The Gazette Daily News Podcast, April 21

Today's weather will be sunny, with a high near 56, and it will remain clear tonight with a low of 34. Tomorrow there's a 40% chance of rain and we could see scattered thunderstorms after 2. But the temperature is expected to reach the 70s.

Iowa now has 3,159 confirmed cases of coronavirus in 82 of Iowa's 99 counties. 4 additional coronavirus related deaths bring the total to 79.

National Beef's plant in Tama is back open one day after 177 employees tested positive for coronavirus. The plant had initially closed down for regularly scheduled cleaning on April 10th, but remained closed several additional days out of caution. 84 employees from Tyson foods also recently tested positive over the weekend, but their Waterloo plant is still open, despite requests from local Waterloo officials to suspend production. Governor Reynolds says she won't interfere and issue a shutdown order at this time.

University of Iowa's Sigma Chi fraternity is under investigation for violating campus policy and holding a party with 30 to 50 students present despite campus orders to limit gatherings to ten or fewer people due to COVID-19. The March 28 event is also under investigation for 3 additional violations, including serving alcohol to minors in the fraternity; failing to comply with a university directive; and 'other violative conduct.'

The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, AKA RAGBRAI has officially been cancelled for 2020. The event will instead happen in 2021 using the same route.

The Iowa City farmers market will be delayed, but not cancelled. Instead, venders will have an online option with curbside pickup.

Domestic violence criminal cases in Linn County have spiked 54 percent over the last two months when compared to the same time period last year. The number is normally pretty stable, so officials are pointing to self isolation during coronavirus as a big cause. Anastasia Basquin, chief victim liaison and community outreach specialist with the Linn County Attorney's Office says they've started utilizing phone meetings and seen such a significant participation level that they're considering making the practice more common even after the pandemic is over.

If you need help, you can call Waypoint, Cedar Rapids at (319) 363-2093 or toll free at 1- (800) 208-0388 or the Domestic Violence Intervention Program in Iowa City at 1- (800) 373-1043.

For all our coronavirus coverage, you can find our dedicated coronavirus page, TheGazette.com/coronavirus.

Iowa City is investigating its first homicide of 2020. Officers were called to 1960 Broadway St. at 9:55 a.m. yesterday for a report of a person who had been shot. Officers found Kejuan Winters, 21, of Iowa City, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Winters later died of his injuries, police said. Police said Winters' death is being treated as a homicide, and they are not releasing any more information at this time.

Early voting in the June 2 primary election begins Thursday, April 23, and state and county election officials are encouraging Iowans to vote from home during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Secretary of State Paul Pate said security measures in the absentee voting process ensure the integrity of the ballot and his office is mailing more than a million absentee ballot requests to Iowans who are registered to vote in the June 2 primary.

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