Iowa Reports Having More Than 10,000 Positive COVID-19 Cases
(Des Moines) — Iowa has now surpassed the benchmark of 10,000 positive cases of the COVID-19 virus. Governor Kim Reynolds reported the latest statistics during her daily briefing.
Reynolds says while the number of positive cases have been on the rise, so too have the number of negative cases.
Iowa’s death toll from the COVID-19 virus is now at 207, up 19 from Monday.
Reynolds says unfortunately, many of the deaths attributed to the coronavirus are with elderly residents with previous health conditions, living in long-term nursing care facilities.
Plymouth County has now reported having 33 positive cases.
Public Health Department Announces Companies With Outbreak
(Des Moines) — Reporters had asked Sarah Reisetter of the Iowa Department of Public Health as to what is the percentage of positive cases needed for manufacturing and food processing companies to report to state health officials to be considered as an outbreak? Reisetter responded by saying the public health department considers any employer with ten percent workforce
having been infected as classified as an “outbreak.”
On Tuesday, Reisetter announced the names of several Iowa-based companies that have been classified as having an outbreak.
Reisetter says the public health department continues to monitor companies that employ hundreds of employees and have been identified as a COVID-19 “hot spot.”
Schools To Receive Federal Funding For COVID-19 Expenditures
(Des Moines) — School districts across the state may qualify to receive more than $70 million dollars from federal funding to assist with some of the unforeseen expenditures associated with the COVID-19 virus. Ann Lebo, the director of the Iowa Education Department, appeared with Governor Reynolds on
Tuesday, during the daily briefing, to update the situation.
Lebo says school districts have until a May 11th deadline to file an application for the funding. The Iowa Education Department director explains the breakdown of the federal funding.
Lebo says the federal funds can be used for on-line learning support, professional development, educational technology, mental health services, and services to support students with disabilities. Lebo says the application for funds will have a quick turn-a-round with funds available to the schools
as early as next week.
Lebo took the opportunity to thank the state’s school teachers, saying that this is National Teacher Appreciation Week.
Steve Webner, the school superintendent for Le Mars Community Schools says Le Mars Community will receive $157,851. Public schools are responsible for also allocating funds to private schools. Webner says the federal government is not using Title I
funding, but they are using the Title I formula to determine the funding level. Webner says Gehlen Catholic Elementary School will receive $17,926 and Gehlen Catholic Secondary School will receive $15,825. The total amount to Le Mars schools will be $191,602.
Weather Forecast Calls For Cold Temperatures But Newly Planted Crops Should Be Fine
(Le Mars) — The weather forecast for this evening and into Thursday evening and early Friday morning is calling for temperatures to drop near the freezing level. Farmers are wondering if the expected cold temperatures will damage the recently planted crops, of which some have begun to emerge. Iowa State University Extension Crops Specialist for northwest Iowa, Joel DeJong believes the recently planted crops should be able to endure the cold spell, and possible frost without much damage.
As noted earlier this week, many farmers have either completed their planting, or are close to finishing with this year’s spring planting. A year ago, many fields were under water, or remained extremely wet. DeJong says those areas of the fields are doing much better this year.
Iowa Cattlemen Visit With USDA Under Secretary Northey About Low Prices
(Ames) — The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association executive committee and feedlot council spoke with Under Secretary Bill Northey on Friday, May 1, about the Coronavirus Food Assistance Plan. Northey is the Under Secretary for USDA’s
Farm Production and Conservation and his department will facilitate the payments to producers as part of that program.
Chief concerns include the reported $125,000 payment limit per commodity.
According to Brad Kooima, a cattle producer, broker, and member of ICA’s feedlot council, the losses associated with 400 head of fed cattle exceed that payment limit. More than 20% of Iowa feedlots fall into that category.
The other primary concern is the expected coverage of losses. Preliminary information states that 85% of losses between January 1 and April 15 and only 30% of the losses after April 15 will be covered. With feedlot price decreases expected to cost producers $477.05 per head in May and June, compared to losses of less than $244 per head in February and March, it is
clear that the most significant economic damages are yet to come.
Under Secretary Northey was unable to provide more detailed information about the payment program, but shared concerns regarding the limited funding available, which must be split between several commodities. ICA leaders reiterated the fact that there is no other safety net available for the
cattle industry, and that losses have been historic.
Bob Butcher, a cattle feeder and banker from Holstein, says, “It is too bad that we are forced to look to the federal government to help with the huge losses that our industry is now suffering; but that is where we are.” Butcher continued to say, “This would be the first time in his career that direct payments have been made to cattlemen for financial losses. We have no LDP or
ARC payments, no MFP payments or even production insurance such as Federal Crop Insurance to provide a safety net for cattle producers.”
Under Secretary Northey said he expects more details about the CFAP to be released in the coming weeks.
States Ask Justice Department To Investigate Price-Fixing By Meatpackers
(Des Moines, IA) — A group of Attorneys General from 11 states — including Iowa — are asking the U-S Department of Justice to start a federal investigation into suspected national price-fixing by meatpackers in the cattle industry. Iowa Attorney General spokesman, Lynn Hicks says the coronavirus pandemic has magnified the issue. Hicks says four packers control
80 percent of the beef market and he says they are able to charge high prices to consumers as live cattle prices are the lowest they have been in years.
Hicks says they are hoping the D-O-J will see the number of people calling for an investigation and act. Attorneys General in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming all signed on to the letter.
Hy-Vee To Limit Purchases Of Meat Products In Anticipation Of Shortage
(Des Moines, IA) — The Hy-Vee grocery store chain says it will start limiting the purchase of meat products to be prepared for any possible fluctuations in the availability of products. Hy-Vee says in a statement that they have meat available at stores –but due to worker shortages at plants as well as an increase in meat sales, customers may not find the specific items they want. Beginning today (Wednesday), each customer will be limited to four packages of a combination of fresh beef, ground beef, pork,
and chicken.
Murder Charges Filed Against Suspect In Cold Case Murder
(Keokuk, IA) — Three years after a cold case murder was re-opened, the Division of Criminal Investigation’s Major Crime Unit has arrested a suspect.
Seventy-three-year-old Bonnie Callahan was killed in June 2004. Her body was found on the banks of the Mississippi River in Keokuk. The D-C-I reopened the case in April 2017 and the investigation connected 34-year-old Nathanial Leo Ridnour to Callahan’s death. State agents and Keokuk police took Ridnour into custody Tuesday and he is charged with first-degree murder.
If he’s convicted, Ridnour would spend the rest of his life in prison with no chance for parole.
Vice President Pence To Visit Des Moines
(Washington, DC) — Vice President Mike Pence is expected to meet with faith leaders and encourage them to re-open while following social distancing guidelines during a visit later this week. The Office of the Vice President has confirmed that Pence is coming to Des Moines Friday. He also plans to hold a round-table discussion at Hy-Vee headquarters to meet with agriculture
and food supply leaders. The announcement comes at the same time Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says she will travel to Washington, D-C today (Wednesday) to discuss Iowa’s COVID-19 outbreak.
