State Senator Jackie Smith (D)

This week on The Exchange, we remember a Woodbury County teacher who died from COVID-19. Cherie Dandurand taught at Woodbury Central Schools. She was the first teacher in northwest Iowa to die from the coronavirus.

Coming up on The Exchange . . .

We hear the latest on COVID-19 in Siouxland, including concerns over the spread of the coronavirus at meatpacking plants.  Tyson Fresh Foods and Seaboard Triumph plants have both had hundreds of workers test positive for COVID-19.  

Sioux City State Senator Jackie Smith asks for an independent task force to oversee testing and mitigation efforts at Tyson foods in Dakota City.

Latinx rights leader Joe Enriguez Henry is calling for a meat boycott in May to encourage Tyson and other meatpackers to do more to protect workers.

A candlelight vigil took place Wednesday night for nurses at MercyOne who are in the middle of a contract dispute with the hospital.  

Supporters fill the parking lot of the Sugar Shack Bakery located near MercyOne Hospital.

There’s a bit of dancing.

And, speeches by local politicians, including State Senator Jackie Smith.

“This is Sioux City, we have your backs.”

Here’s City Council Member Rhonda Capron.

“If you treat your employees right they going to bring it back to you and treat you right and that’s how it works.”

Jackie Smith is for abortions for woman. She wants women to be more than just a vessel for the fetus. Also Jackie Smith is concerned for women's health care and the cost difference in rural and urban locations.

Carter Smith was very eager to see a clean needle exchange program become law. Carter wants to help unfortunate drug abusers by giving them clean needles. This will help prevent the spread of HIV and other diseases.

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Promo. Coming up this week on The Exchange,

The Catholic Diocese of Sioux City releases a list of priests who were credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. However, some victims of abuse by Catholic priests say it may be too little, too late.

Also, as we celebrate Mardi Gras, a look at the 300-year history of New Orleans. 

That and more coming up on The Exchange, Wednesday at noon and Friday at 9:00 at SPM>