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(Updated) Governor Reynolds issues disaster proclamation for 14 additional counties

News

August 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES–Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation in response to a severe weather system that moved across Iowa and caused widespread damage August 10th. The proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather in Benton, Cedar, Clarke, Greene, Hardin, Iowa, Jasper, Linn, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama, and Washington counties. The proclamation also activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program, for all these counties as well as Boone and Clinton counties, which were previously declared to be in a state of disaster emergency.

Governor Reynolds also previously declared a disaster and activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Management Program, for Dallas, Johnson, Marshall, and Story counties. Proclamations may be issued for additional counties. The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level or a maximum annual income of $43,440 for a family of three. Disaster Case Management is a program to address serious needs to overcome a disaster-related hardship, injury or adverse condition.

The suspension of regulatory provisions pertaining to weight limits and hours of service for disaster repair crews and drivers delivering goods and services and the movement of loads related to responding to the severe storm system throughout the state of Iowa remains in effect.

Iowa residents of counties impacted by the recent severe weather are asked to report damage to help local and state officials better understand the damage sustained. Damage to property, roads, utilities and other storm-related information may be reported. This information will be collected by the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and shared with local emergency management agencies.

Creston man faces OWI & other charges following an accident Tue. afternoon

News

August 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Police in Creston says an accident Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of Lincoln, Kirby and Russell Streets resulted in charges against 53-year old Joel Allen Weeks, from Creston. Weeks was driving a 1993 Ford Ranger pickup southbound on Lincoln at around 1:10-p.m., and was turning left onto Russell Street, when he failed to complete the turn and struck a telephone pole. Weeks got out of the vehicle and walked away from the scene.

After witnesses gave police a description of the pickup’s driver, Weeks was found about two blocks east of the scene. Weeks showed symptoms of intoxication but refused all sobriety tests. He was subsequently charged with OWI/3rd offense, Driving While Barred, a Registration Violation, and Failure to Maintain Control. Damage to the pickup was estimated at $3,000.

Villisca woman arrested following single-vehicle accident

News

August 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a woman was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following an investigation into an accident that took place at around 1:30 this (Wednesday) morning. The crash happened in the area of Highway 34 and 200th Street. Authorities say Ashley Gossett-Nye, of Villisca, also faces a charge of Interference with official acts. She was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond. Red Oak Fire and Rescue and Red Oak Police assisted at the scene.

New federal jobless benefits to include $400/week bonus, not $600

News

August 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who are collecting unemployment will see federal benefits extended under President Trump’s executive order, which he signed as the U-S House and Senate still disagree over a new COVID-19 relief package. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the president’s plan is for Uncle Sam to pick up 75-percent of the cost of those updated jobless benefits, leaving states to pay the remaining 25-percent. “It would go $300 of enhanced federal money,” Grassley says, “and out of the $150-billion that went to states or their own money, they have to put up $100.”

The added federal jobless benefits ran out July 31st and while they lasted, were providing many unemployed people an additional 600-dollars a week. Grassley says the new 400-dollars-a-week plan is the result of compromise. Grassley says, “That $400, I think, was probably selected because it was halfway between the $200 figure that was in the Senate bill and the $600 that we have right now.”

The 400-dollar payments are on top of the regular state unemployment benefits, so some people are able to make more money by not returning to work. Grassley says 600-dollars was way too much and hurt businesses of all sizes as they couldn’t get people to come back to their jobs.”Maybe the $400 is still a disincentive for people to go back to work, but obviously it wouldn’t be as much of a disincentive as the $600,” Grassley says, “and I think it runs for two months.”

Negotiations over the new COVID relief package fell apart late last week. Democrats propose spending some three-trillion dollars through their plan, the HEROES Act, while Republicans favor a one-trillion dollar rescue effort called the HEALS Act.

IA COVID-19 update for Wed., 8/12/20 – 5 more cases in Cass County; 14 more deaths statewide

News

August 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Health officials today (Wednesday) reports there were 14 more deaths in the State attributed to COVID-19 since 10-a.m. Tuesday, for a total of 949, and, 520 new, confirmed cases of the virus, for a total of 49,702. Long-Term Care facility deaths account for 508 of the State’s death toll.

Here in Cass County, there was a jump in the number of positive cases, from 74 Tuesday, to 79 today. Of those, 47 have recovered from the virus. The data continues to show most of those who have tested positive in Cass County are in the 18-to 40 age bracket (46%), with the 0-17 and 41-60 age groups each having 20% of the cases. Those 61 & older make up 11% of the cases, and those over the age of 80 make up just 3% of the positive cases.

The IDPH says 530,419 Iowans have been tested, 3,361 tested negative since 10-a.m. Tuesday, for a total of 477,555 to-date. And, 38,548 Iowans have recovered from the virus. Hospitalization data show: 243 are hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms; 72 are in an ICU; 53 were admitted to a hospital since Tuesday, and 25 people were on a ventilator.

Southwest/western Iowa hospitals report: 12 people are in a hospital with COVID-19; Five people are in an ICU; There were 0 persons admitted and no one on a ventilator. Long-Term Care (LTC) data today, show: 28 Outbreaks (3 more than Tue.); 839 patients/staff have tested positive; and 471 have recovered.

Here are the latest positive case numbers for southwest/western Iowa since 10-a.m. Tuesday (County; Positive Case #’s; number of persons who have (recovered); {deaths since the outbreak began}. Counties with changes since Monday, have highlighted numbers:

  • Cass County: 79 cases [up 5 from Tue.] (47); 1 death
  • Adair County: 30 cases (20)
  • Adams County: 16 cases (13)
  • Audubon County: 29 cases (18); 1 death
  • Guthrie County: 136 cases (106); 5 deaths
  • Montgomery County: 60 cases (40); 4 deaths
  • Pottawattamie County: 1,340 cases (999); 28 deaths [2 more than Tuesday]
  • Shelby County: 187 cases [2 more than Tues.] (160); 1 death.

Millions of bushels of grain in storage damaged or destroyed in Monday’s storm

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State Ag Secretary Mike Naig says some of the corn that was flattened by Monday’s storm will bounce back, but it’s anybody’s guess as to what percentage of damaged Iowa crops may be harvested. Grain bins, silos and elevators were damaged as well, so losses extend to the 2019 crop. “Tens of millions of bushels of commercial grain storage and millions of on-farm grain storage was impacted, destroyed or severely damaged,” he says.

Naig warns there will be storage issues for the 2020 crop, so farmers may have to truck their corn and soybeans further or resort to on-the-ground outdoor storage. “Certainly there’ll be a lot of effort to repair whatever storage can be repaired and brought back online before fall,” Naig says, “but it’s hard to imagine that any significant amount of the storage that’s been damaged will be able to be rebuilt before harvest this year.”

The state climatologist says Monday’s derecho passed through about a third of the state. Naig says localized crop losses in central and east central Iowa fields that were flattened by Monday’s storm will be severe, but it’s too soon to estimate the value of crop losses in those high damage areas. Naig says some livestock barns were damaged, too, but there have not yet been reports that hogs, cattle or poultry were killed in the storm.

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., 8/12/20

News

August 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:15 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Hundreds of thousands across the Midwest remained without electricity after a powerful storm packing 100 mph winds battered the region. Monday’s storms caused widespread property and crop damage, and the deaths of at least two people in Indiana and Iowa. The storm known as a derecho tore from eastern Nebraska across Iowa and parts of Wisconsin and Illinois. In Iowa, three mobile coronavirus testing sites were temporarily closed after suffering storm damage. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said early estimates indicate 10 million acres have been damaged in the nation’s top corn producing state.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified a woman killed after the bicycle she was riding was hit by a car in Waterloo earlier this week. The Courier reports that 18-year-old Nicole Kulaszewski, of Waterloo, died Sunday at an Iowa City hospital, hours after the crash. Investigators say Kulaszewski was heading home on the bike from a friend’s house around 2 a.m. Sunday. Police say she was traveling against traffic in the eastbound lanes of Broadway Street when a car driven by a 26-year-old Waterloo woman hit her. The driver pulled over and called 911. She told police she didn’t see Kulaszewski before she hit her.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an off-duty Iowa sheriff’s deputy has died in an accidental shooting. The Ottumwa Police Department said in a news release that officers responded Tuesday morning and found that 35-year-old Brian Rainey had sustained a gunshot wound to his torso. WHO-TV reports that the deputy with the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office died from his injuries. Police say the firearm was discharged accidentally.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — One of eastern Iowa’s largest employers has revealed it plans to lay off 72 workers at its Cedar Rapids plant. The company, which manufactures aviation and military equipment, had announced on July 30 that it would lay off workers, but declined to say how many. The Gazette reported Monday that it revealed the number in a recent notice to Iowa Workforce Development. The cuts come amid declining sales numbers during the global coronavirus outbreak. Collins Aerospace President Stephen Timm says the cuts primarily affect Collins Aerospace’s commercial business functions.

Weekend fatal motorcycle accident in Adams County

News

August 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa State Patrol today (Tuesday), released information about a fatal motorcycle accident that took place late Saturday morning, in Adams County. Authorities say at around 11:50-a.m., a 2018 Honda CBR100 operated by 33-year old Michael Dean Boles, of Creston, was traveling north on Corning Carl Road, about one-half mile south of 150th Street, when for reasons unknown, the machine went off the road to the right, and entered the east ditch.

The cycle came to rest in a field. Boles died at the scene. The accident remains under investigation.

Iowa sheriff’s deputy dies in accidental off-duty shooting

News

August 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an off-duty Iowa sheriff’s deputy has died in an accidental shooting. The Ottumwa Police Department said in a news release that officers responded Tuesday morning and found that 35-year-old Brian Rainey had sustained a gunshot wound to his torso. WHO-TV reports that the deputy with the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office died from his injuries. Police say the firearm was discharged accidentally.

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $8.4 Million to Improve Flood Control Infrastructure Near Opportunity Zone in Council Bluffs, Iowa

News

August 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON –  U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $8.4 million grant to the city of Council Bluffs, to make flood control infrastructure improvements needed to protect businesses and make the region resilient to future natural disasters. The EDA grant, which will be located near a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Opportunity Zone, will be matched with more than $2 million in local investment and is expected to create 95 jobs.

Dana Gartske, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, says “This investment will provide improvements to the city of Council Bluffs’ levee system to include the addition of robust seepage and stability beams. The upgrades to the flood risk reduction system will ensure prior and future economic investments in the city will remain effective and contribute to overall economic growth in the nearby region and Opportunity Zone.”

The project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, which EDA funds to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs. The funding will catalyze private investment in a nearby Opportunity Zone.

Opportunity Zones are spurring economic development in economically-distressed communities nationwide. The project is funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019.