Mount Mercy University Student Dies From COVID-19 Complications
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — COVID-19 complications are blamed for the death of a student at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids. Mount Mercy President Todd Olson said on the school’s website that 21-year-old Ashley Hudson died Monday. The message said Hudson was an aspiring kindergarten teacher and had dreams of becoming a Mount Mercy graduate. Grief counseling services are available to students, faculty, and staff. There was a vigil for Hudson on campus Monday night. She had been hospitalized with COVID and fighting the virus for weeks.
Decorah School Board Passes Mask Mandate For Elementary Students
(Decorah, IA) — Staff and students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in the Decorah School District will have to mask up starting next Monday. The school board passed a mandate at a special meeting last (Monday) night. Decorah Superintendent Mark Lane says it will be in effect until four weeks after a vaccine for five to 11-year olds is readily available locally. The board made the decision in light of the news that Pfizer will seek F-D-A approval to provide COVID-19 vaccines to children. Decorah becomes the 11th school district in the state to enact some sort of mask mandate since a federal court ruled against Iowa’s ban on mask requirements.
Iowa’s Delegation Introduces Resolution Honoring Servicemembers in Afghanistan
(Washington, DC) — Iowa’s congressional delegation is sponsoring a resolution in the U-S House honoring the service and sacrifice of Iowa military members in Afghanistan. It names the 31 Iowans killed in the War in Afghanistan and was introduced as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. Congresswoman Cindy Axne said, “Over the past twenty years, Iowans served their country and carried out their missions bravely in Afghanistan. Some, like Corporal Daegan Page from Red Oak, made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting their fellow service members, our Afghan partners, and innocent civilians.” Congressman Randy Feenstra added, “I am honored to join my Iowa colleagues to recognize and remember the sacrifices fellow Iowans have made while answering the call to serve our country in Afghanistan.”
Eastern Iowa School Bus Driver Draws 10-Year Sentence For Kidnapping Child
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — The sentence is ten years in prison for a former eastern Iowa school bus driver who pleaded guilty to kidnapping a child. Thomas A. Williams was a driver for the College Community School District in Cedar Rapids in January of 2020. He was initially charged with second-degree kidnapping and sexual exploitation by a school employee. Williams admitted to telling a ten-year-old girl to stay on the bus and pulling her onto his lap and trying to kiss her. He was fired after a police investigation. Williams was also ordered to pay a one-thousand-dollar fine and register as a sex offender.
Ernst Calls For A Memorial Monument On The National Mall For The War On Terrorism
(Washington) — After their bipartisan bill was blocked on the Senate floor, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran of the Global War on Terrorism, and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, are continuing their push to build a new memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to honor those who served in the Global War on Terrorism. Ernst and Hassan, along with Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation President/CEO Marina Jackman and Gold Star wife Jane Horton, held a press conference today calling on Congress to pass their bill. Ernst spoke of her disappointment in the manner the Biden Administration has handled the exit strategy from Afghanistan, but offers her continued support to the military personnel and their families for their service to our country.
Ernst says it is the right thing to do to honor those military personnel that have lost their lives to the War on Terrorism by constructing a memorial monument on the Nation’s Capital Mall grounds.
Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, a co-sponsor of Ernst’ bill echoed Ernst’ remarks by saying a monument is needed to honor the brave men and women from the War on Terrorism.
Ernst’s efforts to set up a memorial for the War On Terrorism was blocked by Senate Democrats. In addition, Congress had passed a bill back in 2003 which would no longer permit any additional monuments and memorials to be on the grounds of the National Mall, the grass area that stretches from the Lincoln Memorial to the west, including the Viet Nam Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, World War Two Memorial, the Washington Monument in the center of the mall, and extending to the U-S Capitol Building on the east edge of the mall.
