Governor Kim Reynolds reports said the State of Iowa has had 508 new COVID-19 positive test results returned from the State Hygienic and other labs over the past 24-hours, for a total of 6,376 Positive cases as of today (Tuesday). 98% of those positive cases were in the 22 counties where restrictions remain in-place. There were also 1,165New Negative COVID-19 test results returned, for a total of 33,447. She said 1,673 Iowans have been tested, for a total of 39,823 (or 1 out of every 79 people per capita). The State Hygienic Lab has a testing capacity of 5,226 persons.

Reynold said 2,169 Iowans have recovered from COVID-19, for a recovery rate of 34%. There have also been nine new deaths resulting from COVID-19. The victims were older or elderly adults. Seven were residents of Long Term Care facilities (LTC’s).

According to IDPH the additional 9 deaths were reported in the following counties:

• Black Hawk County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Linn County, 2 older adults (61-80 years)
• Muscatine County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Polk County, 3 elderly adults (81+), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Story County, 1 elderly adult (81+)

And, there were seven, LTC facilities with new outbreaks of COVID-19. Those facilities include:

• Granger Nursing & Rehab, in Dallas County.
• Dubuque Specialty Care, in Dubuque County.
• Park Center and Accura Health Care of Newton West, in Jasper County,
• The Iowa Veterans Home in Marshall County.
• Fleur Heights Center for Wellness and Rehab, and University Park Nursing & Rehab, both in Polk County.

After IDPH Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter spoke about specific guidance for restaurant owners that need to be implemented when they open their doors to sit down customers, Friday, Governor Reynolds praised those individuals across the State got creative since the shut-down, in employing their staff, and serving their customers.

“Some,” she said, “even dedicated themselves to serving their community from their kitchens, in truly meaningful ways, like Joel Mahr, owner of the Primrose Restaurant, in Corning.

Mahr explained his restaurant helped out students by provide them with a nutritious meal and snack.

Mahr said he was looking forward to re-opening and making sure all the recommend guidelines are in-place to keep their customers safe and happy.

Officials with the City of Massena say a water pump was out of service for a period of time over the weekend. Due to the outage, residents/customers of Massena Water may have experienced some discolored water over the last few days. In an effort to clear this up for our residents as soon as possible, crews will be flushing water mains Wednesday afternoon. The City appreciates your patience and is working as quickly as possible to get the matter resolved.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency said today (Tuesday), “Per Earling Fire Department the Earling Standard [shop] will be smoldering for the next few days. They are actively monitoring this and calling 911 if you see smoke or small flames isn’t necessary. However, if you see large flames and fire spreading please call 911. They also would like to give profound gratitude to all those that helped, and continue to help during this event.”

The shop exploded at around 8:25-a.m., Monday, hurling debris for blocks. Fortunately, two men inside escaped with non-life threatening injuries. The cause of the explosion was under investigation.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors are set to hold a dial-in/electronic meeting, 9-a.m. Wednesday. On their agenda is a MMP (Manure Management Plan) update, a response to Wind Turbine Complaints, and a Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG) COVID-19 Survey.

County Conservation Officer Dominic Johnson will present a Conservation and Parks update. Gary Metzger & Matt Swanson, with the City of Orient, will discuss with the Board, an Orient City Wind Turbine and TIF (Tax Increment Financing). Weed Commissioner Nathan Jensen will report on approval of Weed Notices. And, the Adair County Supervisors will hear updates on, and then discuss, COVID-19, and a Telework Policy.

The meeting may be accessed by calling 605-313-6157, and using access code 526272#.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Pottawattamie County man was arrested Saturday on a trio of charges. 42-year old Heith LeRoy Schmidt, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody at around 9-a.m., on charges that include OWI/1st offense, Eluding, and a citation for Speeding. His bond at the Mills County Jail was set at $2,000.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ Tuesday press conference on COVID-19. We plan on having live audio of the presser as well on KJAN which is set to begin at approximately 11:00 a.m.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is warning laid off workers that they will lose their unemployment benefits if they refuse to return when their employer calls them back to work. Gov. Kim Reynolds is moving to partially reopen 77 of the state’s 99 counties Friday, relaxing restrictions that were intended to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Restaurants, some bars, malls, fitness centers, and retail stores are expected to open their doors for the first time in weeks.

The reopening comes as Iowa experiences one of the nation’s fastest growth rates in coronavirus cases. Iowa Workforce Development is warning that failing to return to work out of fear of catching the virus will be considered a voluntary quit, which disqualifies workers from receiving unemployment benefits.

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

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EARLING, Iowa (KETV-TV) — Two men who were inside a gas station and auto repair shop in Shelby County when it was leveled by an explosion, Monday morning, are expected to recover from their injuries. Television station KETV in Omaha, Nebraska, reports that Dan Grote, co-owner of Earling Standard Shop, has already been released from the hospital, where he received stitches for cuts. Grote says his brother-in-law, Don Bruck, who was also in the shop when it exploded early Monday, is expected to be released soon from an Omaha hospital. Investigators say the explosion damaged nearby homes and blew debris up to six blocks away. The Iowa State fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the explosion.

The Creston Police Department reports four arrests. A man and a woman from Creston were arrested at around 2:30-this (Tuesday) morning, in the 100 block of N. Elm Street. 21-year old Brianna Lawson was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense. Lawson was being held on a $2,000 bond, in the Adams County Jail. 22-year old Brandon Tull was arrested for Violation of a Protection Order, and Possession of Burglary tools. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a Promise to Appear in court.

Monday afternoon, Creston Police served 25-year old Austin Jones, of Creston, with two Union County warrants for Violation of Probation. The warrants were served at the Union County Jail, where Jones was already being held.

And, 18-year old Elyice Bolin Stow, of Creston, was arrested Monday at the Creston Police Dept., on a Union County Warrant for Sexual Abuse 3rd.  Stow was being held in the Union COunty Jail without bond, until seen by the judge.