Gas prices up in Siouxland states as people prepare to travel this 4th of July weekend
SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - With the upcoming holiday weekend, many people are sure to be hitting the roads.
The 4th of July weekend is one of the biggest travel times of the year, only behind Christmas and Thanksgiving.
The Iowa State Patrol has released a new initiative to help combat reckless driving this year.
The Side With Us initiative asks drivers to remember to wear their seat belts, avoid driving while impaired or distracted, and watch for excessive speeds. With the excessive speed, we just want to make sure people are aware of their surroundings and make sure they get there safely to where they need to go, said Karen Yaneff with the Iowa State Patrol.
The number of COVID-19 cases continues to fall in all three Siouxland States. The Iowa Department of Public Health showed no new deaths and about 100 new
SPM NEWS 12.17.20 - 5:04PM
It’s unclear why Iowa will receive fewer doses of coronavirus vaccine than initially promised by the federal government.
But the state is moving ahead with plans to relax restrictions beginning Thursday even while reporting nearly 100 additional deaths.
The Iowa Department of Public Health released a statement Wednesday evening saying the state’s allocation would be reduced by up to 30%.
The statement noted distributions were also being lowered to other states. The agency didn’t explain why the allocation would be smaller.
State officials didn’t respond to a question Thursday about the matter.
Iowa reported an additional 97 deaths on Thursday as the state’s death toll increased to 3,451. More than 262,000 have tested positive for the disease, including 70 more in Woodbury County. There have been 151 deaths in Woodbury County. Hospitalizations locally have fallen to 59 after a high in the triple digits two weeks ago.
The first shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in all three Siouxland States.
Siouxland District Health says Woodbury County will receive almost 2,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the next few days for front-line health care workers. Director Kevin Grieme admits the vaccine will only cover about 50% initially needed.
Other doses will come in phases and the national pharmacy network will distribute additional doses to long-term care facilities.
When the vaccine by Moderna gets the go-ahead there will be 400 doses for EMS workers in Woodbury County.
Dakota County isn’t scheduled to receive the vaccine yet. But, when it does, health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities and staff will get top priority. The vaccine is estimated to be available to the general public in April.