CEDAR FALLS NOW REQUIRES MASKS IN PUBLIC. ON TUESDAY NIGHT, THE CEDAR FALLS CITY COUNCIL VOTED 4-3 IN FAVOR OF FACE COVERINGS. MUCH LIKE WATERLOO’S MANDATE, THE NEW GUIDELINES REQUIRES MASKS IN INDOOR PUBLIC SETTINGS, INCLUDING BUSINESSES. UNLIKE WATERLOO, THE CEDAR FALLS RULES DO NOT INCLUDE ANY PENALTIES FOR THOSE WITHOUT MASKS. THE MANDATE WILL LAST THROUGH LATE OCTOBER.
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT IS DOING MORE BELT-TIGHTENING WITH THE CANCELLATION OF FOOTBALL SEASON DUE TO COVID-19. ATHLETIC OFFICIALS WILL CUT SOME JOBS AND NOT HIRE NEW STAFF FOR OTHERS, REDUCING THE DEPARTMENT’S PAYROLL BY 40 PEOPLE. OTHER STAFF WILL BE REQUIRED TO TAKE UNPAID FURLOUGH DAYS OR A FIVE PERCENT SALARY REDUCTION. THESE SAVINGS COME ON TOP OF EARLIER PAYCUTS AND IOWA’S DECISION TO DROP FOUR SPORTS PROGRAMS. IN A TYPICAL YEAR, ABOUT HALF OF HAWKEYE ATHLETIC REVENUE IS RELATED TO THE SCHOOL’S FOOTBALL PROGRAM.
MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IS CREATING A SITUATION CALLED DECISION FATIGUE FOR PARENTS AND OTHERS. DURING A SCIENCE OF PARENTING UPDATE ON KXEL, CINDY THOMPSON OF IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY TALKED ABOUT STRATEGIES FOR AVOIDING DECISION FATIGUE, LIKE CREATING REGULAR ROUTINES. THOMPSON ALSO RECOMMENDED TAKING ENOUGH TIME TO THINK THROUGH CHOICES, AND MAKING BIG DECISIONS WHEN WELL-RESTED.
NEW ABSENTEE BALLOTS REQUEST FORMS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO LINN COUNTY VOTERS. THE LINN COUNTY AUDITOR’S OFFICE ANNOUNCED THE MAILING ON TUESDAY. AN EARLIER ROUND OF FORMS WAS INVALIDATED WHEN IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DOCUMENTS IMPROPERLY INCLUDED CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION USED TO CONFIRM VOTERS’ IDENTITIES. THE LINN COUNTY AUDITOR’S OFFICE SAYS IT IS ALSO ACCEPTING FORMS FROM THE IOWA SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE AND WILL MAIL A CONFIRMATION POSTCARD ONCE THEY RECEIVE A VOTER’S BALLOT REQUEST. THE ACTUAL ABSENTEE BALLOTS WILL BE MAILED OCTOBER 5TH. ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION MUST BE REQUESTED BY OCTOBER 24TH.
REPUBLICAN FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL CHALLENGER ASHLEY HINSON TALKED ABOUT HER VIEW OF HOW GOVERNMENT SHOULD RESPOND IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE DERECHO WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND EASTERN IOWA. HINSON SPOKE RECENTLY WITH KXEL’S JEFF STEIN. THE MARION IOWA HOUSE MEMBER IS CHALLENGING INCUMBENT ABBY FINKENAUER TO REPRESENT NORTHEAST IOWA IN CONGRESS.
TWO CEDAR FALLS EVENTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19. ON TUESDAY, CEDAR FALLS MAIN STREET SAID THE 15TH ANNUAL ARTAPALOOZA EVENT WILL NOT BE HELD THIS WEEKEND. ORGANIZERS INDICATED THE DIFFICULTY OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AS VISITORS LOOK AT ARTS AND CRAFTS ON THE PARKADE. THE DOWNTOWN SHOW AND SHINE CAR SHOW WAS ALSO OFFICIALLY CANCELED. THAT EVENT HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN POSTPONED IN MAY.
IN LESS THAN EIGHT WEEKS, THE CONGRESSIONAL RACE BETWEEN ABBY FINKENAUER AND ASHLEY HINSON WILL BE SETTLED. HINSON IS THE CHALLENGER FOR THE SEAT IN IOWA’S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. DURING A RECENT KXEL INTERVIEW, SHE TOLD JEFF STEIN WHY SHE IS RUNNING. HINSON SAYS IOWA HAS PROVIDED MIDDLE CLASS TAX RELIEF AND AN ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT WHICH PROMOTES BUSINESS GROWTH. HEAR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH HINSON AT KXEL.COM.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA PROFESSORS WOULD LIKE MORE THAN JUST TOTAL NUMBERS ABOUT COVID-19 CASES ON CAMPUS. UNION REPRESENTATIVES ARE ASKING UNI TO SEPARATE IT’S COUNT OF STUDENT CASES FROM THOSE REPORTED AMONG FACULTY AND STAFF. THEY ALSO SUGGEST THAT THE SCHOOL SHOULD IDENTIFY WHETHER SOME PARTS OF CAMPUS ARE SEEING MORE CORONAVIRUS REPORTS. THE UNITED FACULTY GROUP SAYS IOWA AND IOWA STATE ARE ALREADY PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION PUBLICLY. UNI HAS ISSUED UPDATES TWICE EACH WEEK SHOWING TOTAL TESTS IN THE STUDENT HEALTH CENTER, THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE TESTS, AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN QUARANTINE OR ISOLATION.
DOGS AND CATS HAVE FAITHFULLY SUPPORTED THOSE WITH HOMES AND PROPERTY DAMAGED BY LAST MONTH’S DERECHO. THOSE PETS WILL GET SOME HELP THIS WEEKEND. CEDAR RAPIDS ANIMAL CARE IS DISTRIBUTING PET FOOD THIS WEEKEND AT KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THE DONATED FOOD WILL BE PASSED OUT TO ANIMAL OWNERS IN NEED UNTIL IT IS GONE.
