(Radio Iowa) – The U.S. House has approved a bill designed to adjust federal flood control regulations, something southwest Iowans sought after historic flood levels hit the region in 2019. Congresswoman Cimdy Axne, a Democrat from Des Moines, is a co-sponsor of the Water Resources Development Act. She says it addresses the plight of communities like Hamburg, which the Army Corps forced to remove reinforcements added to a levee in 2011, then Hamburg got swamped by floodwaters last year.

“Nearly a decade ago when Hamburg was told to either come up with $5.6 million or tear down a temporary levee that provided protection, they had to tear it down,” Axne says. “That type of language is not going to be in there any more. We’re going to make sure that reasonable things happen to keep them safe.” The bill directs the Army Corps of Engineers to complete its comprehensive study of the lower Missouri River basin. Axne says the bill includes provisions addressing flooding concerns in eastern and central Iowa as well.

“It increased adjustments for the federal cost share of inland waterways projects to develop some of the critical infrastructure that’s needed on the Mississippi,” Axne says. “We addressed issues in Des Moines with the Birdland Levee.” The bill would provide nearly 10 BILLION dollars to the Army Corps of Engineers for 46 projects nationwide. The bill now goes to the full Senate. Its possible the measure may be added to larger spending package congress must pass to keep the federal government operating.

Noting that the current policy regarding face coverings in the Atlantic School District appears to be working quite well and has limited the need to quarantine students and staff, the School Board, Wednesday night, voted unanimously to keep the policy in-place through the end of the semester, which is December 22nd. (Watch a recording of the meeting, here) Next week, Governor Reynolds is expected to come out with an updated public health proclamation, but it’s too early to know what her plans are. To be safe, the Board opted to continue with the current policy. They will meet next Thursday at 6-p.m. to discuss any changes the Governor may make with regard to face masks, and act accordingly for a policy to take the district into the second semester at that time.

The current policy, which was renewed for the third time since it was implemented, states “Face coverings will continue to be required when social distancing is not possible.” During Wednesday’s meeting, Board member Josh McLaren said after listening to what the Governor said Wednesday morning, and following comments made by Washington Elementary Principal Stacey Hornung and Schuler Prinicipal James Northwick, “Kids gotta be in school. It’s obvious.” Some of the kids who are remote learning, it was pointed out, are keeping up with their classmates who are learning in-person, while others aren’t.

Hornung said earlier in the meeting, that if a mask mandate wasn’t in effect, there would have been two or three classrooms that would have had to have gone home and learn remotely. McLaren said “To me, nothing showing me that there’s any reason to take that away [the mask policy], because I think as soon as we take it away…and what we’re doing is working I just fear that if we take it away that we’re gonna be quarantining or we’re gonna be going hybrid or going remote, and I think that’s a fault to our kids.”

Board member Laura McLean said she’s grateful kids can be in school. Board member Kristy Pellet said she too is grateful to the staff and everyone who made in-person learning possible in the district, by ensuring masks are being worn when social distancing isn’t possible.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson, Wednesday night, said that his officers responded to the Atlantic WalMart Store for a reported bomb threat. The call came in to the store around 4:50-p.m., with the person stating that a device was placed inside the store. The store manager immediately evacuated the building and contacted the Cass County Communications Center.

The Atlantic Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Atlantic Fire Department all arrived at the scene and performed a security sweep of the building. After the sweep was performed, it was believed that the building was safe and shoppers were allowed back inside.

Through investigation, our department does not believe that this was a credible threat. Officers will continue to investigate the situation as information becomes available. There was an arrest made during the investigation, but Erickson said they don’t believe that the person was connected to the threat made.

Council Bluffs Police, Wednesday, said 30-year-old Megan Michelle Bressman is currently wanted for her involvement an attempted murder that occurred on November 26th in Council Bluffs. Bressman, who is white, 5-feet five-inches tall, weighs about 170 pounds. She has brown hair and green eyes, and may be in the company of another suspect in the incident, Benjamin Manely. Both are considered armed and dangerous.

Megan Bressman

Benjamin Manley

The incident they are suspected of involvement in, happened outside of the gas station/convenience store at 1305 N. 25th Street. An adult female returning from the store was fired upon by a subject believed to be Manely. She escaped, but her vehicle was struck by two rounds fired from the weapon.

If you have any information about the location of Megan Bressman or Benjamin Manely, call 9-11 immediately, or Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — University of Iowa Health Care officials say the group’s hospitals expect to get their first shipment of a coronavirus vaccine as early as next week and that they plan to begin giving it to employees who work in COVID-19 units within 24 hours of receiving it. Suresh Gunasekaran, the CEO of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, said Wednesday that he expects the UIHC subsidiary to get 1,000 doses next week.

The hospital plans to give its first doses to some of the roughly 2,000 doctors, nurses and others who work in COVID-19 units. He says he expects to learn on a week-by-week basis how many doses the hospital will receive, so it’s unclear when the first group to receive doses will get a second and be fully vaccinated.

This is rundown of the latest amended health proclamation by Governor Reynolds, effective Thursday, Dec. 10 at 12:01 a.m. through Wednesday, Dec. 16at 11:59 p.m…..

Mask Use: Indoor spaces open to the public & State executive branch buildings

•No change

Gathering Restrictions:Social, community, business, or leisure gatherings

•No more than 15 people indoors and 30 people outdoors

•These restrictions apply to wedding receptions, conventions, fundraisers, and other nonessential gatherings but do not apply to gatherings that occur during the ordinary course of business or government.

Sporting and Recreational Events:

•Only two spectators permitted for each youth or adult athlete, cheerleader, pep band member, or organizer staff, and must wear a mask and maintain 6 feet distance from other spectators

•Youth and adult participants can be closer than 6 feet and are not required to wear masks

High School Sports & Extracurriculars: Sporting, recreational, and extracurricular events

•Only two spectators permitted for each high school athlete, performer, competitor, cheerleader, pep band member,or staff member,and must wear a mask and maintain 6 feet distance from other spectators

•Students participating can be closer than 6-feet and are not required to wear masks.

Restaurants and Bars: Restaurant or bar, including a wedding reception venue, winery, brewery, distillery, country club, or other social or fraternal club

•Last call for in-person services at 10:00pm (includes all venues serving alcohol)

•May open at 4:00am

•No bar seating

•Masks required when not seated (while playing games, dancing, etc.)

•Six feet distancing between groups•Groups limited to 8 people unless larger group is all same household

•Seated when eating or drinking and limit congregating

Fitness Centers: Fitness centers, health clubs, health spas, gyms

•Group fitness activities are allowed if a 6-foot distance is maintained

Casinos & Gaming Facilities:

•Last call for in-person food or beverage services at 10:00pm

•Masks required except when seated to eat or drink.

Closer/Prolonged Contact Establishments: Bowling alleys, pool halls, bingo halls, arcades, indoor playgrounds, children’s play centers

•Last call for in-person food or beverage services at 10:00pm

•Mask required when not seated to eat or drink

•Ensure that groups and individuals are six feet apart at establishment

•Groups limited to eight people unless larger group is all same household

Nonessential/elective surgeries: A hospital must reduce its in-patient nonessential surgeries to a level to ensure it is use at least 25% fewer beds than it did on average during September 2020.