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‘Something’s wrong:’ Inspectors watch as COVID-19 spreads in Iowa nursing home
A third Iowa nursing home where residents have died of COVID-19 has been cited by the state for failing to observe basic health care protocols in the midst of the pandemic. According to state records, the Mitchell Village Care Center has at times been staffed by only one low-level nurse aide to look after 40 […]
Polk County cites ‘alarming’ threat to seniors from COVID-19
Citing an “alarming” 20% increase in COVID-19 infections within central Iowa, Polk County health officials and advocates for the elderly say the state’s nursing home residents are at serious risk. The warning coincides with reports of Iowa nursing homes failing to properly screen their workers for the virus, with dozens of residents becoming infected and […]
Emails reveal confusion and conflict in Iowa’s pandemic response
Emails between state and federal officials during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic point to confusion and serious disagreement over testing, equipment and the projected spread of the virus. The emails, obtained through a public records request made by the government-watchdog organization Accountable U.S., also suggest the state of Iowa initially rejected an offer […]
Iowa sees an upswing in COVID-19 infections and deaths
Iowa saw a sharp increase in COVID-19 infections and deaths late this week. The 487 new infections reported for Thursday represents the highest daily number of new cases in Iowa in three weeks. The eight new deaths reported for Thursday marks the highest daily total since June 15 and 16, when there were nine deaths […]
Four Iowa law enforcement agencies among those hit by ‘Blue Leaks’ hack
Four Iowa law enforcement organizations are among the 200 police agencies whose data was stolen earlier this month as part of the so-called “Blue Leaks” computer hack. The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa, the Midwest Counter-Drug Training Center in Johnston and the Iowa Fusion Centre are […]
Jobless benefits ceiling to be raised next week
Beginning next month, newly unemployed Iowans and those recently injured on the job will qualify for an increase in their maximum weekly benefits. The added benefit payment will apply only to individuals who file new unemployment insurance claims for the week beginning July 5, and to workers injured on or after July 1. Iowans already […]
AARP calls for immediate, mandatory COVID-19 testing in Iowa care facilities
AARP Iowa says it is “outraged” by 11 COVID-19 deaths at an Iowa nursing home where symptomatic employees worked alongside vulnerable seniors. The organization is calling for immediate, mandatory testing in all of the state’s nursing home and assisted living facilities. Iowa Capital Dispatch reported earlier this week about employment conditions and infections at the […]
Iowa nursing home is ‘Exhibit A’ in the case against legal immunity, advocates say
Advocates for Iowa’s elderly say the Dubuque nursing home where 11 people have died of COVID-19 illustrates why lawmakers should never have granted nursing homes immunity from pandemic-related lawsuits. John Hale, a consultant and advocate for Iowa seniors, said Wednesday that “if we were in court making a case for why immunity bills like Senate […]
State: Nursing home where 11 Iowans died of COVID-19 kept ill staff working
An Iowa nursing home where 11 residents have died of COVID-19 is accused of allowing its employees to work while exhibiting symptoms of the virus. According to the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, Dubuque Specialty Care, a skilled nursing facility for seniors, was visited by inspectors the first week of June for a review […]
Grassley lifts his hold on two Trump nominees
Saying he still doesn’t agree with the president’s decision to fire two government watchdogs, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has lifted the holds he placed on two Trump nominees. “Although I do not agree with the president’s stated reasons for removing (the inspectors general), my objection to these nominees was designed to prompt compliance with […]
Iowa now among the states with the fewest COVID-19 restrictions
No other state has fewer COVID-19 restrictions in place than Iowa does when it comes to using face masks in public and the reopening of child-care programs, restaurants and bars, according to a new national survey. The survey, conducted by the personal-finance website Wallet Hub, represents the latest update of its rankings for the States […]
Will the feds pay for uninsured Americans’ COVID-19 treatment and testing?
With the Trump administration accused of sitting on money intended to pay for COVID-19 testing and treatment of uninsured Americans, more than half the $175 billion Congress set aside to defray pandemic-related expenses is already spent. The federal government’s COVID-19 program for testing and treatment of uninsured patients provides reimbursements on a rolling basis directly […]