Reynolds Orders Flags To Be Half-staff To Honor John Lewis
(Des Moines) — Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to be flown at half staff on Monday, July 20th in honor and remembrance of U-S Representative John Lewis, a congressman from Atlanta, Georgia and longtime civil rights icon. Reynolds says from the bridge in Selma, Alabama to the halls of Congress, John Lewis was a trailblazer for justice and equality.
Reynolds also said of Lewis, that he was a giant in the civil rights
movement, and always sought liberty and justice for all Americans. Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be half-staff at all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are
encouraged to fly the flags at half-staff for the same length of time.
TestIowa To Begin Today At Floyd Valley Healthcare
(Le Mars, IA) — Beginning today, July 20, Floyd Valley Healthcare will be hosting a free Test Iowa Clinic site. Any Iowan can be tested for COVID-19 through Test Iowa. The Floyd Valley Healthcare site will be located in the north parking area and is open Monday – Friday from 1 – 5 p.m. by appointment
only.
To receive an appointment, an assessment needs to be completed at TestIowa.com. Once on the site, click “START NOW,” complete the assessment and choose Plymouth County under Test Iowa Clinics. The QR Code generated from this assessment will be necessary to be screened. Please park in the
spaces reserved for Test Iowa screening designated by the Test Iowa signage.
If you have additional questions, you may go to TestIowa.com/faq.
Secondary Roads Department To Close Fir Avenue For Culvert Installment
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Secondary Roads Department will be closing Fir Avenue between 180th Street and 190th Street beginning today, (Monday) in order to replace a wooden bridge with a culvert. It is expected the road will be closed until Friday, July 31st.
Iowa Department Of Public Health Reports 661 New COVID-19 Cases
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Department of Public Health reports 661 new positive test results for COVID-19. State health officials say a “significant number” of tests weren’t reported over the weekend due to a backlog in the electronic reporting system. Although the state files a formal report each day at 10:00 a-m, the numbers are expected to be updated on the COVID-19 website until they are current. Officials say 38-thousand-
564 positive cases have been confirmed in Iowa since the outbreak began.
Seven additional deaths runs the state’s toll to 792.
Coralville Inmate Accused Of Attacking Guard
(Coralville, IA) — A corrections officer at the Coralville Correctional Facility is recovering from minor injuries after an attack last week. The Iowa Department of Corrections says an inmate became aggressive Friday at about 7:00 p-m, hitting the officer several times with his fist and trying to choke the officer. Other staff members rushed in to help and broke up the
altercation. The inmate’s name hasn’t been released, but he had no injuries.
The officer was able to remain on the job.
Ankeny Police Identify Man Involved In 4-Hour Standoff
(Ankeny, IA) — Ankeny police identify the man involved in a four-hour standoff with authorities as 60-year-old Jesse Krueger. He has been charged with making a threat of terrorism. Krueger had just been released from jail Friday after shooting off a handgun from his balcony earlier in the week.
When he got home to his apartment, he told a friend he was suicidal – so the friend called 9-1-1. While the friend was still on the phone, Krueger told dispatchers he had a bomb. Nearby apartments were evacuated and three or four gunshots were heard as they waited outside. Eventually, a Suburban
Emergency Response Team was set in and he was taken into custody without resisting.
Iowa Mass Murderer Executed At Federal Penitentiary
(Terre Haute, IN) — Iowa mass murderer Dustin Honken was executed at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana last Friday. Families of two of his five victims were present. Honken’s lawyer said his client had been “redeemed” while he was behind bars, repenting for the crimes he
committed. Honken was the third federal prisoner executed last week. The 52-year-old former meth dealer became the first Iowan in more than 50 years to be put to death by authorities.
Legislative Council Approves Pate’s Plan For Absentee Ballots
(Des Moines) — The Iowa Legislative Council has unanimously approved Secretary of State Paul Pate’s plan to mail every active voter in the state an application for an absentee ballot for the November election. Pate did a similar mailing for the June 2nd Primary, but the Republican-led legislature voted in mid-June to force Pate to seek the council’s permission for such a
move in the future. Senator Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa
City, is one of 24 lawmakers who serve on the panel.
Earlier this month, Republicans on the council rejected Democrats’ call to let Pate do the statewide mailing. Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver of Ankeny says the proposal the Council approved late Friday came FROM Pate and ensures uniformity.
The plan also bans COUNTY AUDITORS from sending absentee ballot applications with the voter identification number filled in on the form. That part of the plan approved Friday may be challenged in court. There is already a lawsuit challenging a new state law that changes the way county auditors may correct
or fill in missing information on the request forms that are mailed in by voters.
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U-S Secretary of State Pompeo Visits Iowa
(Des Moines) — U-S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is the latest Republican to speak at an annual gathering of Iowa religious conservatives that presidential candidates like Ted Cruz and Donald Trump have addressed in the past. Pompeo’s remarks to the summit sponsored by The Family Leader
emphasized religious liberty concerns.
Pompeo specifically criticized the Chinese Communist Party’s actions in Hong Kong and threats against Taiwan.
Pompeo, a former Kansas congressman, told the crowd the Trump Administration also been focused on a critical mission to bring fairness into U.S. trade relationship with China. According to The Family Leader, Pompeo addressed a crowd of about 650 late Friday afternoon in West Des Moines. Pompeo also met
privately Friday afternoon with members of the Iowa Farm Bureau and the Iowa Soybean Association.
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Fireworks Created Poor Air Quality During Independence Day Weekend
(Des Moines) — It may be of little surprise, but Information from air quality monitors showed several cases where the air quality exceeded the E-P-A limit for fine particles in the air during the Fourth of July weekend. The D-N-R’s Todd Russell says the state generally does not have such long-term periods where the air exceeds the federal standard. Russell says there was one in Davenport in 2012.
He says air monitors saw issues in Des Moines, Davenport, and Muscatine on July 4th, and in Des Moines and Clive on July 5th. Russell says they don’t know for sure — but the problems were most likely created by people shooting off fireworks — NOT professional fireworks shows. He says that was particularily the case in the Des Moines area.
Russell says the calm weather conditions likely contributed to the problem.
He says the air in Iowa this summer has otherwise been clean. Russel says less traffic on the roadways and businesses shut down by the pandemic may be contributing to cleaner air.
