(Radio Iowa) – A famous Jones County landmark is no more. The Hula Hoop Tree has been cut down. Over the past few years, visitors have stopped to visit the old tree, which sat along County Road E-23 near Amber. The tree’s branches were filled with hula hoops. The Hula Hoop Tree’s Facebook page announced on Friday that the tree was taken down to keep the public safe. They say it was with “very mixed feelings and heavy hearts” that the tree will now just live in the memories, photographs, and videos of all who have visited.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has announced the availability of the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Action Plan.   The Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act passed by congress allocated $96,741,000 to the state of Iowa for purpose of assisting in long-term recovery from the major flooding disaster that took place in the Spring of 2019.   The Action Plan details how the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) plans to expend the CDBG-DR allocation.

The public is encouraged to comment through 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2020. The report may be obtained and comments accepted via the Internet at https://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/our-agency-detail-resources/6501  or by contacting: Ann Schmid, Disaster Recovery Team Leader, IEDA, 1963 Bell Ave, Des Moines, 50315 or by e-mail at ann.schmid@iowaeda.com or phone (515) 348-6202.

In addition, a virtual public hearing will be held starting at 2:30 p.m. on May 20, 2020.  Please contact Ann Schmid at the email or phone number above to request a call-in number.  The purpose of the public hearing will be to receive public comments on the plan.

(Radio Iowa) — A judge has ruled the number of polling places in Woodbury County for the Primary Election on Tuesday, June 2nd and a special election Tuesday, July 7th must be increased from two to a minimum of five. The judge also ordered Woodbury County Auditor Patrick Gill to establish a polling place in each of the five state representative districts in Woodbury County. Gill says that’s a workable compromise. “Our focus has been, as it has been from the beginning, will still be to protect the voters and our precinct election officials,” Gill says.

At least five voting booths will be at each location. Iowa’s secretary of state is encouraging Iowans to vote by mail rather than in-person, to limit the spread of COVID-19. Gill says he decided to limit polling locations after his office staff talked with long-time poll workers in the county. “They’re all ‘Iowa Nice’ and they would like to work on Election Day, but they do have genuine concerns, as we do,” Gill says.

The judge’s ruling states that if the risk of exposure to COVID 19 subsides, Gill may increase polling locations and voter access throughout Woodbury County for the primary in June and the special election in July. Former State Senator Rick Bertrand of Sioux City filed the court petition asking a judge to order that all precincts polling sites be opened for upcoming elections in Woodbury County.

Bertrand’s attorney argued that with just two voting centers, voters would have to wait in long lines and be at greater risk of contracting the coronavirus. He also argued a large number of Republican and non-party male voters would be harmed by not being able to vote in person. Woodbury County has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases, with 742 confirmed through testing through Thursday morning. A “Test Iowa” drive-through testing site will open in the county Monday.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — On the day Iowa began easing restrictions designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Kim Reynolds said increased testing was largely the reason for a record number of new COVID-19 cases. Health officials reported 739 new positive cases Friday, by far the most in a single day and bringing the state total to 7,884. Of the new cases, 516 were from four counties, including two that are dealing with outbreaks at meat processing plants. She also reported there were an additional eight deaths, bringing the state’s total to 170.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As the coronavirus pandemic continues to force the closure of meatpacking plants across the country, hog farmers have had to respond quickly to a rapidly growing backlog of animals in their barns by killing and disposing of pigs. Many large-scale hog farmers have little choice once barns reach full capacity. Officials estimate about 700,000 pigs across the nation can’t be processed each week and will be euthanized if plants don’t resume operations. To help farmers, the USDA has set up a center that can supply the tools needed to euthanize hogs. That includes captive bolt guns and cartridges that can be shot into the heads of larger animals as well as chutes, trailers and personal protective equipment.

NEW YORK (AP) — “Field of Dreams” was No. 6 in The Associated Press sports writers’ favorite sports movies poll. It was released in April 1989, two weeks after “Major League,” 10 months after “Bull Durham” and eight months after “Eight Men Out.” It is a story of fathers and sons, phantoms and phenoms on an unlikely diamond in an Iowa cornfield. More than 30 years later, it still generates tears, setting loose emotions gushing like water across the fresh-cut grass. Director Phil Alden Robinson remembers a woman weeping at a test screening. When he realized the woman worked for the studio and had already seen the movie, he knew he had something special.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by an Iowa attorney who challenged a 2017 flight Gov. Kim Reynolds and her family took on a private jet to a football game in Memphis, Tennessee. Gary Dickey complained to the state ethics board, alleging the $2,880 claimed for the trip underestimated the flight’s value by thousands of dollars. The board dismissed his complaint, saying the estimate was reasonable. Dickey appealed and a judge in December 2018 dismissed the case saying he wasn’t injured by the campaign filing even if it wasn’t accurate. The Supreme Court agreed.