This week on The Exchange, we hear both sides of a controversy over the use of American Recovercy Plan Act funds for the new Woodbury Count Law Enforcement Center in Sioux City. Some residents and labor leaders saycoronavirus money should go to help those hurt by the pandemic; not to cover the escalating costs of the LEC. The Board of Supervisors says the higher costs have been caused by supply chain issues that were caused by the pandemic. We hear comments from this week's supervisors' meeting.

Public health officials in Iowa’s largest county are sounding alarms that too few people are wearing masks and getting vaccinated as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations climb in the state to levels not seen since January. The surge of the delta variant of COVID-19 comes as schools go back into session banned from requiring masks by a Republican legislature and governor. The Iowa Department of Public Health in its weekly update Wednesday added 42 deaths, bringing the state total to 6,268

School is back in session in Siouxland and across the country. Parents and kids are beginning their second year while dealing with the coronavirus. The Sioux City Public School Foundation has endeavored to help students with keeping safe, learning in difficult times, providing band instruments and graduation gear. The foundation has three main pillers to its mission. I talked with the foundation’s Mickey Nelson and Michael Rohlena about those pillars and how they are put into practice in the

More than a dozen Woodbury County residents spoke out against using federal coronavirus money to build the new Law Enforcement Center at yesterday’s supervisor’s meeting. Siouxland Public Media’s Mary Hartnett has more. Members of the group United Today, Stronger Tomorrow argued against using more than 15 million dollars in American Recovery Plan Act money, meant to offset costs from the coronavirus pandemic, for the new Law Enforcement Center. The UTST and labor leaders held a press conference

Sioux City Mayor Pro Tempore Dan Moore tells Siouxland Public Media he filled his nomination petition for city council today. Woodbury County Auditor Pat Gill says if more than six people file for three open seats, there will be a primary on October 5 th , otherwise a combined city/school election will take place countywide on November 2 nd . Pete Groetken says he will not seek a third term on the city council. Alex Waters seat is also up for reelection. He told Siouxland Public Media he plans

Parts of Siouxland are under a heat advisory until six tonight. The heat index will climb easily into the triple digits. According to the National Weather Service, there is a chance for severe storms with hail and high wind. Plus, areas south of Yankton to Spencer will have an elevated risk for a brief tornado. Due to the heat, Hunt Elementary school will have an early dismissal. While a new school is being built, students are attending class in the old Crescent Park building. It is the only non

Courtesy of woodburycounty.gov Edit | Remove Every person in Iowa, vaccinated or not, should wear a mask when in public indoor spaces because of the level of spread of COVID-19 , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC recommends the measure to stem the tide of the disease when there is a substantial spread of the virus — 50 or more confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the prior week, or a positive test rate of 8% or greater. Ten Iowa counties have a

The 24 Hours of Le Mans runs this weekend in France, August 21st to 22nd. One Siouxlander will keep close watch due to a deep history with the automobile endurance event. Dr. Quentin Durward first developed a love for the sport as a child growing up in a land 8,000 miles away. The neurosurgeon shared an essay with Siouxland Public Media about his journey through racing and cars to achieve his "American Dream". * Dr. Durward took Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer for a spin in his 2020 Ford

Iowa’s COVID-19 cases have increased steadily since late June, with the state adding 1,992 cases in a single day this week, according to New York Times data. That total, on Wednesday, was the highest the state has recorded since 2,478 cases on Jan. 6, as reported by Iowa Capital Dispatch. Daily gains were much more significant at other points in the pandemic. For example, in November, some days topped 4,000 cases. Iowa’s daily average for COVID-19 cases rose 63% in the past two weeks, the Times

Iowa Democrats are calling on Republican Governor Kim Reynolds to allow schools to follow CDC guidelines and require students and teachers to wear masks. Reynolds signed a new law in May that prohibits mask mandates in schools. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights cautions against districts defying that law. She pointed to bills in the last legislative session that targeted Des Moines schools for violating state guidelines. We should not have to be asking school boards to