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COVID-19

Iowa’s new COVID cases drop 50%

Iowa’s new COVID-19 cases dropped by 50 percent over the past two weeks, the New York Times reported. The state has been averaging 135 new cases a day this week. The 102 new cases reported Thursday was one of the lowest numbers since the pandemic began to take off in April 2020. Gov. Kim Reynolds and state health officials have credited vaccinations for much of the progress in containing the coronavirus. Many businesses now don’t require masks for those who are fully vaccinated. Reynolds recently signed a bill prohibiting mask mandates at schools, cities and counties. The ...

Tourism Director talks return to normal

TIMES-REPUBLICAN Tourism Director Andrew Potter is seeing a return to normal for Marshalltown after a year marred by a pandemic. Sporting events, large gatherings, meetings and conferences highlight a turning of the corner in terms of tourism for the city. “People are getting back ...

Iowa official ‘tired of fighting’ as vaccine interest drops

DES MOINES — Most Iowa counties declined any more coronavirus vaccine for this week amid a slack in demand, and an official in a county with one of the lowest vaccination rates said Wednesday that she has given up arguing with people to get shots. Iowa Department of Public Health officials said based on demand from counties, the state ordered just 7,850 doses of vaccine for this week, with 81 of the state’s 99 counties ordering no vaccine. Federal authorities made more than 63,000 doses available to Iowa, with those not used remaining available for the state if needed, said agency ...

Judge: Iowa school leader kept kids out of school

DES MOINES — The leader of Iowa’s largest school district violated his duty by not complying with a law intended to ensure students could learn in classrooms during the pandemic, an administrative law judge ruled, without specifying how he should be punished. Administrative Law Judge ...

US jobless claims fall again as some states end federal aid

WASHINGTON — Fewer Americans sought unemployment benefits last week — the latest encouraging sign for the rebounding U.S. economy — just as Republican-led states are moving to cut off a federal benefit for the jobless. Twenty-two states, from Texas and Georgia to Ohio and Iowa, plan to ...

MCSD official: State strikes against local control

Masks are no longer required in the Marshalltown Community School District. Due to legislation passed by the Iowa Legislature and Gov. Kim Reynolds Wednesday night, mask mandates are forbidden in schools and for local governments effective immediately. Marshalltown Community School ...