Clay Masters

Gov. Kim Reynolds told reporters on Thursday that soon any Iowan who wants a test for COVID-19 will be able to get one. This comes as even more Iowa businesses are reopening on Friday and as hundreds of new confirmed coronavirus cases are reported daily. 

The state hit 400 known deaths from COVID-19 on Thursday.

"There is a societal cost to just shutting down and not realistically moving forward through this pandemic," Gov. Reynolds said during her Thursday press conference.

The four Democrats running to face Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst debated for the first time Monday night. The November race is looking to be both competitive and expensive. Sen. Ernst hopes to get a second term representing Iowa, and Democrats see the seat as a possible pickup in November as they try to take the majority in the Senate.

Iowa has a primary election on June 2, and Iowa Public Radio is featuring profiles of the Democrats who are running to take on Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst in November.

This week, IPR has featured profiles of the four Democrats running. UNI Political Science Professor Chris Larimer says the winner of the race will have to run a very expensive campaign and the race is looking more competitive than it had earlier this year.

On Friday, Gov. Kim Reynolds will continue to reopen parts of the economy that were closed to slow the spread of COVID-19.

On May 1, restaurants in 77 Iowa counties were allowed to partially reopen. Now, restaurants in all 99 counties can open their doors to a limited number of customers. So can salons, tattoo parlors and barber shops across the state that have been closed since late March.

Iowa has a primary election on June 2, and Iowa Public Radio is featuring profiles of the Democrats who are running to take on Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst in November.

Real Estate Executive Theresa Greenfield is one of the four candidates seeking her party’s nomination. Greenfield ran in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District race in 2018 but dropped out after she found out that one of her campaign staffers falsified signatures on her nominating petition.

Iowa has a primary election on June 2, and Iowa Public Radio is featuring profiles of the Democrats who are running to take on Republican U.S. Senator Joni Ernst in November.

Eddie Mauro is a businessman and former coach and teacher who lives in Des Moines. Mauro ran unsuccessfully in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District race in 2018 but lost to now-Congresswoman Cindy Axne.

Iowa has a primary election on June 2, and Iowa Public Radio is featuring profiles of the Democrats who are running to take on Republican U.S. Senator Joni Ernst in November.

Kimberly Graham is an attorney for kids of participants in Family Treatment Court. This is the first time she's run for office. 

Iowa has a primary election on June 2, and Iowa Public Radio is featuring profiles of the Democrats who are running to take on Republican U.S. Senator Joni Ernst in November. 

Mike Franken is a former U.S. Navy Vice Admiral.  The Sioux Center native now lives in Sioux City, and is making his first run for political office.  

Seventy-seven counties in Iowa are partially re-opening business in the midst of this pandemic on Friday. Iowa's Governor Kim Reynolds set the scene Thursday during her press conference.

"COVID-19 is here to stay and we must learn to live with it," the Republican governor told reporters.

The coronavirus continues to drive unemployment numbers higher in Iowa. Last week, 28,827 workers filed initial claims for unemployment assistance, including people who work in Iowa but live in another state.

Early voting begins Thursday for Iowa’s June 2 primary election. Election officials are encouraging Iowans to vote from home to reduce the risk of spreading the new coronavirus. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s office is mailing about 2 million absentee ballot request forms to active registered voters.

A top state public health official said Thursday Iowa is starting to “flatten the curve,” but some infectious disease experts do not see the rate of COVID-19 infections slowing in the state.

The goal of social distancing is to flatten the curve, or avoid a spike in infections, so the health care system isn’t overwhelmed.

School buildings will remain closed through at least the end of the month because of the coronavirus outbreak. Now, school districts must decide how they’ll go forward teaching Iowa students while they stay home.

It’s known that there’s a shortage of COVID-19 testing in Iowa, but how does that factor into the state’s death count? Here's what to know about how Iowa is counting deaths from COVID-19.

Gov. Kim Reynolds Thursday ordered Iowa K-12 schools to remain closed through April 30 and asked school districts to submit plans for offering instruction during part of that time.

She originally recommended on March 15 that schools close until April 13 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But state officials this week said Iowa could reach the peak of new coronavirus cases in two to three weeks.

In normal times, people can take for granted essential services like water and electricity in their homes. What’s even more critical during this pandemic is the health of these skilled workers who keep these key services going. Some utilities are taking steps to keep their staff from getting sick with coronavirus, which includes locking employees in at work.  

“Shelter-in-place” is not a legal term and different states use different terms. It generally means that people are ordered to stay home from work except those deemed essential by the state, and those going to grocery store, pharmacy and doctor, or to get fresh air at safe distance from others. 

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says people should continue to stay home if they can although she is not making a shelter-in-place order as some governors have. 

Iowa is now up to 90 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Gov. Kim Reynolds has now gone a step further in her disaster proclamation and has ordered salons, spas and tattoo parlors to close until March 31.

In a press conference Sunday she also brought up some childcare mitigation requirements. Morning Edition host Clay Masters talks with IPR health reporter Natalie Krebs about the governor's latest recommendations during this interview.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said the state is working to get more tests for COVID-19.

At a press conference Thursday, Reynolds said the state hygienic lab has been able to keep up with the number of tests it receives, but is working with the federal government to get more.

Gov. Kim Reynolds held a press conference at the State Operations Emergency Center in Johnston Monday to discuss her recommendation to close school for four weeks and other measures the state is taking in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Here is what we know about school closures. 

Iowa’s legislative session will be suspended for at least 30 days after state officials confirmed community spread of COVID-19 in Iowa, leaders announced Sunday afternoon.

The 2020 Iowa Legislature gaveled in for the session on Jan. 13. They're scheduled to continue meeting at the Statehouse until sometime around April 21. Over the course of the 100 days lawmakers have to conduct business, file and debate legislation, and pass bills, there are two important deadlines. 

The 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses devolved into chaos when the system for reporting results failed. Technical issues, human error and reporting inaccuracies delayed the outcome for days, and the repercussions are still playing out. On the twentieth episode of Caucus Land, we take a look at the app that broke the caucuses and how Iowa Democrats are responding.

The Iowa Statehouse will be empty Monday so lawmakers can caucus tonight in their home districts. But they’ll be back Tuesday to continue debating K-12 public school funding. Iowa Public Radio's Clay Masters talks with IPR state government reporter Katarina Sostaric about the week ahead at the legislature.