Iowa has thrown out tens of thousands of expired COVID-19 vaccine doses and could be forced to dispose of hundreds of thousands more if demand for the vaccine continues to lag in the state. Iowa Department of Public Health spokesperson Sarah Ekstrand says the state has destroyed more than 81,000 doses of the vaccine. The department warned last month that the state might have to discard around 217,000 doses by the end of this month unless demand picked up. Officials say they have seen some more interest in the shots recently, as the number of cases has increased over the summer. But demand is still far below what it was in April.
The Meskwaki nation made a point of saying it is not cancelling the powwow this year due to COVID-19; that happened last year. But they say the 106th Meskwaki Annual Powwow had to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the Powwow Association’s control. The event was scheduled to run tomorrow through Sunday. The Association will contact vendors who have already paid to take part in the event. Radio station KFJB reports the cancellation was due to a death within the tribe.
A group of animal rights and public interest groups filed a lawsuit yesterday to challenge the new Iowa law designed to criminalize investigations into animal treatment on livestock farms. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges violations of First Amendment free speech rights and asks the court to declare the law unconstitutional, and issue an order preventing officials from enforcing it. It is the third attempt by the state legislature to outlaw farm investigations. It was signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in June. Lawmakers say it’s needed to protect farmers from harassment, and deter intrusions that threaten the safety of the state’s multibillion-dollar agriculture industry. Laws passed in 2012 and 2019 have not been enforced by court order after their constitutionality was challenged.
MercyOne is the latest hospital system to announce it will be requiring vaccines from all medical staff. It was announced last month that some MercyOne locations owned by Trinity Health will be required to provide proof of vaccination by September 21. These locations include Dubuque, Dyersville, New Hampton, Mason City, Clinton, Sioux City, and Primghar. With yesterday’s announcement, all other MercyOne locations will be requiring staff to be vaccinated by November 1. Anyone who is not able to be vaccinated for medical or religious reasons can apply for an exemption. Last week, UnityPoint Health announced all of its employees across Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois would be required to get vaccinated by November 1, with similar exemptions available.
An Osage man has entered a plea of not guilty in connection with a stabbing attempt in Mitchell County. 55-year-old Rodney Clyde Devore has been charged with assault while using or displaying a dangerous weapon. He’s accused of trying to attack someone with a pocket knife on July 17 after giving that person a ride home from a bar. Investigators say Devore’s girlfriend grabbed his arm to stop him from stabbing his victim. Trial is scheduled to start September 22. Authorities say the attack appears to have been unprovoked.
A Hiawatha man faces a list of charges and will be taken to jail once he’s released from the hospital, after a chase with speeds at more than 100 miles per hour. 42-year-old Jonathan Soucie faces charges including attempting to elude, reckless driving, hit and run, and driving while suspended. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy spotted a vehicle traveling north on I-380 around 11:15 yesterday morning going more than 100 miles per hour. The speeding vehicle went past the deputy, who then started a chase which went east on Blairs Ferry Road, south on Rockwell Drive, east on Collins Road and continued onto Highway 100, before turning south on 22nd Street in Marion. The Sheriff’s Office says Soucie then side swiped two vehicles near 22nd and Pleasant View Drive, and then drove through yards in the 2400 block of Pleasant View Drive, hitting mail boxes and rock landscaping. The vehicle then came to a stop. The Sheriff’s Office says no one else was in the vehicle with Soucie, and no one else was hurt.
