Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ Friday press conference regarding COVID-19. We will have live audio available on KJAN as well with the presser set to begin at approximately 11:00 a.m.

(Radio Iowa) — Congressman Dave Loebsack, of Iowa City, is among a dozen members of the U.S. House touting a plan that would expand broadband service in America. Loebsack says it is unacceptable that in 2020, many rural Americans do not have access to high-speed internet. As the spread of COVID-19 continues, Loebsack says it shines an even brighter light on the “broadband gap” that exists between urban and rural communities. Loebsack and the other Democratic lawmakers plan to include investment broadband in the next coronavirus response package in congress.

Loebsack was a founding member of the House Rural Broadband Caucus in 2016 and is the bipartisan group’s co-chair. According to the Federal Communications Commission, 24 million Americans lack access to high-speed broadband service and nearly one-third of rural Americans lack access to mobile broadband.

(Radio Iowa) — The presidents of the three state universities say they have lost millions of dollars as campuses shut down for the coronavirus pandemic. University of Northern Iowa president, Mark Nook, spoke first during an on-line Board of Regents meeting. “Our current estimate of the financial impact of the novel coronavirus from March through the end of the summer session is 28-million dollars,” Nook says. “This includes both lost revenue and additional expenses.” Some of the lost revenue was money refunded to students when the Cedar Falls campus shut down. “Academic Affairs refunded 178-thousand dollars in lab and course fees and study abroad costs, and will forgo two-point-four million in summer tuition,” Nook says. “Students received credits and refunds for their room and board contracts and certain student fees. Room and board refunds amounted to nearly seven million dollars and recreation health center fees combined for more than 546-thousand dollars.”

Iowa State University president, Wendy Wintersteen, detail the projected losses from March through August. “In early April, we conservatively estimated the impact of the COVID-19 crisis would total more than 88 million in refunds and lost revenue. And close to one million in additional expenses,” according to Wintersteen. She says lost revenue from canceled events continues to add up.”Our usually bustling campus has gone quiet as conferences, seminars, athletic events and other performances have been called off. As the number of event cancellations increase — the amount of lost revenue will multiply.”

University of Iowa president Bruce Harreld faces the same type of loses. “Since March and projected through August — the university not including U-H-I-C, not including the health services, just the academic portion of the institution — will loose a little more than 76 million dollars,” Harreld says. The three schools will get more than 45 million dollars in federal pandemic relief. Harreld says the federal money coming to Iowa City is small compared to the loses. He says they expect to get eight million for students and another eight million for the university. “And while we deeply appreciate these, I’d just like to remind you that they represent only ten-point-four-nine percent — less than 11 percent of the total losses we’ve incurred in this period,” Harreld says.

The Iowa Board of Regents is creating an advisory board to recommend ways to cut costs across the university system in the wake of the coronavirus loses.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa  — With no known end date to the coronavirus fight, the American Red Cross is encouraging healthy individuals to make appointments to donate blood or platelets to ensure blood remains readily available for patients who still rely on transfusions. The need for blood for trauma patients, children battling cancer, mothers experiencing childbirth complications, patients with sickle cell disease and others continues. Donated blood has a limited shelf life of 42 days for red cells and just five days for platelets, so the supply must constantly be replenished.

Make an appointment: Healthy individuals who are feeling well are asked to make an appointment to donate this May by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance. Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to safeguard donors, volunteers and employees.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities May 1-15:

Cass County:  Atlantic –  5/14/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Atlantic YMCA, 1100 Maple Street; Griswold – 5/14/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Central Church of Christ, 51 Harrison

Harrison County: Mondamin – 5/15/2020: 12:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 206 Chestnut St

Mills County: Glenwood – 5/4/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 512 2nd St.; 5/5/2020: 6:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Glenwood High School, 504 East Sharp Street

Montgomery County: Red Oak – 5/11/2020: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Red Oak High School Auditorium, 2011 N 8th St.

Ringgold County: Mount Ayr – 5/12/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., First Christian Church, 201 W Monroe

Shelby County: Earling – 5/4/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Joseph’s Hall, 118 Main Street; Harlan – 5/4/2020: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Petersen Family Wellness Center, 1213 Chatburn Avenue; 5/12/2020: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Veteran’s Memorial Building, 1104 Morningview

Taylor County: Lenox – 5/6/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 210 E. Dallas St

How to donate blood: Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

The Creston Police Department says two citizens of the community reported thefts that occurred over the past couple of weeks. A man told Police on April 25th, his garage in the 500 block of N. Walnut Street had been broken into sometime over the past three weeks. Items missing include: A Watt Generator valued at $500; an 18 volt drill valued at $200; a 20 volt saw valued at $200; a tripod and LED light valued $50, along with a vent less propane heater, valued at $300.

On April 24th, a man residing in the 400 block of Livingston Avenue, reported to Creston Police, sometime over the past week a non-running riding lawn mower with a 42-inch deck was taken from his property. The mower was valued at $200.