(Radio Iowa) – Economic recovery from the pandemic further accelerated in Iowa during May, but the numbers fell slightly for the Midwest region, according to a survey of business leaders and supply managers in the nine states. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the April numbers showed record growth and while Iowa continued to display its momentum to dig out, the region’s progress slipped a bit. “While the trend is strong, we’re still not back to pre-COVID levels, but boy, we’re moving in that direction,” Goss says. “The overall readings are very strong, held back by supply bottlenecks. Nine out of ten supply managers reported supply bottlenecks, four out of ten reported significant supply bottlenecks.”

Almost one-third of supply managers identified soaring input prices as the greatest economic challenge of the year for their firms. Even with a surging manufacturing sector, Goss says Midwest manufacturers added jobs at only a modest pace. “We had shortages of qualified workers,” Goss says. “We’re still about 4.2% below pre-COVID levels. The U.S. number’s about 5.4% below pre-COVID levels.”

As pandemic restrictions begin falling, Iowans are starting to make travel plans, though many of them may be stunned by the airfares they’re seeing as high demand is quickly driving up prices. “Vacation travel is going to be very, very strong this year,” Goss says. “Transportation prices, that would be airline prices, are moving upwards. We’re seeing some very high increases in prices for vacation traveling. Business travel is not as strong. That’s going to remain weak throughout 2021.”

The survey points to very strong growth for the next three to six months and Goss projects the Midwest region’s economy will be back to pre-COVID levels in the first quarter of 2022.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest at around 11:30-p.m. Tuesday, of 18-year-old Morgan Jo Bissell, of Red Oak. She was taken into custody for Possession of Marijuana/1st Offense, and, Interference with official acts. Bissell was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, and held in $1,000 bond.

Authorities said Tuesday, no injuries were reported following a collision that took place at around 8:50-a.m., Tuesday, at the intersection of N. 2nd and E. Maple Streets. Police said a 2004 Chevy pickup driven by 75-year-old Carroll Eugene Thuman, of Red Oak, was traveling south on N. 2nd Street and approaching the uncontrolled intersection with E. Maple, at the same time a 2002 Ford pickup driven by 25-year-old Jacob Daniel Orr, of Ft. Wayne, IN, was traveling eastbound on E. Maple. The Ford was registered to Lisa Gross, of Red Oak.

Police say Thuman failed to see Orr’s vehicle until it was too late. His pickup hit the Ford on the driver’s side rear door, causing Orr’s pickup to be pushed into the curb, where it broke off a large chunk of concrete before coming to rest partially in a yard. The Chevy pickup jumped the curb and hit a guy wire for a light pole, breaking the cable and the light pole wire. Thuman was cited for Failing to Yield to a vehicle on the right.

Both pickups were totaled in the crash.

(Radio Iowa) – For three consecutive days, the number of Covid patients in Iowa hospitals has dipped below 100. The last time Iowa had fewer than 100 hospital patients being treated for the virus was in early April of last year. On Tuesday night, the state website indicated 95 Covid patients were hospitalized in Iowa. Department of Public Health director Kelly Garcia says having fewer than 100 Iowans hospitalized with Covid-19 is a significant milestone.

The pace of vaccinations in Iowa has been lagging for several weeks. Garcia says her agency will continue to work with local partners to educate and answer any questions Iowans may have so they can feel confident about getting vaccinated.

About 58 percent of eligible Iowans have had at least one Covid shot. Infectious disease specialists warn if Iowa’s vaccination rate doesn’t rise, more contagious variants of Covid may take hold here as is the case in Britain.