The state's free COVID-19 testing sites launched last April at the height of the pandemic will shut down next month. The Iowa Department of Public Health says the Test Iowa sites will start closing in the next five weeks -- with the end of all operations by July 16th. The department says demand … [Read more...]
Polk County offering vaccine lottery with thousands of dollars in prizes
The Board of Supervisors in the state's most heavily populated county has approved a lottery with thousands of dollars in prizes to try and lure more residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The Polk County leaders say their goal is to get 75% of the county’s eligible population vaccinated by the … [Read more...]
Ernst says IG’s audit may find clues to Covid-19 origins
As debate over the origins of Covid-19 continues, the Biden Administration is launching an audit of federal grants that may have supported coronavirus research in China. Republican Senator Joni Ernst has been pushing for an investigation of a US non-profit that sent about $600,000 in federal grant … [Read more...]
Five of Iowa’s 100 county fairs get underway this month
After last year's pandemic-related cancellations, all of Iowa's 100 county fairs are a go in 2021 and five will be held this month. "Not to beat a dead horse about last year, but it was tough. This year, everybody's back," says Tom Barnes, executive director of the Association of Iowa Fairs. … [Read more...]
In-person visits for some Iowa prison inmates to resume in July
Inmates in Iowa prisons who've been vaccinated against Covid-19 will be able to have in-person visitors, starting next month. Iowa Department of Corrections director Beth Skinner described it as a slow opening. "Our visitation rooms will probably be cut in half in terms of the number of people … [Read more...]
ISU specialist sees optimism among Latino businesses
Even though the pandemic hit them disproportionately harder than others, many Latino business owners in Iowa are optimistic as the pandemic subsides. Himar Hernandez is a community development specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. He works with many Latino-owned businesses … [Read more...]
Public health director says Iowa reached significant milestone in Covid hospitalizations
For three consecutive days, the number of Covid patients in Iowa hospitals has dipped below 100. The last time Iowa had fewer than 100 hospital patients being treated for the virus was in early April of last year. On Tuesday night, the state website indicated 95 Covid patients were hospitalized … [Read more...]
Congresswoman Hinson says COVID investigation is important
Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says she is glad to see the administration call for an investigation into the origin of the COVID-19 virus. "I am excited to hear that we are moving forward to hear what the origin of the virus is," Hinson says. "It destroyed our economy, it killed millions of … [Read more...]
Majority of Iowa counties turn away more vaccine
State Health officials say 81 of Iowa's 99 counties took no new COVID-19 vaccine allotments from the federal government this week. Greene County was among them, where health department director Becky Wolf says about 40-percent of the county’s population is fully vaccinated. Despite targeting … [Read more...]
Governor and GOP lawmakers end mask mandates in Iowa schools
Republicans in the Iowa legislature have voted Wednesday evening to ban mask mandates in all Iowa schools, as well as in cities and counties. Governor Reynolds signed the bill shortly after midnight and it became law immediately. That means as school begins on this Thursday, May 20, mask mandates … [Read more...]