(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Department of Transportation plans to release an updated proposal by the end of this month that reduces the number of full-service interstate rest areas targeted for closing from 11 to eight. The D-O-T’s Brad Hofer says they used public input and did some more study of the rest areas and truck parking to come up with the revised cut list. “There’s several along I-29. There’s only a couple along I-35. There’s no closures recommended along I-80. And then there’s two aging sites on I-880 just north of Council Bluffs that are being proposed for closure,” he says. He says they got a lot of public feedback after the original plan came out in 2013, which led to the decision to keep three rest areas open.

“The two Osceola’s south of Des Moines — we heard some pretty substantial feedback on those — as well as the eastbound Davenport site. And because of that and kind of the spacing of those sites — we opted to keep those as ones that we are now going to keep,” Hofer says. The new plan also goes from closing 16 parking only sites to only closing 10. Hofer says that decision comes after a survey of available truck parking. The six parking only sites that stay open will be upgraded. “Overall we are adding a net 247 additional truck parking spaces with those upgrades,” Hofer says. “Even with those closures, we are adding enough parking spaces to compensate for those ones that are lost — as well as adding 247 more.”

Hofer says the did a lot of study on the 38 rest areas to decide which ones close. “We did look at spacing, we looked at usage, we looked at age. There were I think about seven or eight criteria that we use to prioritize their criticality — I’ll call it that,” according to Hofer. Hofer says one of the things that people didn’t understand after the first survey is they will use the money saved from the closings to help maintain and improve the remaining sites. “Those eight full-service sites we are proposing to close are all approaching 50 years in age. And then there’s 12 more aging full-service sites that will need to be upgraded in addition to those — and we are proposing on doing that between 2022 and 2033,” Hofer says.

Travel patterns have changed and there are now more amenities available from the private sector along the interstates, but Hofer says many people like being able to pull off quickly and use the state rest areas. “They’re very convenient, easily accessed, and well-maintained sites that make it easy for folks to take a rest,” he says. “What we tried to do with this study — some of the existing rest areas are oddly space along the system — some of them are kind of a short distance between another one or a short distance between a big truck stop or another private service area. So what we tried to do is make it a little more evenly spaced out throughout the system.”

Hofer says they will release they hope to release the new proposal before the end of this month and get more input before bringing the final proposal to the Transportation Commission.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report a Corning man was arrested early Tuesday morning following a domestic disturbance. Aaron Michael Gray was taken into custody at around 1:53-a.m., for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was initially held without bond in the Adams County Jail, but later appeared before a magistrate and was released on his own recognizance.

(Radio Iowa) – A group of Iowa labor and community organizers is calling for state and federal agencies to boost oversight of factories and meat packing plants. Gayle Warner’s husband has worked at a Whirlpool factory in Amana for 30 years. She says the Occupational Health and Safety Administration is failing to ensure the safety of her husband and his co-workers.

“I’m filled with anger and sorrow,” she said, as she cried. “Instead, I would like to be filled with hope and to get help from our leaders in government.” Black Hawk County Supervisor Chris Schwartz says OSHA guidelines should be enforced at places like Waterloo’s Tyson plant, as county officials say more than a thousand of the plant’s workers have tested positive for COVID-19.

“Things have quieted down a little bit,” he says, “but not enough to the point that we should be relaxing all these measures that the governor did put in place and so we’re very worried about the very real possibility of a second surge, ’cause we’re not even through our first.” Thirty residents of Black Hawk County have died of COVID-19. That’s nearly 10 percent of all the deaths recorded in Iowa.

The League of Latin American Citizens is planning a protest Friday at the Tyson plant in Waterloo.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Restaurants, salons, barber shops and gyms in Iowa will be allowed to reopen Friday under new health rules intended to slow the coronavirus. Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday that she’s lifting an order that closed restaurants in 22 counties, including the largest metropolitan areas. She says she’ll also allow fitness centers, salons, tattoo parlors, barber shops and massage therapists to resume business statewide. The order came as Reynolds and the state’s medical director took steps to self-isolate after potential exposure to the virus at the White House last week. And deaths from the virus surged again on Wednesday, surpassing 300.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — U.S. meat exports are surging this spring even as the processing industry is struggling to meet domestic demand because of coronavirus outbreaks at processing plants that have sickened hundreds of workers. Although the situation could cause concern that American workers are risking their health to meet foreign demand, experts say it shouldn’t because much of the meat sold to other countries is cuts that Americans generally don’t eat. And at least one of the four major processors says it has reduced exports during the pandemic. The meat industry says that if companies manage to keep plants operating, there should be plenty of supply to satisfy both the U.S. and export markets.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature will resume its session on June 3 after a months-long break as part of efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Republicans who control both legislative chambers agreed to suspend the Legislature on March 16 and then extended the break as the state dealt with the outbreak. The action to resume the legislative session came as Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, announced Wednesday she was allowing most businesses to reopen across the state. A legislative panel will meet by phone Thursday to officially enact the plan announced by the Republican leaders. Lawmakers also will reopen the Capitol on Monday. Everyone entering the building will need to undergo a health screening.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a teenage boy has been injured in an officer-involved shooting in central Iowa. Station WHO-TV reports that the shooting happened before dawn Wednesday morning in Marshalltown when officers were called to a northwest neighborhood near Rogers Elementary School for a disturbance. Marshalltown Police Chief Michael Tupper says the call was made just before 4:30 a.m. Tuesday. Tupper says arriving officers encountered a 17-year-old male who did not respond to police commands or being shocked by a stun gun and was shot when he charged officers. The teen was taken to a hospital for treatment of wounds not believed to be life-threatening. Police are not releasing the name of the teen or the officer who shot him.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education held a session via YouTube, Wednesday evening. During the meeting the Board heard from Atlantic Athletic Facilities Liaison Bob Sweeney, who said the Trojan Bowl is on schedule for the first football game/season opener against Mt. Ayr on September 11th. Sweeney said “The Trojan Bowl, like many projects, some days are more visible production than others. We have survived COVID-19 as far as the crisis with the construction because they have moved forward on a daily basis.”

Any rain received over the next few days will slow construction, but Sweeney said the crops need it, so “We’ll live with that.” He said also, the field turf project is still on schedule. Work on the baseball/softball field has also continued. Sweeney said rough grading is basically completed at the Trojan Bowl. And, the water ponding issue on the south end of the field from an underground spring seems to have been abated thanks to action to “core out” the water hole.

In other business the Board approved the resignations of: Alex Bales – HS Teacher/Speech Coach/Fall Play Director; Emily Krummel – MS Teacher; Hillary Zimmerline – MS Teacher/MS Volleyball Coach; Derek Hall – Freshman Football Coach, and Macie Harringa – MS Cross Country Coach. They also approved contract recommendations for: Mary McBride – Special Education Teacher (Link Center), and, Sarah Rose – MS/HS Guidance Counselor.

The Board also approved the following:

• A June 2021 Out-of-State trip by Middle School Students, to Washington, D.C., under the guidance of Mr. Paul McKay. The trip is taken every other year, and includes several points of interest, a tour of Capital Hill, and more, with the idea of reinforcing things they have studied in history.
• 2020-21 Student Fees. No changes will be made except to the Adult Lunch Prices, which are regulated by the Federal Government, and requires the price to be increased 10 cents, from $3.75 to $3.85.
• A 2020-21 AEA Purchasing Agreement, which allows the district continued participation in the AEA cooperative purchasing program for school food service and other purchasing opportunities.
• An agreement with Children’s Square/Heartland Family Service Consortium for 2020-21
• An 80/20 Transportation Director Sharing Agreement with the Griswold School District. The renewed agreement allows Griswold to use the Atlantic Bus Barn to conduct maintenance on Griswold School vehicles. Griswold pays 20% of the costs associated with the agreement
• 2020-21 Sponsors/Contracts & Winter Sports Coaching Contracts;
• “Other” contracts (Central Office, Technology & Directors). The contracts call for a 2.25% increase (including FICA & IPERS) for Director. Hourly, non-union employees receive a 2.3% increase, which also includes FICA & IPERS. And, Director of Finance, Sarah Sheeder, will receive a $750 transportation stipend for the work she does the Atlantic and CAM Schools.
• Principal Contracts (Which includes a 2.25% increase w/FICA & IPERS).
• Milk, Bread and Waste Management bids.

Audubon County Public Health Director Bob Nelson, Wednesday afternoon, said ACPH and the Iowa Department of Public Health, have identified an additional case of COVID-19 in Audubon county. Nelson said the person was between the ages of 19-and 40. Nelson said also, the additional case brings the total number positive cases of COVID-19 in Audubon County, to 11. That includes six persons who have recovered, one who has died, and four that continue to be monitored.

Bob Nelson said in a social media video post, “A common question that Audubon County Public Health receives is a request for more information on a COVID-19 positive individual. Please keep in mind that when a new positive case is announced the Iowa Department of Public Health is only allowing the age range of the individual to be released. Due to confidentiality and HIPPA regulations any additional information including the person’s race, ethnicity, gender, city or employer is considered confidential information and cannot be given out.”

He added, “As the State of Iowa and Audubon County begin to reopen and you begin to re-visit businesses again please take steps to protect yourself and our community from COVID-19. Continue to practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently and do not touch your face. Wear a mask when in close proximity to others and stay home when ill. If you are over the age of 65 or have underlying health conditions please seriously consider staying home.”

Officials with the Pottawattamie County Public Health Department reported Wednesday evening, that there were 15 more, positive cases of COVID-19. Twelve of the cases are residents of Council Bluffs, three are from Oakland. One case is a person under the age of 18. Nine are age 18-to 40, two are from 61-to 80 years of age, and one is 80 years of age or older.

As of May 13th, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Pott. County is 106. Currently 54 individuals are self-isolating, one is hospitalized, one has moved out-of-state, and there have been two deaths. Based on PCPH contact tracing investigations, 38 Pott. County COVID-19 cases are the result of Community Spread.

PCPH continues to conduct contact tracing investigations for each COVID-19 case. If and when a risk to the general public is identified, the County will publicly identify the location and community any actions the public should take.

On a related note, owners of the Oakland Dairy Queen posted on social media Tuesday evening, that one of their employees, who does not live in the community, tested positive for COVID-19. The owners said “For the safety of our employees, we have closed until May 22nd. We appreciate all the positive support that is coming in during these difficult times.”

(Radio Iowa) — Congressman Steve King has been saying for the past two weeks that he has an agreement with the Republican leader in the U.S. House to get this committee assignments restored — but an Ohio congressman who’s on the leadership team says King will not be serving on any committee. House G-O-P leaders removed King from committees last year. It came shortly after a New York Times article quoted King asking why the terms white supremacy and white nationalism had become offensive. This is what King said on April 27th.

Steve King (file photo)

“Kevin McCarthy and I have reached an understanding,” King said, “and the only barrier in the way to putting back all my committees, perhaps incrementally as there are openings that can be created, is to get a formal meeting of the Steering Committee because they’re officially the ones that make that decision.” King is seeking a 10th term in the U.S. House and faces four Republican challengers in the June Primary. He has repeatedly said he was misquoted and King chastised his opponents during a forum in Spencer on Monday night.

“You’re running on The New York Times and you’re running on no committee assignments,” King said. “Can anybody stand up and say it’s what I said or did that caused that to happen? That’s not on me. That’s on the people that made that decision and the ones that need to rectify it and you all should have stood up to defend me on that and you were nowhere to be found.” Ohio Congressman Steve Stivers, a member of the House G-O-P Steering Committee, says he won’t allow hate and bigotry to influence the legislation passed in congress and King will not regain appointments to committees.

Two weeks ago, King said his lack of committee assignments is an injustice that must be corrected immediately. “Especially in the middle of this crisis that we’re in right now,” King says. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy has not responded to requests for comment. In January of 2019, when he announced King was being stripped of his committee assignments, McCarthy said King’s quotes in the New York Times were not the first time King had made offensive comments.