(Radio Iowa) – Iowa businesses ordered by the governor to close in March may soon learn if and when they may reopen in May. “Might have some news tomorrow, but we’re still working on that.” Governor Kim Reynolds says there are “areas of opportunity” in the state as 51 of Iowa’s 99 counties have zero to four confirmed cases of COVID-19. However, Reynolds says increased testing is needed. “We must get Iowa back to work sooner rather than later,” Reynolds says, “and the more we continue to learn about the virus in Iowa, the better we’ll be able to balance the health of our people and our economy.”

The governor warns that despite whatever she may announce as soon as tomorrow (Friday), life might not return to what we considered normal. “Might be a little bit of a new normal for a while, but that’s okay,” Reynolds says. “The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us all a few things about ourself and maybe one of the greatest lessons has been a reminder of what really matters and for myself, there are a few things I can’t wait to get back to — hugging my grandchildren would be one of them and getting together with family — but there’s also a lot of things we’re going to have to do differently going forward.”

Reynolds says vulnerable Iowans with underlying health conditions should continue stay home as much as possible even if her closure orders are eased.

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Fire officials in central Iowa say one person has died following an apartment fire in suburban Des Moines. The Ankeny Fire Department said Thursday in a news release that the fire was reported late Wednesday afternoon at the Trilein Apartments in Ankeny. Arriving crews found heavy smoke coming from a third floor window and began a search in that apartment, eventually finding and removing a person from the unit. Firefighters say the person was not breathing, and crews immediately began CPR. The person was taken by ambulance to a Des Moines hospital and died there. The victim’s name has not been released. Officials are investigating the cause of the fire.

In today’s (Thursday’s) COVID-19 update, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds reported on the latest IDPH data, including information not previously reported by officials, including comparisons of Iowa’s data to the national scene. The Governor said over the past 24-hours, there were:

176 NEW, positive Covid-19 cases, for a total of 3,942. No new counties were added to the list of counties with Covid-19 cases, for a total of 84 counties. 842 Iowans have tested Negative for Covid-19, for a total of 25,338.

Of the 29, 262 Iowans who’ve been tested for Covid-19, Reynolds says 13% have tested positive, compared to a national rate of 18.4% [as reported by the CDC]. As of Wednesday, 77% of all positive cases were among adults age 18-40, and middle-age adults from 41-to 60.” The Governor reports 22% were older and elderly adults from 61-to over 80, and 1% were children under the age of 18. She said among all Iowans with Covid-19, 10% are staff and residents of Long-Term Care Facilities. 16% are health care workers, and 29% work in manufacturing facilities.

As of Wednesday, 11 of Iowa’s 99 counties accounted for 81% of all Covid-19 cases. Five counties alone had 52% of the State’s positive’s. 51 counties had zero-to-four cases each.  Reynolds said 1,492 Iowans were diagnosed with Covid-19, and that have recovered, for a recovery rate of 38%. She said the Dept. of Public Health has confirmed one additional Long Term Care Facility outbreak in Linn County, affecting Manor Care Health Services. That brings the total LTC facility outbreaks to 12.

Of the positive LTC residents to date, Reynold said 65 people have recovered, 84 remain ill, and 24 are currently hospitalized. Six people have died over the past 24-hours, for a total of 96 Iowans who have lost their lives to the virus. According to IDPH the additional 6 deaths were reported in the following counties:

• Bremer County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Muscatine County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Polk County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 3 elderly adults (81+)

As of Wednesday, 85% of all deaths are among older/elderly adults; 51% were residents of LTC facilities, 12% were middle-age adults age 41-to-60. 2% were adults age 18-to-40. Reynolds said since the first cases of Covid-19 were confirmed, the IDPH has been collecting data that allows officials a better understanding of the virus, its impact on Iowans and to help mitigate it. Increased testing capabilities, she said areas of concern will be targeted earlier, along with areas of opportunity to re-open the State in a “Measured and responsible way.”

Riverside School District Superintendent Dr. Tim Mitchell, today (Thursday), reports that since the voters have rejected two attempts to pass a Voter-Approved Physical, Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) to replace the HVAC systems at the Oakland Elementary and Carson Elementary schools, the Riverside School Board has been studying all potential facility options to address the ongoing issues. “Through this process,” he said, “they have been trying to determine what is in the best interest of the students, staff, and community along with being economical long-term.”

That includes reviewing proposals to have the HVAC systems retrofitted. Mitchell says “This work would include furnishing the current system with updated parts and replace some equipment to make the system functional.” The Board, he says “Worked with various contractors to vet proposals to perform the needed work. They also contracted, required by Iowa law, an engineer and architect. The planning has been a balancing act as the Board does not want to spend unneeded resources on the project.”

Dr. Mitchell said the First Priority in the Short-term is an HVAC Retrofit at the Oakland Elementary School.  On Monday, April 20th, the School Board held a Public Hearing for Plans, Specifications and Form of Contract for Oakland Elementary HVAC Retrofit Project, followed by School Board approval of the plan. On Tuesday, the project went out for bid.  Mitchell says on Monday April 27th,  the School Board will hold a 6:30-p.m. Public Hearing to refinance $6-million in SAVE (Sales Tax) Bonds. On Monday May 25th, the project will be awarded to low bidder. The expected completion date, is Tuesday, September 1st.

Dr. Mitchell says the $6-million is current Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) Debt on the new building. “This funding stream,” he says, “was formerly known as the statewide school infrastructure sales and services tax and known as the local option sales and services tax for school infrastructure. On the recommendation from the district Financial Advisor the district will refinance the current SAVE Debt.  This takes advantage of lower interest rates in the municipal bond market.” Mitchell says “The savings will be used for purposes identified by our voter approved Revenue Purpose Statement-infrastructure development.  The money is committed to making the immediate repairs to the Oakland School HVAC system. No longer a replacement just repairs/retrofit to keep the building functional. This will not increase taxes.”

The Board has committed to doing the work to get various long-term plans presented and then one approved by the public.  This will include taking the time to have everyone review all options and the Board being fully transparent with the community to address all the questions and issues. The Board is taking the lead and will determine a viable long-term facility option that a majority can support. The district has contracted Studio Melee Architects to complete the Comprehensive Facility Study and provide information on several potential long-term options to the public. We would emphasize that any plan moving forward should be designed to keep the needs of our students at the forefront and unify Riverside taking into consideration the “Three Communities United as One” mentality.  The plan should allow for Macedonia, Carson and Oakland residents to continue to retain and attract students and families to Riverside.

The Second Priority in the Long-term, according to Mitchell, is a Comprehensive Facility Study. Therefore, the week of April 27th, there will be a meeting with administration and staff to further discuss various long-term facility options and further develop the pros and cons of each. Mitchell says they will move forward by setting up Zoom meetings with staff with input collected with a Survey.

On Hold: 

• Are Community town-hall informational meetings (2, 3 & 4), to engage the district patrons, allowing residents to voice concerns, ideas and thoughts regarding the potential long-term projects.
• Is Further develop of a preliminary conceptual plan options based on input from administration, staff and community. They will develop a format for voting or ranking of the potential projects an establish a list of priorities.
• Meeting 5: Final community presentation and ranking.
• Finalized conceptual design including concept plans, scope description and phasing. Preliminary budget estimate.

Dr. Mitchell says each Long-term Facility Option will have:

• And Estimated Project Cost
• Amount of square footage to be remodeled or new construction
• Estimated number students per building
• Estimated student per square footage instructional space
• Method of Financing
• Estimated General Fund Reductions
• Estimated Cost of Relocation, Demolition or Sale of Vacated Buildings

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Wednesday evening, of 45-year old Kathleen Marie Gerhardt, of Oakland. She taken into custody in Oakland at around 6:30-p.m., for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order – Contempt of Court. Wednesday afternoon, 47-year old Michael James Gregg, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Driving While License denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked, and a Felony Forgery charge. Gregg was being held in the Pott. County Jail on a total of $10,000 bond.

Wednesday morning, 32-year old Jessie Bruce Fitzwater, of Villisca, was arrested at the Montgomery County Jail, on a Pott. County warrant for Escape from Custody. His bond was set at $1,000. And, 32-year old Rogelio Hinojosa was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order, after he turned himself-in to the Pott. Couty Sheriff’s Office.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Nearly 28,000 more people filed initial unemployment claims last week in Iowa as the state’s economy continued to take a hit from efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Iowa Workforce Deveopment reported Thursday that another 27,912 people filed unemployment claims during the week ending April 18. That’s down from claims filed in previous weeks but still far above typical numbers before many businesses closed to fight COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

There were 151,846 continuing unemployment claims. Nationally, more than 4.4 million workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, In the last five weeks, about 26 million people have now filed for jobless aid.

(Radio Iowa) — A man from Romania has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a skimmer scam in eastern Iowa. Information in his plea agreement shows 21-year-old Romica Martuica entered the U-S illegally in 2016 and was arrested in Hiawatha in 2019 along with two other people. The three had more than 90 counterfeit credit and debit cards on them. The cards had account information that had been acquired by using card skimmers on A-T-M’s.

Martuica used fake cards more than 70 times and withdrew around 86-hundred dollars before police caught him. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison and ordered to pay restitution to his victims.

DES MOINES, IA – Iowa Democrat Third District Representative Cindy Axne, today (Thusday), announced a more than $7.58-million program grant for the Iowa Department of Public Health, to support Iowa’s rural hospitals in addressing the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in rural communities. The funding provided by the Coronavirus State Hospital Improvement Program was funded within the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was passed unanimously by Congress late last month.

Axne said “Our small, rural hospitals across the state are all financially struggling to cope with the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19. I’m pleased to see this critical funding coming back to Iowa to help our rural health providers who have told me that they need support while continuing to respond to COVID-19 cases and provide Iowans with essential health care services.”

The funding will go towards helping hospitals purchase testing and laboratory services or replenish critical supplies like personal protective equipment (PPE). The Iowa Department of Public Health is charged with distributing the grant funding across Iowa.