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Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., March 24, 2020

News

March 24th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says more aggressive orders to halt the movement of Iowans are not needed although the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise. Reynolds says the state now has 105 positive cases across 26 counties. She confirmed for the first time Monday that seven Iowans are hospitalized with the viral illness. Reynolds says positive cases are increasing in large part due to expanding testing ability and the number is likely to continue to grow. She says it’s not yet time to order Iowans to stay home but data is evaluated daily as such decisions are considered.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Broadcast journalist Dean Borg, who kept Iowans informed for decades as the host of the public affairs program “Iowa Press,” has died at age 81. Iowa PBS announced Monday that Borg died due to complications caused by pancreatic cancer. Borg appeared on “Iowa Press,” every Friday evening, from its debut in 1971 until his retirement in January 2017. He kept working as a correspondent for Iowa Public Radio until his death. On “Iowa Press,” Borg was known for questioning state politicians, presidential candidates and other newsmakers. He interviewed every president from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa-based recreational vehicle and boat manufacturer Winnebago Industries says it is ceasing production to protect workers from coronavirus exposure and adjust production as demand for the company’s products is rapidly changing. The company, which employees about 5,000 people, makes motor homes, travel trailers and boats under the Winnebago, Grand Design, Newmar and Chris-Craft brands. The Forest City, Iowa-based company has production facilities in Iowa, Indiana, Oregon, Minnesota and Florida. The company says remote retail support for dealers, along with technical care, warranty administration and parts fulfillment activities, will continue. Production will stop this week and remain idle through April 12, The company will provide base pay and benefits for two weeks.

CHICAGO (AP) — Across the country, anxious Americans are finding an audience for their questions about the new coronavirus in telephone town halls with their senators and representatives. These are the socially distanced versions of the constituent meetings that have long been held in community centers, libraries and city halls. But these are not the town halls of the past. There’s little ideological warfare or finger-pointing. Instead, the calls can feel like listening in on painful family conversation. The questions are far more personal than political.