Home News Wednesday Afternoon News, March 10th

Wednesday Afternoon News, March 10th

Reynolds Say One Million Iowans To Be Vaccinated By Week’s End

(Des Moines) — As Iowa acknowledges the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, Governor Reynolds offered some statistics during her weekly news conference held Wednesday morning. Reynolds says a year ago
state officials and health officials did not know much about the virus.

Reynolds reminded the news media it was within nine months that the first vaccine to COVID-19 was introduced to the public.

Reynolds says now that Iowans have three different vaccines available, she anticipates the one-millionth Iowan will receive a COVID vaccination by the end of this week.

The governor announced to the news media that she anticipates a ramp-up of vaccines will be made available to Iowans in April, and without telling the specific number expected, the governor says “a significant” number of COVID vaccine doses is to arrive in the state by June.

 

 

 

Reynolds Says 2-1-1 Helpline Off To A Great Start

(Des Moines) — Seniors, age 65 and up, can now get assistance for establishing a vaccine appointment by calling the 2-1-1 help line. The service started yesterday, (Tuesday) and allows people to call the help line, where a COVID navigator operator will assist with making an appointment at the person’s
earliest convenience, and at a Hy Vee pharmacy close to them. Governor Reynolds says the program is off to a great start.

Reynolds says operators at the 2-1-1 helpline are able to translate nearly any language.

 

 

 

Front License Plate Bill Clears Iowa Senate

(Des Moines, IA) — A bill approved in the Iowa Senate would remove the requirement that license plates be attached to the front bumpers of some vehicles. Front plates would still be required on commercial vehicles, like semis and delivery trucks, but antique vehicles and newer, luxury vehicles that require gluing or drilling into the bumper to mount a plate would be
exempt. Senator Dan Zumbach of Ryan said, “the rest of the cars, the vast majority of cars, are still going to have a plate.” Senator Kevin Kinney of Oxford, a retired Johnson County Sheriff’s deputy, said a front license plate is a tool for law enforcement. Kinney told members he can think of at least
three investigations in which a suspect was apprehended because of a front plate. Another senator said the bill would be a financial hit for a company in Marion that makes license plate frames for front bumper plates.

 

 

 

Senator Proposes Changes to Deer Hunting Regulations to Thin State’s Herd

(Des Moines, IA) — A senator from southeast Iowa is sponsoring a bill calling for a study of the economic and environmental impact of the state’s deer population. Senator Ken Rozenboom of Oskaloosa says the population is too large in some areas of the state and it’s time to change some of the
state’s hunting regulations. He expects the study would indicate the D-N-R deer management targets should be increased. Rozenboom also wants to reduce the 15-hundred-dollar civil fine for illegally taking a deer. The bill cleared a Senate subcommittee this morning (Wednesday), but Rozenboom says
major adjustments are in the works.

 

 

 

Secretary of State Pate Honors US Postal Service Workers For Delivering Election Mail

(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is honoring U-S Postal Service workers for handling millions of pieces of election mail in 2020 during the pandemic. Pate presented the National Association of Secretaries State Medallion Award to the U-S-P-S Hawkeye District Tuesday.
Pate said, “the Postal Service stepped up and helped ensure we had a clean, smooth election in Iowa.” Hawkeye District manager Jim Herrman said he was extremely proud of the eight-thousand postal employees throughout the state who remained vigilant in their mission to ‘bind the nation together’ and deliver absentee ballots and election mail to our customers.

 

 

 

Suspicious Death Under Investigation in Ankeny

(Ankeny, IA) — Police in Ankeny are investigating a death late Tuesday afternoon that they’re calling “suspicious.” Officers found a person dead inside a mobile home around 4 :30 p-m. Investigators are interviewing witnesses and residents of the area. They do not believe there is an active threat to the public. The victim hasn’t been identified. Anyone with tips about the death is asked to call the Ankeny Police Department.

 

 

 

Feenstra: ‘PRO Act’ Attacks Workers’ Rights in Favor of Union Bosses

WASHINGTON — Rep. Randy Feenstra (IA-04) released the following statement in response to House Democrats passing H.R. 842, a radical union boss wish list that threatens the fundamental rights of workers:

Feenstra says, “With the so-called ‘PRO Act,’ Democrats are once again attacking workers by prioritizing the interests of union bosses. This bill would stifle the rights of hardworking Iowans by forcing them into one-size-fits-all contracts, exposing their personal information without their consent, and curbing their ability to work as independent contractors.

Feenstra continued, “What’s worse, it would repeal Iowa’s right-to-work law, meaning thousands of Iowans would be forced to use a chunk of their hard-earned paycheck to become a member of a union they don’t even want to join. Not only would it lower take-home pay, it would also allow unions to use workers’ money to fund left-wing groups like Planned Parenthood. Any comprehensive labor reform bill should prioritize workers, but this bill prioritizes union bosses. That’s why I strongly opposed this bill.”