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.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (WHO-TV) — 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. Wednesday.

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 Clarinda Police Department reports two students have absconded from the Clarinda Academy after stealing a vehicle from the campus. The incident happened today (Wednesday), at approximately 1:45 p.m.

The vehicle is a black 2013 Chevrolet Impala, University of Iowa Collegiate Personalized license plate WEBHAWK. No additional information is available at this time.