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Another COVID-19 patient dies at troubled western Iowa nursing home
An Iowa nursing home that was the site of a coronavirus outbreak and at least seven deaths is facing another round of sanctions by state inspectors due to a resident death. The Oakland Manor nursing home in Pottawattamie County has been the site of at least 51 COVID-19 infections and seven resident deaths. State inspectors […]
Iowa reports 69 additional deaths and 1,757 new COVID-19 infections
Another 1,757 coronavirus infections were reported in Iowa on Thursday, along with 69 additional deaths. The data, from the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Washington Post’s COVID-19 tracker, shows that over the past week, there has been an average of 1,136 cases per day, a decrease of 34% from the average two weeks […]
Gun shows, other large events that were canceled due to the pandemic are resuming in Iowa
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of hundreds of public events in Iowa during 2020, but Des Moines will still play host to a gun show this weekend. A Missouri corporation called Midwest Arms Collectors is sponsoring the three-day event, to be held at the Iowa Events Center’s Hy-Vee Hall Friday through Sunday. […]
High school girls’ coach fired after making overtures toward former student
A former girls’ soccer coach was fired from Des Moines East High School earlier this year after contacting a former student and asking whether she’d broken up with her boyfriend. State unemployment records indicate Oscar Meza of Des Moines was fired earlier this year from his job as a full-time campus monitor for East High […]
Iowa licensing board isn’t disclosing reason for alleging surgeon is incompetent
The Iowa Board of Medicine is not publicly disclosing its rationale for charging a Davenport surgeon with professional incompetence. The board is charging Dr. William E. Olson, 55, of Davenport, with professional incompetence. Rather than include a basic description of the allegations against Olson in its public statement of charges, the board has opted to […]
Iowans win (and lose) jobless benefits due to their employers’ pandemic response
A fast-food worker who resigned after his boss allegedly tried to keep the staff in the dark about a COVID-19 outbreak has successfully appealed the state’s decision to deny him unemployment benefits. State records indicate Terrance R. Hill quit his job as a full-time cook at a Hardee’s restaurant in late May. At that time, […]
Two state workers fired for expediting a former colleague’s jobless-benefits claim
Two state workers were fired this year for allegedly helping a former colleague collect unemployment benefits in the midst of an unprecedented surge in jobless claims. In an unusual twist, all three of the workers were then awarded unemployment benefits paid out by the same agency that fired them. State records show Bradley Butin of […]
Analysis: Iowa had one of America’s worst rates of COVID-19 infection in 2020
Iowa is seeing a sharp reduction in COVID-19 deaths, but it reportedly has one of the nation’s worst records of coronavirus infections during the 2020 pandemic. Iowa reported one additional coronavirus death Sunday, along with 506 new cases of the virus, the New York Times reported. Over the past week, the state has averaged 1,139 […]
Advocacy group ‘very concerned’ about Glenwood’s current leadership
Disability Rights Iowa says it remains “very concerned” about leadership at a troubled state-run home for people with disabilities, noting that state officials have ignored past complaints about resident deaths and inadequate medical care. Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice wrapped up a yearlong investigation of the Glenwood Resource Center, which is home to […]
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance set to expire as jobless claims increase
With two federal unemployment relief programs set to expire this week, the number of newly filed claims for unemployment claims are up in Iowa. For the week ending Dec. 19, there were 7,645 new claims filed in Iowa, an increase of 1,119 from last week’s adjusted numbers. Last week, the number of newly filed claims […]
Abuse and neglect continued in 2020 at Glenwood, even while feds investigated
A state-run home for the disabled that has been the focus of a yearlong federal investigation continues to be cited for poor medical care and resident abuse. The Glenwood Resource Center is the subject of a newly released report from the U.S. Department of Justice that confirms residents of the home were subjected to unauthorized […]
Reynolds: Despite fewer doses coming to Iowa, vaccinations remain on track
Despite an unexpected 20% reduction in the amount of COVID-19 vaccine that Iowa expected to receive this week, Iowa is on track to begin vaccinating residents and workers in nursing homes next week as originally planned, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday. Speaking at a press conference, Reynolds acknowledged that while Iowa is among two dozen […]