Accident On Highway 75 Results In Vehicle Catching On Fire
(Le Mars) — A two-vehicle accident happened Thursday morning on Highway 75 at mile marker 126 near the Plymouth County and Sioux County border. Rescue crews responded to the scene at about 8:33 a.m. According to Plymouth County
Sheriff’s authorities a Chevy Impala was following a grain truck, both vehicles were heading northbound on Highway 75 when apparently the car had rear-ended the truck, causing the car to spin into the east ditch. As a result of the collision, airbags had deployed and the car erupted in flames.
Traffic on Highway 75 was limited to alternating one-lane of travel while authorities investigated the accident scene. Fortunately, neither driver was injured during the accident. The Chevy Impala was owned and operated by 46-year old Tonya Robichaud of Le Mars, and the grain truck was owned by
Circle J Trucking and operated by 45-year old Greg Jansma of Sioux Center.
Robichaud was cited for failure to stop in a clear assured distance.
Responding to the scene were the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Le Mars Ambulance, Le Mars Police Department, Sioux County Sheriff’s Office and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the accident scene.
Kingsley Fire Department Responds To Ruptured Gas Line Leak
(Kingsley) — The Kingsley Fire Department responded to a call regarding a ruptured natural gas line Thursday morning. Kingsley Fire Chief Paul Huth says the fire department was notified at about 11:30 a.m. when a utility construction crew was working and accidentally severed the gas line.
Huth says the incident happened on the northside of town near 503 Rutland Street. The Kingsley Fire Chief says the area was previously marked to identify the various locations of the underground utilities. He says anytime there is a gas line leak, firefighters have some concerns.
Huth says there was no need to evacuate the neighborhood. He says the utility company tried minimizing the leak by plugging the hole.
Huth says firefighters were at the scene for approximately an hour before Mid-American Energy arrived and repaired the severed gas line.
Plymouth County Farm Bureau Donates To Local Food Pantries
(Le Mars) — These are challenging times and Plymouth County Farm Bureau is always looking for ways to make our communities and farms stronger. Many have lost jobs, had hours cut, and schools closed which leads to food insecurity for many in Plymouth County. The local Farm Bureau has donated money to all Plymouth County Food Pantries and the Iowa Farm Bureau is donating an additional $500 to support our local pantries. No matter what the challenges facing our communities are, united we will get through it and be stronger.
Chamber of Commerce Urges Local Small Businesses To Apply For Government Loan Program
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Chamber of Commerce is urging local small businesses to apply for the federal loan program for the Paycheck Protection Program.
Congress approved the additional $310 billion dollar package Thursday afternoon and will be available for small business owners. The Paycheck Protection Program allocates funds to those small businesses that apply and qualify in order to assist with the salaries of employees, and other operating expenses for small businesses. The first round of funding was spent within a couple of weeks. Chamber officials encourage local small
businesses to contact their banker, accountant, or attorney for additional information, and assistance for the application.
Congressman Steve King Votes In Favor Of Additional Funding For Small Businesses
Washington DC- Iowa 4th District Republican Congressman Steve King announced that he returned to Washington D.C. yesterday to vote on the “Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act,” legislation which provides nearly $500 Billion to strengthen programs which assist small
businesses and hospitals in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the legislation also contains funding to expand nationwide testing, a key tool which will provide policymakers with data needed to facilitate the confident reopening of sectors of the economy.
King says, “Among those who have been hurt the most by the COVID-19 lockdowns are our small businesses, and the Paycheck Protection Program is helping many of them stay afloat and keep people on the payroll. These small businesses are the economic lifeblood of many communities, and we must help them survive
the economic fallout from the virus. We must also ensure that our hospitals, health care workers, and healthcare providers receive the support they need to withstand the demands that the virus is placing on them as they work with great dedication to defeat the ‘invisible enemy.’ Finally, King says, an expansion of testing will help determine the best methods for reopening the
economy, and it is an important component of this relief legislation.”
The “Patient Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act” passed the House of Representatives on a vote of 388-5 with King voting in support of the legislation. All Iowa Congressional delegation voted in favor of the legislation.
What Is Featured In The “Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act,”?
SMALL BUSINESSES
$310 billion for the Small Business Administration’s successful Paycheck Protection Program, which will allow the Trump Administration to continue providing forgivable loans to cover the cost of payroll and operating expenses for small businesses.
$60 billion for the Small Business Administration’s economic injury disaster loans and grants ,including:
$50 billion for economic injury disaster loans – each loan can be up to $2 million with interest rates not to exceed 4% and long-term repayment periods of up to 30 years; and
$10 billion for grants of up to $10,000 that do not have to be repaid.
Additional funds are provided for the Small Business Administration to administer these programs.
HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS
$75 billion to support the heroes on the front lines of this crisis and our healthcare system, including additional funding to reimburse hospitals and healthcare providers for lost revenues and expenses related to the outbreak.
TESTING
$25 billion to expand testing, which will provide information on where cases are occurring, and support continued efforts to reopen communities and reignite our record-breaking economy.
Reynolds Discusses Long-term Nursing Care Facilities And “TestIowa.com” During Briefing
(Des Moines) — The impact the COVID-19 coronavirus has had on Iowa’s long-term nursing care facilities was discussed by Governor Kim Reynolds during her Thursday briefing. Reynolds reported the state has now identified 12 different nursing care facilities as having COVID-19 outbreaks. The latest was a facility located in Linn County.
Reynolds says the new “TestIowa.com” assessments have proven to be beneficial after only been available for two days.
The governor says she has heard of some people having difficulty in completing the assessment form.
Reynolds say this coming weekend testing appointments have already been filled, but she offered some reassurance that additional assessment testing will be conducted throughout the state within the next week.
Reynolds Says Actor Ashton Kutcher Told Her About Testing Program
(Des Moines) — Hollywood star Ashton Kutcher, an Iowa native, had a role in linking state officials with the Utah-based companies hired to run the Test Iowa initiative. Governor Kim Reynolds says she first learned of the companies managing the “Test UTAH” program from Kutcher — as she and Kutcher
were talking on the phone about his part in a public service announcement about COVID-19.
Kutcher, in addition to starring roles in T-V and movies, is a well-known investor in high tech start-ups, like airbnb — but
the actor’s publicist says Kutcher has NO investments in the firms involved in Test Iowa. Reynolds says her staff soon reached out to officials in the state of Utah, to get background on their COVID testing program.
On April 14th, the State of Iowa signed a 26 MILLION
dollar contract with the Utah firms to set up drive-through sites to test Iowans for COVID-19. It was a “no-bid” contract, meaning other firms were not invited to compete to be the state’s testing contractor. Reynolds says Utah’s program addressed the need to “significantly” increasing the number of tests done per day and manage information about COVID cases.
The “slow launch” of Test IOWA is this weekend in Des Moines,
in a parking lot where nearly 250 Iowans have appointments to get drive through COVID-19 tests. Minnesota officials partnered with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and the University of Minnesota to expand COVID-19 testing there.
Reynolds says her administration is working with the University of Iowa and Iowa State University on the next phase of testing — serology or blood tests that can determine if a person has had COVID-19 and may be immune to the virus.
EPA Sends $300K To Iowa School Districts To Replace Old Buses
(Washington, DC) — The Environmental Protection Agency is sending 300 thousand dollars to 10 Iowa school districts so they can replace older school buses. The E-P-A says the plan is to replace the diesel-burning buses with vehicles that will reduce pollutants that have been connected to health problems. The Sioux City Community School District gets the most federal
funding – 60 thousand dollars so it can buy three buses. The E-P-A says the cleaner-running buses will lead to “healthier kids and communities.”
Cedar Rapids Police Identify Shooting Victim
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — Cedar Rapids police have identified the 16-year-old shooting victim found dead on a city street early Wednesday morning. When officers arrived on the scene they discovered Judeah Dawson had been shot several times. He died before he could be taken to a hospital.
Investigators haven’t said if they have any persons of interest in the case, but no arrests had been announced as of Thursday. Dawson is the fourth homicide victim in Cedar Rapids this year.
Auto Theft Suspect Jailed For Spitting In Officer’s Face
(Centerville, IA) — A 34-year-old auto theft suspect is being held in southeastern Iowa for allegedly spitting in an officer’s face. A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle driven by Kalie Jo Hutt just north of the state line Wednesday afternoon. Hutt is accused of driving a stolen pickup truck that had been taken in Centerville.
As she was being escorted to her Appanoose County Jail cell, police say she spit in an officer’s face. Hutt is charged with theft and assault on an officer.
