SPM News

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.

The National Guard recently delivered much-needed medical supplies to all of Iowa’s 99 counties. As Sheila Brummer reports on one medical group seeing even more need. The doctor in charge of Siouxland’s only family medicine residency program says there is a critical shortage of personal protective equipment or PPE. “That is why I’m asking the public to be respectful and stay home. Because that is one thing they can do to minimize the risk to my nurses, my receptionists my staff because they can

The Iowa Department of Public Health reporting 73 additional cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, bringing the state total of confirmed cases to 497. Fifty-seven counties have confirmed cases including the first case in Clay County. There were two more confirmed in Sioux County for a total of 15 in Siouxland. Testing is still quite limited in the state, so the actual number of cases is likely much bigger and more widespread. One more Iowan has died from the novel coronavirus, the seventh death in the

Two of Iowa's Democratic members of Congress are calling on Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to issue a stay-at-home order as the state confirms more cases of the novel coronavirus. U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne issued a letter this week calling for the statewide mandate, and U.S. Representative Abby Finkenauer issued a similar letter letter last week. They are among a chorus of voices calling on Reynolds to take more aggressive action limiting Iowans' social interactions in an effort to stem the spread of COVID

Today, health officials say COVID-19 has claimed the lives of two more Iowans, for a total of six deaths during the pandemic. There are 88 more positive tests for a total of 424. Three of the new cases are in Monona County for a dozen in northwest Iowa. Gov. Kim Reynolds says the shortage of personal protective gear, or PPE continues to be one of the state’s biggest challenges . At a news conference this afternoon, Gov. Reynolds said the Iowa National Guard and other state agencies have so far