The Iowa Department of Public health reports the state’s largest long-term care facility is no longer on the outbreak list. All but two of the seven residents and 22 staff from the Iowa Veterans Home who were diagnosed with COVID-19 have recovered. Those two residents are awaiting their second … [Read more...]
John Deere plant ends up making thousands of face shields
Health care workers at dozens of Veterans Affairs facilities nationwide are being provided with protective face shields made at a John Deere plant in the Quad Cities. In April, the seeding factory in Moline, Illinois, switched from making farm equipment to PPE. Project leader David Ottavianelli … [Read more...]
Senator Ernst supports review of military bases named after Confederate soldiers
There's been a debate about whether to change the names of military bases that were named after former Confederate soldiers because of their link to slavery. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, is an Army veteran on the Armed Services Committee, and says she's happy to have the conversation. "It is … [Read more...]
Le Mars Iowa National Guard unit recognized as they prepare to deploy
Morning sunshine illuminated the stars and stripes early today as a group of citizen-soldiers from northwest Iowa prepared to head overseas. Sheldon fire and ambulance crews were set up on top of the Country Club Road overpass above Highway 60 Monday morning to display their appreciation for a Le … [Read more...]
Earlville Legion adjusts Memorial Day event to keep social distancing
Memorial Day observances in most cities across Iowa , and nationwide, will be much different this year because of the pandemic. In northeast Iowa, Earlville Legion Commander Loras Mensen says he decided to change things up to maintain social distancing rules while still honoring veterans. … [Read more...]
Iowa native helps subdue passenger on International flight
An Iowa native was one of three Marines who prevented a potentially dangerous situation from escalating on an international flight early Monday morning. Captain Daniel Kult, a 2011 Coon Rapids-Bayard graduate, was on a flight from Japan to Texas when he became aware of the disturbance. "I was … [Read more...]
Iowa Guard soldiers deployed for coronavirus contact tracing
Nearly 900 Iowa National Guard soldiers have been called to active duty to help in the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Adjutant General Benjamin Corell says 150 of those soldiers are at call centers in Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, and Johnston, helping determine the spread of the virus … [Read more...]
Iowa Veterans Home running 5 buildings separately due to COVID-19
The largest long-term care facility in the state is the Iowa Veteran's Home in Marshalltown. It's been over a month since the facility began putting procedures in place to protect its roughly 500 residents and 900 staff from COVID-19. Commandant Timon Oujiri said each of the five buildings … [Read more...]
Concerns raised about coronavirus cases at Marshalltown Veterans Home
Leadership at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown and the AFSCME 61 workers union are at odds over how the facility is handling coronavirus cases. Council 61 President Danny Homan issued a statement Tuesday night saying employees who came in contact with a worker who tested positive for the … [Read more...]
Iowa Army and Air Guard units team up for western Iowa Task Force
Iowa National Guard soldiers and airmen stationed in northwest Iowa are joining forces to be ready to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Soldiers from the Army National Guard's 2nd Brigade 34th Infantry Combat Team are joining airmen from the 185th Air Refueling Wing to establish Joint Task … [Read more...]