Governor Reynolds Extends Emergency Health Proclamation For Another Week
(Des Moines) — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has pushed back the date of her health proclamation to extend for another week until December 16th, at which time, according to the governor, health and state officials will re-evaluate the statistics regarding the number of COVID-19 positive cases. Reynolds announced the new directive does have some modifications.
Governor Reynolds was asked why only a one-week extension, and if that would lead to further confusion and uncertainty by the public?
Reynolds Asks Schools To Hold “In Person” Classes
(Des Moines) — During her news conference held Wednesday, Governor Kim Reynolds continues to encourage Iowa schools to consider having a program with “in-person” classes. She cited a couple of studies showing children are the least likely to get the virus, and transfer the virus.
Reynolds continued to recite the survey.
Governor Reynolds says of Iowa’s 327 public school districts, and the 119 accredited private or parochial schools, less than two percent of the K-12 students have contracted the COVID-19 virus.
Reynolds, says the Centers for Disease Control suggests students should be in school. She then recited another study showing how children, and particularly minority children, can fall behind with their educational development skills, if they are not in an “in-person class setting.
Reynolds says more than 85 percent of Iowa schools, including Le Mars Community, have implemented an “in-person” classroom atmosphere for the “Return to Learn” program. She again encouraged school officials to consider the drawbacks that occur with a child’s development when the student is not
in class.
Iowa Farm Bureau President Comments On Selection Of Vilsack As U-S Agriculture Secretary
(Des Moines) — Iowa Farm Bureau President, Craig Hill of Milo, Iowa released a statement regarding the appointment of former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to again serve as the Secretary of the U-S Department of Agriculture. “This year has
underscored how essential agriculture is to our daily lives, providing the food, fuel and fiber we all depend on. Agriculture also serves as the engine that drives Iowa’s economy. That’s why it is so important to have a Secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that understands the industry
and the struggles family farmers face. This year, in particular, has been especially challenging for Iowa farmers who faced a drought, derecho, and depressed markets. Iowan Tom Vilsack has remained engaged in U.S. agriculture and has a deep understanding of the current issues. We are very pleased he
has been chosen to once again lead the USDA. We look forward to working with Mr. Vilsack, as we did for eight years during the Obama Administration, to help find solutions to the many challenges facing our nations farmers, and we stand ready to assist him in any way possible.”
2543 New COVID Cases in Iowa, 102 Additional Deaths
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Department of Public Health is reporting 102 more people died of COVID-19 complications, increasing the state’s death toll to three-thousand-21. Two-thousand-543 new positive tests were confirmed which brings the total to 248-thousand-782 case since the pandemic began.
Eight-hundred-94 people are hospitalized with COVID. One-hundred-96 of those patients are in intensive care and 120 are on ventilators. There are outbreaks in 141 long-term facilities in Iowa. Sixty-six counties currently have a 14-day average positivity rate of at least 15 percent.
Iowa Restaurant Association Urging Congress To Act
(Des Moines, IA) — A group backing Iowa restaurants is asking Congress for pandemic help. The Iowa Restaurant Association says without federal aid, more restaurants could close. The group is urging Congress to tap into more funding from the Paycheck Protection Program to support restaurants. The
Iowa Restaurant Association predicts Iowa could lose one-thousand restaurants.
Iowa Joins Lawsuit Against Facebook
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa is joining a lawsuit against Facebook alleging the social media site stifles competition. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller made the announcement Wednesday. Forty-eight other attorneys general have signed on. Miller says Facebook is accused of illegally acquiring competitors or
potential rivals, including Instagram and WhatsApp. Those moves allegedly deprived users of the benefits of competition and they reduced privacy protections and services. Facebook is accused of violating the Sherman and Clayton antitrust acts.
One Of 18 Astronauts In Artemis Moon-Landing Program Is From Iowa
(Cape Canaveral, FL) — One of the 18 astronauts in the Artemis moon-landing program is from Iowa. The government says the first woman and the next man on the moon will come from the elite group. Raja Chari was one of the astronauts introduced Wednesday at the National Space Council. The
announcement was made at the Kennedy Space Center beneath one of only three remaining Saturn-Five rockets from the 1960s and 70s Apollo program. The group ranges in age from 32 to 55.
