Nearly 100 people gathered at the Iowa Capitol to support President Donald Trump and express opposition to the Electoral College count that certified his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Iowa State Patrol spokesperson Alex Dinkla says the peaceful rally yesterday in the Capitol rotunda drew about 90 people at its height and then dwindled to about 40 people. The protesters had informed Capitol security about their plans to hold the rally. Two groups attended with one focusing on prayer while another was more vocal, chanting USA-themed slogans and singing patriotic songs. There was no destruction or unrest, as was the case in Washington, D.C..
The number of Iowans filing for unemployment increased last week, but most of those indicated their unemployment claim was not COVID-19-related. Iowa Workforce Development reports a total of 8,236 Iowans filed initial unemployment claims. That’s an increase of 1,095 from the previous reporting period’s adjusted numbers. Continuing weekly unemployment claims totaled 43,901, an increase of 5,878 from the previous week. IWD reports that nearly 68.6 percent of claimants said their claims were not COVID-19 related. November through February are typically the months in which Iowa sees the most unemployment claims due to seasonal layoffs in construction, agriculture, landscaping and manufacturing. Construction and manufacturing were the two industries with the most unemployment claims last week.
A fire that damaged a Waterloo business Wednesday evening is believed to be accidental. A passerby called 911 after noticing the fire at All Used Cars in the 900 block of Broadway St., shortly before 6:30 p.m. yesterday. Heavy smoke was coming from a pole building that serves as the store’s repair garage. Two vehicles were inside the shop — one is considered a total loss and the other has heat damage. No one was inside the business at the time, and no injuries were reported. The store’s office is housed in a separate building and wasn’t damaged, firefighters said. The exact cause of the fire hasn’t been determined.
Gov. Kim Reynolds is pushing for legislation requiring all school districts to offer a 100% in-person learning option. At a news conference last month, Reynolds indicated schools could be required to offer face-to-face instruction. The governor cited studies showing the virus does not spread as rapidly among school-aged children as it does among adults, and she expressed concern that students who are learning remotely could fall behind. House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford said whatever the Legislature decides this year needs to revolve around parental choice. The 2021 session begins on Monday.
