DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has returned to finish work left when the coronavirus pandemic surfaced in Iowa in March and prompted state officials to close the state Capitol. Lawmakers began work Wednesday and are expected to meet for at least two weeks to complete work on a budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 and address policy measures on which House and Senate leaders reach agreement. Temperatures will be checked at the door and masks will be provided.

Meeting rules have been established to allow lawmakers to be at least 6 feet apart. Committee meetings and floor debates will be streamed on the internet.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa faced a shortage of nurses prior to COVID-19 and now there’s fear of a deepening demand for those health care professionals as the pandemic may bring more rapid burnout. Kate Judge, executive director of the American Nurses Foundation, says a new national well-being initiative targets only nurses, of which there are about 60-thousand in Iowa. “Even before this pandemic, nurses were under extraordinary stress,” Judge says, “and now we have some tools that are specifically designed for nurses, by nurses, that can help them and they’re all free.” The initiative allows nurses to pick what types of service they may need when they need it, using the website Nursing World-dot-org.

“We have something that allows people to do some writing and journaling, if that’s for them,” Judge says. “We have peer-to-peer where people can call in and talk about all the issues that affect them. What we’re hearing from nurses is, it’s not just talking about what’s happening in their clinical environment. They’re talking about their work, their career, their family, life balance.” There’s one-on-one talk therapy available and even an app that enables nurses to track their moods. Judge says there are more than 48-thousand R-Ns and another 12-thousand L-P-Ns with active licenses in Iowa. She says it’s still unclear how coronavirus will impact their numbers.

“We’re concerned that the pandemic will decrease the number of nurses wanting to stay in nursing,” Judge says. “They’ve been in a position where their safety has been a concern, their families’ safety has been a concern. We’re also seeing some positive things where people are responding and saying, ‘I want to be on the front lines.'” Prior to the pandemic, a study found burnout among nurses was at an all-time high, with an estimated 63-percent of nurses exhibiting symptoms including job-induced stress, anxiety and depression.

The American Nurses Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association, with the mission to “transform the nation’s health through the power of nursing.”
nursingworld.org

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a female passenger in a vehicle that was involved in an accident late Tuesday morning, complained of pain, but was not transported to the hospital. Authorities say the 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 24-year old Aaron Michael Cox, of Corning, was traveling west on Cromwell Road at around 11:40-p.m., Tuesday, when the car went out of control due to its speed. An argument between Cox and his passenger, 23-year old Sara Louann Baker, of Creston, was also said to have contributed to Cox’ loss of control. Both subjects were wearing their seat belts.

When Cox slammed on the brakes, the car skidded into the south ditch. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $4,500. No citations were issued.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police say a 15-year-old girl has been arrested in a man’s death that was initially reported to police as a suicide. Police said in a news release Wednesday that the teen was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in the the death of 37-year-old Zachary Brooks of Des Moines. Brooks was found dead in an apartment Monday evening after someone called authorities to report a suicide there. The officers who arrived found Brooks’ body, but said his death didn’t appear to be a suicide.

Police later declared Brooks’ death as the city’s 12th homicide of the year. Police have given no details of how Brooks died or what led to the teen’s arrest.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a 17-year old male was arrested at around 10:45-p.m. Tuesday, following a reported, possible disturbance on the lawn of a residence in the 18,800 block of Evergreeen, in Council Bluffs. The unidentified juvenile faces a charge of Assault with the intent to inflict serious injury on a 39-year old male. No serious injuries were reported, though.

The City Council in Walnut will hold an electronic meeting 5-p.m. Thursday, with some members present at the Walnut Community Center. On their agenda, is discussion with regard to the closure of City properties: Concession Stands, and Community Center/Fitness Center. The Council is expected to act on:

• Permission to close: One block of Walnut Street June 5th & 6th for a Chalk Art Event; Streets for the Walnut Fall Festival on Oct. 10th and 11th.
• They’ll also act on merchants’ request for Street Displays June 19th, 20th & 21st.
• The appointment of a City of Walnut Zoning Administrator.

Other discussion items will include:

• Reinstating utility disconnections for non-payment
• Possibly raising customer water deposits and water re-connection fees.
• Consider the possible adoption of a Resolution setting fees relative to zoning in the City of Walnut.
• Consideration of the possible adoption of Resolutions pertaining to the transferring of funds into the Debt Service, General, Capital Improvement, and other funds.

Persons interesting in viewing/attending the meeting at 5-p.m. on Thursday, may do so via go-to-meeting.com, may use this link: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/600257781

You can also dial in using your phone: United States: +1 (646) 749-3112   Access Code: 600-257-781

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Iowa state parks, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources DNR partnered with three organizations, the Iowa Walking Club, the Nebraska Wander Freunde Trailblazers, and Iowa Parklands, to create 5k and 10k walking routes in 20 Iowa state parks. Maps and directions are free and available for download at https://www.iowadnr.gov/20walks. The 5k and 10k walks are intended for visitors to explore on their own or with a small group. Route starting points are marked with a Walk Box containing free maps, along with supplies for walking club members to submit donations as part of their membership. Walkers who are not members may use the maps and enjoy the walking routes as a free service for the 100th anniversary celebration.

The Iowa Walking Club and Nebraska Wander Freunde Trailblazers are non-profit organizations dedicated to physical fitness for all ages through long-distance walking and encourage social connections through membership. Both organizations are part of the American Volkssport Association. Iowa Parklands is an Iowa-based company that creates state park-themed maps and merchandise. Parks included in 20 Walks in 2020 are:

• Beeds Lake
• Big Creek
• Geode
• Lake Anita
• Lake Darling
• Lake Macbride
• Lake Manawa 
• Lake of Three Fires
• Ledges
• Lewis and Clark
• McIntosh Woods
• Mines of Spain
• Palisades-Kepler
• Pikes Peak
• Pilot Knob
• Prairie Rose 
• Stephens State Forest
• Stone
• Volga River
• Waubonsie 

DES MOINES, IA – This week, more facilities are open in Iowa state parks according to the Governor’s proclamation. Here is a list of openings for the week of June 1:

• Lodges and shelter reservations can be made on the DNR’s park reservation system for June 6 and after. Groups are limited to 50 percent capacity of the facility and must follow social distancing protocols. To make a reservation, visit: https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/
• Playgrounds are open, but user discretion is advised. Playgrounds will not be sanitized.
• Youth and group camps are open. Groups are limited to 50 percent capacity of the facility and must follow social distancing protocols.
• Some events are now able to take place with social distancing protocols. Please check iowadnr.gov/parks2020 for event updates.
• Campgrounds are now open to visitors of overnight campers.

State park museums and visitor centers have varying plans to re-open, depending on staffing and ability to implement social distancing protocols:

• Backbone State Park, Dundee – the CCC Museum at Backbone is closed until further notice.
• Bellevue State Park, Bellevue – The visitor center is closed until further notice.
• Cedar Rock State Park, Quasqueton – the Wallace Estate home will open June 3, offering tours on a reservation-only basis. Masks are encouraged and groups will be limited to 9 or less. For more details, visit http://www.friendsofcedarrock.org/
• Lewis and Clark State Park, Onawa – The visitor center will open June 8 with limited hours – Tuesdays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon.
• Loess Hills State Forest, Pisgah – The visitor center will open by June 10. Visit https://www.iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go/State-Forests/Loess-Hills-State-Forest for hours.
• Maquoketa Caves State Park, Maquoketa – the Sager’s Museum is closed until further notice.
• Mines of Spain State Recreation Area, Dubuque – The EB Lyons Nature Center is closed until further notice. Look for updates at https://www.minesofspain.org/visitorcenter/
• Wildcat Den State Park, Muscatine – the Grist Mill is closed at least through June as the Friends Group determines its ability to provide staffing. The Melpine School will be closed for the 2020 season. Find updates on the Friends Group Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Pine-Creek-Grist-Mill-181915185162487/

According to DNR park staff, many visitor centers and museums are run by volunteer groups with people in higher-risk health groups, which limits ability to re-open. For more details on park alerts and updates, visit: www.iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go/State-Parks/Alerts-and-Closures

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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