In a statewide broadcast you heard on KXEL last night, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced more restrictions due to increased cases of coronavirus. A proclamation signed by the governor requires everyone 2 years of age or older to wear masks when in public, indoor spaces within 6 feet of others who aren’t member of their households for 15 minutes. This applies to visitors and employees at state buildings, but does not apply to in-classroom instruction. The governor also limited many indoor gatherings to no more than 15 people and outdoor gatherings to 30, including family get-togethers. This includes wedding and funeral receptions, family gatherings and conventions. Reynolds declared that bars and restaurants cannot stay open for in-person service past 10 p.m. And she suspended all youth and adult sports and recreational activities, except for high school, college and professional sports. The new measures went into effect at midnight and will continue through December 10th. The governor said the new restrictions would not be easy or popular, but are necessary to fight the virus, that she says is threatening to overwhelm the state’s health care system. Spiritual or religious gatherings are explicitly not prohibited by the proclamation, though organizers or hosts of such gatherings should take “reasonable measures under the circumstances” to implement social distancing and increased hygiene practices.
Officials say a mother and her two children were injured this past weekend while escaping an apartment fire in West Des Moines. Firefighters were called just before 2:30 a.m. early Sunday to the West Glen Apartment complex. Firefighters saw smoke coming from the building and called for a second alarm, as police arrived to help evacuate the building. Officials say a mother and her two children were taken to a hospital with minor injuries after escaping through a third-story window. Fire crews quickly brought the fire under control. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Democrats in the Iowa Senate elected Eastern Iowa Senator Zach Wahls to serve as the new Democrat Leader of the Iowa Senate on Sunday. Wahls first became a senator in 2018. He represents Senate District 37 which includes Coralville, western Iowa City and Solon in Johnson County; all of Cedar County; and the city of Wilton in Muscatine County. Wahls serves as Vice President at GreenState Credit Union and lives with his fiancee Chloe in Coralville. Senate Democrats also elected Amanda Ragan from Mason City as Democratic Whip. Democrats trail Republicans in the Iowa Senate by a count of 32-18.
Help is available for Hoover Middle School families in need of food assistance for their children this week as students learn online from home. The school moved to virtual education for all students starting Monday because of staffing shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other Waterloo school buildings were not affected. Families can sign up for five days worth of meals from Waterloo Community Schools by completing an online form. All of the meals must be picked up Tuesday at the school between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Prairie Meadows is making a big, but temporary, change in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. The casino is banning smoking on the property for guests and employees for 30 days in order to make sure masks, which are required, are worn properly. A few other temporary changes are being made. Guests can no longer walk up to the bar to get drinks they must now order all beverages through a cocktail server. Food can also only be eaten in designated areas. Prairie Meadows says its two-stage air filtration process includes anti-microbial treatment and staff members are using disinfectants and electrostatic sprayers to sanitize the property.
Authorities have identified the body of a Waterloo man found in southern Minnesota last Tuesday. According to a news release Monday from the Mower County Sheriff’s Office, the victim has been identified as 67-year-old David Sutter of Waterloo. Last Tuesday, Mower County Sheriff’s deputies and Grand Meadow Ambulance responded to the 69000 Block of 260th Street at around 3 p.m. after receiving a report of a dead body in a ditch. Sheriff Steve Sandvik said investigation into the cause of Sutter’s death is ongoing. Sandvik said there are no apparent indications of foul play, and there are no concerns for public safety.
A single vehicle accident in Grundy County resulted in the death of 150 head of sheep. It happened at 6:30 this past Sunday morning. A Peterbilt truck, pulling a livestock trailer, was driving on F Avenue, 7 miles north of Wellsburg. The truck, driven by 19-year-old Peter Wiechmann, was traveling north when a strong gust of wind caused it to veer right and roll into the ditch. Wiechmann was not injured but 150 sheep were killed. The accident remains under investigation by the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office.
Firefighters in Dubuque County were called to a grain barn fire at Hoefler Farm, 28369 Tom Lucas Road, just before 3:30 Monday morning. Officials said the barn was fully in flames. Crews were able to extinguish the fire, but the barn is a total loss. The house and a vehicle on the property sustained heat damage during the fire, which caused about $25,000 in damage, but does not appear to be suspicious. No injuries were reported.
