manufacturer Winnebago Industries said today it is ceasing production to protect workers from coronavirus exposure and will adjust production as demand for the company’s products is rapidly changing.
The company, which employs about 5,000 people, makes motorhomes, travel trailers and boats under the Winnebago, Grand Design, Newmar and Chris-Craft brands. All employees will be paid for the next two weeks.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reports today 15 additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19. That brings the statewide total to 105 positive cases.

JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation Sunday to close salons, tattoo establishments, barbershops, massage therapy businesses, tanning salons, medical spas and swimming pools effective 10 p.m. Sunday. Daycare centers will remain open, with state support.

GUTTENBERG, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a drowning that happened on the Mississippi River near Guttenberg Saturday. Two men were fishing in a restricted area near a dam. The boat was taken into a turbulent area and began sinking. Shaun Oppenheimer, 54, went overboard and drowned. Oppenheimer and the driver of the boat were not wearing personal flotation devices.

QUASQUETON, IA (IRN) – A pastor in eastern Iowa found a new way to give sermons over the weekend. KCRG-TV reports Pastor James Wolf leads the Spirit of Life Christian Church in Quasqueton (kwass-KWEE-ton). On Sunday, he held a “drive-in church.” People parked their cars in the church’s parking lot and listened to Wolf’s sermon. He wore a microphone and had a speaker system set up. Pastor Wolf says it’s still important for the church community to gather during these difficult times.

IOWA (IRN) – The Des Moines Register reports twenty-five Iowa children died in 2019 because of some sort of abuse or neglect by their parents or caregivers, more than in any other year in at least the past two decades.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie is urging residents to stay home in the interest of the health and safety of the community. He is encouraging the practice of “stay home, stay healthy” in response to COVID-19 concerns.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Homeless shelters are working to find ways to make sure all Iowans have a safe place to distance themselves as COVID-19 continues to spread. Goodwill of Central Iowa is partnering with Central Iowa Shelter & Services to implement an emergency plan for members in the homeless community at a higher risk due to their age or underlying health condition. They are accepting emergency donations at all seven metro Goodwill sites.

JOHNSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reports six people who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in Johnson County have recovered. Currently, Johnson County has 27 people diagnosed. The six people who have recovered are no longer infectious. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Saturday that 68 people are infected with COVID-19 in Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Kum & Go announced Friday a full-time employee has a confirmed case of COVID-19. An associate who works at the Krause Gateway Center headquarters found out they had a positive case. Most of the employees were already working remotely, but the company immediately sent the rest of the associates home and closed the building.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hy-Vee is seeking temporary, part-time, hourly employees to help fill positions in stores in eight states and distribution centers in Chariton and Cherokee. Some of the jobs are offered on a 30- or 60-day basis to help stores restock, clean and sanitize stores and help serve customers. Hy-Vee said it welcomes those who lost their job due to the pandemic.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Walmart announced Thursday it is hiring 2,300 employees in Iowa. Nationwide, Walmart will be giving out $550 million in bonuses.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa junior Luka Garza has been voted first-team All-America by the Associated Press. Garza earned 63 first-team votes from the 65-person media voting panel.
Garza averaged 23.9 points per game and 9.8 rebounds this season. He ranks second nationally with 12 20-point/10-rebound performances, 20-point games (25) and field goals made (287). He ranks fifth nationally in scoring. Garza joins Murray Wier (1948) and Charles Darling (1952) as the only Hawkeye players named to the AP All-American First Team.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Gov. Reynolds issued an additional State Public Health Emergency Declaration effective immediately providing additional regulatory relief to Iowans. The declaration temporarily suspends collection of property taxes and penalties and interest, temporarily suspends some evictions, extends expiration deadline for a permit to carry and a permit to acquire a firearm, permits the sale of carry-out, delivery, drive-thru of alcohol for unopened bottles of alcohol for bars and restaurants, and permits public meetings or hearings by electronic means.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds says Iowa now has 44 positive COVID-19 cases as of Thursday afternoon. The previous count, given Wednesday, had Iowa with 38 cases. The governor says she is not yet suggesting that we shelter in place.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A visitor to Principal Financial Group’s downtown Des Moines office building has tested positive for COVID-19, leading to nearly 20 floors of the skyscraper going through a “deep clean” starting today. All workers who were in the building during March 10-12 are being required to self-quarantine for at least 14 days.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa reports a student in the College of Dentistry has self-identified as being positive for COVID-19. Those who had close contact with the student have been notified. Those people include a single patient seen by the student while they were symptomatic. The student is self-isolating at a location off-campus.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Wild hockey team wants to help families going through financial hardships related to COVID-19. Spearheaded by Wild forward Mike Liambas, the organization is calling for those in the community to donate money to Food Bank of Iowa, which will go toward feeding families and individuals who have been impacted by COVID-19.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds said Iowa now has 44 positive COVID-19 cases as of Thursday afternoon. The governor gave the update during a press conference on Thursday. The previous count, given Wednesday, had Iowa with 38 cases. The governor says she is not yet suggesting that we shelter in place.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is postponing “elective and non-urgent surgeries” because of the coronavirus. “Critical and emergency surgeries” would take priority. The move will save on supplies.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Drake University has postponed the 2020 Drake Relays due to concerns over coronavirus. A postponed date has not yet been scheduled.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man has confessed to his mother’s death, according to KCCI-TV. Christopher W. Thompson turned himself in to the Polk County Jail on Wednesday. He said that on Friday, he and his mother, Paula Thompson, 50, were in an argument. He said he got violent with her and she died. Police found her body shortly after the interview.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A well-known professor and priest at a Roman Catholic college in Iowa has been suspended while the church investigates a sexual misconduct allegation dating to the 1990s, according to WHO-TV. St. Ambrose University in Davenport said school officials recently learned of the complaint against theology professor Rev. Robert L. “Bud” Grant and are taking the report seriously.