UnityPoint Health announced today it will require its more than 33,000 team members to be vaccinated against COVID-19.The three-state health system also continues to urge all eligible individuals to get their COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible. MercyOne Medical Center announced that all staff would need to be vaccinated in early July. UnityPoint will require all employed team members, regardless of whether they provide direct patient care or not, to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1, 2021.

News noon 080521 Updated national maps now show there are two areas of extreme drought in Iowa. Radio Iowa reports The state climatologist said the northwest and east-central Iowa areas have "missed out on widespread, heavier rains." According to the National Drought Mitigation Center, conditions deteriorated significantly in several large patches in Iowa and Minnesota over the past week.

Education leaders in South Dakota say that as the new school year approaches the state doesn’t have enough teachers and support staff, a situation they attribute to the coronavirus pandemic. The State Education Secretary says every school district in South Dakota is dealing with staffing shortages with several teachers deciding to retire earlier than planned due to COVID-19. The Superintendent of the Sioux City Community School District is one of three local leaders scheduled to speak at a news

Education leaders in South Dakota say that as the new school year approaches the state doesn’t have enough teachers and support staff, a situation they attribute to the coronavirus pandemic. The State Education Secretary says every school district in South Dakota is dealing with staffing shortages with several teachers deciding to retire earlier than planned due to COVID-19. The Superintendent of the Sioux City Community School District is one of three local leaders scheduled to speak at a news

Training is extremely important for police officers and deputies. This week a special program provides high-level lessons to some four-legged law enforcers as well. Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer shares details and sounds of this intense instruction. Local businessman Ryan Callaghan of RP Constructors helped cover the $20,000 pricetag for the training. The training sessions for the dogs and officers continue through tomorrow. * Special thanks Sioux City Police Officer Andrew Dutler for

Youngsters from the Omaha Tribe are learning lessons surrounding their history and culture this week. Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer traveled to Macy, Nebraska for this first of its kind event.

Tyson Foods is requiring all employees in the United States to e vaccinated against COVID-19. According to a news release, all employees who work in an office setting must be fully vaccinated by October 1 and the rest of the workforce by November 1. Tyson says the move is to help keep infection rates low. They say about half of their employees have already received their shots. Exceptions to the vaccination mandate will be made for people who need special medical or religious accommodations.

Native Americans and other residents spoke out yesterday at the Sioux City Council meeting about the removal of a downtown homeless camp. Siouxland Public Media’s Mary Hartnett has this report. About 60 people protested the treatment of homeless people removed over the weekend from a camp near 4 th street and Wesley Way. Outside of the municipal building, they carried signs saying Sioux City Has to Do Better and You Cannot Displace War Eagle’s people. Event organizer and Tribal Historical

The City Hall and Community Center in Sergeant Bluff are closed this week due to COVID-19. In a statement sent to Siouxland Public Media, the city clerk says an “unusually large number” of staff members were exposed to COVID-19. So, they decided to close City Hall and the Community Center to protect the public. They hope to have all facilities open by the weekend. A petition condemning an Iowa law banning mask mandates in schools is seeing more support. The petition, organized by a leader of the

A teenager has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the shooting death of a woman at a New Year’s Eve party in Sioux City. Eighteen year old Anthony Bauer of Sioux City, was sentenced this morning after he plead guilty in June to second-degree murder, according to television station KTIV. In his plea, Bauer admitted that he and others fired several shots into a home where people were gathered for a New Year’s Eve party, killing 18-year-old Mia Kritis and wounding three others. In exchange