Waterloo
FILE - Shown in this Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, file photo is State Rep. Ras Smith, D-Waterloo, at the Statehouse in Des Moines, Iowa. Smith, a state representative from eastern Iowa, is the first Iowa politician to announce a run for Iowa governor as Democrats organize in hopes of gaining traction among voters to counter Republican domination of the legislature and governor's office. Smith launched an ad campaign Tuesday June 15, 2021, and set a formal announcement for Tuesday evening. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Waterloo Democrat first to launch campaign for Iowa governor

By David Pitt Jun. 15, 2021 02:30 PM EDT

This photo, provided by the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, in Buffalo, NY, on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, shows the destroyer USS The Sullivans, that's taking on water and listing at its dock in Buffalo's inner harbor and began emergency repairs. The 78-year-old vessel is named in honor of the five Sullivan brothers from Waterloo, Iowa, who were killed in action when the USS Juneau was sunk by the Japanese in the South Pacific during World War II. (Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park via AP)
Repairs underway to save historic warship taking on water

By Carolyn Thompson Mar. 16, 2021 03:50 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2021, file photo, a Tyson Foods team member receives a COVID-19 vaccine at meatpacking plant in Wilkesboro, N.C. Meatpacking workers have started receiving coronavirus vaccines and thousands more will have a chance to get their first shots this week, offering some peace of mind in an industry that was ravaged by COVID-19 a year ago. (Melissa Melvin/AP Images for Tyson Foods, File)
Thousands of meatpacking workers to be vaccinated this week

By Josh Funk Mar. 01, 2021 05:23 PM EST

FILE - In this May 2020, file photo, Tyson's Fresh Meat workers file in for a tour of safety measures put into place after the plant in Waterloo, Iowa, had to shut down due to a COVID-19 outbreak. The family of a Tyson Foods employee are alleging in a lawsuit that he died from COVID-19 after the meat processing giant failed to implement safety protocols to guard against the coronavirus at the Iowa plant where he worked. (Brandon Pollock/The Courier via AP, File)
Fired Tyson boss says COVID office pool was a 'morale boost'

By Ryan J. Foley Dec. 28, 2020 12:58 PM EST

FILE - In this May 2020, file photo, Tyson's Fresh Meat workers file in for a tour of safety measures put into place after the plant in Waterloo, Iowa, had to shut down due to a COVID-19 outbreak. The family of a Tyson Foods employee are alleging in a lawsuit that he died from COVID-19 after the meat processing giant failed to implement safety protocols to guard against the coronavirus at the Iowa plant where he worked. (Brandon Pollock/The Courier via AP, File)
Tyson fires 7 at Iowa pork plant after COVID betting inquiry

By Ryan J. Foley Dec. 16, 2020 12:49 PM EST

FILE - In this May 2020 file photo, Tyson's Fresh Meat workers file in for a tour of safety measures put into place after the plant in Waterloo, Iowa, had to shut down due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Lawyers for the estates of dead workers allege that the top official at Tyson Foods’ largest pork plant created a pool for managers to bet on how many workers would get infected during a coronavirus outbreak. (Brandon Pollock/The Courier via AP, File)
Tyson suspends Iowa plant managers amid virus betting claim

By Ryan J. Foley Nov. 19, 2020 01:51 PM EST

Ashley Hinson speaks with journalists after her win in Iowa's 1st Congressional District race at her Cedar Rapids, Iowa, campaign office on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. Republican Hinson defeated first-term incumbent Democrat Abby Finkenauer. (Liz Martin/The Gazette via AP)
GOP congresswoman-elect from Iowa says she has COVID-19

By Ryan J. Foley Nov. 12, 2020 12:12 PM EST

Pandemic prompts 'pivot' at UNI performing arts center

By Melody Parker Sep. 26, 2020 01:01 AM EDT
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Many performing arts centers in Iowa have been temporarily shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Hancher Auditorium at the...

Cedar Falls joins with other Iowa cities in requiring masks

Sep. 09, 2020 10:24 AM EDT
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Cedar Falls approved a mask mandate Tuesday, joining with other Iowa cities that have taken similar moves as the state continues to see...

In this image from video, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, speaks from Des Moines, Iowa, during the third night of the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.(Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via AP)
'Skeptical': Ernst suggests COVID numbers are inflated

By Laurie Kellman Sep. 02, 2020 12:46 PM EDT

Family of 4th dead worker sues Tyson over Waterloo outbreak

Aug. 10, 2020 09:39 AM EDT
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The family of a fourth worker who died of coronavirus during an outbreak at Tyson Foods' largest pork processing plant is suing the...

This undated photo provided by the family of Sedika Buljic shows Buljic in Waterloo, Iowa. Sedika Buljic died on April 18 at the age of 58 after contracting the coronavirus. Buljic's estate and the estates of two other deceased employees are suing Tyson Foods, saying the company put workers at its Waterloo pork processing plant at risk during a huge virus outbreak and lied to keep them working.(photo courtesy of the Buljic family via AP)
Families of 3 deceased workers sue Tyson over Iowa outbreak

By Ryan J. Foley Jun. 25, 2020 05:08 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 1, 2020, file photo, a worker leaves the Tyson Foods plant in Waterloo, Iowa. An employee at the Waterloo plant died Monday, May 25, 2020, after battling the coronavirus during a six-week hospitalization that was chronicled and widely followed online. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Iowa finds no violations at Tyson plant with deadly outbreak

By Ryan J. Foley Jun. 23, 2020 06:30 PM EDT

Waterloo hospital experiencing baby boom

Jun. 04, 2020 01:31 PM EDT
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo hospital is seeing a baby boom. UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital reported delivering 142 babies in May,...

Tyson Foods worker, 44, dies after long battle with COVID-19

By Ryan J. Foley May. 25, 2020 05:20 PM EDT
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An employee at the Tyson Foods plant in Waterloo, Iowa, died Monday after battling the coronavirus during a six-week hospitalization...

Worker from Congo dies after COVID-19 outbreak at Iowa plant

May. 12, 2020 06:46 PM EDT
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — An immigrant from Congo who worked at the Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Waterloo has died of the coronavirus, the company...

Vice President Mike Pence greets Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, left, after arriving at the Des Moines International Airport before meeting with faith leaders and food industry executives in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Friday, May 8, 2020, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa reports increase in testing as more businesses reopen

By Ryan J. Foley May. 08, 2020 03:03 PM EDT

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds holds a news conference on COVID-19 at the State Emergency Operations Center in Johnston, Iowa, on Tuesday, May 5, 2020. (Olivia Sun/The Des Moines Register via AP, Pool)
Nearly 1,400 Tyson workers at 3 Iowa plants get coronavirus

By Ryan J. Foley May. 05, 2020 12:51 PM EDT

In this Friday, May 1, 2020, photo, medical workers flex their muscles as they pose for a photo at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Waterloo, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Coronavirus cuts 'deep scars' through meatpacking cities

By Ryan J. Foley May. 04, 2020 11:54 PM EDT

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds holds a news conference on COVID-19 at the State Emergency Operations Center on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in Johnston Iowa. (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP )
Researchers warned Iowa governor not to relax virus limits

By Ryan J. Foley Apr. 28, 2020 09:32 AM EDT