BREAKING NEWS: Iowa covid-19 numbers continue to soar, with the Iowa Department of Public Health reporting 9,132 new COVID-19 cases in the past week, an average of 1,304 per day, prompting some to call for new mask mandates in schools and statewide. There were 102 deaths reported last week as well, bringing the state’s total to 7,268 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic. In addition, hospitalizations due to covid also continued to increase, rising to 544, including 123 patients in intensive care and 57 on ventilators. Children under 18 make up over 20 percent of the positive case... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Davenport and Bettendorf School District schools will require masks on all buses and school vehicles starting Wednesday, Sept. 22, according to an e-mail sent out to all students in the districts. The following e-mail was sent out today: Beginning on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, masks will be required on all school buses and other district vehicles based on the CDC requirements and affirmation by the IDPH and Iowa Department of Education. This guidance was posted in the Iowa Department of Public Health “COVID-19 and K-12 School Update for Fall 2021” guidance which... Read More

Genesis Health System will help area students and families get back to normal when schools reopen. “Pack the Bus’’ debuted two years ago as part of the Genesis anniversary celebration of 150 years of health services. The needs are even greater as families continue to recover from COVID-19 disruptions. “The Genesis ‘Pack the Bus’ campaign will assist families and the schools again this year by providing the tools they need for learning,” said Shirley Gusta, director of the Genesis Business Intelligence Center, who is coordinating the Genesis volunteer effort. “There is never enough... Read More

According to an announcement just made by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, all Iowa schools will remain closed through the end of the school year, with distance learning via computer remaining in place through the end of the curriculum year. Chicago’s NBC 5 just broke the story, and QuadCities.com broke the story locally, that Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker will be making an announcement at 2:30 p.m. today closing all Illinois schools through the end of the current curriculum year. According to the Iowa story posted by KWWL News 7 Iowa City, the state school districts will be required to continue... Read More