Reynolds Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Tuesday morning that state residents would soon no longer be eligible for federal pandemic unemployment benefits. Reynolds cited Iowa's recovering economy and a need to get people working again as factors influencing her decision to end this benefits program. "Federal pandemic-related unemployment benefit programs initially provided displaced Iowans with crucial assistance when the pandemic began," Reynolds said in a news release. "But now that our businesses and schools have reopened, these payments are discouraging people from returning to work." For residents of Iowa, this decision was met with a mixed response. Kim McNeese, who owns McNeese Tires in Britt with her husband Brent, has been looking for new employees for âwell over a yearâ and has become frustrated trying to fill vacant positions.