Iowa public health officials say coronavirus cases have increased by 73 to a total statewide of 497 due to rapidly increasing numbers in highly populated counties in central and eastern Iowa. Seven people in Iowa have now died from the COVID-19 virus, the latest being a Muscatine County resident between 41 and 60 years old. The virus is now present in 57 of Iowa’s 99 counties. Case counts have been growing fastest in Linn County, where an additional 19 cases were reported yesterday for a total of 90. Iowa Department of Public Health Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter says the peak is still two to three weeks away.
An Iowa judge has set a hearing for later today to consider whether to block an order by Gov. Kim Reynolds indirectly halting abortions in the state. State district court Judge Andrew Chappell set the telephone hearing to consider arguments by abortion providers and the Iowa attorney general’s office, which is representing Reynolds. Abortion providers say Reynolds violated the state constitution by including abortion in an order enacted Friday halting non-emergency medical procedures to preserve medical equipment during the coronavirus pandemic.
A federal judge has ordered an Iowa state home for male juvenile offenders to stop the use of a physical restraining device and to reform its use of isolation as a form of punishment. The ruling came in a class-action lawsuit filed against the Boys State Training School in Eldora in 2017 by two advocacy groups. At issue is the use of an immobilizing device called “the wrap” on boys at the facility – nearly five hours at a time, in some cases – and boys as young as 14 routinely forced into isolation for weeks at a time.
Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson was a guest on KXEL Live & Local yesterday morning, and said the biggest misconception among members of the public right now is a belief that it is just like a cold and they won’t get it. Sheriff Thompson noted that sooner rather than later, every citizen will know someone who has contracted the virus.
Two medical marijuana dispensaries have closed in Iowa—permanently. The Iowa Department of Public Health confirms that the two dispensaries owned by Have A Heart—one in Davenport, the other in Council Bluffs–have closed. IDPH says it is looking to replace the closed dispensaries. The three remaining dispensaries in the state are in Waterloo, Sioux City, and Windsor Heights.
The Black Hawk County Solid Waste Management Commission and City of Waterloo have cancelled the Household Hazardous and Electronics Waste Collection Event that had been scheduled for April 18. This decision was made to protect the health and well being of the event volunteers and participants, and to prevent the spread of the virus in the community. The next collection event is tentatively scheduled to take place on September 19th in Cedar Falls.
UNI Athletics has postponed the 2020 Rally in the Valley due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 12th-annual event was scheduled for April 18. The date for the rescheduled event has not been determined.
While the COVID-19 global pandemic has affected all aspects of normal life, one area that is still moving forward is Iowa agriculture. Mike Naig is Iowa’s secretary of agriculture and land stewardship, and he told me something besides the virus will determine the success of the 2020 crop–weather. Naig also believes that since Iowa’s products are still sought after around the world, once the virus lifts our producers will see great benefits. You can hear the full conversation with ag secretary Mike Naig during KXEL Live & Local, today at 9.
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is encouraging Iowans to vote by mail in the June 2nd primary to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19. That’s why his office plans to mail an absentee ballot request form to every active registered voter in the state within the next two weeks. The forms will include prepaid postage for return mailing to county auditors. Last week, Pate expanded the mail-in voting period for the June primary to 40 days. There are approximately two million active registered voters in the state. Secretary Pate will explain further when he joins me live this morning at 9:40 during KXEL Live & Local.
The Food and Drug Administration has relaxed regulations on the types of alcohol that can be used for hand sanitizer during a shortage caused by high demand from the coronavirus pandemic. The move late Friday expands the potential for alcohol made by ethanol producers to be used to help fill the need of hospitals and nursing homes. With the relaxation of regulations an industry trade group says as many as 20 plants have arranged to make alcohol and more are expected to join in soon.
