Gazette Daily News Briefing, June 27 and June 28
This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette digital news desk and I’m here with your update for the weekend of June 27th and June 28th.
Enjoy your sunshine Saturday, because it could become much spottier in availability as the weekend goes on. According to the National Weather Service, there should be a high near 87 degrees in the Cedar Rapids area Saturday with calm winds and mostly sunny skies. Then, as Saturday progresses into Sunday, there will be a 20 percent chance of rain. Then as Sunday progresses into later Sunday, this 20 percent chance will turn into a 50 percent chance of rain off and on for the rest of the day. Besides that, it is predicted to be mostly cloudy, with a high near 87 degrees.
A day after issuing guidance that discouraged requiring face masks for students as schools reopen in the fall, the Iowa Department of Education on Friday released a new statement saying the guidance “needs further clarification.” The department said more details should be released soon, but reiterated that neither it, nor the state’s Department of Health, will be recommending masks as precautions against the coronavirus. The department clarified further in its statement that school districts are free to set their own mask policies. The clarifying statement came after a spate of negative feedback to the guidelines released on Thursday, including harsh criticism from the Iowa teacher’s union.
Iowa’s deaths from COVID-19 reached 704 by the end of the day Friday. Although state data shows hospitalizations from the disease slowly lowering in general, Johnson County had its 10th consecutive day of double digit increases in cases. The spike has led some bars and other establishments in Iowa City to choose to close again voluntarily, despite no mandate to do so from the state. The county has seen spikes in the 18-40 age group in particular.
This briefing is sponsored in part by Corridor Careers. Are you looking for a job? CorridorCareers.com is a resource to local job seekers where they can get job tips, sign up for local job alerts, build a resume and more. Check it out at CorridorCareers.com.
Have a good weekend everyone.
