Home News Friday News, May 14th

Friday News, May 14th

Floyd Valley Healthcare To Now Offer Pfizer COVID Vaccines 

(Le Mars) — As authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Floyd Valley Community Health will begin offering Pfizer vaccine appointments to anyone 12 years of age beginning the week of May 17th. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 712.546.3335. These vaccinations will be offered at no charge.

 

Those vaccinated will be required to remain for 15 minutes of observation after receiving the vaccine, with 30 minutes of observation being recommended for patients who have experienced a severe allergic reaction in the past, such as to other vaccines, oral medications, foods, bees, etc.

Appointments for follow-up will be made for 21 days after the initial vaccination. Individuals that have received both shots of a two-dose series, such as Pfizer or Moderna, or a single injection of Johnson & Johnson are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after the final vaccination.

 

 

 

Ernst Announces Support Of Bill Ending Extra Unemployment Benefits

(Washington, DC) — U-S Senator Joni Ernst has announced her support of a bill to end extra unemployment benefits that have been paid during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Iowa Republican said Thursday she has heard too many concerns from businesses that can’t find employees to hire. A group of 10 senators has introduced the Get Americans Back to Work Act which would reduce the federal portion of unemployment benefits from 300-dollars to 150-dollars-a-week by the end of this month – and phase them out completely by June. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is among 11 governors that have announced their states will drop out of the extended benefits program.

 

 

 

State Auditor Looking Into Possible Overpayments for Scott County Election Workers

(Davenport, IA) — State Auditor Rob Sand is investigating potential overpayments the Scott County auditor approved for election workers. Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz (MORE-its) approved increasing pay for workers in the June 2020 Primary Election to 15-dollars an hour. State Auditor Rob Sand says that may have been a misuse of federal Help America Vote funds made available to Iowa counties by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s office. Moritz made the pay decision on her own without approval from the Scott County Board of Supervisors. Moritz retired as Scott County auditor last month.

 

 

 

House Panel Advances Axne’s Tax Haven and Offshoring Transparency Bill

(Washington, DC) — Congresswoman Cindy Axne is sponsoring a bill designed to force big corporations to disclose how many jobs they outsource to other countries and if they’re using so-called tax havens in other countries to avoid paying U-S taxes. The measure cleared the House Financial Services Committee and similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate. The Iowa Democrat said, “In 2017, U-S corporations booked 32-billion dollars of profits in Bermuda despite having 547 employees there.” She says that’s 32 billion in profits that they’re not paying taxes on. Axne complains that large, multinational corporations are avoiding taxes while Main Street businesses are paying taxes and they’re struggling to make ends meet. Her bill would require corporations with shareholders to publicly disclose details about operations on a country-by-country basis.

 

 

 

Sioux City Man Charged With False Imprisonment For Trapping 2 Victims At His Apartment

(Sioux City, IA) — A Sioux City man is accused of faking his own death, then trapping two people at his apartment and refusing to let them out. Twenty-year-old Zack Smith has been arrested on false imprisonment charges. Investigators say he sent an email to his former girlfriend pretending to be his father. The email said Smith had committed suicide and the victim should get her property from his apartment. Smith wasn’t dead and when the victim and another person showed up Tuesday night, he locked and chained the apartment door. Smith is free on bond after being booked into the Woodbury County Jail.

 

 

 

AAA Iowa Says State Gasoline Supply is Secure

(Undated) — Some gas stations in the South are temporarily closed and pump prices are rising on the East Coast, but Iowa’s gasoline supply is secure. The disruptions were caused by a cyberattack on a pipeline’s computer system. Triple-A Iowa spokeswoman Meredith Mitts says hopefully what’s happening with those gas prices surges and shutdowns is a temporary things and will not reach us in the Midwest. There’s only one report of a Davenport-area convenience store running out of gas. Prices are up nine cents in Iowa this week to two-89 a gallon. Mitts says demand is starting to rise as we approach the summer driving season.

 

 

 

Iowa Leaders Urged To Improve Conditions In State’s Prisons

(Des Moines, IA) — Activists are calling on Iowa leaders to improve the living conditions in the state’s prisons. The Des Moines Black Liberation Movement and the Central Iowa Democratic Socialists of America say some conditions have worsened after two prison staff members were killed in March at the Anamosa State Penitentiary. Jade Suganum of Central Iowa D-S-A says lockdowns and loss of privileges are stressing the inmates at that facility. The attack is still under investigation. State officials indicate changes will be made when those reviews are complete.

 

 

 

Owner of Dog With Collar Embedded in Neck Arrested For Animal Neglect

(Des Moines, IA) — The Animal Rescue League of Iowa says a Des Moines man is charged with animal neglect for leaving a collar on his dog so long that was embedded in her neck. The A-R-L says Jeremy Bronigan was arrested today (Thursday) and jailed on 300 dollars bond. Officials say Junie was rescued from near death at Bronigan’s home. He’s accused of never adjusting her collar as the puppy grew up and it dug into her neck like a vise, causing pain and infection. The A-R-L says the wound on Junie’s neck was one-and-a-half inches wide and less than a half inch from her jugular.

 

 

 

Charge Dismissed Against BLM Activist Who Leaked Document To Reporter

(Des Moines, IA) — A Polk County judge has dismissed charges against a Black Lives Matter activist accused of leaking a police document to a news reporter. The judge determined protester Viet Tran didn’t break the law. Tran had been charged with unauthorized dissemination of intelligence data – a felony that could have meant five years in prison. The law was originally passed to keep law enforcement officials from releasing sensitive information. It has only been used a few times and never against civilians.