(Radio Iowa) — A group of Black Lives Matter protesters met with Governor Kim Reynolds late this (Friday) morning to discuss their priority issue of the day. The group is pushing the governor to immediately issue an executive order that would automatically restore felon voting rights. A proposal still awaiting debate in the Iowa Senate seeks to eventually amend the state’s constitution, so felons may vote once they’ve completed their sentences.

A woman who gave her name as Jalesha was among the group who met with Reynolds and she spoke with reporters immediately afterwards. “All of these officials are telling us we need to go about change the right way. We need to be a part of the official process. We need to talk to our legislators — all of that political correct jazz and so that’s what we’ve been doing,” she said. “We’ve been showing up here every day, we’ve had our meeting with the governor and now we need her to do her part.”

The protesters are lobbying legislators today (Friday) and will meet again with the governor on Monday. “I am hesitantly encouraged,” she said. “I don’t necessarily believe in government officials, but I believe in all the folks who show up every day and I believe in the pressure that we can put on them.” Matthew Bruce is one of the leaders of the Des Moines Black Lives Matter group.

“We’re going to spend the rest of the day pretty much pressuring all the legislators of both parties to support Kim Reynolds and support the executive order,” he said. Amending Iowa’s constitution is a lengthy process and 2022 is the earliest Iowans could vote to automatically restore felon voting rights. Bruce says having the governor make that state policy today, through an executive order, would build momentum for passage of that constitutional amendment.

The Black Lives Matter protesters can easily move throughout the state capitol as they occasionally gather to chant or sing. “It sounds like joy,” Bruce says. “I can’t even explain that catharsis that’s kind of coming out right now.” It’s possible the 2020 Iowa Legislature will complete its work and adjourn for the year sometime this weekend. The House and Senate are back in session today and may meet Saturday as well. Lawmakers who are not seeking re-election in November have begun delivering farewell speeches.

(Radio Iowa) — False rumors about busloads of rioters allegedly targeting small cities have spread on social media recently, including in Iowa. Multiple media outlets have debunked the online misinformation. Despite the lack of evidence for the threats, the posts prompted some Iowa businesses to board up their windows. In Council Bluffs, the city closed three interstate exits and armed civilians patrolled the county courthouse, waiting for rioters who never materialized. Matt Hildreth tracks such rumors nationwide with his group Rural Organizing-dot-org.

“There’s three people that are falling for it the most: business owners, civil, patrol groups or the militias, and police departments,” Hildreth says. “And that scares me. I don’t know how those groups are being so easily manipulated.” Burlington was also plagued with unfounded rumors of busloads of rioters heading to the city to wreak havoc. Mayor Jon Billups was skeptical of the claims, but he and some others drove around, just to check. The buses were not real, but he says for some, the fear was.

“If people had bad intentions for Burlington, they were able to achieve their goal by establishing chaos and some anarchy and some unrest, just by throwing rumors around,” Mayor Billups says. “If that’s the goal, they were able to achieve that by not coming here.” Facebook has taken down some accounts responsible for the claims, but the false rumors continue to circulate.

(By Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

Atlantic Community School District Superintendent Steve Barber, Friday (Today), issued a statement sent to parents/guardians of students in the District, with regard to the upcoming school year and activities.

Barber says: “I think it is safe to say that we could not have predicted what has occurred over the past three months and the changes that were required due to the COVID-19 crisis.  Since the conclusion of this school year, we have worked with teams to help plan for the upcoming school year by creating alternative plans to meet the guidelines set out by the Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa Department of Education.  These plans consist of a Continuous Learning plan (100% required online), a hybrid where students learn part of the time on-site while the other time they are online, and an on-site plan that would look similar to a normal opening with health and safety protocols.

“As public health learns more about the virus these guidelines continue to change, so what they look like on August 1st could be completely different then they do today.  Given this fact, it is impossible to answer everyone’s questions of what the start of the Atlantic CSD 2020-21 school year will look like.”

According to Mr. Barber, “Now that some school activities, under strict guidelines, have opened I am optimistic that these experiences will provide a lot of information over the next month and a half.  Two weeks ago our baseball and softball teams began practices.  I am very proud of all the people who have made this experience safe for coaches and players as these two weeks have been very positive.  On Monday these two teams begin playing games and we add another component to this activity, the fans.  Hopefully, not only will our two teams perform well, but we have a positive experience related to COVID-19.”

He said also, “Another group of activities, if guidance remains the same, can open on July 1.  These activities will have strict guidelines, but we will have a number of activities that will be taking place in our facilities.  Once again if these aspects of reopening are positive it will be helpful in determining the best plan for education and ensuring the safety of all our stakeholders.

“On Monday,” Barber says the District will be send out a short survey to parents/guardians to help with school planning.  “The feedback from parents now,” he says, “and in the future, will be beneficial as we develop our plans that provide the best learning environment given the parameters in which we must operate.  Please take a few minutes to complete the survey.  We are committed to doing what is best for our children and families!”

JEFFERSON, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Transportation has temporarily closed two maintenance garages after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus after having contact with two dozen colleagues. Spokeswoman Andrea Henry says the garages in Jefferson and Boone were closed Wednesday after all 24 employees who work at them were ordered to self-isolate for 14 days.

Crews in both garages were working together on projects and had exposure to an infected employee. Their work will be picked up by other crews in the area during the closures.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has purchased 1 million face masks through a Republican campaign vendor that will be used by some health care workers despite labels that warn they aren’t intended for medical purposes or hospitals. Iowa’s executive branch last month agreed to buy the reusable cotton masks from Competitive Edge, Inc. for $1.07 apiece. The $1.32 million contract was awarded to bolster the state’s personal protective equipment supplies to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

It was Iowa’s fourth emergency purchase order with the Des Moines company owned by David Greenspon, a GOP donor whose firm has long sold promotional items to Republican campaigns.

Connections Area Agency on Aging C.E.O. Kelly Butts-Elston said today (Friday), that “While Governor Reynolds has given consent for Adult Day Services and Senior Centers to re-open amid the current COVID-19 pandemic, Connections Area Agency on Aging will not be resuming our congregate meal service in our 34 communities at this time. Her proclamation allows for privately owned and independent Senior Centers to resume business, but there are no congregate meal sites managed by Iowa’s six Area Agencies on Aging that will re-open at this time.”

The coronavirus remains in all corners of our service area, and there is so much unknown about this volatile, unpredictable and highly contagious pandemic. Butts-Elston says “The things that we do know are that the virus can produce particularly harsh outcomes for individuals over age 65, and this demographic comprises the vast majority of our congregate meal participants.” Connections officials are working with state and national leaders (from public health to the business sector) to implement safety protocols and processes in anticipation for the time when the Agency thinks it can resume the hot home-delivered and subsequent congregate meal program. UNTIL THEN, THE SAFETY OF [OUR] PARTICIPANTS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS REMAINS [THE] KEY FOCUS.

Butts-Elston says “We know that many aging Iowans miss attending their local congregate meal program and are eager to “get out” and see friends. I want you to know that we miss having you there. We look forward to your return but only when we can be assured that our program is not putting older Iowans at risk. Until then, please do not hesitate to phone us if you have any questions, concerns or items of need. There are many ways that we’ve been able to assist aging Iowans and their caregivers during these trying times. Please phone us toll free:  800-432-9209.”

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police have identified a man killed in a central Omaha shooting as a western Iowa resident. Omaha police say 41-year-old John Miles, of Council Bluffs, was found dead Thursday in an apartment complex by officers who were called there just after noon to investigate a report of a shooting.

Police say they are searching for a 31-year-old man suspected of carrying out the shooting, but no arrests had been reported by late this (Friday) morning.

(Radio Iowa) — The president of the Casey’s convenience store chain based in Ankeny says they learned during restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 that customers like to help themselves. Casey’s president, Darren Rebelez, says people like pick out their own slice of pizza or other food items. “When we made the shift to full service — our guests did not like that,” Rebelez says. “Although we had people with masks and gloves on handing them their food — they didn’t like having to wait — they were accustomed to doing it themselves.”

During a conference call to report quarterly earnings, Rebelez says he visited several stores, but didn’t take a poll. “I don’t have any empirical data to share with you in terms of a percentage of like it, or don’t like. All I can tell you is — people were complaining when we made the change. People were happy when we changed it back,” according to Rebelez. Chief financial officer Bill Walljasper says they did see the impact in food sales. “As we moved from a full service to a self-service model –depending on the category that’s a self-service — we see an uptick from ten to 15 percent on a category,” Walljasper says. “So, definitely that seems to be an overwhelming desire to have that self-service. At least in our market area.”

Caseys has 21-hundred and 54 stores in Iowa and seven other states.

Shelby County Treasurer Carolyn Blum reports “The Shelby County Courthouse is tentatively scheduled to begin implementing Phase 2 of the Courthouse Reopening Plan on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. The courthouse will be returning to a “new normal” with semi-regular operations.” Blum says as a reminder, “The Governor’s current proclamation has extended all motor vehicle, driver’s license and property tax deadlines to June 25, 2020.”

She added that, “Throughout this difficult time, we have found that scheduling appointments with our customers has been welcomed and appreciated. Therefore, transactions that require in-person visits, will continue to be processed by appointment only for the Shelby County Treasurer’s Office. This will allow staff to designate a time period for: 1) higher risk individuals to receive courthouse access appointments; 2) prioritize those who have expired transactions; 3) continue increased department cleaning of frequently touched surfaces to prevent and reduce transmission of the virus.”