Iowa is nearing 5,000 deaths from COVID-19 and has surpassed its previous single-day coronavirus death toll record, with 250 deaths reported on Jan. 31, 2021. Because of the method the state uses to track deaths, not all of the patients died within 24 hours, but the number reflects the highest reported in a single day. […]
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Month: January 2021
Vaccine available, but “don’t call us, w
UPDATE Jan. 27, 2021: The state hit another grim milestone, with a total of 4,500 Iowans reported having died of coronavirus since March 2020. Linn County Public Health announced that residents age 65 and older can receive COVID-19 vaccine beginning today, Jan. 26, 2021. Iowa’s vaccine rollout for Phase 1B, which includes Iowans age 65 […]
Winter Gardening Fair goes virtual in 20...
The Winter Gardening Fair, hosted by the Linn County ISU Extension Master Gardeners, has been transplanted a few times since it sprouted about 16 years ago. With the coronavirus pandemic still a concern, however, 2021 will be the first year the annual event will be held online. See photos from the 2020 Winter Gardening Fair […]
Iowa ranks near bottom in COVID-19 vacci...
Gov. Kim Reynolds said Iowa has been receiving only 19,500 doses of COVID-19 vaccine per week, ranking the state 46th nationally in allocation numbers. Reynolds made the revelation during a press conference on Jan. 21, 2021. With just over 3.1 million residents, Iowa ranks 30th or 31st in population among states, depending on the source […]
Cargill expects industrial railyard to o...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Cargill officials provided a timeline Jan. 20, 2021, for constructing their industrial railyard in a residential Cedar Rapids neighborhood. Residents of the neighborhood who were able to join the virtual meeting or dial-in during the 45-minute session on a business day, which also fell on presidential inauguration day, could offer feedback […]
One of last Iowa counties to confirm COV...
A rural Iowa county that was second-to-last to confirm its first coronavirus case last spring now has the dismal distinction of having the state’s highest 14-day positivity average. Ringgold County, in far southern Iowa, reported a 24.9 percent average as of 10 a.m. Jan. 19, 2021, surpassing Monroe County, which held the top spot since […]
Iowa Republican lawmakers start session ...
Kelly Garcia, Iowa Department of Public Health interim director, has added government officials to the next phase of vaccination priorities, even as many Republicans showed up for the start of the 2021 legislative session without face masks this week. Because Republicans hold the majority in both the state House and Senate, they control the safety […]
Iowa surpasses chilling COVID-19 death t...
UPDATE Jan 8, 2021: The hopeful news of no recent deaths among nursing home residents apparently was related to the state’s record keeping. Iowa reported an additional 538 deaths of residents of long-term care facilities on Jan. 8, for a total of 1,677, after remaining steady at 1,139 since Dec. 30. Statewide, Iowa reported a […]
Frosty phenomenon in Iowa: the differenc...
If you’ve ventured outdoors in Iowa in recent days, or have seen the picturesque photos of white-coated trees posted on social media, you might wonder what is behind that frosty phenomenon. Terri Lang, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, notes that hoarfrost forms under cold, clear skies. Any moisture in the air goes […]