More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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Subscribe: RSS
(Radio Iowa) – Leaders in Sioux City have passed the first reading of an ordinance that will increase fines for fireworks violations. Under the new ordinance, property owners would be held responsible and fined for the illegal use of fireworks at their home or property. The city council voted 4-1 Monday for the measure — with Pete Groetken, a retired police captain, voting no. He questioned how the ordinance could be enforced. “I am not sure what this ordinance is doing except raising fines. I don’t know how we enforce it. I guess it can be done or we wouldn’t have recommended it,” Groetken said. “We are increasing the fine — but it’s not really solving the problem.”
Groetken says many people have told him the city should just ban fireworks.He says nine of out ten calls he gets from the public say they should get rid of fireworks. Councilwoman Julie Schoenherr says she has more people tell her they want to be able to celebrate the New Year and 4th of July with fireworks. And she thinks they need to continue with the education campaign.”I haven’t heard as many negative to turn them off and to make them illegal as I have the other way around. So, I want to continue and I want to really, really hit the P-S-A’s after the first of the year,” Schoener said.
The proposal would fine property owners 250 dollars for a first offense violation of the fireworks ordinance, 500 dollars for a second offense, and one thousand dollars for third or more violations. The proposal must pass two more times before being enacted. Fireworks may be legally used from 1:00 P-M December 31st until 12:30 A-M. on January 1st, and July 3rd through July 4th from the hours of 1:00 P-M until 11:00 P-M.
NEW YORK (AP) — On a nine-game winning streak, the Kansas City Chiefs have retained the top spot in the latest AP Pro32 poll. The Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers switched places after earning wins last Saturday. The AFC East champion Bills moved up a place at No. 2 and the Packers slipped a spot to No. 3.
Despite the loss to the Chiefs last weekend, the Saints stayed at No. 4 and the Tennessee Titans gained three spots to No. 5.
The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.
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(Radio Iowa) – A study being released by the United Ways of Iowa shows how the pandemic is impacting the state’s households and finds low-income families are suffering disproportionately in trying to pay for essentials. Deann Cook, the agency’s executive director, says the report finds more than half of Iowa households are reporting a loss of income or increased expenses due to COVID-19. “Iowans who are still in a position to give have been very, very generous, particularly with disaster funds. That has been really heartwarming to see,” Cook says. “But there’s just simply more need out there than the non-profit sector is able to provide.”
Charities of all sorts are being stretched to the limit, especially food banks and agencies that help Iowans in need to pay their utilities or rent. “Probably the biggest resource that United Ways have is the Iowa 211 Hotline,” Cook says. “When residents of Iowa find themselves with a challenge that they need help navigating, pick up the phone, call 211 and those call agents can walk you through and help direct you to the best resources.”
Before the pandemic, Cook says 37-percent of Iowans were having a difficult time paying all of their bills. Those are people who are living above the federal poverty level who are working, but simply don’t make enough to pay for the basics. The report shows even more Iowans are now financially fragile. “Eighteen percent of Iowans told us they couldn’t cover one month’s bills prior to the pandemic. That is now well into 30-percent,” Cook says. “We have a third of Iowans, at least, who are now struggling to even come up with one month’s reserve should they have a problem, should they lose income, that kind of thing.”
Beyond money worries, the three primary concerns Iowans expressed are: a second wave of virus activity and closures, a household member contracting COVID-19, and mental health issues. Cook says families with household incomes below $50,000 reported significantly higher concerns about paying for food, utilities and rent.”Going back to what it was like before the pandemic is not exactly going back to a great place,” Cook says. “There were Iowans struggling going into this and this has only exacerbated all of those problems.”
For Iowans who want to help, Cook says there are United Way chapters across the state, in addition to food pantries and local community disaster funds, all of which would welcome donations. (On the web at https://www.uwiowa.org/)
The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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The Iowa Department of Public Health Wednesday (10-a.m. today) reports Cass County has reached 1,000 Positive cases of COVID-19 since pandemic records began. Over the previous 24-hours, there were 16 new, positive cases in Cass County. Audubon County reports 19 new cases, Harrison County’s case count is up 24, there are 96 more cases in Pottawattamie County, where the total to-date is 7,957, and 18 more cases in Union County, for a total of 991 (see data from other counties below).
As of today, there are 271,019 confirmed Positive cases of the virus statewide since Iowa’s outbreak began, with an additional 1,999 cases confirmed in the past 24 hours. The number of deaths increased by 15, to 3,668. Of Iowa’s pandemic-related deaths, COVID-19 was reported as the underlying cause for 3,369 of those deaths. For 299 Iowans, COVID-19 was a contributing factor to their deaths. COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities account for 1,137 of the state’s total deaths.
The Iowa DPH reports 128 COVID-19 outbreaks among long-term care facilities in the state, accounting for 5,212 of Iowa’s current positive cases. According to the state’s website, more than 1.32-million Iowans have received COVID-19 tests. Iowa’s average reported positivity rate is 12.6% over the last 14 days.
Hospitalization data: show 644 Iowans with COVID-19 are in hospitals across the state (down from 651 yesterday); 139 COVID patients are in an ICU; 113 were admitted to a hospital (Compared to 71 yesterday); and 71 were on a ventilator. Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa (RMCC Region 4) report: 42 are hospitalized (2 more than Tuesday); 15 are in an ICU (also 2 more than yesterday); five people were admitted, and eight COVID patients remain on a ventilator.
In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:
(Radio Iowa) – Monica Czinano scored 19 points and Iowa used a 27-17 third quarter to pull away in a 92-65 win over Western Illinois Tuesday afternoon, in Iowa City.
That’s Iowa coach Lisa Bluder. Freshman Caitlin Clark had 13 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Hawkeyes return to action on New Years Eve by hosting Rutgers.
The Red Oak Police Department reports 30-year-old Eric Alan Vannausdale, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 9:35-p.m. Tuesday, for Assault with the intent to commit serious injury. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.