Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (AP) — Tyson Foods said Monday that it has suspended operations at a major pork processing plant in southeastern Iowa where more than two dozen workers have tested positive for the coronavirus.Spokesman Gary Mickelson said the suspension went into effect on Monday at the plant in Columbus Junction. He said it will last for the duration of this week and be revisited at that point. Mickelson said the plant’s 1,400 workers would continue to be paid this week despite the furlough. He said the company was diverting livestock shipments that were scheduled to be delivered to Columbus Junction to other plants in the region, such as Waterloo and Perry.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds is ordering the closure of malls and playgrounds and urging Iowans to stay home during what she called a critical week for containing the coronavirus pandemic. Reynolds said at a news conference that local police would begin enforcing her order to bar gatherings of 10 people and that violators could be warned or cited. The more aggressive moves come after Reynolds faced intense criticism in recent days for refusing to issue a statewide stay-at-home order as the number of cases increases. Reynolds on Monday confirmed two more nursing homes have outbreaks involving at least three residents who have tested positive.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified a woman who investigators believe was intentionally run down by a driver and killed as she walked her dog in Des Moines neighborhood. Police say 38-year-old Lauren Rice and her dog, Holiday, were killed in the Sunday morning incident. Officers found Rice and the dog dead at the scene. Police say a pickup truck driven by 49-year-old Jason Robert Sassman jumped a curb, crashed through a utility pole and drove through several yards before hitting Rice and the dog. Police say Sassman continued on in the truck until it became disabled, then fled on foot before he was arrested. He’s charged with first-degree murder and animal neglect.

ATLANTIC, IA – Third District Democrat Representative Cindy Axne, Monday, launched a Virtual District Tour of the District, to survey and further assist response to the ongoing outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iowa. The tour, which launched with a conference call with leadership of the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) in Atlantic, will cover all 16 counties of Southwest Iowa that Rep. Axne represents.

Rep. Cindy Axne (D-03 District)

Over the coming weeks, Rep. Axne will hold virtual meetings with county emergency managers, health system leadership, local business owners, and other community stakeholders to survey the ongoing effects of COVID-19 on Iowa’s families and economy.

The launch of the Virtual District Tour follows two coronavirus telephone town halls held by Rep. Axne that allowed experts from the Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa Department of Human Services, and the U.S. Small Business Administration to connect directly with thousands of residents of Iowa’s Third Congressional District.

Members of the Audubon School District’s Board of Education held a Special electronic meeting by Zoom, Monday night. During their session, Superintendent Eric Trager said an error on the budget meant that a hearing on the budget would have to be postponed until their regular meeting on April 20th.

Trager said the error showed the FY 2020 Tax Levy was $11.69/$1,000 valuation. What was published in the local paper for the Monday meeting, showed a Tax Levy of $11.67/$1,000, which includes the bond payment on the $7.5-million. Trager said he missed including the Dropout Prevention Levy, which he said “Is a pretty significant levy. Without that our tax levy actually went down.” The corrected budget, which was submitted to the paper, includes: the DOP (Dropout Prevention Levy); Debt Service for Building Project (the $7.5-million bond) and the refinancing of the 2013 Bond.

Trager said “The levy is still well below the 73-cent increase we promised to stay below, with the new building project.” The levy will come in 21-cents over last year’s mark, which was keeping in-line with what was promised.  In other business, The Audubon School Board approved a Pre-Levy Issuance Resolution authorizing the issuance of $9.11-million in General Obligation School – and Refunding- Bonds, and the levy of tax for payment thereof.

The Resolution allows the district to sell Refunding Bonds to pay-off the existing debt from the 2013 Bond. It includes the $7.5-million in new G.O. issue plus $1.61-million in Refunding Bonds.

The Board also approved contracts for DeAnn Leiting as School Social Worker for the 2020-21 School Year. Her services will be shared 50/50 with the Coon Rapids-Bayard School District. And, they approved a contract for Elena “Lanie” Pelzer as 5th Grade Teacher.

And, the Audubon School Board approved a recommendation from Superintendent Eric Trager, for a 3.25% raises for those employees not represented by a Collective Bargaining Unit, with the exception of: Natalie Lange, Office Business Manager (5%); Sam Graeve. K-4 Principal/Curriculum Director (a flat dollar amount of $27.50 for each year (this is the second year of his agreement), and Cass Muzney – Head Custodian (3.25% plus $1,000).

The Griswold School Board, Monday evening, approved the hiring of a man from Oklahoma City, OK., as the new Middle School/High School Principal. Billy Hiatt is currently serving as the Middle School principal at Western Heights School District in Oklahoma City. His tenure with the Griswold Schools will begin with the 2020-21 School Year. In 2011, he was hired as the Boy’s Varsity Basketball Coach in Creston. He resigned from that district in 2014.

Hiatt and his wife Keri (A native of Glenwood), are the parents of four children: 14 year old daughter Victoria, 10 year old son Cade, 8 year old daughter Ruthann, and 1 year old son Easton. Keri Hiatt is a 3rd grade teacher in Oklahoma City.

Billy Hiatt graduated high school from Noble, Oklahoma. He attended Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska where he graduated with his Bachelors in 2000. Mr Hiatt played basketball at Peru State. He received his Masters in Education Administration from University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. Hiatt is in his 18th year of education and 3rd year in administration.

In his free time, he enjoys watching college football on Saturday’s with his family and going hunting/fishing when he gets a chance. Hiatt says he is excited for the new opportunity at Griswold, and about being closer to family and friends. “I feel like Griswold is a great opportunity to further along my career and make a difference with students and the community.”

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa National Guard soldiers and airmen stationed in northwest Iowa are joining forces to be ready to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Soldiers from the Army National Guard’s 2nd Brigade 34th Infantry Combat Team are joining airmen from the 185th Air Refueling Wing to establish Joint Task Force West at the Air Guard facility in Sioux City.

Army Major Matt Parrino says it’s unique of the three military task forces in Iowa that are responding. “The other two task forces are strictly Army headquarters,” Parrino says. “This is the only joint task force in Iowa currently where Air and Army are working together to become a staff to execute the same operational settings and missioning that the rest of the state is.”

The joint operations center in Sioux City will provide planning, logistics and coordination support to COVID-19 response efforts in western Iowa. Parrino say it will also facilitate a faster response capability, as needed.  “So far, the typical missions that we’ve seen, they have been providing tents, taking a look at planning, regional planning for medical facilities and where we may have some expertise and some assets that can help them be better prepared,” he says.

Parrino says there are certain types of military vehicles that are available for deployment where necessary. “We have field ambulances that we could leverage if we needed to,” Parrino says. “Currently, they’re not necessarily getting tasked at this point. It’s pretty much just getting ready if we were needed.” Soldiers from other units have delivered more than 280 pallets of urgently-needed medical supplies to more than 90 of Iowa’s 99 counties.

Similar Iowa National Guard operations centers are now active at Camp Dodge in Johnston and in Iowa City.

Officials with Crossroads of Western Iowa have announced the acquisition of Ida Services Inc. (ISI) of Battle Creek, Iowa. Crossroads of Western Iowa and ISI share a mission of serving and empowering individuals with disabilities. Both organizations have been caring for the community for over 40 years. By joining forces, Crossroads says it can better meet community needs across the region.

As of April 1, ISI inherits the “Crossroads of Western Iowa” name. Crossroads of Western Iowa offers Supported Community Living, Employment Services, and Day Habilitation Programs in Pottawattamie, Cass, Harrison, Monona, Woodbury, and Cherokee counties — and now Ida County.

Crossroads CEO Brent Dillinger says “This is an exciting opportunity for Crossroads. With this acquisition and the coronavirus pandemic, we want to assure you all that we will continue striving to offer our clients the best services to achieve independence and improve their quality of life. We are excited for this partnership.”

“Through this pairing,” Dillinger says, “Crossroads and ISI can serve and empower more individuals and families with our life-changing work.”