Mary Hartnett

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An Iowa judge has temporarily blocked the enforcement of a new abortion law.  The law requires women to wait 24 hours before having an abortion while a legal challenge is argued in the courts.

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the law yesterday. The law was set to take effect tomorrow, but Judge Mitchell Turner issued a temporary injunction preventing it from taking effect until a lawsuit is resolved.

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Governor Kim Reynolds says Iowa school officials who mandate that everyone in a school building must wear face masks need to now seriously consider how to implement that policy.

State guidelines released last week for reopening Iowa’s K-through-12 schools said face coverings could be allowed, but it will not be a statewide mandate. 

Newly posted guidelines from the Iowa Department of Education have a list of considerations about face masks. During a news conference this morning, the governor said schools must define appropriate use.

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New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have added Iowa to a list of states covered by an advisory that requires travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his counter parts New Jersey and Connecticut, announced a travel advisory last week that requires individuals from states with “increased prevalence of COVID-19” to quarantine.

The advisory applies to states with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents, or a test positivity rate higher than 10%.

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Gov. Kim Reynolds says today Iowa is changing the way it counts who has recovered from COVID-19.  The state now shows more people recovering from the virus.  

Starting today, the state began considering Iowans to have recovered from COVID-19 28 days after a positive test, or two incubation periods of the coronavirus, unless the state receives information that the person is still hospitalized or has not recovered.

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Another five people with COVID-19 have died in Iowa, and there have been an additional 213 confirmed cases, the state reported today. 

The state was reporting 712 COVID-19-related deaths, an increase of five since the state's tally yesterday, according its  Coronavirus.Iowa.gov website.  

Today there are 28,941 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 213 since yesterday. 

COVID-19 cases are on the rise in at least a half dozen counties in Iowa, and one of them is Woodbury County.

As of today, another three people with COVID-19 have died in Iowa, and there have been an additional 298 confirmed cases, the state reported.  Iowa has reported 28,735 cases. 

Woodbury County has 14 new cases of COVID- 19 today, for a total 3,147 cases, and 43 deaths.

Nebraska has seen an increase of 375 new COVID-19 cases since Friday night.  Health officials say the number of reported coronavirus cases in the state is approaching 19,000.

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After trending downward since early May, COVID-19 cases have leveled off in the past two weeks. And at least a half dozen counties are seeing case numbers rise

Another three people with COVID-19 have died in Iowa since yesterday, and there have been an additional 298 confirmed cases.  According to the state's coronavirus website, Iowa has reported 28,735 cases. 

Woodbury County has 14 new cases of Covid-19 today, for a total 3,147, and 43 deaths. Dickinson County had two more cases for a total 238 cases and two new deaths.

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Another three people with COVID-19 have died in Iowa, and there have been an additional 298 confirmed cases, the state reported today.  According to the state's coronavirus website, Iowa has reported 28,735 cases of the novel coronavirus. 

COVID-19 cases across Iowa had been trending downward since early May. But they have leveled off in the past two weeks with at least a half dozen counties seeing an uptick in cases.

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Iowa and Woodbury County saw some fairly large upticks in COVID-19 cases today.  Woodbury County has 17 new COVID-19 cases, with a total of 3,112 and 43 deaths.  Iowa has nearly 500 new cases and 701 deaths.  

At a news conference his afternoon, Kevin Greime director Siouxland District Health, said he was disappointed with those numbers, and the reluctance of some people to wear face masks.

  Woodbury County today has 17 new COVID-19 cases, with a total of  3,112 and 43 deaths.  Iowa has nearly 500 new cases and 701 deaths.  

Iowa has surpassed 700 COVID-19 deaths as another seven deaths were reported by the state on Friday. 

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Iowa Senate Democrats called today for Republican Governor Kim Reynolds to quickly sign an executive order allowing felons to vote once they have completed their sentences.  Reynolds has made a constitutional amendment restoring felon voter rights a top priority for two years. But, Senate Republicans have rejected her proposals. Against a backdrop of protests over racial injustice following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Reynolds this month promised to sign an executive order.  Iowa is the only state that disenfranchises all felons. 

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The Sioux City Public Museum, the Sioux City Art Center, and the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center have all announced plans today to reopen to the public on July 7. 

All of the facilities had been closed since March due to COVID-19 concerns.

Each will have new hand sanitizing stations and will require social distancing. Facility personnel will be required to wear face masks. Visitors are also encouraged to wear masks.

This fall, Sioux City public school students could be attending class in-person, use a hybrid model or learn online.  That was the decision made at the meeting of the Sioux City Community School Board Monday.  The board approved a “Return to Learn” plan for this fall.  Concerns about the spread of COVID-19 closed schools in mid-March, and they never reopened. The spread of the coronavirus would determine the level of in-person schooling.  Board president Jeremy Saint said the vote for a “skeleton” plan means more work needs to be done. 

On The Exchange this week we talk with Sioux City Communty Schools Superindent Paul Gausman about the district's "Return to Learn" plan approved by the school board this week.  It calls for in-person, virtual and hybrid learning plans, depending on the status and spread of COVID-19.  

The coronavirus is surging in one of the most popular summer vacation spots in Iowa.  In Dickinson County cases have increased exponentially since Memorial Day.  We talk with 21 year old who says she caught the virus while staying with her parents at Lake Okoboji.  

This fall, Sioux City public school students could be attending class in-person, use a hybrid model or learn online.  That was the decision made at the meeting of the Sioux City Community School Board last night.  After a lengthy presentation, the board approved a “Return to Learn” plan for this fall.  Concerns about the spread of COVID-19 closed schools in mid-March and they never reopened. 

The spread of the coronavirus would determine the level of in-person schooling.  

Board president Jeremy Saint said the vote for a “skeleton” plan means more work needs to be done. 

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The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the Trump administration may not immediately go ahead with plans to end a program protecting young immigrants known as Dreamers from deportation.  There are about 700 hundred-thousand DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals residents in the United States. 

Coming up on the exchange, we have a wrap up of the 2020 legislative session with Republican Siouxland State Senator Jim Carlin and Siouxland Democratic State Represenative Chris Hall. Carlin and other Republicans voted for a budget that is basically status quo in the age of COVID 19.

However, Chris Hall says republicans basically handed over decisions about the 8 billion dollar state budget to the governor and her staff.  

This week on The Exchange, we talk with essayist and activist J. Chester Johnson about his new book Damaged Heritage: The Elaine Race Massacre and a Story of Reconciliation.  Johnson's beloved grandfather took part in the massacre where hundreds of African American share croppers where killed.  His grandfather was also a member of the Klu Klux Klan. 

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Three Woodbury County J ail inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus over the weekend, according to the Sioux City Journal. 

The three inmates were asymptomatic and had been around other inmates prior to being tested. The three are now in isolation. The remaining 144 inmates have been tested, and Sheriff Dave Drew said he expected to begin receiving results yet today.

With the daily totals of new cases in Woodbury County slowing recently, Drew said he had hoped the jail might avoid the coronavirus pandemic.

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New Coronavirus cases continue to show up in Iowa and Woodbury County. Iowa today has 307 new cases, and 21, 918 statewide and reported six new deaths for a total of 607.  Woodbury County has added 17 cases of COVID-19, for a total 2, 931 and 37 deaths, but no new deaths today. 

South Dakota reported three new deaths from COVID-19 today, and 52 new cases, according to the Department of Health. The state has had 68 deaths from COVID-19 and 5,523 cases of the virus, 

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The Coronovirus may be slowing down in some parts of Iowa, but new cases continue to show up in Siouxland. 

As of this morning Iowa has 307 new coronavirus cases, and 21, 918 statewide.  The state had six new deaths for a total of 607.  Woodbury County has added 17 cases of COVID-19, for a total 2, 931 and 37 deaths, but no new deaths today. 

South Dakota reported three new deaths from COVID-19 today, along with 52 new cases, according to the Department of Health.

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Another Woodbury County resident has died from the coronavirus.  According to Siouxland District Health, the man was 61 – 80 years old.  The death raised Woodbury County's total to 38.  As of this morning there were 17 new confirmed cases to COVID-19 in the county, with a total of 2, 931. 

Iowa was reporting another four COVID-19 deaths since the state's tally yesterday, bringing the Iowa's statewide total to 606. There are 21,919 confirmed cases of COVID-19, in Iowa.  That is an increase of 330 since yesterday. 

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Siouxland District Health Department announced today one additional death due to novel coronavirus.

The death of the man, age 61 - 80, raised Woodbury County's total to 38.

There have been 17 new confirmed cases to COVID-19 in the county. 

Iowa was reporting another four COVID-19 deaths since the state's tally yesterday, bringing the Iowa's statewide total to 606. 

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There has been  one additional death due to novel coronavirus in Woodbury County. 

Siouxland District Health Department says today the death of the man, age 61 - 80, raised Woodbury County's total to 38.  There have been 17 new confirmed cases to COVID-19 in the county. 

This week on The Exchange we recap the June 2nd primary election.  The big takeaway is veteran 4th district congressman Steve King was defeated by State Senator Randy Feenstra of Hull.  Feenstra raised three times the amount of money King did and ws the only primary candidate to run television ads in Sioux City.  

Polls remain open tonight until 9 for primary election underway in Iowa.

Republican voters in the 4th Congressional District will decide if they will pick incumbent Steve King to be the candidate to face Democrat J.D. Scholten in the fall.  Democrats will choose a challenger to take on Senator Joni Ernst.

There have been three nights of violence in Des Moines over the police murder of George Floyd of Minneapolis  At a news conference this afternoon, Gov. Reynolds also supported the decision to set a curfew of 9:00 p.m. for Polk County tonight said she wanted to work with advocates for social justice to prevent more tragic deaths.  

Reynolds today said she was working with the NAACP to change the criminal justice system to reduce racism and violence to African Americans. 

Betty Andrews is president of Iowa-Nebraska Branch of the NAACP.

There have been three nights of violence in Des Moines over the police murder of George Floyd of Minneapolis.  Today, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds today said she was working with the NAACP to change the criminal justice system to reduce racism and violence to African Americans.  At a news conference this afternoon, Gov. Reynolds said she wanted to work with advocates for social justice to prevent more tragic deaths.  Betty Andrews is president of Iowa-Nebraska Branch of the NAACP. 

Protests against the death of a Minneapolis man in the hands of police on Monday continue across the country.  Police officials say they were told about the protest this morning.  In this video captured by Siouxland Scanner and posted on FB, about fifty protestors marched carrying signs saying “I can’t Breathe” in honor of George Floyd, and chanting the same phrase.  

The marchers made their way to the police station and continued to ask for justice.  The policeman who was holding Floyd down by kneeling on his neck has been arrested on third degree murder charges.