Iowa Radio News

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – More than 1,000 workers at a Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Waterloo have had COVID-19. According to KWWL, Black Hawk County health officials have said that 1,031 workers at the Waterloo plant tested positive for coronavirus or for antibodies that showed they had been infected. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Vice President Mike Pence’s flight to Iowa Friday was delayed about an hour after a staffer tested positive for coronavirus, according to KCCI-TV. CNN states the flight was delayed about an hour while some people deplaned. Although the person who tested positive was not on the trip, concerns were of others being in contact with the individual. Pence is traveling to Iowa to meet with political, religious, and food supply leaders as COVID-19 restrictions begin to be lifted. IOWA (IRN) – Another 12 people with COVID-19 have died, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported Thursday, bringing the statewide total to 231. The IDPH also reported that 655 additional people tested positive for COVID-19. Statewide, 11059 people have tested positive. IOWA (IRN) – A day after Gov. Kim Reynolds was complimented at the White House on her management of the coronavirus pandemic, and as businesses continue to open, Iowa on Thursday reported record numbers of cases and deaths. DENISON, IA (IRN) – The owner of a longtime community restaurant in Denison is closing the business, according to WHO-TV. Cronks owner Eric Skoog, who owns the cafe with his wife Terri, says he is looking for someone to buy for the restaurant, which has been in operation since 1929. CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – The Coral Ridge Mall is reopening on Saturday, May 9. Governor Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday malls and other retail stores would be able to open but must limit capacity to 50% and make sure social distancing measures are implemented and followed by employees and customers.

IOWA (IRN) – Another 12 people with COVID-19 have died, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported Thursday, bringing the statewide total to 231. The IDPH also reported that 655 additional people tested positive for COVID-19. Statewide, 11059 people have tested positive. IOWA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds is allowing more Iowa businesses to re-open to customers, including campgrounds, before this weekend. Dental offices, campgrounds, drive-in movies, tanning facilities and medical spas can re-open. The governor is also relaxing restrictions imposed in 22 counties. Those include the re-opening of shopping malls and other retail establishments, and gyms and fitness centers on appointment only basis. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds was at the White House Wednesday meeting with President Donald Trump. The conversation focused on Iowa’s response to the coronavirus and its reopening. Reynolds thanked Trump for “the incredible partnership that we’ve had throughout this pandemic.” WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Investigators on Wednesday arrested a long-haul trucker from Iowa who they say is linked by DNA evidence to the killings of three women whose bodies were dumped separately in Wyoming and Tennessee in the early 1990s. Police arrested Clark Perry Baldwin, 58, at his home in Waterloo, on murder charges filed in Wyoming and Tennessee in the violent deaths of the women, including two who were pregnant.

IOWA (IRN) – More than 1,600 workers at four Iowa meatpacking plants have been infected with the coronavirus, state health officials reported Tuesday. The worst-hit factory is the Tyson pork processing plant in Perry, where 730 workers tested positive for the virus. That means that 58% of the workers who were tested at the plant had the virus. The plant in Waterloo had 444 workers test positive, Columbus Junction had 221 workers test positive, and at the Iowa Premium Beef plant in Tama, 258 workers tested positive. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released new statistics on COVID-19 in Iowa Wednesday. IDPH reported 293 new cases and 12 deaths. That brings the statewide total to 10,404 cases and 219 deaths. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds will fly to Washington, D.C. today for a meeting at the White House. Reynolds said during her daily COVID-19 news conference yesterday that she is one of several governors given the opportunity to speak with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence about their state’s COVID-19 outbreak. IOWA (IRN) – The Federal Cares Act included funding for state and local governments to offset costs and tax revenue lost from COVID-19, but only cities with more than 500,000 people got help. That means no cities in Iowa qualified for funding. The mayors of Dubuque, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Ankeny, West Des Moines, and Davenport joined forces to write a letter to Congress urging it to include funding for cities of all sizes. Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart said his city is looking at a potential $50 million hit, and he feels like Congress is forgetting about small cities and towns. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Vice President Pence will visit Des Moines on Friday to encourage faith leaders to reopen religious institutions under social distancing guidelines. Pence will also hold a roundtable at Hy-Vee Headquarters with agricultural and food supply leaders before returning to Washington, D.C.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released new statistics on COVID-19 in the state Tuesday. IDPH reported 19 deaths and 408 new cases. It’s the largest single-day increase in deaths. That brings the statewide total to 10,111 and 207 deaths. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Youth Emergency Services and Shelter says a staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. The infected staffer was last at work a week ago and showed no symptoms. Four older residents living in one unit were under the staffer’s care. The shelter is now taking their temperatures hourly. None show any symptoms of the virus. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Games are still trying to decide whether they’ll be able to proceed with their events amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Air gun, rowing, clay-target trapshooting, figure skating, and lacrosse have all been canceled. The bowling finals have been moved to August. All other sports are on, as scheduled, for now. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A body found in the Des Moines River Saturday is that of 18-year-old Abdullahi “Abdi” Sharif. KCCI-TV reports Sharif was last seen Jan. 17 as he left the Target store at the Merle Hay Mall. For more than three months, his mother tearfully begged for his safe return. ​She watched from his Des Moines bedroom window, always holding out hope he would return alive. ​ DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A new poll shows a tight race for one of Iowa’s U.S. Senate seats. In the poll, Sen. Joni Ernst leads Democrat Theresa Greenfield by a single point, 43% to 42% Greenfield is one of four democrats running for their party’s nomination in the June 2 primary.

IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released new statistics on COVID-19 in the state Monday. IDPH reported four deaths and 534 new cases. That brings the statewide total to 9,703 positive cases and 188 deaths. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – As some establishments reopen amid the COVID-19 outbreak, others are tightening restrictions to slow the spread. KCCI-TV reports starting today, all customers at Costco are required to wear face masks. Fresh meat purchases are limited to three items. Menards is requiring all customers to wear a face mask as well. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Nearly twice as many people have died in Iowa from COVID-19 versus influenza this season, according to the state department of public health. And the COVID-19 deaths occurred in less than a fourth of the time. MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – A Marshalltown man has died of COVID-19 after being denied testing, and being denied hospital admission twice. The Des Moines Register reports Kyle Brown made five trips to healthcare providers in Marshalltown and Newton. Brown’s symptoms had worsened to the point where he couldn’t speak. Twice, he was sent back home even after nurses over the phone told his wife he needed treatment. CLINTON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two people died when the motorcycle they were riding veered off the road and crashed into a fence in Clinton County on Saturday. Both died at the scene.