A Siouxland Sheriff’s office is mourning the death of one of its own.
The Burt County Sheriff says Deputy Justin Smith passed away yesterday after a battle with COVID-19.
Deputy Smith has been a member of the Burt County Sheriff s Office and since 2008. He also served as the Police Chief of Decatur, Nebraska.
The Burt County Board of Supervisors has requested that all flags in the county be lowered to half-staff.
Credit Burt County Sheriff s Office
COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to climb as state health officials reported this week 158 Iowans are being treated for complications of the virus.
Hospitalizations hit a record low of 46 in late June, but they have been increasing for the past month.
SPM NEWS 7.28.21
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory today for the entire state of Iowa, most of South Dakota and a large portion of Nebraska.
The heat advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. for Siouxland with a heat index near 110.
Governors from all three Siouxland States slam the CDC’s announcement on Tuesday urging both vaccinated and nonvaccinated people to wear masks due to a surge of cases of COVID-19.
The CDC also advises children in schools wear masks this fall.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem tweeted “If you are worried about the virus, you’re free to get vaccinated, wear a mask, or stay home. However, we won’t be mandating anything. And the CDC’s inconsistency doesn’t help the American People.”
SPM NEWS 7.27.21
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds called new revised guidance from the CDC surrounding wearing masks “not grounded in reality or common sense.”
Reynolds issued a statement shortly after the CDC recommended fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors in areas of the country where the virus is circulating widely.
She still encouraged people to get vaccinated, but went on to say she’s concerned the guidance will be used as a vehicle to mandate masks in states and schools, something she does not support.
According to federal data, 47 Iowa counties are experiencing higher community spread, including Woodbury County with a test positivity rate of 5%.
1:40
Parts of Siouxland under a tornado watch until 9 tonight, including Woodbury, Monona, Ida, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Clay, Emmet, and Pocahontas.
The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for several counties across central Iowa, including Calhoun and Carroll just outside of Siouxland.
A judge has agreed to delay the sentencing of the man convicted of killing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts after his lawyers said they need time to investigate new information implicating other people.
Cristhian Bahena Rivera was scheduled to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Thursday at the Poweshiek County Courthouse in Montezuma, about 50 miles west of Iowa City.
NEWS 7.5.21: Heat, Deadly Motorcycle Crash, C-19 Hospitalization Increase, and More kwit.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kwit.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.