Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, today (Tuesday), announced the formation of six Regional PPE (personal protective equipment) stockpiles, in conjunction with the Iowa Emergency Management Association and county emergency managers statewide. The stockpiles are designed to ensure regional and local preparedness for any future events.

The Governor also spoke about the recent protests over the May 25^th death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis Police custody. She said Monday night, “Hundreds of people gathered in several communities across the State in Peaceful protest, to speak their mind and have their voices heard.”

Reynolds said she’s committed to move the process of peaceful discussion and action forward, but that she won’t hesitate to call on the National Guard to restore order if it becomes necessary to restore law and order. She explained that decision would rely on the advice of state and county law enforcement experts.

If the Guard were to be deployed, she says  it would only be to support what is already taking place.

As of mid-day today (Tuesday), the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), said 22 people have died in the State from COVID-19, and there were more than 264 new/positive cases of the virus. That brings the statewide total to 19,956 positive cases and 560 deaths. Officials said also, 163,969 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19, while 11,556 have recovered. New positive cases in Iowa have remained flat as testing has reached a high level. IDPH reported 5,039 Iowans tested Monday. Iowans who have tested negative for the virus, number 143, 578.

Iowa’s hospitalization numbers have trended downward or remained flat since an apparent peak around May 6th. IDPH reported 327 currently hospitalized with the virus, while 114 are listed in intensive care. There were 12 admitted in the last 24 hours and 76 patients on ventilators. There are 3,530 inpatient beds available in the state, with 523 ICU beds available. There are 749 ventilators available. IDPH reported 41 outbreaks in Iowa’s long-term care facilities. There have been 1,586 positive cases, with 756 recovered and 265 deaths.

The Region 4 Regional Medical Coordinator Center – covering hospitals in western/southwest Iowa – (RMCC) reports 11 Iowans are hospitalized, 7 are in an ICU, none were admitted over the past 24-hours, and 3 are on ventilators. Those numbers are all down from Monday’s stats.

Here are the latest county-by-county numbers for Cass & surrounding Counties (with the number recovered in parenthesis):

• Cass: 12 (11)
• Adair: 9 (5)
• Adams: 7 (4)
• Audubon: 12 (8)
• Guthrie: 53 (30)
• Montgomery: 8 (6)
• Pottawattamie: 272 (169)
• Shelby: 37 (31)

See other counties’ stats at  https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/pages/case-counts for a breakdown of cases & the number recovered.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ Tuesday press conference on COVID-19. We will have live audio on KJAN as well with the presser now set to begin at approximately 11:05 a.m.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a Cass County man was arrested at around 1:30 this (Tuesday) morning, in Oakland. 21-year old  Spenser Motiese Denison, of Atlantic, was taken into custody following an investigation into the assault of a 24-year old woman. Denison was charged with Child Endangerment with substantial risk (because a two-year old girl was in the residence where the incident took place), and Domestic Abuse Assault with injury/strangulation. His bond on the Child Endangerment charge was set at $2,000.

Monday night, 26-year old Brandan Lee Serrano, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender, and OWI/1st offense. He was taken into custody following a report of a suicidal subject possibly at the Garner Cemetery, in Council Bluffs. Bond was set at $3,000.  And, at around 12:40-p.m. Monday, 40-year old Andrew Paul Christensen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following an incident in Council Bluffs Christensen was charged with Domestic Assault/1st offense, causing bodily injury. The alleged victim was a 38-year old female.

The Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) today (Tuesday), announced the launch of a local beef directory to connect beef producers with local buyers. The IBC says “The pandemic has ushered in a renewed interest in food security and ignited an increased interest from consumers to purchase beef directly from farmers. The Iowa Local Beef Directory will provide resources in helping shoppers navigate the buying process and connecting potential buyers to sellers.”

Janine Moore, IBIC Chairman says “We have recently noticed an uptick in the frequency of producer inquiries searching for resources related to directly marketing beef. Furthermore, with supermarkets and grocery stores experiencing intermittent disruptions in availability of beef, we felt we had to do something to address the marketplace needs. We understand this isn’t a solution that addresses all the challenges we face today but it’s a positive step forward in building a connection with beef farmers and shoppers.”

Iowa beef producers interested in submitting their information for listing can do so by visiting the Iowa Local Beef Directory submission page, on the Raising Beef tab, on the IBIC website, www.iabeef.org. The form allows producers to self-list to the directory which will be housed on the IBIC website. Listings will include farm name, contact name, city, additional certifications and website links so consumers can contact farmers directly. Questions received by IBIC regarding specific businesses will be directed back to the company.

(Radio Iowa) More than a thousand people gathered at the steps of the Iowa capitol last (Monday) night for a rally organizers labeled as a “call to action,” not a protest. It followed several nights of sometimes-violent demonstrations across the state sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. Reverend Ben Bell Junior, of the group Dads with a Purpose, urged those at the rally to push for stronger policies against police violence. “We need to decide if we’re going to create a society where people are afraid to do that to somebody or not,” Bell says. “There should’ve been a fear to handle him like that.”

Other speakers called on protesters to vote and get involved in local politics. After the Polk County curfew took effect at 9 P-M, hundreds of demonstrators from the rally marched through downtown Des Moines and at one point, members of the group got on their knees outside police headquarters. They alternately chanted “I can’t breathe,” and “Hands-up, don’t shoot.”

Authorities used tear gas to chase a group of protesters off the state capitol grounds late last (Monday) night. There were no reports of damage or arrests.

(By Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Council Bluffs man was arrested Monday afternoon. 54-year old Michael Scott Holtz was taken into custody at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant charging him with four counts of Violation of Probation. Holtz’ bond was set at $20,000.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet via an electronic session 9-a.m. Wednesday. On their agenda is discussion with regard to Township Clerk wages, and COVID-19. Action items are with regard to $4.495-million in General Obligation Urban Renewal Bonds, Series 2020, including:

• A Resolution appointing a paying agent, bond registrar, and transfer agent, followed by action on an agreement to pay those persons and the execution of the agreement for the same.
• A Resolution authorizing and providing for the issuance and the levying of taxes to pay the bonds; Approval of the Tax Exemption Certificate, and Continuing Disclosure Certificate.

Auditor Mandy Berg will discuss with the Board a Clerk Step Increase, and a Transfer Resolution. Adair County Engineer Nick Kaufmann will discuss with the Board, Secondary Roads personnel policies, and present his report on Maintenance and Activities. Members of the public wishing to join the electronic meeting at 9-a.m. Wednesday, should do so by:

Dial in Number: (605) 313-6157        

Access Code: 526272#

(Radio Iowa) — Some of the 19 state-licensed casinos started re-opening Monday under new guidelines from the governor. Wild Rose President Tom Timmons says customers were waiting at his property in Jefferson, and the two other company casinos in the state. “We had about 140 people waiting in Jefferson to get in at ten o’clock. And then in Clinton, there were probably about 60 to 70 people waiting to get in — and then Emmetsburg at noon there were probably about 60 people waiting in line to get in as well,” Timmons says.

Timmons says it felt like the grand opening all over again and was expected. “You bring something back — especially after we’ve been closed for 75 days — and yeah I don’t necessarily think next Monday or every Monday after this there is going to be people waiting to get in,” Timmons says. “I think the first day and maybe even the second day (after the reopening) there will be some, and then maybe a little more of the normal nature.”

The casinos are allowed to open at 50 percent of capacity. He says capacity is determined by the number of gaming positions normally available. “For instance, Jefferson had at total of 600 gaming positions — and that is figuring out what you had in table games and all the slot machines… and so we are limited to 300 patrons — that’s the capacity in Jefferson right now,” according to Timmons. He says everyone seems to be very understanding of the new rules. Timmons says they are checking customers as they come in the door and it is up to them if they want to wear a mask. Employees are checked every day and are required to wear a mask and gloves. “And when someone gets up from playing a machine, we go over and clean it when they are done.”

Timmons has been in the industry for some 30 years and even with all the planning they’ve done — this is still new. “I’ve got lots of concerns — but I don’t know how to prioritize them — because I’ve never had to do this before,” he says. Timmons says no one expected to have to shut down and re-open again. Timmons isn’t sure how the attendance will be moving ahead as the calendar is upset with everything else. “Normally our busiest month of the year is March when we are coming off the winter. Kind of the same thing you might say when people have been cooped up a little bit more than they would like to be. That happens in Iowa,” Timmons says. “Ironically, June is typically one of our slower months — whether it be people just taking summer vacations, just getting out of school, other activities, other things.”

They’ve adjusted their hours to be open from 10 a-m. to 10 p-m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a-m to midnight on Friday and Saturday. There will be no table games for now and he says they will reevaluate as more guidelines become available.

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

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