SPM News

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

The National Weather Service issued an Air Quality Alert for northwest Iowa through this afternoon. The wildfires near Lake Winnipeg, Canada, drifted southward and will move through Sioux Falls and the Sioux City area. There were six out-of-control fires near Lake Winnipeg in Canada as of noon yesterday, with the biggest measuring more than 300 square miles. Those sensitive to smoke or with existing health conditions could experience health effects due to the smoke. The U.S. Drought Monitor

A Siouxland Sheriff’s office is mourning the death of one of its own. The Burt County Sheriff says Deputy Justin Smith passed away yesterday after a battle with COVID-19. Deputy Smith has been a member of the Burt County Sheriff's Office and since 2008. He also served as the Police Chief of Decatur, Nebraska. The Burt County Board of Supervisors has requested that all flags in the county be lowered to half-staff. COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to climb as state health officials reported this

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory today for the entire state of Iowa, most of South Dakota and a large portion of Nebraska. The heat advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. for Siouxland with a heat index near 110. Governors from all three Siouxland States slam the CDC’s announcement on Tuesday urging both vaccinated and nonvaccinated people to wear masks due to a surge of cases of COVID-19. The CDC also advises children in schools wear masks this fall. South Dakota Governor Kristi

Dave Muhlbauer , a former Crawford County Supervisor and farmer from Manning/Manilla is also running as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Senator Chuck Grassley. Maulbauer was in Sioux City this week and stopped by the Siouxland Public Media studios for an interview with Sheila Brummer. Last week former Iowa Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer announced plans to run for Republican Chuck Grassley’s U.S. Senate seat in 2022. The 32-year-old Democrat released a campaign video where

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds called new revised guidance from the CDC surrounding wearing masks “not grounded in reality or common sense.” Reynolds issued a statement shortly after the CDC recommended fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors in areas of the country where the virus is circulating widely. She still encouraged people to get vaccinated, but went on to say she’s concerned the guidance will be used as a vehicle to mandate masks in states and schools, something she does not support.

The U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in the summer of 2015. Author Sasha Issenberg explored the topic for his new book “The Engagement: America’s Quarter-Century Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage”. Issenberg is long-time journalist who worked for many publications including the Boston Globe, Bloomberg Politics, New York Magazine, and more. He is currently the Washington correspondent for Monocle. Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer recently interviewed Issenberg about his book,