The state of Iowa updated COVID-19 statistics on Wednesday. The Iowa Department of Public Health added 100 additional deaths due to COVID-19 bringing the total to 6,848 since the start of the pandemic. The deaths happened in almost two months starting in the middle of August. In the past seven days there were almost 6,500 positive test results. The state positivity rate fell to 8.3%. Last week it was 9%. The positivity rate across Siouxland has fallen with Woodbury County at 13%. However,

On November 2 nd, voters in Sioux City will head to the polls to cast their ballot for city council. An hour-long edition of The Exchange presents highlights from a League of Women Voters candidate forum held on October 14 th at City Hall for the four people seeking one of three open seats. The candidates include incumbents, attorney Dan Moore and Alex Watters, Director of Talent and Community Engagement at Morningside University. Two political newcomers are also running Ike Rayford, an audio

The deadline for requesting a ballot for the city/county election in Woodbury County is today at 5 p.m. During last week’s League of Women Voter Candidate Forum for City Council, Woodbury County Auditor and Election Commissioner Pat Gill talked about the changes made by the Iowa Legislature. “What I am seeing is this is going to have a huge negative impact on the turnout for this election.” Gill says 5,000 people voted absentee during the last city/county election two-years ago. Last week, his

A local disability rights organization is looking at taking legal action against Sioux City Community Schools if modifications are not made to the district’s virtual academy. The district launched the VIBE Academy this school year to offer a virtual option for students. The Executive Director of Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland, Don Dew told Siouxland Public Media last month the program does not allow for some students with disabilities to take part. “What they are doing is depriving

The Iowa Department of Public Health added 94 additional deaths due to complications of COVID-19, including one more in Woodbury County. The deaths happened between late August and early October for a total of 6,748 since the start of the pandemic. The number of positive tests in the last seven days continues to fall, down 8% since Monday. Iowa’s test positivity rate dropped to 9.2%. However, the positivity rate in Woodbury County is 17% with most cases in younger people according to Siouxland

Friday, October 15th, is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day . An event planned for 7 p.m. at Sioux City's Miracle Field includes an opportunity for people and families to light a candle. Katie Kruse of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, is the organizer and member of the non-profit No Foot Too Small . She shares her personal story and mission with Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer. To preregister for the event click here . No Foot Too Small was founded out of a desire to draw

The Vangarde Arts Harvest Blues Fest takes place this weekend with a performance Saturday night from Australian blues master Michael Charles . Charles took time out of his busy schedule to talk to Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer about his upcoming Sioux City appearance and how his music transcends the blues genre. * Special thanks to Jane Rogers, publicist for Michael Charles. Biography: Michael Charles musical pilgrimage started over six decades ago in his birth place Melbourne,

The statewide COVID-19 infection rate continues to decline since its recent peak in mid-September, but the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports certain counties in rural Iowa — where vaccination rates lag behind the state average — have new daily cases comparable to their pandemic peak last year. Adams County has the largest number of infections per capita in the state, even though its rate of infection has dropped 21% in the past two weeks, according to New York Times data . Its two-week total of

The Iowa State Auditor’s office on Tuesday released a reaudit of the Sioux City Community School District that did not show any major wrongdoing. The report covers a period from June 30, 2017, to June 30, 2019, and recommends the school board approve and document pay raises. Dan Greenwell requested the reaudit through a petition drive before he joined the school board. He felt the district operated with weak financial controls and expressed concern Superintendent Paul Gausman handed out bonuses

Nebraska’s four Native American tribes took part in a special celebration at the state Capitol in Lincoln today for Indigenous Peoples Day. One of the speakers at the event was the Chairwoman of the Winnebago Tribe Victoria Kitcheyan . "We have an opportunity to educate our friends, neighbors, and relatives in the teaching of the Ho-Chunk People, The Ponca People, Omaha Nation, and Santee Sioux Tribe." Flags honoring Nebraska’s four Native American tribes were presented by tribal leaders for