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Published on:

14th Aug 2020

Gazette Daily News Podcast, August 14

This is Stephen Colbert from the Gazette Digital News Desk and I’m here with your update for Friday, August 14, 2020.

Today will be Mostly sunny, with a high near 88 and a chance of showers tonight and Saturday, but it should be clear after that going into next week.

The number of coronavirus cases in Iowa rose yesterday to 50,167 total cases, and the total deaths attributed to coronavirus stand at 954

Coronavirus hospitalizations have hit at 3-month high in Linn County. The number of people in Iowa intensive care units is up from 57 to 88 in the past three days — the highest number in several months. Some of the hospitalizations may be out of caution as some Iowans being treated for COVID-19 in long-term care facilities or at home may be transferred to a hospital for temporary treatment after their place of residence was damaged in the derecho storm blew through Iowa Monday afternoon.

Multiple stations around Cedar rapids and Linn County enable the charging of medical devices. The following locations are open for residents who need a place to go to charge medical equipment. It should be noted, medical supplies are not available at these locations.

Cedar Rapids

  • Medical equipment charging stations will be available daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at these locations:
  • Downtown library, Fifth Avenue and Fifth Street SE (parking lot)
  • Twin Pines Golf Course parking lot, 3800 42nd Street NE
  • Northwest Recreation Center parking lot, 1340 11th Street NW

Transit services are anticipated to be available again on Monday. Residents can call 2-1-1 if they need assistance.

Linn County

These sites are open for residents who need a place to charge medical equipment or need a day shelter.

  • Anderson Public Library, 720 Main St., Center Point, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays (only outlets with red-covered plates have power)
  • Hiawatha Community Center, 101 Emmons St., Hiawatha, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays
  • Palo Community Center, 2800 Hollenbeck Rd., Palo, 24 hours a day in conjunction with the Red Cross
  • Robins Community Center, 265 S. Second St., Robins; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays
  • Springville City Hall, 304 Broadway St., Springville, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays
  • Coggon Old Fire Station, 112 Second St. S., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays (no air conditioning).
  • Walford City Hall, 120 Fifth St. N. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. For after-hours access, call Walford City Hall at 319-846-3103.

It may be 5 to 7 days before power is restored to most of Cedar Rapids. About 75 percent of all electric utilities in Linn County were without power last night. Alliant is not the only utility experiencing challenges restoring power. A Linn County REC spokeswoman said the utility has never experienced storm damage as devastating as the derecho, with more than 200 poles and 75 miles of lines saw damage, saying “It’s everywhere,” Langridge said. “It’s not one localized section. The whole system is out.”

In the meantime, utilities have asked customers to stay away from downed power lines, noting the risk of life-threatening injuries or further delays in restoring the electric grid.

Food and water are being distributed in Cedar Rapids. Hy-Vee semi-trailers and the Hy-Vee Healthy You Mobile will be in the Cedar Rapids area on Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. providing beverages and snacks as it navigates Cedar Rapids area neighborhoods. It will also be making stops throughout neighborhoods allowing residents without power to charge devices.

Stops include:

• 11 a.m.: Oakhill Jackson neighborhood

• 1 p.m.: Taylor Neighborhood, near Taylor Elementary

• 3 p.m.: LADD Library

• 4 p.m.: Marion Village

From 1 to 3 p.m., Friday, the First Avenue Hy-Vee will be grilling and handing out 1,000 free hot dogs in Cedar Rapids, 1556 First Ave NE.

In addition, Hy-Vee and HACAP have partnered for a contactless drive thru giveaway on Friday at Veterans Memorial Stadium, 950 Rockford Road SW, beginning at 11 a.m. and running until 2 p.m. or until supplies last. Hy-Vee is donating $68,000 in products, which includes more than 140,000 bottles of water and a combination of more than 80,000 protein bars and granola bars. 

The Gazette Daily news updates are brought to you 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."

That’s it for today’s update. Be sure to subscribe to The Gazette Daily news podcast, or just tell your Amazon Alexa to “enable The Gazette Daily News skill" so you can get your daily briefing by simply activating your Alexa device and asking “what’s the news?”

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The Gazette Daily News Podcast
A short summary of today's weather and top headlines from The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
A bite-sized dose of weather, local news and national news from The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. You can also subscribe via your Amazon Alexa by saying "Alexa, enable the Gazette Daily News skill," then you can listen daily by saying "Alexa, what's the news?"
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The Gazette, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa has been serving Eastern Iowa since 1883. The Gazette team produces podcasts covering news, sports, opinion, business and other topics. Listen and subscribe today.