FACE COVERINGS MAY BE ABOUT TO BECOME MORE COMMON IN PUBLIC SPACES. THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION ADVISED THAT PEOPLE IN AREAS WITH SUBSTANTIAL VIRUS TRANSMISSION SHOULD WEAR MASKS IN INDOOR SETTINGS, REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS. IN A STATEMENT, GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS CRITICIZED THAT GUIDANCE, SAYING IT WAS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO VACCINATION CAMPAIGNS. LATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, A NEW STATE LAW PROHIBITED LOCAL OFFICIALS FROM REQUIRING MASKS IN SCHOOLS OR BUSINESSES. TUESDAY’S CDC ADVISORY RECOMMENDED FACE COVERINGS IN SCHOOLS.
AN AMERICAN MILITARY WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ COULD HAPPEN BEFORE THE END OF 2021. IOWA SENATOR AND IRAQ WAR VETERAN JONI ERNST EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THAT POSSIBILITY. ERNST OFFERED THESE COMMENTS ON “THE STORY WITH MARTHA MACCALLUM”. THE U.S. MILITARY IS ALSO ENDING ITS DEPLOYMENT IN AFGHANISTAN THIS YEAR.
THE WATERLOO BLACK HAWKS HAVE A NEW HEAD COACH. FORMER NHL DEFENSEMAN MATT SMABY COMES TO THE CEDAR VALLEY AFTER AN 11-YEAR PROFESSIONAL PLAYING CAREER, WHICH INCLUDED PARTS OF FOUR SEASONS WITH THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING. SMABY ALSO HAD SUCCESS IN COLLEGE HOCKEY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA. FORMER BLACK HAWKS HEAD COACH P.K. O’HANDLEY IS NOW SERVING AS TEAM PRESIDENT.
AS REDISTRICTING CREATES UNCERTAINTY ABOUT ELECTORAL MATCHUPS NEXT FALL, ONE IOWA RACE MAY BE TAKING SHAPE. DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR LIZ MATHIS AND REPUBLICAN FIRST DISTRICT IOWA CONGRESSWOMAN ASHLEY HINSON ARE BOTH FROM LINN COUNTY. THAT MEANS REGARDLESS OF HOW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS ARE RE-DRAWN, MATHIS AND HINSON WILL BE VYING FOR THE SAME SEAT. MATHIS ANNOUNCED HER CAMPAIGN TUESDAY, WITH GENERALIZED CRITICISM OF REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS IN HER SOCIAL MEDIA POST. NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS ARE EXPECTED IN SEPTEMBER.
CEDAR FALLS IS DROPPING PLANS FOR PAID PARKING DOWNTOWN. THE EFFORT TO KEEP MORE SPACES IN CIRCULATION WAS HAMSTRUNG BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND NEVER FULLY IMPLEMENTED. THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PARKING PAYMENTS IS EXPECTED TO BE REMOVED FROM CEDAR FALLS LOTS DURING THE WEEKS AHEAD.
THE UNIVERSITIES OF TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY LEAVE THE BIG 12 CONFERENCE IN 2025. IN A STATEMENT, IOWA STATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JAMIE POLLARD NOTED THAT AND MANY OTHER CHALLENGES IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS, RANGING FROM ATHLETE COMPENSATION TO THE FUTURE ROLE OF THE NCAA. POLLARD SAYS BIG 12 MEMBER SCHOOLS HAVE A GRACE PERIOD OF SORTS, BECAUSE MEDIA AGREEMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO KEEP THE CONFERENCE TOGETHER FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 O’CLOCK TONIGHT. FORECAST HEAT INDICES IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS COULD BE DANGEROUS WITH PROLONGED EXPOSURE. THE SALVATION ARMY OF WATERLOO/CEDAR FALLS HAS OPENED IT’S MAIN BUILDING ON FRANKLIN STREET AS A COOLING CENTER THROUGH 3 O’CLOCK. WATERLOO CITY FACILITIES INCLUDING THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, CENTER FOR THE ARTS, AND CEDAR VALLEY SPORTSPLEX ARE ALSO OPEN TO PROVIDE RELIEF.
AS THE U.S. MILITARY MISSION TO AFGHANISTAN WANES, THE DEPARTURE OF AMERICAN FORCES FROM IRAQ IS ALSO ON THE HORIZON. THAT LEAVES IOWA SENATOR JONI ERNST WITH CONCERNS, WHICH SHE EXPRESSED ON A RECENT EDITION OF “THE STORY WITH MARTHA MACCALLUM”. THE U-S CURRENTLY HAS 25-HUNDRED TROOPS IN IRAQ.
TWO NEW WEEKLY ROUND TRIP FLIGHTS WILL TAKE PASSENGERS TO ORLANDO FROM THE EASTERN IOWA AIRPORT IN CEDAR RAPIDS. FRONTIER AIRLINES ANNOUNCED THE NEW ROUTE YESTERDAY. THE SERVICE WILL BEGIN ON NOVEMBER 4TH. FRONTIER CURRENTLY OFFERS SERVICE BETWEEN CEDAR RAPIDS AND DENVER.
IOWA-BASED PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP SAYS IT EARNED OVER 361 MILLION DOLLARS DURING THE MOST RECENT QUARTER. THAT’S $1.32 PER SHARE. PRINCIPAL’S QUARTERLY EARNINGS REPORT WAS RELEASED AFTER MARKETS CLOSED ON TUESDAY AND INDICATED THAT THE COMPANY IS NOW MANAGING MORE THAN 990 BILLION DOLLARS FOR ITS CLIENTS.
