Coronavirus Responsible For High Number Of Unemployment Claims
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa is seeing a “staggering” number of claims for unemployment benefits as the coronavirus pummels the state and national economy. Officials say the daily number of unemployment claims being filed is similar to what the state would usually receive in a busy month. The job losses are piling up as Iowa has taken moves to limit the spread of the virus
by ordering the closure of restaurants, bars and other gathering spots and encouraged people to stay at home. Because of that, Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday signed a state emergency declaration designed to offer an array of relief to Iowa residents.
Secretary Of State Pate Pushes Back Special Elections – Including Craig City Council Election
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has rescheduled three upcoming special elections to take place this summer as part of efforts to avoid crowds of people gathering and possibly spreading the new coronavirus. Pate says the elections will now be held on July 7. Included with that order is the special election for the city council position for
residents living at Craig here in Plymouth County. The other special elections are for Cedar Falls, and the third election is for Woodbury County to fill a Board of Supervisors vacancy. Pate says he consulted with the auditors of all three counties, including Plymouth County Auditor, Stacey Feldman, before rescheduling the elections. He says July 7 is the first date
available for the elections.
For people who had voted by an absentee ballot, those ballots will be held and counted on July 7th.
State And Federal Tax Deadlines Pushed Back To July
(Des Moines) — The fight against coronavirus is bringing changes almost daily in many aspects of our lives — including relaxing the deadlines on when we have to file our state and federal income tax returns. Urbandale C-P-A Jeff Strawhacker (STRAW-hacker) says an announcement from Washington D-C
on Friday) morning is shifting back a key tax deadline three full months.
As for our State of Iowa taxes, the due date has already been pushed back from April 30th to July 31st. While the news is music to the ears of procrastinators, Strawhacker suggests Iowans still move forward with their obligations and fill out those forms.
Members of Congress are discussing proposals that would send sizable checks to every American to jump-start the economy. The Senate version of the plan would issue 12-hundred dollar checks to all adults, 24-hundred per married couple and 500-dollars for each qualifying child.
It’s still unclear whether those checks would be considered as “income” and would thus, be subject to taxes on next year’s returns. There was another shift in federal policy earlier this week which he says will be of particular interest to Iowa’s employers.
While new tax reform rules went into effect a year ago, complicating many Iowans’ returns, Strawhacker says there have been no significant changes this time around, “so this year’s a little calmer” for both the accountants and the clients.
Dr. Steven Meis Addresses Coronavirus Questions – Part 2
(Le Mars) — We continue today with part two of our conversation with Dr. Steven Meis of Floyd Valley Healthcare regarding the spread of COVID-19, or coronavirus. Dr. Meis has been a physician for 27 years. Many people may recall a few years ago we had the H1N1 or known as the “swine flu” that had spread across the world. Meis was asked why we are taking extreme precautions against the COVID-19 when we didn’t shut down schools, businesses, and offices during the spread of H1N1.
Meis says a similar situation that health officials dealt with a few years ago was with the SARS virus, that also originated from China.
Dr. Meis says a similar situation with how the world reacted to the spread of a disease maybe back during the World War I era with the spread of the Spanish Flu.
The Floyd Valley physician believes the COVID-19 coronavirus will disappear, but he says it may be into the summer months before the danger of contamination is significantly reduced. However, he says there are signs the virus is diminishing in China, where the virus originated.
In our part three segment with Dr. Steven Meis, he will explain why it may take a while to create a vaccine against COVID-19.
Plains Area Health Official Says COVID-19 Virus Causing Anxiety
(Le Mars) — In order to limit the exposure of the COVID-19 coronavirus, health officials, along with Iowa Governor Reynolds, have asked people to remain in their homes. With restaurants, lounges, theaters, fitness clubs, schools, and other social entities having to close their doors for a few weeks, people may begin to feel some anxiety. Kim Keleher is the C-E-O with Plains Area Mental Health Center of Le Mars. She suggests as a way to combat any feelings of anxiety during this time of isolation is to limit your time on social media, and step away from watching the television news.
Keleher says a good distraction would be to play games with our children, and find some fun things to watch, such as family-based movies, if by chance you have a collection of movies. Keleher says people may also want to reach out and call friends and relatives.
The Plains Area Mental Health official says her office has already seen an increase number of calls and visits due to people having anxiety issues because of the isolation with the coronavirus.
Remaining isolated can affect a person’s mental health, and Keleher suggests people do some excercise as a way to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
Keleher suggests people eat a well-balanced meal, drink lots of fluids, and remain active in order to combat the boredom of isolation associated with the coronavirus.
Sioux County ATV Accident Results In Injuries
(Orange City) — Sioux County Sheriff’s Officials are reporting a passenger was injured in an all-terrain vehicle rollover about 7:45 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Jay Avenue, two miles southeast of Orange City. 36-year old Mark Vande Vegte of Alton was driving a 2015 Polaris Ranger south on Jay Avenue when he attempted to make a U-turn, losing control of the ATV, and rolled it. 41-year old Allison Vande Vegte of Alton, a passenger, was transported by the Alton Ambulance to Orange City Area Health System. Mark Vande Vegte was cited for failure to maintain control of his motor vehicle, which was not damaged.
