×

KXEL Morning News for Thu. Apr. 09, 2020

By Tim Martin Apr 9, 2020 | 6:01 AM

The Iowa Department of Public Health says there are 97 additional positive cases to report today, making the statewide total of 1,145…one additional death, a Linn County resident 81 years of age or older…total statewide to date, 27…11 new cases in Linn County alone; 4 in Black Hawk County

The Black Hawk County board of health is encouraging Gov. Kim Reynolds to issue a statewide “shelter-in-place” order during the COVID-19 pandemic. The five board members voted unanimously today to approve the resolution, which they say is needed because too many are not taking current orders seriously enough.

Three senior care facilities in Iowa have had outbreaks, defined as three or more people confirmed as having the virus. Sarah Reisetter, deputy director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, outlined procedures those facilities are to take when there is an outbreak including frequent testing of residents and full mask/gown when working with residents. 

One of the closest Iowa House races in the last general election was in District 60, when Democrat Dave Williams unseated Republican Walt Rogers by fewer than 250 votes. This year, two Republicans are vying for their party’s nomination to take on Williams. Ryan Howard was a guest on KXEL Live & Local yesterday and said he’s running to preserve values. You can hear the full interview at KXEL.com.

Des Moines School Superintendent Thomas Ahart says the current academic year will be completed through distance learning rather than resuming in-person classes. The school district said it had been asking students and families about their access to computers and the internet before making the decision. High school seniors will begin distance learning on April 13, with grades 9-11 beginning on April 20 and PK-8 will begin on April 27. The school district set up a special website, and said it would be using daily emails to communicate more details to students and parents on an on-going basis.

Dubuque police spent the day investigating a death on a downtown street. Police received a report of a deceased person just before 9:30 yesterday morning. They found the individual near the entryway of Graham’s Style Store at the intersection of 9th and Main Street. Police say they do not think the death is suspicious, but the investigation is ongoing.

The list of ethanol plants in Iowa and the Midwest which are closing is causing alarm within the ag and biofuels industries…Emily Skor is CEO of Growth Energy, a trade group representing ethanol producers. Some estimates claim as much as one-half the demand for ethanol will be lost this year. You can hear more with Emily Skor later today on KXEL Live & Local…the program is now on from 9 until 11.

Police responded to two reports of gunfire in the early morning hours yesterday in Waterloo. Police were first called to the 1000 block of West Third Street just before 1 o’clock this morning after residents reported a person had fired a gun into the air. One spent shell casing was found in the area. Then just after 2 a.m., neighbors two blocks away in the 200 block of Allen Street heard gunshots and saw a vehicle leaving the area. Another casing was found in that area…no injuries, no damage…and no arrests yet made.

Officials say a man has been shot and killed by an officer during a police chase in eastern Iowa. Clinton Police Chief Kevin Gyrion says the shooting happened around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, after an officer tried to stop a vehicle. The chief says the vehicle was chased into nearby Camanche and back to Clinton when an officer in pursut fired his service weapon at the vehicle, hitting the suspect, who later died at a hospital. He’s been identified as 38-year-old Jacob Matthew Dau of Clinton. Police say the officer won’t be named until he has been interviewed as part of the investigation.