(Radio Iowa) — The U-S Senate is preparing to vote on a three-phase plan to address the problems created by the coronavirus pandemic. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says one of the items being discussed is a plan by the U-S Treasury to send a one-thousand dollar direct payment to everyone. “We are looking at that in phase three, so that will be direct support to Americans,” Ernst says.

Ernst in her weekly conference call with reporters was asked if she supports the plan. “There will be a number of discussions surrounding that, “Ernst says. “What we do know is we need to find the most effective and efficient way to deliver immediate relief to our families in Iowa. And it is something I will consider. I can’t say whether I will support that right now — but it is something for our discussion in phase three.”

Ernst says they are also considering help for non-profit groups. “There are a number of those groups that do have mortgages, they do have leases that need to be covered. So, what I would recommend to all of our great Iowa folks who want to continue with their charitable giving — is to go ahead and give to those organizations — as they would with any type of gathering or fundraiser.”

The airline industry has been hard hit as well with the cancellation of flights. “Travel is very important, we do use the airline industry as a way to maintain a mobile society. So, we will look at that and have some pretty heavy discussions with the airline industry and where we go with their particular asks,” Ernst says. “But in my mind, it always needs to be our American workers, our families, those small businesses that are very important to Iowa, they need to come first.”

Senator Ernst says the U-S economy has taken a big hit — but she says the silver lining in the whole thing is the economy was doing very well before the virus struck. She says that gives hope that things can turn back around. “This is a pandemic. This is going to be a very tough time. And I hope that we are all wrong and that we bounce right back and this virus goes away,” according to Ernst. “But, what we can do is do the best we can to stop the spread. And if we can stop the spread we can do the best that we can get our economy right back on track.”

The recovery plans being discussed could spend as much as one TRILLION dollars.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Employees at Iowa’s public universities may get an additional 80 hours of paid sick leave under an emergency measure to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Board of Regents President Mike Richards used his new emergency powers to authorize the universities and special schools to provide the extra leave.

He also waived limits on employees’ ability to use accrued sick leave to care for family members and to provide child care for their dependents. In addition, he relaxed limits on an employee’s ability to donate or receive vacation time to be used as sick leave.

Police in Glenwood report three arrests took place Sunday. 36-year old Joshua Martens, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. He pled guilty to the offense and was released.

37-year old Jared Newman, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Disorderly Conduct. He was sentenced to serve time, with a release date of April 14th.

And, 20-year old Brodie Crockett, of Malvern, was arrested Sunday, for OWI/1st offense. He posted the required $1,000 bond, and was released.

Red Oak – Businesses and organizations are urged to donate personal protective equipment, or PPE, by contacting your local public health agency and the county emergency management agency. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is encouraging Iowa businesses and organizations to donate extra personal protective equipment to assist health care providers, healthcare facilities and first responders who are actively responding to COVID-19.

Ken Sharp, division director of Acute Disease Prevention, Emergency Response and Environmental Health “This is an unprecedented public health disaster and stocks of personal protective equipment for health care providers and first responders are being used rapidly. Any organizations that have extra PPE supplies that aren’t immediately needed should consider donating them to help those on the front lines of this disease.”

Any type of health care PPE will be welcomed, especially rubber gloves, gowns, eye protection and masks. Montgomery County Public Health and Montgomery County Emergency Management officials are working to address needs locally and beyond.

Brian Hamman, Montgomery County Emergency Management Director, says “This is a worldwide pandemic, any and all donated supplies are extremely welcomed and will be distributed to our local health care facilities and local first responders to continue to respond to the active COVID-19 threat.”

To donate PPE, please contact Montgomery County Public Health or Montgomery County Emergency Management.

Beginning Thursday, March 19, the Cass County Health System (CCHS) in Atlantic, will be implementing additional screening measures to protect the health of all patients and staff. All patients, visitors and vendors must enter through either the Main Entrance or the Emergency Department Entrance. Patients will be met by staff who will take their temperature (forehead) and ask a few questions about their recent travel and health.

Patients who are determined to be at increased risk for COVID-19 will be asked to wear a mask and directed to Suite C, which will be utilized only for COVID-19 patients. OB and other providers normally located in Suite C have been relocated to other suites.

Also beginning Thursday, March 19, Atlantic Medical Center hours will be 7 am – 7 pm Monday through Friday. The clinic will be open Saturday mornings for acute illnesses only (no wellness appointments) from 8 am – noon. Weekend care for patients needing to be screened for COVID-19 will be available from 10 am – 6 pm Saturdays and Sundays.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Food banks and pantries across the U.S. are scrambling to meet an expected surge in demand as the coronavirus causes many people to at least temporarily lose their jobs. This is happening even as older volunteers have been told to stay home. Also, calls for social distancing are complicating efforts to package and distribute food.

Pantries are shifting from letting people select items to giving them a sack filled with food to limit interaction and lessen the chance of passing along the virus. Officials say it makes them less efficient, but they don’t have better options.

(Update 11:43-a.m.) Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports three male students from the Clarinda Academy absconded from campus late this morning. A search was underway. Each of the students are about five-feet nine- to five-feet 11-inches tall. One of the teens is white. He was wearing blue jeans and white & black jacket. The others are African American males. One was wearing camouflage clothing, the other white pants with a white hoodie.

Two students who absconded from the Clarinda Academy Monday evening, meanwhile, are still at large. Chief Brothers said Tuesday, authorities believe both teens are now out of the area. Two vehicles were stolen from Clarinda overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning: A Chevrolet S10 pickup and a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Officials think the students took the vehicles.

The matter remains under investigation. Law enforcement in Iowa and surrounding states have been alerted to the missing students & the stolen vehicles. The Clarinda Academy has had a number of incidents where students escaped, or “Absconded” from the center for at-risk youth the first three months of this year. On Jan. 20th, two white 16-year old males escaped but were caught after the stolen vehicle they were in crashed, during a high-speed chase. Four male students also absconded from the facility on Feb. 24th. They were apprehended the same day.

The Covid-19 spread has prompted changes in the way some area first responders and law enforcement personnel will answer calls for service, in the interest of safety for first responders, law enforcement, and the public. Officials with Walnut Fire and Rescue, for instance, say “In the event of a an EMS call, an EMT will be the first to make contact with you. They will be wearing a face mask and eye protection, as well as any other PPE necessary. You will have a mask placed on you, and asked a series of questions laid out by the CDC for simple screening. Remember, cold like symptoms is not necessarily a reason to go to the ER. If transport is indeed needed, then the rest of the crew will be brought in to assist.”

The Creston Police Department and Union County Sheriff’s Office report that until March 31st, they are asking for the public’s help in reducing emergency services exposure, by answering questions posed by dispatchers when you call for those services, to determine the appropriate response. If you are ill or have other special circumstances that make you especially susceptible to infectious disease, please notify the dispatcher.

Union County authorities are echoing comments by the colleagues elsewhere in southwest Iowa, when they say there will be limited public access to the Law Enforcement Center from now until March 31st. You may call the LEC in Union County at 641-782-8402, for all routine calls for service. Anyone coming to the LEC will use the exterior intercom to talk with a dispatcher before being buzzed into the main building. All applicant finger printing, gun permit and other services as well as court-ordered jail time, are suspended.

Adair-Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf reports that as of 8-a.m., today (March 18th, 2020), the Adair County Hospital System and Guthrie County Hospital are only providing public health testing for the Corona Virus. The move is in line with the Iowa Department of Public Health’s guidelines for testing.

Patients will be eligible for testing if they meet one of the following criteria:

• Hospitalized patients with fever and respiratory failure and no alternate diagnosis
• Hospitalized older adults (>60 years of age) with fever or respiratory symptoms (cough, difficulty breathing) and chronic medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, immunosuppressive medications, chronic lung disease, or chronic kidney disease)
• Any persons (including healthcare providers) with household contact with a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to becoming ill with fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, difficulty breathing)
• Any persons with a history of international travel to a country with a Level 3 CDC travel health warning (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/ index.html) or have taken an international cruise in the 14 days prior to becoming ill with fever and respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, difficulty breathing) and no alternate diagnosis.

There is currently no public testing being offered at either of the hospitals.  For more information please visit: www.adairguthriecountycovid.org

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Roman Catholic college in Iowa has suspended a longtime priest and faculty member after church officials received an allegation of sexual misconduct dating to the 1990s. St. Ambrose University in Davenport said that it was recently made aware of the complaint against the Rev. Robert “Bud” Grant and is taking the report seriously.

The school said the suspension would last until the outcome of an investigation by the Diocese of Des Moines, which ordained Grant as a priest in 1984. The Diocese of Davenport also said that Grant would also be temporarily removed as the sacramental minister at St. Andrew Church in Blue Grass.