NW Iowa Credit Union Turns Down Proposed Merger
(Le Mars) — During the past couple of months members of the Northwest Iowa Credit Union based in Le Mars had the opportunity to vote on a proposed merger with the Siouxland Federal Credit Union headquartered in Sioux City.
Steve DeBoer is the Chief Executive Officer of the Northwest Iowa Credit Union and says the Siouxland Federal Credit Union approached the Le Mars based financial institution in hopes to broaden its market.
DeBoer says the membership of the Northwest Iowa Credit Union voted in a decisive manner to remain independent and forego the proposed merger with the Siouxland Federal Credit Union.
DeBoer says since the membership voted overwhelming to remain as an independent credit union, he doesn’t see any additional attempts to having the merger proposed in the future. DeBoer says both financial institutions are doing well, and there was no reason for concern about either credit union having any financial problems.
The Northwest Iowa Credit Union official says he was pleased with the voter turnout by the membership with regards to the proposed merger.
DeBoer says the Le Mars-based credit union will now be conducting business as usual.
Governor Reynolds Praises USMCA Trade Agreement
DES MOINES – With the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement taking effect on July 1, 2020, Gov. Kim Reynolds released the following statement:
“USMCA is a historic agreement for Iowa families, farmers and small business owners. I’m grateful to President Trump, Ambassador Lighthizer and the entire administration for their unwavering commitment to getting this agreement done.
“Canada and Mexico are our two largest trading partners with $6.6 billion in exports in 2018 alone. I look forward to USMCA opening new markets for high-quality Iowa exports, increasing wages, jobs, and economic activity.
“With USMCA officially in force, our state and the entire nation will reap the benefits in the years to come.”
Health Officials Unveil New Method For Counting COVID-19 Recovery
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa health officials changed the way recovery from COVID-19 is reported on the state coronavirus website and Governor Kim Reynolds says it means more hours will be spent finding people who may have been near someone who has the virus. Case inspection first teams try to
speak with every Iowan who tests positive and then talk with people the patient may have had contact with. Ten days later there’s a follow-up call to see if the Iowan has recovered from the virus. Reynolds say “what’s happening is a lot of the calls go unanswered or not returned on the follow-up call and then they’re not counted on the Iowans recovered.” The governor
says unless the state gets information that the person with COVID has been hospitalized, has not recovered or has died, the new policy is to count someone contract tracers have not been able to reach as recovered 28 days following a positive test. This new policy went in effect Monday and the percentage of Iowans shown on the state website as “recovered” went from
around 60 percent to almost 80 percent.
Reynolds Approve Changes For Absentee Ballot Requests
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds approved changes in how county election officials verify the identity of Iowans asking to vote with an absentee ballot. Republican lawmakers say they want to prevent absentee ballot abuse. County auditors will have to call, email or write a letter to a voter if an absentee ballot request form has inaccuracies. Election officials say voters often transpose numbers on their birth dates or list a Social Security number rather than their voter I-D number on the form.
County election officials are currently able to check voter registration data and correct errors before sending an absentee ballot. Critics say the new process could prevent some voters from getting an absentee ballot before the November election and this law change may be challenged in court.
Nearly 50 Headstones Damaged at Waterloo Cemetery
(Waterloo, IA) — Waterloo police are investigating vandalism at one of the city’s oldest cemeteries. Nearly 50 headstones were defaced or toppled at the historic Elmwood Cemetery sometime late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. The Elmwood Cemetery Association estimates damage at more than 10-
thousand dollars. Much of the damage was done in the oldest section of the cemetery. One of the markers damaged was at the grave of Black Hawk County pioneers George W. and Mary Melrose Hanna. In 1845, they built the first house in what would later become the City of Waterloo. It will likely be weeks before the damage is repaired. No arrests have been made.
Judge Considers Lowering Bond For Murder Suspect With COVID-19
(Sioux City, IA) — A northwest Iowa judge is considering lowering bond for a Sioux City man accused in a child’s death who has COVID-19. His public defender says Tayvon Davis tested positive for coronavirus, has asthma and needs more medical attention than what’s provided in the Woodbury County jail. Davis is facing first-degree murder and child endangerment in the 2018 death of his girlfriend’s 19-month-old daughter. The judge said he is unlikely to reduce bond to 50-thousand dollars for Davis, but was thinking about it and would issue an order as soon as possible. His trial was delayed until October due to the pandemic.
