Des Moines Register: State officials are relenting on their decision to withhold this week’s allotment of COVID-19 vaccine from five rural counties that allegedly failed to use at least 80% of what they already had, health leaders in two of those counties said today. The Iowa Department of Public Health informed five counties late last week […]

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Gov. Kim Reynolds did not consult her public health department before lifting Iowa’s remaining COVID-19 mitigation strategies, multiple Democrat state lawmakers said today. The Democrats said that during a weekly briefing this morning on the state’s pandemic response, an official with the Iowa Department of Public Health said the agency was not consulted […]

The Iowa Department of Public Health is seeking proposals from vendors by the end of the day today, Feb. 5, to create or adapt a centralized resource for Iowans signing up to receive a vaccine, be screened for prioritization eligibility, find more information about vaccine providers and assist with vaccine registration and appointment scheduling. Interested […]

Des Moines Register: The Iowa Department of Public Health reported another 250 COVID-19 deaths Sunday, a new record for new deaths attributable to the disease added to the state’s online dashboard in a single day. The department also reported an additional 757 confirmed cases Sunday.

Associated Press: A labor union representing state workers has filed a complaint with the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration, arguing that a lack of a mask mandate at the Iowa Capitol threatens the safety of everyone who enters the building. The Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO and representatives from six other Iowa labor unions filed […]

Gov. Kim Reynolds said today that Iowans age 65 and older will be part of the next phase to receive COVID-19 vaccinations beginning Feb. 1, KCCI reported. Reynolds said in a news conference that the state is receiving relatively few COVID-19 vaccines but is getting the doses out quickly. She said Iowa is only receiving about […]

Quad-City Times: Starting early this year, Tyson Foods Inc. will partner with Matrix Medical Network to provide COVID-19 vaccine access and education to all of its U.S. employees. Tyson will deploy mobile health clinics staffed with clinical staff to each of its U.S. facilities throughout the rest of this year.

Cedar Rapids Gazette: More than 90,000 Iowans had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Monday, public health officials reported, nearly a month after the first inoculations in the state were given Dec. 14. In all, the state said Monday, 96,686 doses have been administered in Iowa. Of those, 91,501 went to Iowa […]

Cedar Rapids Gazette: The vaccine against the novel coronavirus has begun to arrive at nursing homes across the state this week, offering a new level of protection for some of the most medically fragile populations. Though the vaccine is likely to help prevent outbreaks of the virus among residents and staff, state health care officials say […]

Low-income families in Iowa have suffered disproportionately in their ability to pay for basic essentials during the pandemic, according to a new report released by United Ways of Iowa.  More than half of the low-income families surveyed reported loss of income or increased expenses due to COVID-19, according to the study, which was conducted by […]

Des Moines Register: Residents and staff members of Iowa nursing homes will have to wait at least two more weeks for the coronavirus vaccinations that hospital workers began receiving Monday. Nursing homes, which house about 20,000 of Iowa’s most vulnerable people, are in particular peril from the virus. Brent Willett, president of the Iowa Health Care […]

More than 50 front-line hospital workers at University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City were the first in the state to receive vaccinations today for COVID-19, UI Hospitals & Clinics announced. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration on Friday, and is prioritized by the Centers for […]

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced it will continue to waive the cost share for members undergoing inpatient treatment related to a COVID-19 diagnosis through March 31, 2021. The extension provides Wellmark members with extended relief from copays, coinsurance and deductibles for inpatient treatment of COVID-19 from an in-network health care provider. The waiver, originally put […]

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday she is extending through Dec. 16 a COVID-19 emergency proclamation that imposed some mask requirements and put limitations on the size of gatherings. Under an order the governor issued last month, all Iowans must wear a face mask or other face covering while indoors in public and within […]

Cedar Rapids Gazette: A new federal report on the economic and employment impacts of the coronavirus pandemic suggests the experiences of Iowa businesses are similar — in some cases better — to those of businesses in other states. The Bureau of Labor Statistics survey of nearly 600,000 businesses across the country and Puerto Rico found […]

Des Moines residents adversely affected by the pandemic will be provided some relief from the city after the City Council on Monday approved reallocating $500,000 from the general fund to go toward rental and mortgage assistance and aiding those who are homeless. More specifically, the money will be provided to two nonprofit groups – IMPACT […]

Des Moines Register: Iowa will follow federal guidance in prioritizing health care workers and nursing home residents when distributing COVID-19 vaccinations, Gov. Kim Reynolds said today. She said she expects the first distributions of the vaccine to start Dec. 13, with a shipment of 26,000 doses of a vaccine developed by Pfizer. Reynolds said more doses […]

Des Moines Register: Malls and big-box stores in Iowa and across the country remained calm and mainly quiet on Black Friday — an indication of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the U.S. economy at the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Avoiding the long lines and packed aisles that have been the norm on the […]

Sioux City Journal: A pork packing plant in Sioux City must pay unemployment benefits to two former workers who quit working at the Seaboard Triumph plant because COVID-19 had made conditions there unsafe. Administrative law judges in two separate cases reversed earlier decisions that had denied unemployment insurance benefits to Yoslady Rodriguez and Maria Montes. Opened […]

About $8 million in CARES Act funding is still available through the Iowa Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention program, Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office announced this morning. The deadline to apply for rent and mortgage assistance and utility assistance through the Iowa Residential Utility Disruption Prevention program is Dec. 4. The Iowa Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention program […]

Cedar Rapids Gazette: State public health officials have released an emergency request for a vendor to aid in contact tracing as Iowa grapples with a major surge of new COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks. The Iowa Department of Public Health today announced a request for proposal process for a vendor to aid in contact […]

Des Moines Register: More than 100 long-term care facilities in Iowa have COVID-19 outbreaks as the coronavirus rages across the state. The state today was reporting 102 COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities. At 10 a.m. the state reported 1,872 COVID-19-related deaths, an increase of 27 in 24 hours. Of the state’s deaths, 900 were related […]

The city of Des Moines is extending the closure of city administration buildings until at least Feb. 1, 2021, Mayor Frank Cownie announced late Monday. City administrative buildings have been closed to the public since March following the COVID-19 pandemic’s arrival in Iowa. As of Monday, Polk County reported 23,815 positive cases of COVID-19. The […]

Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority are launching the Iowa Movie Theatre Relief Program, which will offer short-term relief to eligible movie theaters to assist in continuing or resuming operations during a public health emergency. The Iowa Movie Theatre Relief Fund will provide up to $10,000 per screen to assist nearly 150 […]

Cedar Rapids Gazette: The arrival of COVID-19 in March immediately affected the fiscal year budgets of Iowa’s public universities — which were entering the fourth quarter — including athletics and housing revenue, according to a new Board of Regents report. University of Iowa Athletics came in nearly $5 million under its income budget last year and […]

Corridor Business Journal: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, the site of one of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine trials, says it could begin distributing the vaccine as soon as late November. The UI’s lead COVID-19 vaccine responder Dr. Brooks Jackson tells the Daily Iowan that despite widespread worries about political meddling, the vaccine could be ready within weeks, […]

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa broke the record for the highest number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients more than once last week. The spike in new novel coronavirus cases in recent weeks has driven a record number of sick patients into hospitals across the state. Local hospital officials report the vast majority of cases were a result […]

Mercy College of Health Sciences will use an $82,500 grant it received recently to provide scholarships and tutoring for its nursing students. The Des Moines-based college was awarded the grant on Sept. 23 through the Coronavirus Relief Employer Innovation Fund established by Future Ready Iowa. Mercy College will be using these funds to provide $1,000 […]

Des Moines Register: Iowa continues to see more than twice as many coronavirus infections as the national average, White House experts warned state officials this week. “Community transmission has remained high across the state for the past month, with many preventable deaths,” said a White House coronavirus task force report to Iowa leaders. It said the […]

Cedar Rapids Gazette: As new cases of COVID-19 at Iowa’s public universities remained low, Gov. Kim Reynolds declared Friday that bars in the campus communities of Story and Johnson counties could reopen today. Wineries, breweries and distilleries in those counties were allowed to reopen on Friday. After a surge in new COVID-19 cases, Reynolds initially ordered […]

Many Americans awoke to news that President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, have tested positive for COVID-19. Trump’s diagnosis triggered a sell-off in stocks and oil and a surge in demand for traditional safe haven assets such as gold and bonds today, Reuters reported. “The President of the United States has got a disease which […]

Des Moines Register: Des Moines students will start returning to in-person classes in October, potentially ending a monthslong showdown with the Iowa governor over when to reopen school buildings during the coronavirus pandemic. The Des Moines board of education voted Wednesday night to begin a phased reopening and approved a revised set of COVID-19 metrics […]

Des Moines Register: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is extending the closure of bars in Johnson and Story counties for another week as part of her extension of the state’s public health disaster emergency declaration. The closure order in those two counties, home to the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, had been set to expire […]

Des Moines Register: Iowa State is planning to open Jack Trice Stadium to fans again. Athletic director Jamie Pollard said today that the 60,500-seat stadium will be capped at 15,000 for the Oct. 3 game against Oklahoma. That total includes 1,000 students. All seating will be assigned.

Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced the state has awarded more than $4.3 million to 65 organizations that will receive Coronavirus Relief Fund Employer Innovation Fund Grants. The program will assist local employers, nonprofits, community colleges, high schools, private universities and the University of Iowa in providing postsecondary training and education to Iowans who have lost their jobs […]

Des Moines Register: Students at Des Moines Public Schools could return to in-person classes starting next month, but only if local coronavirus numbers meet guidelines being established by the district. The Des Moines board of education approved a hybrid model Monday night that school officials said would bring the district into compliance with a state mandate […]

One of the Trump administration’s latest efforts to help workers amid the coronavirus pandemic is off to a rocky start, the Hill reported. President Donald Trump signed a memo last month directing the Treasury Department to allow employers to defer payroll taxes from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 for employees making less than $4,000 on a biweekly […]

Des Moines Register: A Polk County judge says he will issue a ruling Friday on whether to grant a temporary injunction against Gov. Kim Reynolds’ order closing bars in Polk and Dallas counties. Judge William P. Kelly made the announcement after presiding over a Wednesday afternoon hearing on the request.

Des Moines Register: Iowa State will play its season opener without fans in the stands at Jack Trice Stadium, a dramatic reversal from its announced plan Monday to allow for 25,000 fans. “President [Wendy] Wintersteen shared with me on Tuesday evening that, after weighing feedback she has received from the community, she has decided to reverse […]

Des Moines Register: As Ames climbed to the top of the New York Times list Monday of biggest “hot spot” metros for coronavirus positivity rates, the chairman of the Story County Board of Health said Iowa State officials are “irresponsible” for deciding 25,000 fans could attend its home opener at Jack Trice Stadium. “We are No. […]

Sioux City Journal: American Airlines has filed, under the Essential Air Service program, with the U.S. Department of Transportation to terminate unsubsidized service in Sioux City. In a statement issued today, the city of Sioux City and Sioux Gateway Airport said the filing was due to the significant impact of COVID-19 within the aviation industry and […]

Des Moines Register: As Iowa’s positive coronavirus cases climbed last week to their highest level yet, local elected officials in several of the state’s most populated counties said they are increasingly relying on data sources other than the state health department to make decisions about protecting residents in their communities. In places such as Polk, Story, […]

Simpson College confirmed the first four cases of COVID-19 cases on the Indianola campus this week; in-person classes began at the liberal arts college on Aug. 24. Simpson is working with the Iowa and Warren County Departments of Public Health on contact tracing, quarantine and other protocols for the individuals involved; those in direct contact […]

KCRG-TV: Iowa can’t track the number of positive, negative or inconclusive tests performed by Test Iowa, according to data received through a public records request. The data, which KCRG threatened lawsuits to receive, marks the first time data from Test Iowa has been released and also shows it took 46 days to meet the state’s goal […]

The Iowa Department of Public Health on Thursday reported the largest single-day increase in overall coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. IDPH reported 1,475 new COVID-19 cases and 18 additional deaths. As of 10 a.m. Thursday, IDPH reported 59,368 total cases, 45,362 recoveries and 1,079 deaths since the pandemic began. As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, […]

Tikly is offering a free “virtual tip jar” to support musicians and organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Iowa ticketing company announced today. The new feature allows musicians and creators to set up an account to accept funds from fans and supports to provide a source of revenue as most live shows are paused during […]

Gov. Kim Reynolds has allocated about $100 million of federal CARES Act funds to help farmers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. In a news release announcing the funds today, Reynolds said the pandemic, combined with the Aug. 10 derecho, “dealt a major blow to everything from the demand for ethanol to the supply of meat […]

Cedar Rapids Gazette: The rate of COVID-19 tests in Iowa that came back positive in a 24-hour period ending at 11 a.m. Sunday rose to 15.49% — the highest in more than five weeks. The latest tally represents the third consecutive day above a 12% positive rate. Iowa has not seen a surge of this extent […]

Cedar Rapids Gazette: The University of Iowa is apologizing for how a student was treated after testing positive for COVID-19 and has committed to handling cases differently in the future. The apology came after a post was widely shared on social media from a person identified as a freshman living in the Daum Residence Hall, […]

The Iowa secretary of state’s office will distribute personal protective equipment and more than $2 million in funds to Iowa counties to use for the Nov. 3 general election. The PPE includes face shields, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and social distancing markers for use at the polls on Election Day. Additionally, more than $2 million […]

Des Moines Register: Less than five months after the state reported its first death from COVID-19 — the disease caused by the novel coronavirus — Iowa has now surpassed 1,000 COVID-19 deaths. The state hit that tragic benchmark late Tuesday, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health data. Experts say the toll will keep climbing […]

The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have motivated a majority of Americans who are paid hourly wages to save money for the future, according to a new national survey of hourly workers from DailyPay and Funding Our Future.  For many Americans who punch a time clock, the global pandemic marks the first time they have embarked […]

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced that it will continue to waive cost-sharing for members undergoing inpatient treatment related to a COVID-19 diagnosis through Dec. 31. Extension of the waiver, which was scheduled to expire Aug. 31, provides Wellmark members with ongoing relief from copays, coinsurance and deductibles for inpatient treatment of COVID-19 from […]

Des Moines Register: Even as the number of positive tests for the novel coronavirus climbed among young people in the past month, older people continue to disproportionately experience the worst outcomes, particularly in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. On Tuesday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported on its long-term care facility outbreak webpage […]

More Iowans will be eligible to receive assistance with rent and mortgage payments through the COVID-19 Iowa Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention program, the Iowa Finance Authority announced today. The program’s eligibility criteria have been expanded to allow Iowans who had been receiving $600 a week in federal unemployment stimulus benefits to apply for assistance through […]

The Greater Des Moines Softball Complex has reported a positive case of COVID-19. Exposure to the case occurred July 26 during both the 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. league games. Complex touch points such as benches and common facility areas are disinfected multiple times a day, and teams, staff and umpires who were on-site that […]

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Nearly 300 Iowa doctors have signed a letter urging Gov. Kim Reynolds to issue a statewide mask mandate, joining the call from top health care groups for stronger COVID-19 mitigation measures even as the governor resists such an order. About 290 doctors signed the letter sent to the governor Wednesday, asking her to […]

Des Moines Register: Urbandale is the latest Iowa city to formally encourage its residents to wear face coverings to help curb the spread of COVID-19. The Urbandale City Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday night endorsing practices like social distancing and masks. Mayor Bob Andeweg later signed the resolution, which is not a mandate and is […]

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Coalitions representing thousands of Iowa’s health care providers have sent a letter to Gov. Kim Reynolds asking her to issue a statewide face mask mandate for all Iowans. In the letter sent on Monday, health care leadership stated that ongoing voluntary efforts to flatten the curve and mitigate the spread of the novel […]

The state of Iowa is launching a new initiative to encourage residents to wear masks in public to reduce the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement comes as the state surpassed 40,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 815 deaths. The Iowa Department of Public Health today reported 716 new positive cases with seven additional […]

Des Moines Register: Fourteen counties are now in severe drought, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Last week, the USDA listed parts of 11 counties in severe drought. Parts of the state that are in moderate drought and considered abnormally dry also grew over the last week, according to the USDA. West-central Iowa continues to […]

Associated Press: The first confirmed coronavirus outbreak at an Iowa meatpacking plant was far more severe than previously known, with more than twice as many workers becoming infected than the state Department of Public Health told the public, newly released records show. The department announced at a May 5 news conference that 221 employees at the […]

Iowa City Press-Citizen: Defying Gov. Kim Reynolds, Mayor Bruce Teague today ordered Iowa City residents to help combat the spread of COVID-19 by wearing face coverings when in public places. Those who fail to comply could face a misdemeanor charge. The governor’s office had no immediate response to the order, though it previously said a similar […]

Associated Press: Iowa egg producers who euthanized hens as a result of plummeting demand caused by the coronavirus will be eligible for government payments to cover disposal costs, a state agency announced today. The Iowa Disposal Assistance Program has been paying pork producers $40 for each market-ready hog they have been forced to euthanize as a […]

Des Moines Register: The Iowa Economic Development Authority will pay some utility bills for small businesses and nonprofits. The agency announced a grant program Friday that will supply businesses and organizations with up to $7,500 for unpaid bills. Applicants must have a physical, nonresidential office in Iowa with no more than 50 employees. Applicants also must […]

To help nonprofit organizations that are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines recently announced its third round of grants through its COVID-19 Nonprofit Adaptation Grant Program. In the most recent round, $58,000 was awarded to 20 local nonprofit organizations to help them meet unanticipated needs. For more on the […]

Beginning today, Clive City Hall, the Clive Public Library, Dymond Public Safety Facility and the Clive Public Works Building are closed to the public through July 31 due to increasing COVID-19 infections in Polk and Dallas counties, Clive officials announced this week. Facilities were reopened on June 29 with new social distancing and sanitation measures […]

Chubb Ltd., one of the largest U.S. providers of business interruption insurance, has jumped into the debate over how to cover future pandemics, the Business Insurance e-newsletter reported. Chubb said it is lobbying the federal government to cover businesses for losses in the future, but also wants the insurance industry to provide a small portion of pandemic […]

Des Moines Register: Muscatine Mayor Diana Broderson on Sunday publicly announced a citywide proclamation that makes face masks mandatory in indoor and outdoor public spaces in Muscatine where individuals cannot social distance from one another. The proclamation outlines certain exceptions to the rule, including when one is eating at a restaurant, playing a sport or has […]

More than half of a $5 million commitment that meat processor JBS USA has made to three Iowa communities in which it operates plants will go to Marshalltown, the company announced. JBS said it will donate $2.7 million through its Hometown Strong initiative to help Marshalltown respond to needs resulting from the coronavirus pandemic and […]

The Plains Area Mental Health Center in Carroll was awarded $107,180 by the Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau to purchase laptop computers and tablets so health care providers can continue serving patients in rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic, the FCC announced this week. The center is one of 77 applicants nationwide who received […]

The Iowa Aftercare Services Network, serving youths who have aged out of foster care, has extended services for an additional two years, up to age 23. Extended Aftercare allows qualified participants over the age of 21 to connect with Aftercare if their situations have changed due to the economic impact of COVID-19. More than 100 […]

Delta Dental of Iowa, a leading vision insurance provider in Iowa, announced it has made more than $500,000 in funds available to provide interest-free loans to its network vision providers. The new DeltaVision Provider Relief Program will lend up to $15,000 to eye care providers that have been closed or are offering minimal services due […]

Corridor Business Journal: JBS USA, which operates more than 60 meat, poultry and prepared foods plants across the country, including four in Iowa, has announced plans to invest $5 million in three Iowa communities to help them respond to the coronavirus pandemic and look to the future. The company, owner of Plumrose USA, a premium branded […]

COVID Recovery Iowa is offering virtual support groups for parents, teens and preteens, the organization announced this week. The program receives federal funding from FEMA to offer free counseling and assistance to those affected in any way by COVID-19. Parents will meet once a week on Wednesdays; teenagers can meet Tuesdays and Thursdays; and preteens […]

Des Moines Register: Iowans have snagged $423.5 million of the $4 billion in pandemic relief payments sent to U.S. farmers, the most of any state nationally, based on U.S. Department of Agriculture data through Monday. But critics say the coronavirus program addresses only a small portion of the losses farmers are experiencing. The American Farm Bureau […]

The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) is beginning to phase back in service it reduced in March and April due to the spread of COVID-19, DART announced this week. The organization is restoring many of its local routes beginning June 28. DART has installed new temporary barriers between the fare boxes and operator […]

ChildServe, which provides health care services and support for children, teens and young adults, recently announced its largest fundraising campaign has surpassed its $10 million goal. The Forward Together campaign was launched in December 2018. The goal for what was planned to be a three-year campaign was reached in 16 months with 168 donors, including […]

Due to the challenges the coronavirus pandemic presents to live music and the crowds it draws, Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines announced it will not host its free Jazz in July performances this summer and will instead push them back to July 2021. This decision was made with the support of Jazz in July’s […]

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced today it has agreed to extend the same reimbursement fee to Iowa providers for virtual visits as is paid for in-person visits until Feb. 1, 2021. The extension applies to all appropriate medical and behavioral health virtual visits with any Wellmark in-network provider in Iowa, the health insurer […]

With record numbers of U.S. adults filing for unemployment, and many people facing a lower income amid COVID-19, the Wells Fargo Foundation is supporting national nonprofits in expanding virtual financial coaching services, cost-free, to help the public adapt. The following four nonprofits, with grant support from Wells Fargo, are now offering personalized and confidential financial […]

Metro residents have another opportunity today to return cans and bottles to benefit the nonprofit Central Iowa Shelter & Services, which assists homeless adults. Droppett mobile redemption’s “Giving Trailer” will be present at Valley West Mall in West Des Moines today, June 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to take back cans and bottles […]

The YMCA of Greater Des Moines’ 322-acre Y Camp in Boone County will offer a different summer camp experience this year with Family Connection. The six-day, five-night getaway program will allow families to enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities while practicing safe social distancing from other campers. Each family will occupy its own cabin […]

Test Iowa sites in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids were moved over the weekend to new locations in those communities. The Des Moines site, which had been located at the Iowa Events Center north parking lot, was the first to open in the state on April 25 after the statewide testing initiative began. It moved […]

The chief financial officer of Wells Fargo, Greater Des Moines’ single largest private sector employer, signaled this week that the company plans to reduce its head count this year as a cost-cutting measure, the Des Moines Register reported. “There will come a time, and I assume at some point this year, when we get back to executing […]

West Des Moines city officials are taking steps to provide the city’s restaurants and bars increased flexibility for outside service areas, the city announced in a release. While all Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division requirements will remain in place, the city will consider removing the requirement for a temporary use permit in some instances. In addition, […]

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Farewell to the funnel cakes, bye-bye to the butter cow and toodle-oo to the Tilt A Whirl. For the first time in 75 years, the Iowa State Fair will stay silent this summer. A world war last routed it in the 1940s. But this time it is an invisible enemy — the novel […]

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa will start this upcoming fall semester a week early and wrap the day before Thanksgiving in November, according to new plans emerging this week for an unprecedented academic year amid a global pandemic. The details, made public today, include other mitigation measures like contact […]

Iowa could lose more than 21,000 education jobs over the next three fiscal years if additional federal aid isn’t provided to help shore up state revenues that have been devastated by the COVID-19 economic shutdown, according to an analysis released today by the National Education Association.  Nationwide, the NEA projects that the United States could lose 1.9 […]

The Des Moines Arts Center is planning to reopen to the community on July 7, months after closing to the public due to COVID-19. The organization is initiating new steps to open safely and encourage social distancing, including timed and ticketed entry, a designated path to follow through the galleries, requiring staff and visitors to […]

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs will reopen its State Historical Museum of Iowa on June 16 after closing to the public due to COVID-19. The museum at 600 E. Locust Street in Des Moines will be open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday in the first phase of reopening. Visitors are encouraged […]

The EMC Insurance Foundation has contributed $525,000 in additional pandemic relief funding to assist families and small businesses struggling due to COVID-19. Of that contribution, $450,000 will go to Feeding America for school food pantries and other child hunger programs, and $75,000 goes to the Small Business Recovery Grant Program offered through a consortium of public and private entities […]

Every member of the UnityPoint Health-Des Moines’ workforce — more than 8,000 employees locally — will receive a $20 gift card this month from either Fareway or Hy-Vee as a show of support during the COVID-19 pandemic. The more than $160,000 in gift cards is being provided through the support of the COVID-19 Crisis Fund, […]

Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office announced today that Test Iowa will further expand access to COVID-19 testing with five new sites opening this week. The new sites include one in Dallas County to better serve the Des Moines metro area, and four clinic sites in rural communities. The Dallas County drive-thru site opens today from noon to 6 […]

Immediate change is needed and the community must be willing to step up and have the difficult discussions that are needed to address the racial injustices that led to the protests that followed the slaying of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, the CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership said in a letter released this week.  “Immediate […]

Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, will speak during a virtual town hall series this evening on Facebook Live at 6 p.m. hosted by the NAACP Des Moines, NAACP Iowa/Nebraska Youth & College Division, Iowa Summit on Justice & Disparities, Ban the Box-Iowa and Iowa-Nebraska NAACP State Area Conference of Branches. Johnson will […]

By Lyle Muller | IowaWatch Some rural Iowa hospitals will not survive the COVID-19 outbreak, industry leaders said Wednesday. That dire warning came as the Iowa Hospital Association revealed projections that show the state’s 118 hospitals, collectively, could lose as much as $2.17 billion in revenue by the end of this year.  That’s the bleakest picture […]

Iowa leaders are seeking federal help for the state’s egg industry, hoping to crack into the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program to help Iowa’s egg producers, who have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Iowa is the nation’s No. 1 egg-producing state, with 55 egg companies producing about 16 billion eggs a year. While demand […]

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs awarded more than $1.1 million in federal CARES Act funds through 173 emergency grants statewide, the department announced this morning. The money includes $923,372 for emergency relief and $178,000 in humanities grants to help cultural organizations rebound from the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Previously, the department awarded […]

Sioux City Journal: Tyson Foods announced today that 591 of the workers at its Storm Lake pork processing plant have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. That’s a quarter of the 2,303 workers who work at the facility and were tested for COVID-19. Tyson said more than 75% of the workers who tested positive didn’t show […]

Seventy-five restaurant workers have received $250 one-time grants from the Iowa Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, which was started to support people affected by the suspension of on-premise dining during the COVID-19 related shutdown. More than 40,000 restaurant and hotel workers have been laid off since mid-March when the shutdown began. While restaurants are reopening, they […]

The city of Des Moines has resumed enforcing downtown parking meters, which had not been monitored since March 21 because of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the city, enforcement resumed at 9 a.m. today. City officials say that since the shutdown occurred, the city has lost nearly $1 million in parking revenue from 3,000 parking […]

Iowa Workforce Development today released information regarding two new unemployment benefit programs available to Iowans. The first program, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), will be available beginning today through the week ending Dec. 26 for people who have exhausted their 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. The PEUC was created by the federal CARES Act and provides an additional 13 […]

Delta Dental of Iowa has announced additional relief programs for members, employers and dentists affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These programs are designed to offer financial assistance as dental offices begin to reopen and premium credits to members who may have had to delay dental and vision care. In addition, members can choose to pay their premium […]

The Polk County Continuum of Care is partnering with community organizations to support residents with information about eviction, renters’ rights and community resources in preparation for the May 27 expiration of Iowa’s eviction moratorium, the CoC announced this week. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 44% of Iowa renters were housing-burdened, meaning they spent more than 30% of […]

IDPH confirms coronavirus outbreak at Tyson pork processing plant in Storm LakeDes Moines Register: Iowa Department of Public Health Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter confirmed today the suspected coronavirus outbreak at Tyson Foods’ pork processing plant in Storm Lake, where more than 20% of the employees have tested positive. The news comes one day after Reisetter said […]

Hinterland, a two-day music festival held annually in St. Charles, is canceling its planned 2020 event and will return in 2021 with the same lineup of planned musicians, the festival announced today. Hinterland is scheduled to take place Aug. 6-8 in 2021, with a full day of music planned for Friday instead of just evening […]

Des Moines Register: University of Iowa experts warned this week that premature easing of social distancing rules could spark a coronavirus surge, adding that encouraging the public to wear plastic face shields could substantially reduce the danger. The transparent shields cover people’s entire faces. Cloth face masks, even if worn properly, cover only the mouth and […]

One of Iowa’s largest career and college fairs for high school students will take place virtually this year, from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The ICR Future Career and College Fair will feature more than 70 colleges, universities and career resources from across Iowa and 12 other states, enabling high school students to engage with experts […]

Following Tuesday’s statewide giveaway of cloth masks at Hy-Vee, the Iowa Department of Public Health is providing another 35,000 HanesBrands Inc. cloth masks to be distributed at 108 Fareway stores beginning today. Masks will be provided to customers on a first-come, first-served basis until the supply is exhausted, Fareway said.

Iowa gives the OK to casinos, amusement parks, outdoor entertainment eventsDes Moines Register: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ratcheted back further restrictions today, allowing casinos and amusement parks to reopen next week and easing additional safeguards on bars and restaurants. Reynolds said at her daily coronavirus briefing that casinos and gaming facilities, amusement parks, bowling alleys, pool […]

The Des Moines International Airport is launching a new program titled “Fly DSM: Forward together,” which encourages best practices for physical distancing and the use of face coverings and highlights efforts the airport has made to keep people safe, the airport announced this week. Face coverings are required for all Airport Authority employees in public […]

The Des Moines Area Religious Council will host its annual fundraiser Spring Greens virtually on Wednesday via livestream. The event will stream from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and will feature local culinary talent providing recipes, advice and a behind-the-scenes opportunity to connect participating vendors with a virtual silent auction. Tickets are free, but a freewill […]

As meatpacking plants reopen, data about worker illness remains elusiveNew York Times: Meatpacking facilities have proved to be places where the virus spreads rapidly. But as dozens of plants that closed because of outbreaks begin reopening, meat companies’ reluctance to disclose detailed case counts makes it difficult to determine whether the contagion is contained or new […]

The Downtown Farmers’ Market is working on an online platform to further connect customers and vendors. According to a news release, the Downtown Farmers’ Marketplace Online is expected to launch in late May or early June. It will let vendors take online orders and arrange their own pickup or delivery location. All Downtown Farmers’ Market […]

The Urbandale Indoor Swimming Pool and Senior Recreation Center will remain closed until at least July 6, the city announced this week. In addition, in-person parks and recreation programs are canceled through at least June 14. Park amenities including playgrounds, restrooms, shelters and other facilities also are closed until at least mid-June. The closures are […]

Linn County health official says Test Iowa, lack of data leave county at disadvantageDes Moines Register: A top health emergency response official in eastern Iowa told Gov. Kim Reynolds’ administration this week that local officials struggled to get basic data from the Test Iowa coronavirus testing site in Cedar Rapids, which made it difficult to make […]

Dorsey & Whitney LLP is laying off a “limited number” of staff and attorneys across its U.S. and international offices and temporarily reducing pay for others by as much as 20% in an effort to address the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, Law360 reported. The firm announced Tuesday it is implementing a reduction of its workforce by […]

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a new proclamation today that will enable a number of public gathering venues to reopen on a restricted basis.  Effective Friday, movie theaters, zoos, aquariums, museums and wedding reception venues will be permitted to reopen with appropriate public health measures in place. Swimming pools will also be permitted to reopen for lap swimming […]

U.S. workplace safety agency steps up COVID-19 inspectionsReuters: The U.S. Labor Department will expand inspections of businesses to reduce job-site hazards related to the new coronavirus as employees begin returning to work across the country, although the policy falls short of demands by worker advocates. The revised policy, issued late Tuesday by the Occupational Safety and […]

Outlets of Des Moines will host a drive-up meal kit distribution with Gino’s Italian Foods on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Outlets announced this week. Gino’s will have 1,000 make-at-home meal kits to distribute; the drive-up is first-come, first-served at the Altoona outlets. Vehicles should follow signs located behind Polo Ralph Lauren. 

Clive officials have decided not to open the city’s aquatic center this summer and have canceled the Clive Festival that was scheduled for July 17-18. The decision was made as a way to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. “Public health and safety have always been, and always will be, our top priority,” Clive Leisure […]

The Central Iowa Business Conference, hosted by the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, has been postponed until 2021. The fourth annual CIBC will now be held Sept. 14, 2021, at the Meadows Event Center. The keynote speaker lineup remains the same and includes Emmy Award-winning actor Henry Winkler, business management pioneer Jack Stack and best-selling author […]

The Insurance Information Institute has launched an information campaign with a focus on “ensuring the insurance industry is able to sustain its longstanding role as the country’s backbone of economic growth and stability” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Future of American Insurance & Reinsurance (FAIR) campaign seeks to address threats to the industry from “growing calls to […]

The recently released quarterly report from Capital Crossroads shows how the business sector has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and what it is doing as the economic recovery begins. The report for the group’s second quarter identified what’s been done, how priorities have shifted and what the next steps for each of its 10 […]

Iowa cities with meatpacking plants struggle to get information on COVID-19 casesDes Moines Register: Across Iowa, communities with meatpacking plants are struggling to get information from companies and public health officials about COVID-19 outbreaks. Officials say the lack of transparency makes it difficult for cities and towns to assess the virus’s threat as Gov. Kim Reynolds […]

Nonprofit input is critical in informing Iowa public policy and resource allocation for COVID-19 response and recovery. The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines encourages your participation in the Iowa Economic Development Authority Business and Nonprofit Impact Survey. The IEDA, in partnership with the University of Northern Iowa’s Institute for Decision Making, has released a […]

Iowa has seen a rise in liquor sales, according to a report released today. The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, which sells liquor [not beer or wine] to grocery stores, liquor stores and convenience stores, released a report today laying out the latest trends in its sales to those retailers. The agency does not track individual […]

Meredith Corp. on Thursday reported a third-quarter loss of $289 million, due primarily to noncash impairments of goodwill and intangible assets of $296 million, as revenues declined by 6% from the year-ago quarter to $702 million. “Our performance for the fiscal 2020 third quarter was largely in-line with our expectations until mid-March when the outbreak […]

Coronavirus drives 75% of small businesses to seek federal aidWall Street Journal: Three out of four U.S. small businesses have sought federal aid to cope with fallout from the new coronavirus, according to a Census Bureau survey released today in another indication of the widespread damage caused by the pandemic. The survey found that 75% of […]

Zoom to expand in U.S. with engineering centers in Phoenix, PittsburghReuters: Zoom Video Communications Inc. said today that it plans to hire 500 software engineers for research and development locations in Phoenix and Pittsburgh over the next two years, expanding its engineering workforce by about 60%. The San Jose, Calif.-based videoconferencing company has seen a large […]

The West Des Moines-based Justice League of Food has received a $30,000 award from the Microsoft C19 Response Fund to support the Community Meals Program. The award will be used toward food and labor expenses delivering more than 2,100 hot meals to food-insecure individuals in the community. The Microsoft C19 Response Fund is managed by […]

The Des Moines Arts Festival has canceled this year’s event, and instead will focus on engaging the community through interactive experiences and continuing to support professional development of artists, organizers announced Tuesday.  This year’s festival was scheduled for June 26-28, but organizers said they decided to call it off because of the uncertainty surrounding the […]

Hy-Vee, Wahlburgers and the asset management firm Crescent Capital will be donating 2,000 meals to front-line workers May 13-15 via hospital drop-offs, and offering free meal pickups May 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. at the Wahlburgers West Des Moines location owned by Hy-Vee, the grocery chain announced this week. Meals […]

A $36,500 investment has been made from the Disaster Recovery Fund to support a partnership between Eat Greater Des Moines and the Des Moines Area Religious Council, supporting repackaging and distribution of bulk food items to vulnerable populations relying on the DMARC food pantry system and Eat Greater Des Moines food rescue network. The Disaster […]

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs will be distributing more than $1.3 million in grants to state cultural organizations with new rounds of funding, the state agency announced on Monday. The Iowa Arts & Culture Emergency Relief Grants program reopened Monday to new eligible applicants; funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, and […]

Meredith delays quarterly earnings report, says coronavirus has hit its business hardDes Moines Register: Saying it is facing “an extremely challenging business environment” because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Meredith Corp. informed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission it is delaying its quarterly earnings report, which was due Monday. The Des Moines-based media company, which operates more than […]

Des Moines Area Community College announced today it is guaranteeing student tuition for in-person and online instruction at all DMACC campuses and centers for the fall term. Should DMACC classes be canceled due to COVID-19 or for any other reason, students will receive a full refund. “We wanted to eliminate the risk and concern that students have […]

The U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today released updated state-by-state figures for Economic Impact Payments, with approximately 130 million individuals receiving payments worth more than $200 billion in the program’s first four weeks. In Iowa, more than 1.2 million payments have been made totaling $2,212,426,465, the agencies said. More than 150 million payments will […]

Three Iowa newsrooms will receive a total of more than $200,000 in grants through the Facebook Journalism Project’s COVID-19 Local News Relief Fund, Facebook announced this week. Grants will go to the Carroll Times-Herald ($75,000), the Cedar Rapids Gazette ($100,000) and the Iowa Starting Line ($32,500).

Goodwill of Central Iowa opened doors at 10 locations to accept contact-free donations, after having been closed to the public for seven weeks, the organization announced today. Donation doors will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open locations are in Ames, Indianola, Ottumwa, Johnston, West Des Moines-Jordan Creek, West […]

Iowa shifts focus from coronavirus mitigation to managementCedar Rapids Gazette: Thanks to enough people following guidelines on social distancing and avoiding large gatherings, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Thursday the state is able to shift its COVID-19 focus from mitigation strategies to managing the impact on Iowans. Even as the state Department of Public Health reported 655 […]

The World Food Prize Foundation announced that its second Digital Dialogue, “Defining Medium to Long-term Improvements for Resilient Food Systems,” will be held May 14. Five global experts will examine the medium- to longer-term needs for reshaping the food system, especially as espoused in numerous global calls to action and open letters in circulation. “The COVID crisis […]

Employers must try to accommodate workers vulnerable to coronavirus, agency saysReuters: The U.S. agency that enforces laws prohibiting disability discrimination said today that employers must try to accommodate workers with medical conditions that make them vulnerable to the novel coronavirus before sending them home. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released legal guidance saying employers have a […]

The annual Grimes Governors Days festival is canceled for 2020, Grimes Chamber & Economic Development announced on Tuesday. The event was originally scheduled for June 11-13. More information is available online.

In the first weeks of the state’s shutdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Iowa’s economy lost an anticipated $1.6 billion, economists said Wednesday. The presentation, hosted by the Tax Education Foundation of Iowa, a public policy think tank, included a review of the effects that COVID-19 had on Iowa’s economy in March […]

A new grant program is being launched to help small business owners recover from losses suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Greater Des Moines Partnership, along with the cities of Des Moines, Urbandale, Johnston, Indianola, Norwalk, West Des Moines, Clive, Windsor Heights and Carlisle, and Polk and Warren counties, have launched the Small Business Recovery […]

The Iowa Department of Human Services announced that it has developed a COVID-19 Childcare Sustainability Plan through which it will distribute $31.9 million in stipends to qualifying licensed child care centers and registered homes. The funds are part of $3.5 billion in discretionary funding approved for the Childcare and Development Block Grant program through the […]

Submitted by: Mike Colwell, executive director of entrepreneurial initiative at the Greater Des Moines Partnership In our 24/7 news cycle, social-media-influenced world, everyone is judged in near real time. Recently Bill Gates announced his foundation would fund the construction of seven factories to produce COVID-19 vaccine candidates. The world judged him in a very positive […]

Area residents are invited to stop by Principal Park tomorrow to pick up free hand sanitizer as part of a partnership between the Downtown Farmers’ Market, the Iowa Cubs and Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery. The free hand sanitizer drive-up is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Products will be available on a first-come, […]

U.S. officials warn of new virus surge as states reopenWall Street Journal: U.S. researchers and officials warned about the possibility of a new surge in coronavirus cases as more states and countries begin to reopen their economies and relax social-distancing rules. The U.S. death toll from the Covid-19 disease caused by the virus could approach […]

Nearly 20,000 small businesses in Iowa have been approved to receive funding from the second round of the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, newly released information shows. Through Friday, 19,997 Iowa small businesses have been approved to receive more than $781.6 million from the program, data posted on the Small Business Administration’s website shows. […]

Following public health proclamations established by Gov. Kim Reynolds, the Iowa Utilities Board is extending the winter moratorium that restricts the disconnection of utility services until May 27. The order directs all electric and natural gas utilities to cease disconnection of residential service due to nonpayment for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) qualified […]

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is launching the DSM Day of Thanks on Wednesday to celebrate health care and other essential workers while practicing social distancing. Des Moines residents are encouraged to participate by hanging DSM Day of Thanks signs in the windows of homes and businesses; posting a thank-you message and photo on social […]

The Iowa Department of Education announced late Friday that the state has received more than $71.6 million in federal relief for PK-12 schools through a fund to address costs incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount is Iowa’s share of the more than $13.2 billion emergency relief provided in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief […]

Polk County surpasses 1,000 COVID-19 cases; state reports 8 new deathsDes Moines Register: Another eight people with COVID-19 have died, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported today, bringing the statewide total to 170. IDPH also reported that there were 739 new positive cases of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. Across the state, […]

Great Western Bank’s results turned sharply into loss territory for the company’s second fiscal quarter, as the company recognized impairment charges of $742.2 million in anticipation of market and valuation disruption from the COVID-19 outbreak, the Corridor Business Journal reported. The Sioux Falls, S.D.-based regional bank reported a net loss per share of $740.6 million, or $13.25 […]

The Iowa Bankers Association has raised $40,000 for the Food Bank of Iowa. The money will provide nearly 160,000 meals to help food children, families and seniors who are struggling with hunger as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The IBA launched the food drive earlier this month, asking member banks, employees and industry partners […]

Iowa hits another new high for coronavirus-related deathsCedar Rapids Gazette: For the second consecutive day, the number of new coronavirus-related deaths reached a new high in Iowa, as the state confirmed 14 new deaths today. A total of 162 Iowa deaths have been confirmed since the virus first appeared here in early March. Across the state, […]

The Facebook Journalism Project is donating $20,000 to four Iowa newsrooms, out of the recent $2 million grants in local news organizations nationally covering the COVID-19 pandemic. The Carroll Times Herald, the Little Village Magazine of Iowa City, La Prensa de Iowa of Denison and the Spencer Daily Reporter each received a $5,000 grant to […]

Tyson to temporarily close Sioux City-area beef plant amid rising COVID-19 concernsSioux City Journal: Facing growing public scrutiny over an outbreak of COVID-19 at its Dakota City, Neb., beef plant, Tyson Fresh Meats said late Wednesday it will shut down the 4,300-employee facility for four days, beginning Friday. Tyson officials said the halt in production will […]

The technology subsidiary of West Des Moines-based Homesteaders Life Co., eFuneral Solutions LLC, announced it has developed a new online sales tool designed to facilitate remote sales by preneed counselors. It’s also offering the application, called eFuneral Agent, to all providers cost-free for the remainder of this year, regardless of whether they are currently using […]

By Rachel Vogel Quinn | dsm Contributor Melissa O’Neil, CEO of Central Iowa Shelter and Services, said operations during the pandemic have been “business as usual.” Dealing with ongoing crises is an essential part of their work. In fact, the nonprofit had to activate their emergency plan four times in 2019. O’Neil and her team […]

Iowa religious leaders call on churches to avoid gatherings despite state loosening rulesDes Moines Register: Leaders from more than a dozen Christian denominations are calling on Iowans to refrain from in-person religious gatherings despite Gov. Kim Reynolds’ lifting of some restrictions on religious services. Reynolds announced Monday that religious institutions can once again host gatherings that […]

The World Food Prize Foundation on Monday hosted its ninth annual Iowa Youth Institute, featuring the participation of 264 students and 110 teachers from 93 Iowa high schools. This virtual, daylong event was the first of its kind for the IYI, supported by more than 90 experts from across Iowa. As the world faces the […]

By Dave DeWitte | Senior Business Reporter for the Corridor Business Journal Iowa banks struggled to get Paycheck Protection Program loans processed on Monday after the second round of the U.S. Small Business Administration opened to technical problems that seemed much like a reply of the troubled first round. The SBA opened its processing portal […]

Hy-Vee Inc. announced Monday that all store and distribution center employees throughout its eight-state region are now required to wear masks or other facial coverings while at work. Hy-Vee provided masks to all employees over the past several weeks. The company has already installed temporary Plexiglas barriers at all checkout stands, pharmacy customer service and […]

Iowa Workforce Development on Monday issued guidelines for employers to follow when workers being recalled from layoffs refuse to return to work. Refusing to return to work when recalled, or in an attempt to continue to draw unemployment benefits, will be considered a “voluntary quit,” which would disqualify a claimant from receiving benefits, including the […]

Boeing CEO sees slow recovery for global aviationWall Street Journal: Air traffic may not bounce back for two or three years, Boeing Co. Chief Executive David Calhoun said, outlining the tough outlook for global aviation to the plane maker’s shareholders today. “The health crisis is unlike anything we have ever experienced,” Calhoun said at the annual […]

Krause Group Real Estate last week told tenants who occupy 189 residential units in six Des Moines properties that it would waive rental payments for the month of May, the group said in a news release. The rent, if collected, would have totaled $130,000. “No one has been left untouched by the impact of COVID-19,” […]

A new podcast launched by the Greater Des Moines Partnership will provide content and information to help keep businesses in business, keep people employed and keep the region healthy, according to a news release. Episodes of the weekly podcast will be released each Friday and feature a compilation of resources and information for area businesses and […]

Des Moines International Airport has opened up space south of the terminal for airlines to park planes as air traffic declines because of the coronavirus pandemic. Kayla Kovarna, an airport spokesperson, said about 60 spots were identified as the airport operations team began working to find places to park aircraft. As of today, 13 aircraft, […]

A $75,000 investment has been made from the Disaster Recovery Fund to support the Central Iowa Immigrant Community Support Fund. The Central Iowa Immigrant Community Support Fund is an initiative of AFSC Iowa, Al Exito and Proteus that supports the most marginalized Central Iowans who have needs that fall outside of government guidelines or who […]

Reynolds lifts bans on nonessential surgeries, farmers markets starting MondayDes Moines Register: Gov. Kim Reynolds said today that she would lift Iowa’s ban on nonessential surgeries starting Monday. “Nonessential” surgical and dental procedures in the state have been banned since Reynolds issued a proclamation on March 26. She also announced today that farmers markets could begin […]

As part of National Volunteer Week, United Way of Central Iowa announced that in 2019, 10,787 volunteers donated over 87,189 volunteer hours in opportunities sponsored by United Way of Central Iowa, producing an economic impact of $2,217,216 in Central Iowa. Though volunteer opportunities might not look the same as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic, […]

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs announced today that it has awarded $191,000 in grants to Iowa artists and small nonprofit arts organizations reeling from financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The first-round relief grants were limited to artists and small nonprofit arts organizations. In total, 156 Iowa artists each received a $1,000 award; 14 […]

Des Moines Area Community College announced that DMACC hands-on and lab-based classes will not return to campus this spring. Summer classes, which begin May 26, have also been affected. All classes before July 1 will be offered in an online format. These announcements apply to all DMACC campuses and centers, DMACC President Rob Denson said in a […]

The West Des Moines nonprofit Meals from the Heartland is canceling the annual Morsel Combat chef’s challenge fundraiser, which was scheduled for June 25. The event is considered a critical fundraiser for Meals from the Heartland and in 2019 raised enough money to distribute more than 500,000 meals, part of the 23 million meals packaged […]

COVID-19 hospice unit set up in Des Moines for patients who don’t want to die in hospitalDes Moines Register: A Des Moines hospice agency has set up a special wing for COVID-19 patients, underlining the gravity of Iowa’s coronavirus epidemic. The EveryStep agency plans to open a six-bed hospice unit Monday at its east-side Des Moines […]

The city of West Des Moines has extended the cancellation of all parks and recreation programs, events and facility reservations through May 29, which is the Friday after Memorial Day. The cancellations and closures had been effective through May 10. Included in the events that have been canceled are the Mayor’s Bike Ride and Pancake […]

MercyOne, one of Iowa’s largest health-care systems, invites community members to show their support for health-care and all essential workers by donating to the COVID-19 Relief Fund and then displaying printed heart decals in their windows or digital hearts on social media. Community members are invited to visit www.MercyOne.org/covid19 to order a T-shirt or window decals where […]

The challenges facing the rural health care system are more dire than ever before with staff furloughs and even more hospitals on the brink of collapse due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Rural Health Task Force released recommendations designed to stabilize rural hospitals and clinics with financial relief in the […]

According to a new survey released by the National Endowment for Financial Education, nearly 9 in 10 Americans say the COVID-19 crisis is causing stress on their personal finances. More than half (54%) of Americans say among the top five things causing the most financial stress right now is not having enough saved (41% for emergency savings; […]

Tyson closing Waterloo plant indefinitelyWaterloo-Cedar Falls Courier: Following criticism from public health officials over coronavirus concerns, Tyson Foods today announced it is indefinitely closing its meatpacking plant in Waterloo. “Despite our continued efforts to keep our people safe while fulfilling our critical role of feeding American families, the combination of worker absenteeism, COVID-19 cases and community […]

The Iowa Insurance Institute, a not-for-profit association representing Iowa property and casualty insurers, has donated $10,000 to the Food Bank of Iowa on behalf of its member companies in a special donation to help Iowans affected by the COVID-19 shutdown. “The Iowa Insurance Institute is very excited to support the Food Bank of Iowa during […]

Local distilleries Foundry Distilling Co. and Cat’s Eye Distillery are partnering to produce a blended whiskey called Des Moines Strong, with all proceeds benefiting the Iowa Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. Three hundred bottles of the initial Des Moines Strong release will be available in early May at local retailers, including Fareway stores, the distilleries said […]

Tyson reopens Columbus Junction plant; new cases at JBS plant in MarshalltownDes Moines Register: Tyson Foods’ pork processing plant in Columbus Junction is resuming “limited operations” after closing for two weeks due to a coronavirus outbreak there. The company said the plant would reopen today. Tyson closed its location in southeast Iowa on April 6 after […]

Several businesses and organizations have joined the effort to fill the need for personal protective equipment for health care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, donating more than 190,000 items over the past few weeks, officials with the Des Moines Partnership said in a release today. A.J. Mumm, director of Polk County […]

RAGBRAI called off for 2020 due to coronavirus concernsDes Moines Register: RAGBRAI organizers announced today that they will push this year’s ride — including the planned route — to July 25-31, 2021. The decision was made after “deep consideration” and conversations with key team members, organizers said. It will be the first time since its 1973 […]

MercyOne Medical Group-Central Iowa has consolidated its urgent care clinics and established a clinic specifically for patients with fever and upper respiratory infection symptoms, in an effort to provide better patient and staff safety and preserve personal protective equipment. MercyOne East Village at 1350 Des Moines St. now serves as the Fever and Upper Respiratory Infection Clinic. […]

Reynolds says schools will remain closed, Iowa will adopt phased reopening elsewhereDes Moines Register: Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to reopen Iowa using “a phased approach” that aligns with guidance issued by President Donald Trump, she announced today. The governor did not specify which businesses or entities may open first, or when they would get the green […]

The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center announced that it has canceled its annual fundraising event, An All-Star Evening, which had been previously moved to June 5. The decision to cancel was based on guidance from organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Iowa Department of Public Health, organizers said. The event […]

Reynolds tightens limits on activity in northeast Iowa in reaction to COVID-19 spikeDes Moines Register: Gov. Kim Reynolds today ordered people in northeastern Iowa to limit their activity, including keeping visiting to only immediate family members, in reaction to a spike in COVID-19 activity there. Almost all gatherings outside of immediate household members are banned in […]

The KCCI Project CommUNITY Half-Million-Meals Challenge raised more than $560,000 for the Food Bank of Iowa in one day, April 15, the station announced today. The Food Bank of Iowa now has enough for more than 2 million meals. Forty-eight percent of the food acquired by Food Bank of Iowa comes from donations, and partner […]

Submitted by Frank B. Harty, Chairman of Nyemaster Goode PC  America is in the throes of the most daunting disaster in recent history. Civic, business and economic leaders disagree on strategies and details surrounding COVID-19, but they all agree on two fundamental truths: (1) no other disaster has had such a widespread impact on the […]

The Grinnell Mutual Group Foundation and Grinnell College, two of the largest employers in Poweshiek County, have joined forces with other community groups to provide funding for both immediate and post-COVID-19 pandemic needs in the area. Together, the two organizations are donating nearly $100,000 to four area resources. Jeff Menary, president and CEO of Grinnell Mutual, said […]

University of Iowa Health Care researchers have started a new clinical trial to determine if plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients can help treat patients currently hospitalized with the disease. The key to this “convalescent plasma” approach is the antibodies produced in people when they fight off COVID-19. These so-called neutralizing antibodies can be collected in […]

Des Moines-based Proteus Inc., a nonprofit that provides services to farmers in Iowa, Nebraska and Indiana, is collecting masks to help protect farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Farmworkers are essential workers,” said Proteus CEO Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel in a news release announcing the mask collection effort. “They contribute to supporting the food supply chain, agricultural economy, […]

Columbus Junction pork processing plant hit hard by coronavirus with 186 positive cases​Des Moines Register: Soaring numbers of workers at the Columbus Junction pork-processing plant who have been sickened by COVID-19 have sparked fears not only for the employees’ health but also for the vitality of this small town and the continuity of the nation’s meat […]

Street Collective donates bikes for youths, materials for making face shieldsThe Des Moines Street Collective has donated four bikes through the Iowa Homeless Youth Centers and is donating used bicycle tubes to university students as 3D printing materials to make face shields for health workers, the collective announced this week. The collective’s shop is accepting material and […]

University of Iowa Health Care today received a $2 million donation to help with the most urgent needs in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The gift is from the Richard O. Jacobson Foundation and will be used for current and future expenses associated with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the COVID-19 virus. It will also […]

Coronavirus shutdown creates uncertainty throughout Minor League BaseballDes Moines Register: Profitability is hard to come by for most Minor League Baseball teams. Now, with each passing day without a game, teams are taking financial hits. They rely on their limited precious home dates to make as much money as possible. And with no end in sight […]

The National Alliance on Mental Illness — Iowa (NAMI Iowa) has postponed its spring fundraiser Beautiful Minds, originally scheduled for May 15. Dinner hosts participating in the event may either reschedule their dinner party to a new date or convert their party to a virtual format.  Fareway Stores announced a $200,000 donation to the Iowa Chamber of […]

Des Moines International Airport officials announced that the airport’s A Concourse has been temporarily closed, effective today. “We have made this decision in collaboration with our airline partners to ensure minimal impact on their operations,” airport spokeswoman Kayla Kovarna said in an emailed statement. “With low passenger traffic in the terminal, it is a proactive […]

2 new COVID-19 deaths, 123 new cases reported in IowaDes Moines Register: Two more people with COVID-19 in Iowa have died, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today during a news conference, bringing the statewide total to 43. Another 123 people have tested positive for the illness, Pat Garrett, a spokesman for the governor’s office, confirmed. Reynolds during […]

The Iowa Governor’s Conference on Public Health has announced new virtual sessions beginning April 14 with Dr. Rosie Ward’s keynote address “Rehumanizing the Workplace — Why it matters now more than ever.” The session will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. via Zoom and is free and open to all. Successive sessions will be held daily April 15-May […]

Iowa faces medical equipment shortageCedar Rapids Gazette: State public health officials today issued an emergency order due to a shortage of personal protective equipment, allowing health care providers to stretch their supplies by using and reusing masks, gowns and other items beyond the normal use period. Gov. Kim Reynolds reassured Iowans that positive cases of coronavirus […]

Public Health and GovernmentThe city of Ankeny is requesting that the public donate homemade masks for essential public workers to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The city is calling for donated masks to protect employees including public works, utilities, park maintenance and office staff. Fire/EMS and police staff will continue to wear appropriate PPE when coming in […]

Alliant Energy has made a $2 million donation to its Hometown Care Energy Fund, which assists Alliant customers in Iowa and Wisconsin who need financial help to pay their energy bill during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hometown Care Energy Fund is supported annually with funds from Alliant Energy shareowners, as well as voluntary contributions from employees, retirees and […]

Ernst urges patience as kinks in small-business aid are worked outCorridor Business Journal: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst called for patience as small businesses await dispersal of nearly $350 billion in emergency relief, cautioning that working through kinks in the new federal Payroll Protection Program might take some time, and promising that additional help is on the […]

Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the expansion of the Small Business Relief Program from $4 million to $24 million after the Iowa Economic Development Authority received nearly 14,000 applications for grants over the last two weeks. Combined, Iowa applicants requested more than $148 million in grant assistance, and more than 5,000 requested tax deferrals, Reynolds said. […]

UnitedHealth Group will accelerate nearly $2 billion in payments and financial support to U.S. hospitals and health care providers to help address the significant financial pressure many are facing due to COVID-19, Becker’s Hospital Review reported. The reduction and elimination of elective procedures in preparation for COVID-19 surges has resulted in massive decreases in private payments to hospitals. […]

Influential model lowers coronavirus death estimates in Iowa, nationallyCedar Rapids Gazette: A leading forecasting model used by the White House to chart the novel coronavirus pandemic predicted this week that the United States may need fewer hospital beds, ventilators and other equipment than previously projected. On April 2, the model used by the University of Washington’s […]

More than 20% of Iowa’s coronavirus cases are health care workersDes Moines Register: More than 20% of Iowa’s positive COVID-19 diagnoses are from health care workers, the deputy director of the Iowa Department of Public Health said today. The revelation comes as Iowa’s number of positive tests passed 1,000 and another Iowan died from the disease, […]

Public Health and GovernmentThe Iowa Utilities Board’s Lifeline program is available to qualified low-income Iowans who need basic telephone service and broadband internet access service, the IUB announced this week. Lifeline provides applicants limited monthly financial assistance to help defray the costs; due to COVID-19, the program is pausing recertification dates through May 18. More information is available […]

Public Health and GovernmentDes Moines Area Regional Transit will further reduce its weekday bus service due to COVID-19, effective April 12. Most DART local routes will operate on the Saturday service schedule on weekdays as part of the additional, temporary service reduction. There are no changes to Saturday and Sunday service at this time. To protect the health […]

Public Health and GovernmentThe city of Clive has issued an emergency proclamation to extend the closure of city park playgrounds, shelters, restrooms and city facilities through April. The proclamation also allows the city to amend its timeline as response to COVID-19 continues. More information is available online. The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Saturday obligated more than $44 million […]

Des Moines intends to close schools for rest of year, shift to online classesDes Moines Register: Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Tom Ahart said “it is inevitable” that classes will be canceled for the remainder of the school year as the state braces for a surge in coronavirus cases in the coming weeks. “I believe that […]

Two more Iowa coronavirus deaths confirmed, both in Linn CountyCedar Rapids Gazette: Two more deaths related to the novel coronavirus in Iowa were confirmed Thursday by state public health officials. The new deaths were both in Linn County, and were older patients, between the ages of 61 and 80. That brings the total coronavirus-related deaths in […]

The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines has announced an initial $100,000 of donations it is making to nonprofit organizations from the Disaster Recovery Fund that has been established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  At this time, investments are supporting surges in service and capacity for local nonprofits that are continuing to provide critical […]

Applications open Friday for federal coronavirus-relief loansDes Moines Register: Most business owners can begin applying for forgivable, federally backed coronavirus-relief loans on Friday. Iowa Small Business Administration District Director Jayne Armstrong said the agency and the U.S. Department of Treasury finished writing the rules for the new program this week, which will allow business owners to begin […]

Iowa JBS workers say they’re packed in too tight to stay safe from coronavirusDes Moines Register: A Latino advocacy group is questioning whether meatpacking giant JBS is doing enough to protect the 2,700 workers at its Marshalltown pork processing plant, saying employees are crowded on the company’s production floor, in locker rooms and in other parts […]

In pursuit of knowledge, every day something is acquired. In pursuit of wisdom, every day something is dropped. – Lao Tzu Several years ago, I had the chance to hear a keynote speaker at a professional teaching conference who made a significant impression. In this time of COVID-19, the message is only more relevant. Karl Weick, professor […]

A majority of Americans — 88% — are confident the country will get through the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the newest edition of the Grinnell College National Poll. The poll, a partnership between Grinnell College and J. Ann Selzer of Selzer & Co., was released this morning. Nearly 7 in 10 respondents say they would […]

Can states force insurers to cover losses from pandemic-related business closure? Legislators in at least three states — New Jersey, Ohio and Massachusetts — have proposed bills to require that insurers pay out for certain claims related to COVID-19, Bloomberg reported. The American Property Casualty Insurance Association is pushing back, arguing that the costs aren’t covered under […]

Pandemic fallout begins to hit Iowa newsroomsCorridor Business Journal: Lee Enterprises, the parent company of 10 Iowa newspapers, will furlough employees or reduce compensation as it struggles to cut costs in response to a COVID-19-related drop in advertising revenue. The company told employees Tuesday they had a choice between a two-week furlough or an equivalent 4% […]

The Iowa Department of Education today released a host of optional resources for families and educators to use as they support student learning during school closures due to COVID-19. The resources are available on the Iowa Department of Education’s website and include interactive games, virtual field trips, coding activities and e-books. The Iowa Department of Education partnered […]

Public Health and GovernmentWebinar: Understanding State and Federal Assistance Programs for NonprofitsIowa nonprofit organizations can learn more about federal and state COVID-19 financial assistance and relief programs during a live webinar on Friday. The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and the Iowa Council of Foundations are hosting the free one-hour webinar via Zoom at […]