Le Mars Fire And Rescue Department Releases April Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a total of 34 calls in April, of which 19 were fire calls. Several were reported as grass or field fires from originally controlled burns that got out of control. In addition to the fire calls, the local fire and rescue department responded to seven rescues, 14 investigations and/or accident clean-ups. The
Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department had four mutual aid calls during the month of April…two were to assist Akron, once with Merrill, and once with Hinton.
Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says that seven members of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department were certified as Hazard Materials technicians for handling chemical emergencies. Schipper says the certification involved several hours of on-line training, as well as classroom hands-on training.
Remsen Man Arrested For Harassment
(Orange City) — A Remsen man has been arrested by the Sioux County law enforcement officials for a warrant relating to first-degree harassment of his estranged wife. 35-year old Alfred Nelson was arrested Wednesday by authorities on what was described as continuing harassment stemming from phone calls and texts messages to her that were offensive and threatening. Nelson’s wife is an Alton resident. The actions took place between March 4th and March 31, according to the Orange City Police Department. Nelson was released after posting a $2,000 bond.
Friday’s COVID-19 Numbers Among The Highest One-Day Reported
(Des Moines) — On the day Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has given permission for restaurants and fitness centers to re-open to the public, Reynolds reported Friday morning during her daily briefing, one of the highest numbers of positive COVID-19 cases for a single day within the state.
Iowa Economic Development Provides Funding For Small Businesses During COVID-19 Pandemic
(Des Moines) — Small businesses across the state have been able to receive both state and federal funding as a means to help them through this time when many businesses are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Iowa Economic Development Authority Director, Debi Durham, offered a report on Thursday during the governor’s daily briefing, as to the quick response her office initiated to
assist small businesses, and where they sit today.
Durham says the program was developed rapidly to provide relief to Iowa’s small business owners. She says the program has been successful and effective.
The Economic Development director says Iowa’s small business owners are strong, resilient, and remain hopeful. Durham read an email message she had received as an example of Iowa’s small businesses commitment.
Townsend Says If You Are Called Back To Work And Refuse To Work You Will Not Qualify For Unemployment Benefits
(Des Moines, IA) — The coronavirus outbreak continues to fuel high unemployment numbers in Iowa. Iowa Workforce Development reports nearly 29-thousand first-time unemployment claims were filed last week – a slight increase from the previous week. Manufacturing led all sectors in layoffs
followed by health care and social assistance and the self-employed. More than 261-thousand unemployment claims have been filed over the past six weeks. The state paid 51-point-four-million dollars in unemployment insurance last week. Federal pandemic unemployment payments went to 153-thousand-951 Iowans last week for a total of 102-million-714 thousand
dollars. Iowa Workforce Development Director, Beth Townsend appeared Thursday during the daily briefing and offered some clarification to those workers recently laid-off, but refuse to return to work.
Townsend says there are some exceptions to the rule as they relate to the COVID-19 virus.
The Workforce Development director says employees who quit their jobs because of fear of an unsafe environment may qualify for unemployment benefits.
However, as Townsend says, it may be difficult to prove if employers are able to show they have done everything that has been asked of them.
Townsend says many employers are performing cleaning rituals that go above the standards set forth by public health officials.
King Expects Additional Funding To Be Allocated For COVID-19 Relief Purposes
(Le Mars) — Last week, Congress approved a second round of funding to help fight the COVID-19 coronavirus. The amount of money amounts to around $500 billion dollars. However, Iowa 4th District Republican Congressman, Steve King says he doesn’t believe it will be enough, and he anticipates Congress
will return to allocate even additional funding.
King says there is no one that would have been able to accurately predict the problems that have derived from the outbreak and spread of the COVID-19 virus. He says, so far, no can determine all the damage and repercussions from the virus. King says there are many places, such as New York, that have
been overwhelmed by the virus and needing additional medical equipment and staff to effectively manage the virus. However, the Iowa Republican says it is time to try to get the economy back on its feet.
Some people fear opening up businesses too soon may prove to be deter-mental, especially when health officials say we haven’t yet hit the peak of positive coronavirus cases. King says if a second round of COVID-19 was to spread through the country, people may not be as willing to submit to social distancing and other mitigation efforts. He says that doesn’t mean those
people would be right with their thoughts. The republican congressman says the law of diminishing returns may apply to this situation.
King says he would like to see additional information be released from health officials regarding those that have contracted the COVID-19 virus, so he would have a better position to make better decisions.
King says additional data should be provided to the public.
Congressman Loebsack Calling For Expanding Broadband Service
(Iowa City, IA) — Congressman Dave Loebsack of Iowa City is among a dozen members of the U-S House touting a plan that would expand broadband service in America. Loebsack says it is unacceptable that in 2020, many rural Americans do not have access to high-speed internet. As the spread of COVID-19 continues, Loebsack says it shines an even brighter light on the
“broadband gap” that exists between urban and rural communities. Loebsack and the other Democratic lawmakers plan to include investment in broadband in the next coronavirus response package. Loebsack was a founding member of the
House Rural Broadband Caucus in 2016 and is the bipartisan group’s co-chair.
One Woman Dead, One Wounded in Cedar Rapids Apartment Shooting
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — Police in Cedar Rapids say a man is in custody after a deadly shooting early this morning in an apartment complex. Responding officers found two women with gunshot wounds around 4:30 a-m (Friday). One of the victims died at the scene and the other was taken to the hospital with
a non-life threatening injury. The suspect was arrested outside of a room at local motel. Investigators believe it was a targeted shooting. No names have been released.
