(Radio Iowa) — A western Iowa city that’s home to two meat packing plants is the latest location for one of the “Test Iowa” drive-through sites to screen residents for COVID-19. Captain Sam Otto is spokesman for the Iowa National Guard task force that set up the site in Denison. “We have personnel that are experts by now in setting these up and they’re very professional,” Otto says, “and they got it accomplished really quick.”

Test Iowa sites have been set up in Des Moines, Waterloo. Cedar Rapids and Sioux City. Otto says it’s up to the Iowa Department of Public Health to decide how long the Denison site will be open. “We’ll just have to play it by ear and see what the need and the capacity is,” Otto says.

Soldiers from an Iowa Guard unit from Boone along with air guard soldiers based in Sioux City and Des Moines were deployed to set up the site in Denison. Guard soldiers will continue to serve at the Denison location, directing traffic through the drive-through lanes set up for people who did the “Test Iowa” online assessment and got an appointment for a COVID-19 test. The state is hiring medical personnel and recruiting volunteer nurses to conduct the tests. Guard soldiers transport the test kits to the State Hygienic Lab for processing.

(Atlantic, IA 8-a.m. News) – The Atlantic Small Business Relief Grant, launched by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, opens today at 9 AM. The grant was kick-started by a substantial donation from a community donor of $10,000 and matched by First Whitney Bank & Trust. Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bailey Smith says “We’re so pleased to offer this program to Atlantic’s business community, who has been hit hard due to COVID-19. It’s because of the generosity of community-minded individuals and businesses that we’re able to lend a helping hand. Small businesses keep communities vibrant and it’s our hope this grant will provide some relief during this unprecedented time.”

The Atlantic Small Business Relief Grant will provide funds to local small businesses currently suffering economic hardship due to COVID-19. These funds are not intended to replace a loss of actual or anticipated revenue, but to provide businesses with funds to keep them viable during this public health crisis. Applications will be available at www.atlanticiowa.com and will close this Friday, May 15th at 12 PM. Grants will range between $500 – $2,500. To be eligible, small businesses must have an Atlantic zip-code. Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce membership for participation is not required, though preference will be given to current members and businesses that have not received State or Federal funds previously. Applications will be reviewed by a committee and awarded pending availability of funds.

This relief grant provides an opportunity for community members and larger businesses to donate with the reassurance their donations will be used to quickly move resources to where they are most needed and to adapt to evolving needs. To help as many businesses as possible, if you are interested in donating to the fund, contact the Chamber at 712-243-3017, email chamber@atlanticiowa.com or mail donations to 102 Chestnut Street, Atlantic, IA 50022.

The Creston Police Department reports two people were cited Saturday for Driving While License Barred/Denied or Revoked. 32-year old Corry D. Johnston, of Thayer,and 36-year old Jacob Jones, of Corning, were released from the scene of their citations, on a Summons to Appear later, in court. And, Sunday afternoon, 20-year old Molly Oglesbee, of Creston, was cited for allowing an animal to run at-large, in Creston. She was also released on a Summons to Appear.

(Des Moines via KCCI) — Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst says she’s not going to self isolate after being in close contact with Vice President Mike Pence. One of Pence’ staffers tested positive for COVID-19. Ernst was tested Friday before boarding Air Force Two with Pence to come to Iowa. A spokesperson for Ernst told KCCI that Ernst tested negative and followed all guidance from the vice president’s office and medical team. The spokesperson said that Ernst has not been advised to self isolate and does not plan to at this time.

Shortly before making the flight to Iowa, it was confirmed that Pence’s press secretary Katie Miller tested positive for COVID-19. She did not join Pence’s staff on Air Force Two, but did have contact with six people scheduled to be on the trip. According to officials, those six people tested negative.

(Radio Iowa) — After record flooding in western Iowa much of last year, runoff into the Missouri River system is expected to be above-normal again this year, but the experts say the runoff will be well-contained in the reservoir system. Kevin Grode, with the U-S Army Corps of Engineers in Omaha, says we’ve already had a couple of relatively dry months and that’s been a big help.  “Below-normal precipitation in April led to below-average runoff in most of the upper basin,” Grode says. “Precipitation in the upper basin has been well below normal, with some areas of the Dakotas receiving less than half their normal precipitation.”

Grode says the runoff forecast has been dramatically reduced. It originally called for three-point-two million acre feet of runoff during April but they recorded about one-point-three million acre feet less.  “The 2020 calendar year runoff forecast for the upper Missouri River basin above Sioux City is 32.2 million acre feet or 125% of average,” Grode says.

Grode says the Corps of Engineers is still expecting above-normal runoff each month this year. “Even with the below-normal precipitation that we’ve seen, we’ve seen above-average runoff in each of the first four months of the year due to the very wet soil conditions,” Grode says. “We are still forecasting slightly above-average runoff for each of the remaining months of 2020.” He says above-normal river releases all winter allowed the Corps to add more flood storage capacity in the upstream reservoirs.