Remsen St. Mary’s Has 15 Seniors Graduate
(Remsen) — On the west lawn of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Remsen Sunday afternoon, 15 seniors of the class of 2020 received their diplomas during the Remsen St. Mary’s graduation ceremony. The boys were wearing blue robes with the blue cap, while the girls were dressed in white gowns and white caps. Much like most other senior graduation ceremonies this spring,
the Remsen St. Mary’s commencement was held outdoors with social distancing due to the COVID-19 virus. Each graduating senior sat in front of their parents during the program. Travis Kohler delivered the key-note commencement
address. Emma Galles shared her Valedictorian address, and Ashley Willman gave the Salutatorian address.
Jeneary Comments On Legislative Issues
(Le Mars) — The Iowa legislature ended its interrupted session a week ago, but there were some items that were not able to be addressed, as lawmakers had hoped. State Representative Dr. Tom Jeneary says he would have liked to see the state legislature pass the life amendment as it relates to anti-abortion.
Governor Reynolds has had the opportunity to appoint three judges to the Iowa Supreme Court, with another justice resignation expected within the next year. Jeneary believes the Iowa Supreme Court may be leaning more to a pro-life stance, and could overturn earlier decisions. The Republican state
representative says there was some confusion over the life amendment.
Jeneary says one item that was passed during the closing days of the legislative session was to appropriate additional funding for the expansion of broadband throughout the rural areas of the state.
Jeneary says during the final hours, the legislature passed a COVID-19 protection against liability bill. He says the bill basically was passed along party lines with republicans voting in favor and democrats opposing the measure.
The Le Mars lawmaker further explains the purpose of the bill.
Jeneary says the state legislature also passed a bill that would exempt COVID-19 relief assistance funding from being subject to Iowa income taxation.
Iowa State University Researcher Trying To Develop Home COVID-19 Test
(Ames) — An Iowa State University researcher is working on a test you can take at home to find out if you have COVID-19.
Robbyn Anand (Aw-nand) and the researchers won a $55 thousand dollar grant from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement to work on the test.
Anand is an assistant chemistry professor and says the test would indicate the presence of a protein linked to the virus.
They are hoping to have the test ready by this fall when kids would be going back to school. The test would be similar to a home pregnancy test where a strip would turn a color to indicate you have the virus.
Anand says working with infectious material can raise many issues — but they are able to do the research without that risk.
She says the test would be used to let you know if you need to see a doctor.
She says if you take the test and find it positive then you could know to take precautions to avoid spreading the virus
and then make an appointment with a doctor. She says they want to find a company that can mass-produce the test and keep the cost affordable.
Anand says they also need someone who can produce millions of tests.
Iowa Positive COVID-19 Cases Top 25.8K
(Des Moines, IA) — State officials report the number of positive COVID-19 test results total 25-thousand-865, as of Sunday. Four new deaths push that total to 685. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 413 new cases.
The I-D-P-H says 478 of the deaths involved patients who had preexisting medical conditions and 356 of the deaths came at long-term care facilities. Doctors say the coronavirus pandemic is spreading beyond the state’s largest cities. Plymouth County is now reporting 243 positive cases, and four deaths.
Taylor County Man Charged With Murder In Mother’s Death
(Beford, IA) — A 32-year-old man is charged with murder and is being held in the Taylor County Jail in his mother’s death. Deputies were called to the home Saturday shortly before 11:00 p-m. Cristian Andrew May faces charges of first-degree murder and willful injury. Deputies say they found the body of
62-year-old Penny Sue Godfirnon inside her home. They say she had been “assaulted with a knife.” The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Department of Public Safety are working the case.
Davenport Man Charged With Murder In Woman’s Shooting Death
(Davenport, IA) — A 21-year-old Davenport man is charged with murder for allegedly shooting a woman last month as she was leaving a protest. Parker Belz is being held at the Scott County Jail. Investigators say 22-year-old Italia Marie Kelly had been taking part in a protest over the death of George
Floyd May 31st. She was leaving because the crowd was starting to fight.
Kelly died at a hospital from a single gunshot wound to her back. Belz is facing a charge of first-degree murder.
