Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

UNDATED (AP) — A new report studying the impact of the coronavirus on workers in meat processing plants has found that 87% of people infected were racial or ethnic minorities and that at least 86 workers have died. The report released Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examined more than 16,000 COVID-19 cases at 239 plants in 21 states. It offers perspective on how the virus devastated U.S. pork, beef and poultry processing plants, but the figures likely understate the problem as Iowa officials declined to participate in the study. The data shows 56% of coronavirus illnesses involved Hispanic workers, 19% were non-Hispanic Blacks and 12% were Asian.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s executive branch has reported receiving 1.4 million donated surgical masks from corporations and a foreign government to help fight the coronavirus. Disclosure filings show the masks came from the Government of Taiwan and one of its U.S. offices, a Chinese auto parts conglomerate, a major apparel company and Iowa’s largest health insurer. In all, Gov. Kim Reynolds accepted pandemic-related supplies with an estimated total value of $1.33 million as gifts to the state. The most valuable came from Hanesbrands, the North Carolina-based clothing company, which gave 1.2 million of its surgical procedure masks.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge ordered probation for an Iowa businessman with deep ties to the Republican Party, saying he failed to show genuine remorse for assaulting a woman at his home last year. Judge Michael Huppert rejected a request by David Greenspon for a deferred judgment in the assault, which occurred at Greenspon’s West Des Moines mansion last November. Instead, he said that Greenspon would be convicted of assault with intent to inflict serious injury, and the aggravated misdemeanor would stay on his record even if he successfully completes his one-year probation term. Greenspon is the owner of Competitive Edge, a Des Moines advertising supply company.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Volunteers are searching for a former Wartburg College music instructor whose brain tumor diagnoses is the subject of an independent film after he went missing from an Iowa care center. The Waterloo Cedar-Falls Courier reports that the search for Mike Jensen had been focused around Ravenwood Speciality Care in Waterloo. The former Waverly man escaped Monday night through a window at the center, according to the police report. But the search shifted Wednesday to Janesville after authorities received reports that a man matching his description was seen Tuesday night on rural roads in the area.

Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber told the School Board during their electronic meeting Wednesday evening, that he is recommending on-site learning begin August 24th, as part of the District’s “Return to Learn” plan required by the State. Barber said the re-opening guidelines were received June 25th, and legislation has been passed allowing for continuous learning. Moving forward, he said, COVID-19 Health and Safety, as well as Family Dynamics involving student learning need to be taken into consideration, along with whether or not to require masks to worn by students.

The Iowa Dept. of Education is recommending against the use of screening and masks if a on-site or a hybrid learning model is used. Barber said the District’s Health and Safety Sub-Committee has made it a point to require staff to self-monitor and self-report their status every morning before school. And, while not recommended by the DOE, the District will not require masks to be used, and will strongly discourage any harassment or bullying a student may be subject to if they elect to wear a mask.

There are also circumstances and situations where a strong recommendation will be made to wear a mask, especially is social distancing for more than 15 minutes cannot be guaranteed. The District will strive to achieve social distancing as much as possible, Barber said, and will have other health and safety measures in-place. The Board’s consensus was to agree with the recommendation for on-site learning, with the understanding that the continuous learning plan be flexible on an as-needed basis, in light of the changing circumstances surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic.

In other business, FRK Architect/Engineer Principal Tom Wollan updated the Board of the District Athletic Facilities Projects. Wollan said water ponding issues on the south end of the Trojan Bowl appear to have finally been resolved, but the contractor is running about four-weeks behind schedule, putting the first home game on Sept. 11th into question. Wollan said progress moving forward now depends on the installation of the retaining wall, sidewalk paving, railing, bleachers, curb for synthetic turf and other matters that need to fall into place. Additional details on the scheduling is expected next week. Wollan said they are working hard to make-up for lost time caused by the water detention issue and solution.

Utility-type work is being finished on the baseball/softball fields and concession stands. Less activity will be focused on those sites until the Trojan Bowl project can be brought up-to-date. Wollan said also, the State Fire Marshal threw the District a costly curve ball, with regard to bleacher lighting. He said the Fire Marshall is requiring emergency lighting to be installed that will illuminate the bleacher aisles for the Trojan Bowl and Baseball/Softball Bleachers. Wollan said the International Building Code/Bleacher Code does not require aisle lighting, but the Fire Marshal has the final say, and that means an additional cost of $28,000. Wollan said FRK thought lights on-top of the Press Box would suffice, but they were told that does not qualify as emergency lighting (in the event of a power outage).

Superintendent Barber reported also, that fundraising to pay for the $600,000 field turf addition at the Trojan Bowl amounts to $412,000 so far. The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday evening set a Work Session for 6-p.m. July 22nd, and set the Board Retreat for Aug. 18th, from 11-a.m. to 5-p.m. They also approved: The purchase of 350 refurbished touch-screen Chromebook (laptop) computers, and a bid from Olsen Fuel Supply for District diesel, gasoline and propane for the 2020-21 school year.