Gazette Daily News Briefing, Dec. 11
This is Stephen Colbert with the Gazette Digital News Desk and this is your update for Friday, December 11th, 2020.
Today’s going to be rainy and windy, with gust as high as 30 mph and a high of 39, but it could get cold enough for some snow, just don’t expect any accumulation. It should stay rainy throughout the night with a low of 34.
Coronavirus vaccines to arrive as early as next week in Linn County
The first coronavirus vaccines are expected to arrive in Linn County as early as next week, with health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities receiving the first doses. Linn County Public Health is working with Mercy Medical Center and UnityPoint Health to “ensure that the safe and effective vaccines reach Linn County residents as quickly and equitably as possible,” according to a joint statement from the three entities.
The vaccine arrives as coronavirus cases surpass 250,000 in the state, but hospitalizations are steadily falling, so combined with vaccine news, Iowans are surely encouraged. https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/health/covid-19-cases-in-iowa-surpasses-250000-99-additional-deaths-also-reported-20201210
Due to lack of business during the shutdowns Iowa restaurants and bars are expected to lose $1.45 billion
https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/business/iowa-restaurant-association-bars-state-federal-relief-covid-reynolds-20201210
According to a study by the state and national restaurant groups, 41 percent of Iowa respondents said it was unlikely they would be in business six months from now without additional relief packages from the state or federal governments.
The Iowa association represents some 6,000 restaurants and bars as well as other hospitality and entertainment venues that serve food and beverages.
The study also found that 88 percent of respondents anticipated an even greater drop in sales during the next three months.
As expected, President-elect Joe Biden has picked Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary
https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/president-elect-joe-biden-picks-tom-vilsack-as-ag-secretary-20201210
Allies of Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge made no secret of their desire for her to lead the department, given its oversight many of her longterm priorities such as of food stamps and other programs meant to address food insecurity. Instead, Biden went with Vilsack, a longtime friend and advocate for Democrats paying more attention to rural America.
A transition official said Vilsack and Fudge spoke Wednesday to lay the groundwork for cooperation between their two agencies on those and other initiatives.
Gov. Reynolds: Iowa would have backed Texas-led challenge to presidential election but was not asked
https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/gov-reynolds-iowa-would-have-backed-texas-led-challenge-to-presidential-election-but-was-not-asked-20201210
Meanwhile, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, a Democrat, says he would have joined a separate amicus brief by another group of states in support of the results in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Georgia, but Iowa’s Republican governor declined to let him do so under an agreement reached last year between the two elected officials.
At issue are motions filed Wednesday by President Donald Trump and 17 Republican attorneys general that supported what has been viewed as a long-shot legal effort to persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn election results.
