More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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(Radio Iowa) — Iowa’s colleges and universities are plotting courses for the fall semester in this pandemic era, with shifting schedules and a host of new rules. While programs like Zoom helped deliver classes to remote students this spring, at least one Iowa school is turning to a different technology for fall. Tim Laurent, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Mount Mercy University, explains their newest acquisition: “The Meeting Owl allows a 360-degree picture. It also allows a 360-degree microphone and speakers,” Laurent says. “The owl can be in the middle of a classroom and the students who are remote can actually see everything as if they are there.”
The Cedar Rapids institution has purchased 65 of the devices, one for every classroom, along with T-V monitors and stands. The 12-inch-tall Meeting Owl actually resembles an owl, with eyes and a beak. Laurent says they will enable Mount Mercy to offer in-person and blended/hybrid classes, as well as the ability to pivot to fully remote, if necessary. “We’ve been using that in some programs in our MBA program for a year and that is giving us great flexibility,” Laurent says. “We’re saying to faculty, ‘Hey, be flexible as you might not have as much space in the classroom,’ and this is our way of making it work.”
According to Laurent, the university’s hybrid model should allow for flexible instruction, as some students will attend class on one day while others take part virtually. “Not only our local students but the national response from students is, ‘We want face-to-face,’ and so as we are putting our classes — our hybrid — together, it has face-to-face,” Laurent says. “They should be pretty quick to adapt to the remote learning as well. That’s what all the students had to do this last spring.”
Mount Mercy administrators decided not to shift fall dates, but instead will have classrooms mapped out to keep everyone distanced, while faculty, staff and the 18-hundred students will need to wear cloth face masks, face shields or both.
(More info. at mtmercy.edu/safe-return)
The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.
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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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(Update 6-a.m.) The Iowa Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 dashboard today (Friday), shows three more deaths from the virus since Thursday, for a total of 641, and 318 additional, positive cases, for a total of 23,103. The DPH says an additional 218 people have recovered, for a total of 14,045, and 187,999 people have tested Negative, an increase of 4,127 from Thursday’s report. A total of 211,506 have been completed by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.
RMCC data show 225 Iowans are hospitalized with COVID-19, that’s 17 less than Thursday. Of those, six more people are in an ICU (81 total), and 47 are on ventilators (1 less than Thursday). In addition, 17 people were admitted to a hospital for treatment of COVID-19, three fewer than Thursday. In RMCC Region 4 (southwest/western IA), there was very little change from Thursday, with no admissions reported (8 are hospitalized, 4 are in an ICU and 2 are on ventilators).
Long-Term Care (LTC) facility outbreaks are down to 35, one less than Thursday. The number of LTC staff/patient testing positive for COVID-19 is down 44 to 1,332, Recoveries amount to 782 (26 fewer than last report). Unfortunately, the number of LTC facility-related deaths is up 27, to 339.
Here’s the latest county-by-county breakdown, with the number of positive cases, and (The number recovered):
Note: Unless there is a significant increase in the positive test results and/or deaths from COVID-19, KJAN will provide daily updates for the 24-hour period at around 6-a.m. each day
On Wednesday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the Public Health Disaster Emergency. The proclamation, effective at 8-a.m. today (Friday, June 12) continues to ease restrictions on businesses and extends other public measures until Thursday, June 25, 2020. It still encourages all vulnerable Iowans to continue to limit their activities outside of the home. The full proclamation is available here, with and a summary of substantial information is shown below:
REOPENING OF ESTABLISHMENTS
Establishments that were previously ordered to be closed statewide may reopen or remain open, but only to the extent that the facility takes reasonable measures under the circumstances to ensure social distancing, increased hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with Guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Public Health.
MASS GATHERINGS
Social, community, recreations, leisure, or sporting events of more than 10 people may be held, if the following requirements are met:
(1) Social distancing: The gathering organizer must ensure at least six feet of physical distance between each group or individual attending alone.
(2) Other social distancing, hygiene, and public health measures: The gathering organizer shall also implement reasonable measures under the circumstances of each gathering to ensure
social distancing of gathering participants, increased hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Public Health and, for any food service, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals.
(3) Non-school sporting and recreational events: Practices, games, and competitions for baseball, softball, and individual sports, such as running, biking, swimming, tennis, and golf, are
not prohibited by this section even where athletes may have some contact within six feet, provided that the organizer of such activities and events implements reasonable measures under the
circumstances of each gathering to ensure reasonable social distancing, increased hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19
consistent with guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Public Health.
(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa legislature has unanimously passed a police reform bill — responding to the police misconduct the nation saw when a bystander in Minneapolis videotaped the death of George Floyd. Representative Ras Smith of Waterloo calls the legislature’s gesture of unity historic. “I’m hopeful because in this time in Iowa, we stepped up to make real change,” Smith said. “…As a body, by default, we’ve committed here today to shouldering a burden, to ensure that George Floyd, or the scores before him, doesn’t take place in our state — not on our watch.”
Representative Ako Abdul-Samad, of Des Moines, says the moment came because legislators are listening to a new generation of “game-changers” who have been protesting. “My beloved brothers and sisters — and I mean all of you — not only are you part of history, you are rectifying history,” Abdul-Samad said. House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, of Missouri Valley, turned to the Black Lives Matter protesters in the gallery watching last (Thursday) night’s debate and said three words: “We hear you.” “Is this the solution to every problem that we have, to every injustice? No,” Windschitl said, “but it’s a damned good start.”
The legislation forbids choke holds in nearly every situation and lets the state attorney general investigate deaths caused by police. Once the bill is signed into law –as the governor says she’ll do — police officers with a proven record of misconduct may not be rehired in Iowa. The House and Senate debated the bill at the same time. For the first time in her tenure, Governor Kim Reynolds walked into both chambers and stood to listen. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver of Ankeny says the times require government solutions and this bill is a starting point. “Tonight, we are showing our state and the world that the Iowa Legislature listens to Iowans,”Whitver said, “and we are willing to lead on tough issues.”
Whitver emphasized the bill’s requirement that Iowa law enforcement officers have annual training sessions in “de-escalation” techniques and the prevention of bias. It took less than two-and-a-half hours for the bill to be formally introduced and passed by the House and Senate. The bill wasn’t really debated. Instead, legislators rose to share their perspectives. Seventy-three-year-old Ruth Ann Gaines, a state representative from Des Moines, says the first time she really understood racism was as an eight-year-old, after she heard Emmett Till’s mother speak about her son’s lynching. “I’ve lived a long life in the civil rights movement,” she says. “I’ve sat here year after year listening to debate which I thought showed indifference to what my cause was, so today I am jubilant, I am happy, I am surprised and I am really glad to be a part of it.”
Dozens of Des Moines Black Lives Matter protesters who’d been in the capitol building all day were part of the moment, too. They sat or stood silently in the viewing galleries, many with a fist in the air, as lawmakers spoke, then cast their votes for the bill. Governor Reynolds, in a written statement, says the bill is the result of listening and making a commitment for meaningful change.
Today: Mostly sunny. High around 86. Winds variable at around 5-10mph.
Tonight: Fair to Partly cloudy. Low 58. Light & variable breeze.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 82. SE @ 10-15.
Sunday: P/Cldy. High 84.
Monday: A chance of morning showers; otherwise P/Cldy & warmer. High near 90.
Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 86. Our Low this morning, 52. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 73 and the Low was 43. The Record High here on June 12th, was 95 in 1892. The Record Low was 38 in 1903.
Here is the latest sports news from The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes and Tyrann Mathieu, are putting together a voter registration program in response to the social unrest that has gripped the nation. The details of the drive are still in the works, but the 24-year-old quarterback and 28-year-old safety wanted to make sure they were at the forefront of affecting change. And the best way to do that was making sure people had a voice when the November elections come around.
DYERSVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Major League Baseball is building a field a few hundred yards down a corn-lined path from the famous movie site for “Field of Dreams” in eastern Iowa. Unlike the original, it’s unclear whether teams will show up for a game this time as the league struggles during a coronavirus-shortened season. Those who live near the Field of Dreams say the country could use a boost like seeing the scheduled Aug. 13 game between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The PGA Tour has made a quiet return into action after being disrupted for months by the coronavirus outbreak. There was a moment of silence at the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial in Fort Worth Thursday in honor of George Floyd. Commissioner Jay Monahan stood on the first tee and spoke about hopes of ending racial injustice. On the course, where there were no fans. The first-round leaders were Justin Rose and Harold Varner III.
NEW YORK (AP) —The Detroit Tigers took a few more big swings at rebuilding their lineup. After selecting Arizona State slugger Spencer Torkelson to open the Major League Baseball amateur draft Wednesday night, the Tigers used their first four picks Thursday on players they envision joining him in the big league batting order. Ohio State catcher Dillon Dingler led off the draft’s second day as the No. 38 overall selection. LSU outfielder Danny Cabrera went 62nd overall and Rice shortstop Trei Cruz — son of former major leaguer Jose Cruz Jr. and grandson of Jose Cruz — went 11 picks later. Arizona State third baseman Gage Workman was the Tigers’ fourth-rounder.
UNDATED (AP) — Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is expressing regret for not signing Colin Kaepernick when given the opportunity. Seattle brought Kaepernick in for a workout during the 2017 offseason and had another visit a year later canceled. At that time, Carroll said Seattle chose not to bring Kaepernick aboard because Carroll viewed Kaepernick as a starter, not a backup. In hindsight, he says he wishes he would have given Kaepernick a shot even if it meant a potentially awkward role as Russell Wilson’s backup.
DETROIT (AP) — A University of Michigan gymnast from decades ago is speaking out as a victim of Robert Anderson, the deceased campus sports doctor. Ward Black is 68 years old and lives in Las Vegas. Black says he was molested by Anderson during annual physicals and while seeking help for injuries, from 1969 to 1973. Black says he tried to speak to his coach about Anderson back in 1969, but Newt Loken “changed the subject.” Hundreds of former athletes have made complaints about Anderson. The university says it wants to compensate victims outside court.
Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Meat production has rebounded from its low point during the coronavirus pandemic when dozens of plants were closed, but experts say consumer prices are likely to remain high. They also say it will take months to work through the backlog of millions of pigs and cattle that was created this spring, creating headaches for producers. The U.S. Agriculture Department says beef, pork and poultry plants were operating at more than 95% of last year’s levels earlier this week. That was up from about 60% in April at the height of plant closures and slowdowns at the height of the plant closures and slowdowns.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The government agency that regulates liquor sales in Iowa says it has backed off a major price increase for some products that it proposed to reduce heavy drinking.Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division spokesman Tyler Ackerson confirmed that distributors were notified last week of a price increase that was planned for July 1.But he said the notice created negative “feedback from suppliers and other stakeholders” and that the agency has dropped the plan indefinitely.Ackerson said distributors were concerned about the economic impact, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. The planned increase had already been delayed from May 1 to July 1.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has swiftly passed a bill that responds to the demands of protesters marching against racial injustice, including restrictions on officers using choke holds and making it more difficult for problem officers to move to other departments. The bill surfaced Thursday and was debated simultaneously in the House and Senate before passing both chambers unanimously. Gov. Kim Reynolds watched the debate and vote in the House and then watched the Senate finish debate and vote.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The State of Iowa is moving ahead with a $10.3 million purchase to stockpile ventilators for coronavirus patients, even as demand for the breathing machines has dropped and 767 are currently available at hospitals statewide. The head of a distribution company hired to supply ventilators to the state says the decision to buy now is smart because new waves of the virus could still potentially overwhelm hospitals in the coming months. Records show that on March 30, Iowa’s executive branch signed a contract to purchase 500 ventilators for $10.3 million. About 2 ½ months later, a spokeswoman says Iowa has only received five of them and expects to receive the rest over the next several months as production ramps up.