DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Reynolds, Friday, signed a new proclamation continuing the Public Health Disaster Emergency for another 30 days. Bars, taverns, wineries, breweries, distilleries, night clubs continue to be closed in Johnson and Story counties until 11:59 p.m. on September 27, 2020. They may continue to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption off premises. Restaurants in these two counties are still permitted to remain open, but must stop selling and serving alcoholic beverages after 10:00 p.m.

The proclamation also extends the other public health mitigation measures currently in place for businesses and other establishments until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 18, 2020. This includes the requirements for open bars and restaurants to ensure six feet of physical distance between each group or individual dining or drinking; to ensure all patrons have a seat at a table or bar and consume alcohol or food while seated; and to limit congregating together closer than six feet.

Requirements for social distancing, hygiene, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission also remain in place for gyms, casinos, salons, theaters, and other establishments. The proclamation also provides additional regulatory relief to school districts and extends many of the previously issued regulatory relief measures necessary to respond to this public health disaster, including those related to healthcare, professional licensure, educational workforce, and expirations of driver’s licenses.

The proclamation now remains in effect until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 18, 2020.

The full proclamation available online in its entirety.

Authorities have identified the person found dead on September 16th in rural Jasper County, as 44-year-old Michael Williams of Grinnell. His body was found in a burning ditch.

Michael Williams

The investigation into the homicide continues, with law enforcement resources from Jasper, Poweshiek, and Marshall Counties, as well as Division of Criminal Investigation agents and Iowa State Patrol Troopers with the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

Authorities say additional information will be released as warranted. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Grinnell Police Department at 641.623.5679 or the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at 641.792.5912

(Atlantic) – Incumbent Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, spoke to a crowd inside the Atlantic Community Center, Friday evening. During the event, she said with regard to the current election cycle, the mood is different than in the past, the nation is facing “some significant challenges, some significant changes.” Ernst, who likes to ride her motorcycle, compared the race between her and her opponent, as  “A choice between two different roads.” Her opponent is Democrat Theresa Greenfield.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) speaks at the Cass County Community Center 9-18-20 (Ric Hanson/photo)

Ernst said “On the road to the right [the road she chooses] we have freedom, prosperity, and opportunity. But on the left, there is a very, very different path. It is a path that my opponent is choosing to take. And that path is paved with government takeover of health care, it’s paved with radical environmental ideas that would fundamentally change the way we do agriculture in the State of Iowa, and wipe out thousands of manufacturing jobs.”

Ernst said also, the road to her opponent is taking, is filled with people who want to roll back our Second Amendment Rights, and those who are promoting extreme abortionist ideas. “These are the ideas that are supported by my opponent.” She said Greenfield has not been seen anywhere in Iowa, whereas Ernst has visited all 99 counties on one and a half tours. Ernst likened Greenfield to the popular character in the “Where is Waldo?” puzzle books, by saying “Where is Theresa Greenfield? She’s in the basement, hidin’ with Biden folks, and she’s going to stay in her basement, because she does not want people to know where she stands on the issues.”

She said Greenfield has not visited almost half of Iowa’s counties in the 15 months she’s been campaigning. Ernst said she’s willing to meet with constituents and represent them in Washington. Toward the end of her speech, Ernst learned about the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She “I am so sorry. I may not have agreed with her politically, but God Rest Her. She was an incredible woman.”

Ernst said President Trump has a list of persons who have may pick from for nomination. She doesn’t know who he may choose, but that person will have to be confirmed by the U-S Senate.

(Radio Iowa) – Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says Iowa’s economy appears to be bouncing back better from the pandemic compared to other parts of the country, but it’s not close to a full recovery. “If you look at it, we’re still probably in Iowa five or six percent below pre-Covid level employment numbers,” Goss says. “…It’s real easy to say negatives are getting less negative.” Goss made his comments today (Friday) during taping of the “Iowa Press” program that airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S.

Goss suggested to moderator David Yepsen that more Iowans are unemployed than the unemployment RATE suggests. “I would say it’s undervalued. In other words, there are more unemployed than that one would suggest,” Goss said. Yepsen asked: “So what do you think? How bad is unemployment?” Goss replied: “It’s bad…particularly in leisure and hospitality.” Goss suggests it’s more likely eight to nine percent of Iowans are unemployed, compared to the August unemployment rate of six percent that state officials announced today (Friday).