Refugee and immigrant-led organizations in Iowa are banding together to provide information on COVID-19 in ten different languages. The program through the group Embarc is mainly targeting Iowans from Burma and Central and East Africa. Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer with a look at what is being done locally to reach out to minority communities. When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic there is concern not everyone is getting the message. Erica DeLeon is the Director of One Siouxland, a

There is a growing concern in the state of Iowa the governor isn’t doing enough to stop the spread of COVID-19. Governor Kim Reynolds says she does have strong guidelines in place. But, Don Dew the Executive Director of the Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland says it’s not enough. “Governor Reynolds, you say you are driven by the data. Please look at the data why it is so much better to do mitigation to lock down the state.” Dew along with other members of Iowa’s Independent Living Network

The Democratic leaders of the Iowa House and Senate urged Republican Governor Kim Reynolds to issue a formal stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They sent a letter to the governor asking her to go further in her response to the new coronavirus Democratic U.S. Congresswomen Abby Finkenauer and Cindy Axne also called on Reynolds to do the same. Reynolds says she’s already put strong restrictions in place. Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer talked to one local politician who

Governor Kim Reynolds says she wants her team to have a conversation with the Iowa Board of Medicine after it unanimously voted to ask her to issue a formal shelter-in-place order. Board members are appointed by the governor and oversee physician licensing and regulations. Reynolds says she hasn’t received the board’s letter yet. “I am always interested in getting and hearing the feedback of the medical community, but I would like to have them walk through with our team what we’re already doing

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued an order requiring all schools and non-essential businesses to stay closed through the end of April. School district will need to come with a plan for educating students or they will be required to make up some of the lost days in class. Reynolds says she continue to evaluate the situation to see if schools will be closed for the rest of the school year. At a news conference Thursday afternoon, state Department of Education director Ann Lebo said schools will be

On The Exchange this week, we talk about the latest developments concerning the coronavirus in Siouxland and Iowa. Our guests are Dr. Michael Kafka of Unity Point Health-St. Lukes who will talk about efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and how well the hospitals are prepared to treat it.' Also we talk with.Dr. Amy Rief-Elks. She is the Program Director of the Siouxland Medical Education Foundation Family Residency Program. She shared her thoughts about the shortage of both doctors and

While the city of Sioux City shut down public spaces including the museum, art center and playgrounds; business is still going on, including law enforcement. Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer explores the impact of the COVID-19 on the Sioux City Police Department. The Sioux City Police Department is seeing one major trend during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of drunk driving arrests dropped significantly. Last month, officers made 52 OWI arrests. The number fell to less than half in

Misinformation about COVID-19 spreads far and fast, especially in this age of modern media. Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer found a local expert who says this isn’t something new during a world-wide crisis even among politicians.

Iowa public health officials say coronavirus cases have increased by 52, raising the total statewide to 549. Two more deaths were reported Wednesday. They were both over age 81. The virus is now present in 60 of Iowa's 99 counties including O’Brien County in northwest Iowa. The person who tested positive is a woman between the age of 41 to 60 and is self-isolating at home. State health officials say 63 people are currently hospitalized. South Dakota health officials report one more person has

April 1 st is more than April Fools’ Day, it’s also known as Census Day with the U.S. Census Bureau. The current census is underway and Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer talked to Erica DeLeon the Director of One Siouxland, about the impact of COVID-19 and the importance of taking part in this once-in-a-decade count. She is a member of the local “Complete Counts Committee”. You can fill out the census online at my2020census.gov . If you don’t have internet access call (844) 330-2020.