Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ Tuesday press conference on COVID-19. We plan on having live audio of the presser as well on KJAN which is set to begin at approximately 11:00 a.m.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is warning laid off workers that they will lose their unemployment benefits if they refuse to return when their employer calls them back to work. Gov. Kim Reynolds is moving to partially reopen 77 of the state’s 99 counties Friday, relaxing restrictions that were intended to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Restaurants, some bars, malls, fitness centers, and retail stores are expected to open their doors for the first time in weeks.

The reopening comes as Iowa experiences one of the nation’s fastest growth rates in coronavirus cases. Iowa Workforce Development is warning that failing to return to work out of fear of catching the virus will be considered a voluntary quit, which disqualifies workers from receiving unemployment benefits.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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EARLING, Iowa (KETV-TV) — Two men who were inside a gas station and auto repair shop in Shelby County when it was leveled by an explosion, Monday morning, are expected to recover from their injuries. Television station KETV in Omaha, Nebraska, reports that Dan Grote, co-owner of Earling Standard Shop, has already been released from the hospital, where he received stitches for cuts. Grote says his brother-in-law, Don Bruck, who was also in the shop when it exploded early Monday, is expected to be released soon from an Omaha hospital. Investigators say the explosion damaged nearby homes and blew debris up to six blocks away. The Iowa State fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the explosion.

The Creston Police Department reports four arrests. A man and a woman from Creston were arrested at around 2:30-this (Tuesday) morning, in the 100 block of N. Elm Street. 21-year old Brianna Lawson was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense. Lawson was being held on a $2,000 bond, in the Adams County Jail. 22-year old Brandon Tull was arrested for Violation of a Protection Order, and Possession of Burglary tools. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a Promise to Appear in court.

Monday afternoon, Creston Police served 25-year old Austin Jones, of Creston, with two Union County warrants for Violation of Probation. The warrants were served at the Union County Jail, where Jones was already being held.

And, 18-year old Elyice Bolin Stow, of Creston, was arrested Monday at the Creston Police Dept., on a Union County Warrant for Sexual Abuse 3rd.  Stow was being held in the Union COunty Jail without bond, until seen by the judge.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett says his company’s scaled-back annual meeting will feature an abbreviated question-and-answer session this weekend. Berkshire Hathaway is planning to hold a smaller, online annual meeting this Saturday without any shareholders present. All the other events surrounding the meeting, which normally attracts roughly 40,000 people, have been cancelled. Buffett said Monday that he and Berkshire Vice Chairman Greg Abel, who oversees Berkshire’s non-insurance businesses, will answer questions from a reporter at the meeting on Saturday afternoon.

Berkshire will also release its first-quarter earnings report Saturday. The online meeting will be broadcast by Yahoo Finance, so shareholders can watch.

A traffic stop today at around 4:40-a.m. in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of 40-year old David Daniel Wells, of Red Oak. Wells was arrested in the 2700 block of N. 8th Street, following an accident. He was charged with OWI/2nd offense, and Driving While Suspended. Red Oak Police were assisted at the scene by Red Oak Fire and Rescue, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Red Oak Police, Monday evening, arrested 28-year old Nathan Allen Aldrich, of Red Oak, on four misdemeanor charges. Aldrich was taken into custody a little after 6-p.m., for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense; Trespass; Harassment in the 2nd Degree, and Obstruction of Emergency Communication. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail, and held without bond.

(Radio Iowa) — Local public health officials say one-fifth of the state’s confirmed COVID-19 cases are in Black Hawk County and more than 90 percent of the county’s cases are connected to the Tyson pork processing plant in Waterloo. Dr. Mathew Sojka, the chief medical officer for Mercy One in Waterloo, says it’s a scary time.

“We don’t know if another surge is going to occur,” he says. “I’m very nervous about that with seeing the numbers in the community increase like they have over the last week.” Dr. Sharon Duclos is medical director at People’s Community Health Clinic in Waterllo. She says health care workers are going through an emotional roller coaster.

“It’s hard because you start to go through the grief of realizing, again, this is not a sprint, it’s a marathon,” she says. Dr. Duclos says her greatest fear is a member of her staff will contract the virus. Black Hawk County public health officials say one percent of the county’s population has tested positive for the coronavirus. Eleven resident of Black Hawk County have died of the virus.