Governor Reynolds Allows For Unlimited Spectators At High School Sporting Events
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds has updated her public health emergency proclamation so Iowa high schools do not have to limit the number of spectators at basketball games, wrestling meets, and other sporting events.
The restrictions ended yesterday (Friday), but school districts can still impose their own limits. Fans at indoor games or meets must still wear masks and maintain their distance from others who don’t live in their household. The governor’s updated proclamation has extended the mask mandate for many indoor
public spaces until February 6th. Amy Jungers with Gehlen Catholic school tells of the decision officials made.
Le Mars Community school officials issued a news release saying their ultimate goal is for the health and safety of our students, staff, and community, and to make sure our students are able to continue to attend school and participate in current and future activities throughout this pandemic. It has been determined by Plymouth County Public Health and the Le Mars Community
School District that COVID continues to be a very real and present danger.
Although the governor’s proclamation has changed by reducing restrictions, our community COVID-19 status has not changed dramatically enough for us to allow for unlimited spectators to events. Therefore, Le Mars Community requires the
following at all basketball games: Masks are required for all spectators and participants over two years of age. Each athlete, team personnel, and cheerleader will be allowed six names on the pass list. Dance team members are allowed six names on the pass list to attend only for their halftime performance. Junior varsity spectators are required to leave, unless their student is also participating in a varsity contest. Varsity girls and boys
pass list spectators will be allowed to check in starting at 5:10 p.m. Le Mars high school students only can attend with their student ID and for $5 or an activity ticket.
North Dakota Leads Nation In COVID Vaccinations — Iowa Sets At 9th Position
(Undated) — North Dakota leads the nation in terms of administering COVID-19 vaccinations. According to a survey conducted by Becker’s Hospital Review, North Dakota has already administered more than half of its statewide allotment of COVID-19 vaccines. As of yesterday, Friday, January 8th, North
Dakota has distributed 27,289 doses of the 43,950 allocated, or 62.09 percent.
West Virginia is second in the nation with 58.61 percent, and South Dakota holds the third place position. South Dakota has administered 55.74 percent of their COVID-19 vaccines. Iowa sets at ninth position with 74,224 of the allotted 191,675 doses, or 38.72 percent. Surrounding states includes Nebraska
at sixth position with 40.32 percent complete. Illinois at 24th place with 28.9 percent vaccines administered. Missouri is right behind Illinois at 25th place with 28.27 percent vaccines administered. Minnesota is at 31st place, and Wisconsin at 33rd place. Both Minnesota and Wisconsin have slightly more
than 25 percent vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control data tracker compiles data from healthcare facilities and public health authorities. It updates daily to report the total number of COVID-19 vaccines that have been distributed to each state and the total number each state has administered.
Army Corps Of Engineers Predicts Below Normal Snow Melt For Missouri River Basin
(Omaha) — After record flooding in parts of western Iowa in 2019, officials with the U-S Army Corps of Engineers are predicting below-normal runoff into the Missouri River system during the year ahead. Kevin Grode (GROW-dee), an engineer in the Corps’ Omaha office, compared last year’s runoff with this
year’s prediction.
Some sections of western Iowa are ranked as being in moderate, severe or extreme drought. Grode says the soil is very dry and there isn’t much snow pack across the basin.
Grode says mountain snowpack is also below normal so far.
The below-normal forecast follows several years of above-normal-to-record runoff in the basin.
Fog During Winter Months Does Not Guarantee Rain In 90 Days
(Le Mars) — Nearly every day of this past week, northwest Iowa has endured foggy conditions, and according to an old wive’s tale, 90 days after fog will produce rain. Dennis Todey, the U-S-D-A’s Midwest Climatologist based at Ames says although that does happen, the two factors are not directly connected on
a cause and effect situation. Todey says fog generally occurs during the winter months following a snow and when the air temperature warms up causing melting of the snow. He says moisture from the snow rises into the air which causes the fog to occur. Todey says there are no cycles of weather patterns to substantiate the claim.
Todey says 90 days from now, the climate will begin to feature spring-like conditions, and during spring is the time we see an increase of rainfall.
The weather official says at this time, there are not enough strong indicators to determine whether the spring months will be dry or wet. Although, he says it may be more likely to see dry conditions rather than wetter than usual conditions.
Axe Supports House Impeachment, Hinson, Miller-Meeks and Feenstra Oppose
(Washington, DC) — Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne plans to support the impeachment of President Trump in the U-S House. The delegation’s lone Democrat says the president’s actions and rhetoric clearly pose what she describes as “a grave threat to our nation’s citizens and our democracy.”
Axne called upon Vice President Pence and members of the cabinet to invoke the 25th amendment and remove Trump from office. G-O-P Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says she will oppose impeachment because the country does not need
further division right now. Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks is also against removing Trump from office. Representative Randy Feenstra said in a statement “any effort by the House to impeach President Trump will only deepen
divisions.”
GOP Leaders Confident in Iowa Capitol Security
(Des Moines, IA) — Republican leaders in the Iowa legislature say they’re confident in the security at the Capitol building in Des Moines. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver of Ankeny said Wednesday’s attack on the U-S Capitol was a sad day for the country. House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford said Americans have every right to express their opinions, in a non-
violent way. There were protests in June outside the 135-year-old Iowa Capitol building when the legislature was in session. Grassley said, “between the security, we have inside the Capitol and the State Patrol as well, I think that we’re well equipped.” Whitver said the “small group of people” who protested in the U-S Capitol do not speak for Iowa Republicans.
State Budget Director Roederer Retiring This Month
(Des Moines, IA) — The man who has been state budget director for the past decade is retiring after a 38-year career in state government. Dave Roederer was part of former Governor Terry Branstad’s staff in the last century before Branstad’s return in 2011, when Roederer was named director of the Department
of Management. Governor Kim Reynolds kept him in that role when she became the state’s chief executive in 2017. He’s also been on the three-member panel that makes state revenue forecasts. Roederer has served in a variety of state government roles. In 2008, he was John McCain’s Iowa campaign chairman. His last day on the job is January 31st.
2058 New COVID Cases in Iowa, 59 Additional Deaths
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Department of Public Health is reporting two-thousand-58 new positive COVID tests today (Friday), increasing the state’s total to 293-thousand-452 cases. Fifty-nine more Iowans died of coronavirus
complications which brings the death toll to four-thousand-124. Five-hundred-79 people are hospitalized with COVID in Iowa. One-hundred-eight patients are in intensive care and 51 are on ventilators. There are virus outbreaks in 84 long-term care facilities. Fifty-five Iowa counties have a 14-day average positivity rate of at least 15 percent.
