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News and resources regarding COVID-19

NEWS 1.20.21: C19 Update, Inauguration Day, Local Biden Administration Appointment & More

NPR

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SPM NEWS 1.20.21 - 4:32PM

Iowa public health officials posted an additional 62 deaths Wednesday as the state death total reached almost 4,400. That number includes two more deaths in Woodbury County.

Iowa had the 17th highest per capita death count in the nation and the second highest 7-day average positivity at 33% behind Idaho.

That’s according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University.

The positivity rate had dropped over the past two weeks.  That’s true for Woodbury County, with a current rate 14-day positivity rate of about 12%. It has been falling steadily the past week. Two months ago, the level was more than 23%.

Credit Siouxland District Health

Iowa also posted more than 1,300 new confirmed cases, including more than 50 new cases in Woodbury County. The number of confirmed cases in Woodbury County has topped 13,000 with 52 more added in the past 24 hours.  Officials with Siouxland District Health urge the public to help slow the spread of the virus by wearing masks, keeping your distance, washing hands, stay home when aid and avoiding nonessential gatherings.

There was a 22% decrease in the number of hospitalizations at Sioux City’s two hospitals. There were 32 patients today and 41 yesterday.

When it comes to the vaccine, the CDC reports that Iowa has administered nearly 145,000 coronavirus vaccine doses, and more than 12,600 have received both doses for full immunization.

Nebraska’s campaign to vaccinate people for the coronavirus is further along in some rural parts of the state. At least half a dozen health districts across the state have already started giving vaccines to seniors living outside long-term care facilities.

Officials in Lincoln and Omaha are still working to vaccinate health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities.

State health officials have said they expected the campaign to progress at different rates throughout parts of Nebraska. Overall, the state has administered 109,526 of the 192,078 doses of the vaccines it has received so far.

One member of Iowa’s congressional delegation didn't attend today’s inauguration.

A spokesperson says Randy Feenstra followed today’s events closely , but stayed in Iowa to attend his daughter's senior night basketball game. She plays for Dordt University in Sioux Center. Feenstra will return to Washington when the U.S. House reconvenes tomorrow.

Statement from Rep. Randy Feenstra:  

“Today’s peaceful transition of power is a hallmark of our Republic. While the outcome of the presidential election was not what thousands of Iowans had hoped for, it’s time to look ahead and work towards a brighter future for our children. That includes addressing our national debt crisis and working to deliver results for the people of Iowa." 

“I am hopeful that President Biden will seek common ground to move our country forward. For families and farmers who are struggling, I will work every day to deliver for you. 

“While I will be working in the 4th District today and joining my family for my daughter’s Senior Night game at Dordt University, I will be following the inauguration closely. I look forward to getting back to work in Washington tomorrow as we move forward and address the challenges facing our country.” 

Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst also attended. Grassley tweeted a photo.

Credit Twitter/Sen. Chuck Grassley
Credit Twitter/Sen. Chuck Grassley

The head of the Woodbury County Democratic Party Jeremy Dumkrieger says he expects President Joe Biden to hit the ground running when it comes to dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and economic fallout.

Dumkrieger also says he expects President Biden to try and unit the country.

Credit HoChunk, Inc.
ANNE MARIE BLEDSOW DOWNES

The Biden Administration has appointed a member of the Winnebago Tribe to Deputy Solicitor of Indian Affairs.

Anne Marie Bledsoe Downs is currently Ho-Chunk, Inc.’s Executive Vice President of Community Impact and Engagement. In her new role, Bledsoe Downs will be the Indian Affairs legal team lead at the Department of the Interior.

She previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development for Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Bledsoe Downes grew up in Winnebago, and graduated from Wayne State College. She later served as President of Little Priest Tribal College.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Capitol was mostly quiet as President Joe Biden was sworn into office, but there was more security than usual inside the building. Members of the Nebraska State Patrol stood watch inside the building’s public entrances, but business otherwise continued as usual. Outside, three protesters walked around the building’s perimeter waving a Trump 2020 campaign flag and a flag that said, “Biden is not the president.” Lawmakers spent their morning session introducing bills to be debated later this year.

Paul Erickson, a former conservative operative once romantically linked to Russian agent Maria Butina who was convicted in investment schemes, has been pardoned by President Donald Trump. A White House statement early Wednesday said that Erickson’s conviction “was based off the Russian collusion hoax,” even though Erickson was convicted in schemes that had nothing to do with Butina or Russia. Butina was deported in 2019 after serving time for failing to register as a foreign agent. Erickson, of Sioux Falls, was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2020 for defrauding investors in a proposal to develop land in the North Dakota Bakken oil field by persuading people to buy real estate and build single-family homes.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lottery players are getting another shot at the third-largest jackpot in U.S. history. The Mega Millions top prize has hit an estimated $865 million, making Tuesday night’s drawing the biggest in more than two years. The winning number’s in Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing are: 10-19-26-28-50 and a Mega Ball of 16. Powerball, the other lottery game offered in most of the U.S., isn’t far behind at $730 million for a drawing Wednesday night. It’s the first time both lottery jackpots have topped $700 million. No one has won the Mega Millions jackpot since Sept. 15. The last Powerball jackpot winner was a day later, on Sept. 16.

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