SPM News

Gov. Kim Reynolds acknowledged Iowa is seeing surging numbers of coronavirus cases and record hospitalizations, but she says the health care system could handle the increase and no further action was needed to reduce infections. There were 444 people being treated for the coronavirus in hospitals as of Wednesday morning, and in the past 24 hours the state had 919 new confirmed positive cases and 15 more deaths. The biggest increase comes from increased hospitalizations in northwest Iowa,

Chris Janicek is running for U.S. Senate in the State of Nebraska. Janicek, a baker from Omaha, made headlines when the Democratic Party of Nebraska withdrew support and resources in June and called for him to pull out of the race. Janicek visited Siouxland and sat down for an interview about the text-message controversy that put him on the outs with his party, the uphill battle he faces against incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, health care, agriculture and the environment. The

A suburban Des Moines educator has died from complications of COVID-19, but it's unclear if she contracted the virus at school or elsewhere. The principal of Indian Hills Junior High School says special education assistant Jennifer Crawford, died Monday. The school is in West Des Moines. Iowa has the fourth-highest coronavirus positivity rate in the nation. Only 10 of Iowa's 99 counties are below the 5% threshold at which public health experts recommend measures to slow the spread of the virus,

Republican groups are asking the Iowa Supreme Court today to stay a judge's ruling blocking the enforcement of a state order. That order has been used to invalidate tens of thousands of absentee ballot requests. The Republican National Committee, President Trump's campaign, and other GOP groups said that Iowa's election administration could be thrown into "chaos" if the ruling stands. At issue is yesterday's ruling by Judge Robert Hanson. Hanson's ruling would block Iowa Secretary of State Paul

Health officials in Nebraska say the state has entered a dangerous period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Deaths in Nebraska have topped 500 according to the latest update from Sunday night with more people hospitalized with the virus than ever before. There were 400 new cases, for a total of more than 47,800 since the state of the pandemic. Nebraska health officials say a third of the state’s intensive care beds remain available. A group of scientists and experts from the University of Nebraska

The Sioux City Community School District reports a decrease of new COVID-19 cases involving students and staff. Last week were 32 cases; this week - 26, with more staff than students being impacted. (10 students – 16 staff). New cases were identified in 14 buildings in the district. One third grade class at Leeds Elementary was put in emergency response virtual learning. Last week, there were five classes. The school district provides an update every Friday and says contract tracing was done in

Iowa posted more than 1,000 new confirmed coronavirus cases for the third straight day as the coronavirus continued to aggressively spread in many areas of the state, including northwest Iowa. State public health data posted this morning showed 1,142 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours with over 90,700 cases now identified since March. The state posted nine additional deaths for a total of 1,367. There was one more death recorded in Woodbury County on the state coronavirus website for 69 in

A well-known Siouxland priest passed away on Sunday, September 27 th due to complications of COVID-19 and cancer at the age of 76. Father John Vakulskas served many Catholic parishes in Siouxland during his half-century career. He was also known as the “Carnival Priest” and was appointed International Coordinator of Carnival Ministries by Pope John Paull II in 1993. His nephew Brian Vakulskas of Sioux City talks to Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer about Father John's life and the impact

Seventeen more Iowans have died of complications of COVID-19 and more than 1,000 tested positive in 24-hours, including more than 90 new cases in Woodbury County. The 14-day positivity rate for Woodbury County is just under 15%. Half of the dozen counties in the state above the 15% threshold are located in northwest Iowa. Lyon has the top positivity rate in the state at 31%. Fifteen percent is the level set by the state to allow a school district to apply for on-line learning only, among other

This week on The Exchange, COVID 19 cases continue to rise in Siouxland, and some school board members ask for a return to hybrid learning.