Reynolds Announces New Health Proclamation That Closes Bars In Six Counties
(Des Moines) — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced a new health safety proclamation during her news conference held today that places additional restrictions including the closure of nightclubs and bars within six counties.
Reynolds added that everyone above the age of two should be wearing face coverings or a mask.
Reynolds stopped short of issuing a mandate for masks, saying it is often unenforceable. The governor was asked why counties, such as Plymouth County, with a high percentage of COVID-19 positivity rate were not included with the proclamation with the other six announced counties, and whether bars and nightclubs in Plymouth County would be asked to close their doors?
Plymouth County ranks as the county with the highest positivity rate within the state at over 21 percent.
Sioux Gateway Airport May Be Able To Keep American Airlines
(Sioux City) — American Airlines has changed their minds for now on their decision to temporarily drop flights at Sioux Gateway Airport. Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott explained the decision at the end of Monday’s city council meeting:
The E-A-S or essential air service that the mayor refers to is a federal requirement for airlines to provide air service to certain communities.
Scott says the more people that fly out of Sioux Gateway Airport, the better the chances those flights will continue.
A daily flight to Denver through United Airlines and SkyWest is still set to start on October 14th.
Derecho Contributes to Slight Increase in Iowa Unemployment Claims
(Des Moines, IA) — The August 10th derecho could be to blame for a slight increase in unemployment claims in Iowa last week. Iowa Workforce Development reports six-thousand-954 people filed initial claims between August 16th and 22nd – 390 more than the previous week. The number of continuing weekly unemployment claims last week was 84-thousand-248, an
increase of just over 18-hundred. Workers impacted by the derecho were included in the latest numbers. In Linn County, there were one-thousand-688 initial claims compared to 411 the week before the storm. The state paid out more than 23-point-two million dollars in unemployment benefits last week.
Brooklyn Utility Worker, Firefighter Electrocuted During Derecho Laid to Rest
(Brooklyn, IA) — A Brooklyn city utility worker who was electrocuted by a downed powerline during the derecho is now laid to rest. A community funeral was held for 41-year-old Chris Keller Wednesday in the Brooklyn Community Center. Keller was also a member of the Brooklyn Fire Department and his
casket was taken to the cemetery on an old-time fire engine. Fire Chief Les Taylor said Keller “was a man of three loves: wrestling, the fire service and his family. And he put his heart into all three.” Keller is survived by his wife and three children.
Southeast Iowa Man Charged With Vehicular Homicide in Motorcyclist Deaths
(Keokuk, IA) — A southeast man is jailed in connection with an August 4th crash that killed two motorcyclists in a construction zone. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says Chad Davis of Donnellson is facing two counts of homicide by vehicle, operating under the influence and other charges in the deaths of Michael and Linda Horn. Investigators say a vehicle driven by Davis failed to maintain control on Highway 2 and struck a motorcycle operated by Horn. The Horns were stopped at a construction
project and the impact caused their cycle to rear-end a Mack truck. The Horns both died at the scene. Davis was arrested Wednesday and booked in the Lee County jail.
Dubuque County Board of Health Recommends Mask Mandate, Mason City Mayor Says No
(Dubuque, IA) — The Dubuque County Board of Health is recommending a county-wide mask mandate to the county supervisors. More than 30 residents commented during Wednesday’s public hearing and at one point more that 130
people were listening in on the Zoom virtual meeting. County supervisors will now decide whether the mandate takes effect. In Mason City, Mayor Bill Schickel said he doesn’t plan to issue a mask requirement. Schickel said he doesn’t want to get into a fight with the attorney general or anyone else, and the goal is controlling COVID in the community.
