Firefighters from Anita were called to mutual aid with Adair Fire, early this morning, after a semi struck fuel pumps at the Kum and Go, in Adair. There were reports of possible explosions, and the fire spreading toward the convenience store building. Anita Fire was dispatched to the scene at around 2:44-a.m. Some smoke was still visible at around 3:30-a.m.  There was no word on any injuries, and additional details are currently not available.

Ric Hanson photos

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Argus Leader) — A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit against the city of Sioux Falls over the drowning of a 5-year-old girl from Audubon, who fell into Big Sioux River at Falls Park two years ago. Attorneys representing the city asked the court last year to dismiss the lawsuit. The suit was brought by Courtney Jayne, the mother of Maggie Zaiger.

Zaiger fell into the river from river bank rocks on March 18, 2018, during a family trip to the park. Jayne alleges the city is responsible because of a lack of signs and safety fencing in the park. The Argus Leader reports the judge’s ruling will let a jury decide if safety precautions in place at Falls Park at the time of Zaiger’s death were enough.

(Click here to read the Judges’ decision: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6937239-16513299320.html)

The Cass County Fair Board met Thursday, June 4th, and decided to cancel all non-4-H and FFA Activities for the 2020 Cass County Fair. All youth contests will be held in a “show and go” or other modified format. Please stay tuned as we plan to announce additional details for individual contests in the coming weeks.

Officials said their primary consideration, “Is the health and safety of our community and fair supporters. We understand the value of gathering as a community, and we do not take this decision lightly.”

The Board said also, :To our valued sponsors, you will be hearing directly from the fair board soon. To our many supporters, we hope you will plan to join us for the 2021 Cass County Fair on July 28-August 3. We thank you for your many years of support, and for your understanding as we navigate these uncertain times together.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill Thursday that will allow convicted felons to get their voting rights back only after they have paid full restitution to victims. The bill becomes effective if the legislature passes a proposed constitutional amendment automatically restoring voting rights for convicted felons. Reynolds, who has pushed for restoration of felon voting rights, initially opposed Republican lawmakers’ efforts to pass the restitution requirement.

However, she changed her position once GOP senators said they would not pass the constitutional amendment unless she agreed to the repayment requirement. It’s unclear if the bill will withstand a court challenge since a similar measure in Florida was struck down as unconstitutional.

(Radio Iowa) — The Board of Regents today (Thursday) approved a freeze on tuition at the three state-supported universities for the fall semester. The vote came after the board heard from representatives of each school. University of Northern Iowa student body president, Elle Boeding, thanked the board for the freeze and asked them to consider doing more.

“We urge you to extend the freeze through the spring semester. The economic impacts of COVID-19 will extend far beyond the fall, and our students deserve the opportunity to continue their education for the same cost as in the fall,” Boeding says. Iowa State University student body president Morgan Fritz agrees the students will continue to face issues.

“In order to receive an exception educational — students must first be able to come to Iowa State,” Fritz says. “And tuition will represent even a steeper barrier in the coming year than it did before this pandemic.” She thanked the Board of Regents for the fall tuition freeze — and says state lawmakers should also act.

“If our state representatives also want to contribute toward ensuring an exceptional education and improving life for all Iowans — they must make funding of the regent universities a priority when considering budget cuts through the remainder of the session,” according to Fritz. University of Iowa Student Body President Conner Woof, also says the question of the affordability of education will not go away.

“I thank you for your support of a fall 2020 tuition freeze — and I urge you to continue this conversation as we look to the future,” Wooof says. The board also approve freezing all mandatory frees for the fall semester during their online meeting.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police officers fired several tear gas canisters and flash grenades late Wednesday to disperse protesters in Iowa City who were advancing toward Interstate 80. Hundreds of protesters were met by a line of Iowa State Patrol and Iowa City police officers on Dubuque Street blocking their path to the busy highway.

Protesters gather on Washington Street near the Iowa City Police Department on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. The largely peaceful protest included a group of several hundred people holding signs and marching through downtown Iowa City. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)/The Gazette via AP)

The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that a speaker identifying himself as a patrol officer ordered the crowd to disperse and warned that the failure to do so would result in the deployment of chemical munitions.

The newspaper says that officers fired tear gas canisters when the crowd continued marching north. In the following minutes, the crowd backed up, attempted to rally and again march forward, but eventually were forced back.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley says he is blocking two Trump administration nominees until the White House provides adequate reasons for the recent termination of two inspectors general.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, questions former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein testifies before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Greg Nash/Pool via AP)

The Iowa senator is a longtime advocate for the watchdog role of inspectors general. He pledged to block Senate consideration of Christopher Miller to be director of the National Counterterrorism Center and Marshall Billingslea to be undersecretary of state for arms control and international security.

Grassley has been seeking answers on President Donald Trump’s recent firings of several inspectors general, including Michael Atkinson, inspector general for the intelligence community, and State Department Inspector General Steve Linick.

(Radio Iowa) — A new report projects Iowa hospitals could lose one-point-four billion dollars between March and September due to COVID-19. The report found 90-percent of the state’s hospitals operated in the red during March and April, largely due to not being able to perform non-essential procedures. Marty Guthmiller, C-E-O of the Orange City Area Health System, says even with millions in state and federal support, some rural hospitals will close.

Guthmiller says, “While it’s difficult to predict, it’s relatively certain that we will lose some hospitals in Iowa simply because they do not have the capacity to withstand a downturn in revenue.” Guthmiller says the CARES Act funding his rural hospital has received so far has only covered operating expenses for 36 days. While much of the financial impact is tied to revenue lost when the state halted non-elective procedures, there are other expenses.

UnityPoint Des Moines C-E-O David Stark says his hospitals are still losing a lot of money due to COVID-19 from doing things like staffing entrances to screen for the virus. “We’re staffing every one of our facilities 24 hours a day and taking temperatures and asking screening questions,” Stark says. “For our organization alone, that’s a $2 million expense that we certainly didn’t plan on.” Stark says his hospital is losing revenue as it continues to limit procedures and set aside beds for COVID-19 patients.

The report was done by a Minneapolis accounting firm and was commissioned by the Iowa Hospital Association.

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

Officials in Mills County report that in their regular meeting on Thursday, June 4th,the Mills County Board of Supervisors adopted procedures for a phased reopening of County offices beginning June 8, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. In making their decision, officials noted the safety of County employees and residents is their overriding priority.

As the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues to have substantial community spread, the Mills County Board of Supervisors are monitoring the situation closely and will periodically update guidance based on current recommendations from Mills County Emergency Management, Mills County Public Health department, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and the Center for Disease Control.

To reduce the potential risk of exposure to the workforce and visitors, the Board has instituted new screening procedures, with the goal of returning to business as usual in the coming months. The information below identifies procedures which are subject to change at any time.

During the initial phase of reopening:
1. County offices will remain open by appointment only.
2. Visitors must first fill out a screening questionnaire found on our website at https://www.cognitoforms.com/MillsCounty1/MillsCountyCoronavirusCOVID19VisitorQuestionnaire (paper copies are also available at the north entrance of the courthouse).
3. Call upon arrival to let the office know you are in the parking lot. You will be contacted when it is your turn to come in.
4. Temperatures will be taken prior to entry into county buildings.
5. Visitors must wear masks at all times after entering.
6. Sanitizer will be offered upon entry.
7. Visitors will be escorted directly to the office with which they are doing business and escorted out when business is completed.
8. County employees will wear masks while serving the public.

Any person with COVID-19 symptoms should refrain from entering a public building. At this time, self-monitoring is required by the public and employees. Stay home if you are ill. Social distancing measures such as increasing the space between workers and the public and decreasing social contacts in the workplace are still in place. Hand shaking is prohibited. Everyone should wash hands thoroughly before entering county facilities and throughout the day. Hand sanitizers will be available at the entrance of the courthouse and in all offices. Office/workspace areas will be cleaned at least daily. Individuals should consider contacting county offices/departments or conducting business online if possible before visiting any facility.

The Mills County Board of Supervisors will revisit these procedures and will provide guidance for the next phase of reopening county offices as the circumstances permit. These procedures do not affect the emergency protocol put in place by State Court Administration. Any court related questions should be directed to the Mills County Clerk of Court at (712) 527-4880.

Visit www.millscoia.us for updated information and specific duties of offices/department. Officials said also that you are “ADVISED THAT THESE PRECAUTIONS ARE IN PLACE TO HELP REDUCE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND MEANT TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE. HOWEVER, THESE MEASURES MAY NOT ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTRACTING OR SPREADING THE VIRUS. ENTERING ANY PUBLIC PLACE MAY STILL POSE A RISK TO YOUR HEALTH AND YOU SHOULD ACT ACCORDINGLY.