Iowa News
Iowa Republican US Sen. Chuck Grassley, 88, will run for reelection in 2022 Senate race
After months of deliberation, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley announced early Friday morning he will run for reelection in 2022 — a decision Republicans believe will give them their best chance to hold onto the coveted Senate seat. Grassley, 88, released the highly anticipated news in characteristically understated fashion, posting to Twitter with little additional fanfare. Des Moines Register
The latest push for broadband in Iowa
Next year could be a big one for broadband expansion in Iowa. As funding from the state became available in July, many internet service providers are looking for a funding boost to expand fiber networks and bring Iowa up to speed. Gov. Kim Reynolds in May signed a bill to provide $100 million of state funding to expand broadband access across the state. Her goal is to have universal broadband statewide by 2025. The Gazette
Mercy Iowa City mandates COVID-19 vaccines for staff, contractors
Mercy Iowa City is the latest Iowa hospital to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for its staff. The hospital announced Wednesday it will require all employees, providers, contractors, students and volunteers to be vaccinated against COVID by Dec. 20. Iowa Public Radio
National News
The leader of CDC just made a rare call to allow Covid booster shots for more people
The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention overruled an advisory panel Friday by approving the distribution of Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 booster shots to a wide array of workers across the U.S. CNBC
NY hospitals worry about staff shortages as Monday vaccine deadline approaches
Hospitals and nursing homes in New York are bracing for the possibility that a statewide COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers could lead to staff shortages when it takes effect Monday. Doctors and nurses — and also support staff, like food service workers and cleaners — have been given until Sept. 27 to get at least their first vaccine shot in one of the nation’s most aggressive plans to protect patients. NPR
National Guard deployed to aid Southern Indiana Hospital
Indiana National Guard members have been deployed to a southern Indiana hospital to support medical staff facing increased workloads fueled in part by patients being treated for COVID-19. Seven National Guard members arrived Wednesday at Clark Memorial Health in Jeffersonville to assist hospital staff during the next one to two weeks, said Ruth Schmidt, the hospital’s chief operating officer. US News