Siouxland Public Media News

Air service from Sioux City to Denver will take flight again starting in October.

During a news conference Tuesday afternoon Mayor Bob Scott announced the addition of United Express flights operated by Skywest Airlines.  The first flight from the Sioux Gateway Airport is scheduled to take off on October 14th.  The daily flight will be onboard 50-passenger CRJ200 jet aircraft.

From Denver, United Airlines provides 460 daily flights to more than 170 destinations.

The last time Sioux City had a direct flight to Denver was in 2015 when Frontier exited the market.

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After a large increase in complaints on and around the Fourth of July, the Sioux City Council today discussed a new ban on fireworks, but took no action. Fireworks complaints increased 80 percent for the month of June compared to a year ago.

Currently, fireworks may only be legally discharged within city limits between the hours of 1 and 11 p.m. on July 3 and 4, on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.  But residents say they have heard fireworks going off in their neighborhoods before and after the Independence Day holiday.

A line of thunderstorms Monday morning sent high winds, along with some rain and hail, over eastern Nebraska and into Iowa, knocking down tree limbs and causing power outages.

High winds did blow down a few light poles on the campus of Western Iowa Tech Community College.

An open letter today to Iowans from Governor Kim Reynolds says “now isn’t the time to let our guard down”.

She released a video statement this afternoon, reflecting on the five months since the first positive cases of COVID-19 cases in Iowa.

"COVID-19 has tested each of us, and it will continue to. But we can’t let it deter or divide us.

When emotions are high and opinions are strong, it’s important to take a step back and realize that we’re all working toward the same goal. 

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds provided a few more details on Thursday about requirements for school districts for in-person learning this fall.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is requiring schools to hold at least half of their core lessons in person.

Reynolds held a news conference this morning in Des Moines where she was joined by a superintendent of a small district in southeast Iowa. 

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed an executive order this morning restoring voting rights to felons.

“This is a cause so many Iowans worked on for years.  It boils down to our fundamental right for redemption and second changes.”

Iowa was the only state banning felons from voting, unless they appealed directly to the governor.

The order applies to people who have completed their sentence, including probation and parole.

This week on The Exchange, we talk with Republican Senator Joni Ernst and her opponent Theresa  Greenflield.  Both candidates have been raising record levels of campaign funds, and recent polls show Ernst and Greenfield in a very tight race.

Also on the program,  the Sioux City Council this week approved the purchase of body cameras after years of debate.  Supporters say the re-evalution of police tactics and equipment after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May was a motivating factor in their decision..

And, we talk with an author about why community 

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says if schools ignore her order to provide at least 50 percent in-person learning, they’ll have to make up the time at the end of the year.

“Schools that choose not to return to school for at least 50 percent in person instruction are not defying me. They are defying the law.”

A law passed late in the legislative session states that schools cannot primarily use virtual learning unless the governor allows it by proclamation.

Health officials have reported nine new positive cases of COVID-19 in Woodbury County.

The Siouxland District Health Department said Tuesday the new cases were reported out of 73 new tests. No deaths were reported, a day after two deaths increased the county's death toll to 50.

Iowa Department of Public Health data showed that as of this morning, Woodbury County has had 3,653 total cases of COVID-19. 

The Dakota County Health Department reported three new cases today, increasing the county's total number of cases to 1,878.

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Today the Sioux City Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution awarding a purchase order of more than $260,000 dollars for 120 body worn camera units, and all necessary equipment to operate and maintain the system.

Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller said the body cameras will be operational by the end of the year.  

The number of deaths in Woodbury County due to complications of COVID-19 has now reached 50, according to Siouxland District Health.  The health department reported the two who died were a middle-aged woman between the ages of 41 and 60 and an older man between 61 and 80-years old.

However, the state coronavirus website showed another death for a total of 51 in Woodbury County.

There have been a dozen deaths in Buena Vista County, eight in Plymouth, four in Dickinson and 2 in Sioux and one in O’Brien, Emmet, Clay, Cherokee and Pocahontas. 

Just a day after officials launched an effort to increase enforcement of distancing orders in bars and restaurants, a state agency reported there had been 705 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus. 

As of this morning, another 11 people had died of the virus in Iowa.

Governor Kim Reynolds announced yesterday that a $1,000 fine would be imposed on bars that fail to enforce social distancing requirements when more than ten are gathered. 

The coronavirus continues to spread in Iowa. Another 11 people with COVID-19 have died, and there have been nearly an additional 705 confirmed cases, the state reported Friday, according to the state's Coronavirus.Iowa.gov website. There have been 865 deaths because of the coronavirus in Iowa. Polk and Woodbury Counties continue to have the highest number of cases of the virus. 

Woodbury County has tallied 3612 cases and 47 deaths, and no new deaths or cases yet today.

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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds released guidance this morning saying that Iowa schools would have to see a coronavirus positivity rate of at least 15% in the county where they are located before they could request to transition a school building or district to fully online learning.

The guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa Department of Education includes four levels of community transmission of COVID-19 within a school, requiring escalating response measures as the of transmission increases.

This week on The Exchange, as students, teachers and parents prepare to go back to school after nearly six months interruption becuase of the Coronavirus, we talk with Sioux City Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Paul Gausman. Gausman talks about how the schools will stay safe, and part of that strategy is requiring face masks for everyone. He also discusses contingency plans if the virus does ramp up in Woodbury County.  Some students will learn virtually from home.

Iowa has added 247 new cases of the coronavirus since yesterday,  reported 43,144 cases of the novel coronavirus, and 839 deaths. In Northwest Iowa, Woodbury County has tallied 3,576 cases and 47 deaths.

The Sioux City Community Schools will be back in session on August 25th.  Teachers, parents and students have been wondering about facemask requirements as the coronavirus continues to spread.  Superintendent Dr. Paul Gausman says today masks will be required most of the time, with a few exceptions.

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Iowa has added 247 new cases of the coronavirus since yesterday,  reported 43,144 cases of the novel coronavirus, and 839 deaths. In Northwest Iowa, Woodbury County has tallied 3,576 cases and 47 deaths.

Nebraska had 258 new cases since yesterday and a total of 25,157 cases, and 321 deaths.

South Dakota has 48 new coronavirus cases today with a total of 8,492 cases and 123 deaths. 

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Iowa has added 247 new cases of the coronavirus since yesterday,  reported 43,144 cases of the novel coronavirus, and 839 deaths. In Northwest Iowa, Woodbury County has tallied 3,576 cases and 47 deaths.

Nebraska had 258 new cases since yesterday, and a total of 25,157 cases, and 321 deaths.

South Dakota has 48 new coronavirus cases today with a total of 8,492 cases and 123 deaths. 

A recent investigation by NPR found doctors and other health care providers still prescribe highly addictive pain medication at rates widely considered unsafe.

Government studies and medical research shows even though the U.S. makes up 5% of the world’s population, but consume 80% of the world’s prescription opioids.

The CDC says in 2018, more than 1 in 5 Americans had an opioid prescription filled and roughly 40 Americans died each day from an opioid overdose.

In Iowa, health care providers wrote nearly 50 opioid prescriptions for every 100 people.

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Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is once again being asked to issue a face mask mandate. A coalition of health groups led by the Iowa Medical Society have sent the governor a letter, urging her to issue a statewide face mask mandate.  

Fifteen groups representing 12,000 health care providers signed onto the letter. The groups say widespread use of face coverings will slow the spread of the virus and save lives. 

Governor Reynolds has encouraged Iowans to “mask up,” but has resisted a statewide mandate.

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A coalition of health groups including the Iowa Medical Society have sent Governor Kim Reynolds a letter, asking her to issue a statewide face mask mandate.  

Fifteen groups, representing 12,000 health care providers signed onto the letter.  They say widespread use of face coverings will slow the spread of the virus and save lives. Governor Reynolds has encouraged Iowans to “mask up,” but has resisted a statewide mandate.

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A coalition of health groups led by the Iowa Medical Society have sent Governor Kim Reynolds a letter, urging her to issue a statewide face mask mandate.  

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The House and Senate are working to find a compromise coronavirus relief bill now that the senate has unveiled its 1 trillion dollar package. The House passed a 3 trillion dollar bill in May.

Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley says the Senate proposal would about double the support to agriculture from the previous package. And the new measure accounts for losses from the processing bottleneck when slaughterhouses closed due to worker infections. Some farmers had expenses related to euthanizing and disposing of animals.

In an effort to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus,  Sioux City Transit passengers will be required to wear protective masks or face coverings on buses, beginning Wednesday and continuing until further notice.

Also by Wednesday, Sioux City officials have decided to require masks or face coverings while in city buildings. 

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Woodbury County today has 15 new cases of COVID-19.  The Siouxland District Health Department says the additional cases are from 179 tests reported yesterday.

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), as of this morning,  there are a total of 3,561 positive cases of COVID-19 in the county. SDH says there are no new virus-related deaths, meaning the death toll stands  at 47.

Iowa public health officials say the state has 421 new cases of the Coronavirus since yesterday. The state has a total of 42, 357 cases and 829 deaths. 

A heat wave is impacting Siouxland.  A heat advisory will continue through tomorrow night for a large portion of the region, including sections of northwest Iowa and southeast South Dakota and Dixon and Dakota counties in northeast Nebraska.  The heat index will reach into the triple digits.

The National Weather Service says drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioning if possible, keep out of the sun and take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. 

A heat wave is impacting Siouxland.  A heat advisory kicked off at noon and runs through tomorrow night for a large part of the region, including northwest Iowa and southeast South Dakota and Dixon and Dakota counties in northeast Nebraska.  The heat index will reach into the triple digits.

The National Weather Service says drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioning if possible, stay out of the sun and take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. 

State agricultural experts say dry conditions are impacting crops in western Iowa. 

Jeremy Taylor is once again running for a seat on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors. That seat is currently held by Marty Pottebaum, a Democrat from Sioux City running for re-election.

Taylor resigned his seat in January over a dispute about the location of his legal residence. 

One of the first coronavirus outbreaks at an Iowa meatpacking plant was more severe than previously known. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says today that twice as many workers were becoming infected.