WEDNESDAY WAS CENSUS DAY. ACCORDING TO THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM THE CENSUS BUREAU THE NATIONAL RESPONSE RATE SO FAR IS A LITTLE BETTER THAN ONE-THIRD OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY. IOWA IS SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF THAT PACE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 PERCENT. IOWA SECRETARY OF STATE PAUL PATE IS ONE OF THE OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EFFORT IN THE STATE, AND PATE SAYS PARTICIPATING IN THE CENSUS IS AS IMPORTANT AS VOTING. THERE IS STILL TIME TO RESPOND TO THE CENSUS ONLINE USING 2020CENSUS.GOV AND A CODE WHICH WAS MAILED TO ALL HOUSEHOLDS LAST MONTH.
TWO IOWA RENEWABLE FUELS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS KICKED OFF THE MONTH OF APRIL BY SHIPPING THE SECOND AND THIRD DONATED SHIPMENTS OF ETHANOL TO BE TURNED INTO HAND SANITIZER BY IOWA PRISON INDUSTRIES. THIS WEEK’S DONATIONS WERE MADE BY IOWA ETHANOL PRODUCERS SOUTHWEST IOWA RENEWABLE ENERGY AND LAKEVIEW PLYMOUTH ENERGY. TWO OTHER ETHANOL PRODUCERS MADE A SIMILAR DONATION OF ETHANOL AND GLYCERIN LAST MONTH. THE HAND SANITIZER PRODUCED IS BEING DISTRIBUTED FOR FREE BY THE STATE FOR PRIORITY USE.
IN SPORTS, TIGHT END BRILEY MOORE WILL CONTINUE HIS FOOTBALL CAREER THIS FALL, JUST NOT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA. THE SENIOR WAS INJURED IN THE PANTHERS’ FIRST GAME LAST SEASON AND TOOK A MEDICAL REDSHIRT WHILE SITTING OUT THE REST OF 2019. YESTERDAY, MOORE TOLD HIS TWITTER FOLLOWERS HE WAS LEAVING THE PROGRAM TO PLAY ELSEWHERE AS A GRADUATE TRANSFER. IN 2018, MOORE EARNED ALL MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE RECOGNITION.
THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK HAS SOURED THE FORECAST FOR IOWA BUSINESS COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE GROUP RELEASED ITS FIRST QUARTER ECONOMIC OUTLOOK SURVEY EARLIER TODAY. THE SURVEY SCORE OF 37.5 IS WELL BELOW THE LAST MARK FROM THE INDEX AT JUST OVER 60 FROM JANUARY. SENTIMENT IS POSITIVE WHEN IT IS ABOVE 50 OR NEGATIVE BELOW. THIS MORNING, IOWA BUSINESS COUNCIL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOE MURPHY TALKED ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS DURING KXEL LIVE AND LOCAL. MURPHY SAYS HE WAS HEARTENED BY BUSINESS RESPONSES TO THE VIRUS OUTBREAK – AND THE ADVERSITY THAT HAS COME WITH IT – SINCE THE SURVEY WAS TAKEN.
FIRST RESPONDERS – PARTICULARLY PARAMEDICS – ARE HAVING TO ADJUST TO NEW PROCEDURES DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS. WHEN A CALL COMES IN FOR A MEDICAL EMERGENCY IN WATERLOO, ONE OF THE INITIAL QUESTIONS DISPATCHERS NOW ASK IS WHETHER THE PATIENT HAS ANY COVID-19 SYMPTOMS LIKE BREATHING DIFFICULTY, COUGH, OR FEVER. IF THE ANSWER IS YES, PARAMEDICS WILL ARRIVE WITH FACE SHIELDS AND GOWNS, IN ADDITION TO GLOVES AND OTHER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. WATERLOO FIRE RESCUE OFFICIALS SAY THE DEPARTMENT IS BUILDING A STOCKPILE OF PPE GEAR, AS WELL AS FOLLOWING SOCIAL DISTANCING PROCEDURES IN ITS FACILITIES.
AUTO SALES DROPPING WITH MORE PEOPLE DRIVING LESS. U.S. NEW VEHICLE SALES PLUNGED 40% IN MARCH COMPARED WITH THE SAME MONTH IN 2019. FOR THE ENTIRE FIRST QUARTER SALES DROPPED MORE THAN 13 PERCENT, WITH THE MARCH SALES DROP ERASING GAINS FROM JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. CAR MAKERS REPORTING NUMBERS WEDNESDAY INCLUDED GENERAL MOTORS, TOYOTA, AND FIAT CHRYSLER. FORD AND SEVERAL OTHER CAR-MAKERS WILL REVEAL MORE DETAILS LATER.
THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IS FORCING BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT HOW THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE CONVENTIONS THIS SUMMER. DURING TODAY’S EDITION OF KXEL LIVE AND LOCAL, UNI POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR CHRIS LARIMER TALKED ABOUT COVID-19-RELATED DISRUPTIONS TO THE TYPICAL NOMINATION PROCESS. THE 2020 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION WAS SCHEDULED FOR MILWAUKEE IN JULY BUT HAS NOW BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL AUGUST; REPUBLICANS WILL GATHER IN CHARLOTTE DURING AUGUST.
A GRINNELL COLLEGE – SELZER & COMPANY POLL FROM THE WEEKEND INDICATED 16 PERCENT OF AMERICANS HAVE BEEN LAID OFF DUE TO THE RESPONSE TO THE WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC. ANOTHER 12 PERCENT SAY THEY EXPECT TO BE LAID OFF SOON. THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT YOUNGER AMERICANS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED IN THEIR WORK OR FINANCIAL LIVES. BUT FORWARD-LOOKING SENTIMENT IS POSITIVE; 88 PERCENT ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE COUNTRY WILL GET THROUGH THE CURRENT CHALLENGES.
THE SALVATION ARMY IN WATERLOO IS EXPANDING ITS LUNCH MEAL PROGRAM TO INCLUDE MONDAYS, TUESDAYS, AND THURSDAYS FROM 11:30 TO 12:30. FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING, MEALS ARE BEING PROVIDED “TO-GO.” SALVATION ARMY S OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH FOOD DISTRIBUTION ON THOSE DAYS.
NORTHWEST IOWA IS UNDER A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY OVERNIGHT THROUGH THE MID-MORNING HOURS FRIDAY. THE ADVISORY INCLUDES FRANKLIN, CERRO GORDO, AND WORTH COUNTIES, PLUS POINTS WEST, WHERE RAIN WILL TURN TO FREEZING RAIN, WITH ICE ACCUMULATION EXPECTED.
