(Radio Iowa) — Concerns are rising in Iowa the COVID-19 pandemic is allowing child abuse to go unreported while making it more challenging for people trying to get out of abusive households. Mary Ingham is executive director of Crisis Intervention Services, which serves 15 north-central Iowa counties. She says more people are reaching out through email and texts because they’re unable to get away from an abusive family member.

Ingham says, “Two months ago, most people could find a time that they could be alone, when their partner is gone or maybe they’re running errands, and people just aren’t moving like that anymore.” Ingham says Iowans should regularly check in with friends and family members to make sure they’re safe. They can contact victim services programs to find support and safe housing.

Since the pandemic forced schools to close, child abuse reports have fallen, but advocates fear it could mean some abuse is being overlooked. Amanda Goodman, executive director of the Family and Children’s Council of Black Hawk County, says she’s concerned numbers are down because many people who make reports are school employees. Goodman says, “I’ve encouraged all the teachers and administrators to reach out to families once a week not only talk to the parents, but ask the child and give them that safe place.”

Much like Ingham, Goodman encourages everyone to keep in contact with their neighbors and report any suspicious activity to authorities. A report from the state ombudsman’s office in April found child abuse reports to the Department of Human Services fell more than 16-percent from February to March — when schools across the state closed.

(Reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) — Only one Iowa hospital is treating COVID-19 patients with a newly-approved drug that’s hoped to help in the healing process. Remdesivir (rem-DESS-ah-veer) isn’t a cure or a prevention vaccine, but researchers say it can help some patients recover from coronavirus more quickly, perhaps cutting as much as four days off their recovery.

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has been using the intravenous antiviral drug in clinical trials since late March. About two-dozen patients with severe symptoms were treated with remdesivir at the Iowa City hospital. One patient died, though UIHC officials say it was a severe case and don’t attribute the death to the drug.

After gaining FDA approval last week, production is being ramped up and more Iowa hospitals should have the drug — soon.

(Radio Iowa) — The mayor of a western Iowa city that’s home to two packing plants is asking state officials to establish a “Test Iowa” site in her community. Pam Soseman is the Mayor of Denison. “I remain very concerned and I have been concerned for weeks, knowing that plants are hot spots and have been historically hot spots in the past month.”

State officials confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks yesterday (Tuesday) at packing plants in Perry, Waterloo, Tama and Columbus Junction. Smithfield operates a pork plant in Denison, with about 12-hundred-50 hourly workers.

Several hundred others work at the Quality Meats plant in Denison (Which is in Crawford County). The latest state report shows there are now 103 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Crawford County. “I am very concerned about those numbers,” Soseman says. “We keep communicating with our state representatives and our governor.” National data indicates meat packing has more foreign-born workers than any other industry in the country. Soseman is worried the Test Iowa app that screens people for testing may not be understandable to all the packing plant workers in Denison.

“With 26 languages spoken in our high school, that is a deep concern of mine,” she says. “I also have a concern with those who may not have access to a computer to be able to sign up online, so I’m asking for those who can help to communicate this to people who may be in danger or at risk, to communicate with those people and assist them with that website.”

Officials with the Pottawattamie County Public Health Department today (Wednesday) reported seven new COVID-19 cases. Six of the new cases were found in Council Bluffs residents. One is a resident of Crescent. Three of the individuals who tested positive are between the ages of 18-and 40, three are from 41-to 60 years of age, and the seventh is age 61-to 80. They were tested between May 1st and May 4th.

None of the latest cases had a pre-existing medical condition. Five of the seven had contact with an existing COVID-19 case. Two are the result of Community Spread. All seven are self-isolating at home. In all, Pott. County has had 69 positive cases of COVID-19. Nearly half of the affected individuals (33) have recovered since first diagnosed. 35 are self-isolating at home. One was hospitalized and as previously reported, two people have died from the virus.

Pott. County Public Health continues to conduct contact tracing investigations for each COVID-19 case. The public is urged to take precautions to protect themselves from the spread of the virus, by heeding the advice that’s been passed along since the beginning: Stay home as much as possible; limit travel and shopping; practice social distancing; and wash your hands and disinfect frequently touched surfaces multiple times per day.

(Lenexa, Kan., May 6, 2020) – Officials with the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) said Wednesday, that the city of Council Bluffs was selected to receive a $300,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant by the EPA, to conduct environmental site assessments, cleanup planning and community outreach activities in the city.  The funds are designed to aid under-served and economically disadvantaged communities, including neighborhoods located in Opportunity Zones, in assessing and cleaning up abandoned industrial and commercial properties. An Opportunity Zone is an economically-distressed community where new investment, under certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatment.

City officials will use the $300,000 grant to conduct 23 environmental site assessments. Grant funds will also be used to inventory brownfield sites, develop two site-specific cleanup plans, and support community outreach and reuse planning activities. Assessment activities will focus on the city’s South Expressway Corridor, part of a Qualified Opportunity Zone. Areas with priority sites include the Arts and Cultural District, 16th Avenue area west of the South Expressway and Iowa Highway 275 area north of Lake Manawa.

Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh said “We are thankful for EPA’s generous grant support, which will enable Council Bluffs to identify and assess brownfield sites for potential redevelopment in our south end area. In the past, the City has utilized EPA funding to assess over 20 properties, which led to three contaminated site cleanups.”

“Of the sites assessed and cleaned up,” Walsh said “Eleven have been redeveloped or are in the process of redevelopment including the Harvester Lofts, the Hoff Center and the West Broadway Corridor. This grant award will continue our efforts to identify potential hazards, prepare for remediation and create new development opportunities within Council Bluffs.”

Brownfields grants have been shown to: Increase Local Tax Revenue and Increase Residential Property Values. For more information on Brownfields grants, visit: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding

Mills County Public Health officials were notified today (Wednesday) of an additional positive confirmed case of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Mills County. This brings the total number of confirmed positive cases to six in the county. The new case is an adult, in the age range of 41-60 years, and the virus was contracted through community spread.

Mills County Public Health is currently conducting contact investigations to identify and follow-up with any people who had close contact with the ill individual. Close contacts are educated about self-monitoring their health status by our health department nurses. They are required to do daily symptom and temperature checks; as well as quarantine themselves for 14 days as a precaution.

In Mills County, to date, there have been 6 confirmed cases. Three of the cases have recovered. A total of 122 individuals have been tested.

Two people were injured during a collision Tuesday morning in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 32-year old Bethany Sheffield, of Ocala, FL, suffered possible injury, and was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Jenny Edmundson Hospital. The other driver, 21-year old Reragan Whitehill, of Webster City, suffered unknown, possible injuries, and was transported by personal vehicle.

Authorities say both drivers were traveling east on Highway 34 at around 7:38-a.m.   As they approached the intersection with Kidd Road, Whitehill began to slow down to making a turn to the south onto Kidd Road. Sheffield told deputies the sun was in her eyes, and she didn’t see Whitehill’s 2007 Ford. Sheffield’s 2014 Ford hit the rear of the other vehicle, causing it to enter the southeast ditch. Sheffields’ vehicle came to rest on the southbound shoulder of the road.

Crossroads of Western Iowa is hosting a virtual hiring event from 1-4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13th.  They are seeking applicants for Residential Coaches in all locations—Atlantic, Battle Creek, Cherokee, Council Bluffs, Missouri Valley, Onawa, and Sioux City.  Residential Coaches are vital to Crossroads’s mission of empowering individuals with disabilities, as they serve Crossroads clients directly and ensure their health and safety in the organization’s Supported Community Living homes. Coaches work cooperatively with the persons receiving services to support them and help them achieve greater independence.

Both day and night shifts are available, as are full-time and part-time opportunities. A high school diploma or GED is required, along with a valid Chauffer’s License, which can be obtained after hiring. Crossroads offers competitive benefits to full-time employees, including a sign-on bonus. Those interested in joining Crossroads can register for the virtual hiring event on the Crossroads website. The registration form asks for your name, email, phone number, and the city in which you’d like to work. Please access the form at: Crossroads of Western Iowa to host virtual hiring event http://Crossroads of Western Iowa to host virtual hiring event

After the form is submitted, their HR team will reach out to schedule an interview during the 1-4 p.m. time slot.

Audubon County Public Health Administrator Bob Nelson, today (Wednesday), provided an update on the status of COVID-19 in his county. In his online message, Nelson reminded residents not to lower their guard and become desensitized to the information that continues to flow from this pandemic.

(Bob Nelson said as of Wednesday, Audubon County had a total of eight positive COVID-19 cases. He said everyone can help prevent the spread of the virus and should watch for the  symptoms. Nelson said if you think you need to be tested, call your physician, or go to www.testiowa.com.)

According to the CDC, COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Infected people have had a wide range of symptoms reported – from mild symptoms to severe illness.