(Radio Iowa) – Health officials are encouraging Iowans to get flu shots as soon as possible. The experts say Australia is already experiencing its worst flu season in five years, which could indicate it will also be severe in the U-S. Nola Aigner -Davis, spokeswoman for the Polk County Health Department in Des Moines, says the county is still seeing many COVID-19 cases and its hospital system is again strained.

“We really need to still be good to our hospital and healthcare systems,” Aigner-Davis says, “because they’re still in a staffing shortage from COVID-19. They’re still taking care of very sick individuals.” Since early 2020, more than 46-thousand Iowans have been hospitalized for treatment of COVID, while the state’s death toll from the virus is expected to exceed 10-thousand when the official numbers are released on Wednesday.

“We’re not seeing COVID slow down,” she says. “We keep hearing of people getting sick, being hospitalized. Cases aren’t stopping and you can get COVID and the flu at the same time.” Aigner-Davis says people who are interested can get a flu shot and a COVID booster in one visit, while Iowans who think they have the flu should contact their doctor for guidance. In the past few years, Iowa’s average life expectancy has fallen about a year-and-a-half due to COVID.

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says a former aide on his Democratic opponent’s campaign has made very concerning allegations in a police report — allegations Mike Franken says are false.  “Iowa voters deserve honesty and, of course, the victim deserves respect,” Grasley says. Kimberley Strope-Boggus was fired from Franken’s campaign in February. She says Franken kissed her without her permission in March after offering her a new campaign job. Strope-Boggus filed a police report about a month later. Prosecutors declined to file charges. During an interview with The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Franken denied the allegations in the report and accused Republicans of targeting him because he’s in a critical U.S. Senate race.

“Franken made this a campaign issue, I think, by his comments,” Grassley says, “but it’s not a campaign issue I’m going to follow up on.” Grassley says Franken’s comments to the reporter show total disregard to his former campaign aide. “Anybody running for office, those of us running are held to a very high standard and I fulfill that responsibility for transparency each day as I have to honor serving the people of Iowa,” Grassley says, “and I think Iowans deserve nothing less.”

Grassley made his comments this (Tuesday) morning during a weekly interview with Iowa radio reporters. Four hours later, a spokeswoman for Grassley’s campaign said the senator would focus on issues like the economy and inflation — but at the same time, until there is full transparency about the alleged incident, it will continue to be an issue in the campaign.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak this (Tuesday) afternoon, reported two arrests. At around 2:55-a.m., Red Oak Police arrested 45-year-old Anthony Dean Morris, of Red Oak, for Driving While Suspended. His bond was set at $300. And, at around 11:15-a.m., 39-year-old Blair Alder Redd, of Lampasas, TX, was arrested in Red Oak for Public Intoxication, Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree, and Burglary in the 3rd Degree. Redd was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Atlantic, IA—Cass Health’s Senior Life Solutions team is hosting a free community walk in support of Suicide Awareness Month on Saturday, September 24, 2022 beginning at 7:00 pm at the Rotary Shelter at the Schildberg Recreation Area. The event is being co-hosted by Healthy Cass County and Cass County Iowa State University Extension. It was postponed from last Saturday, due to the weather.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), there are, on average, 130 suicide deaths per day, and throughout 2020, there were an estimated 1.2 million suicide attempts. Each September, many across the country work together to help bring awareness to suicide and encourage education to help in the prevention of more lives lost.

“Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month is a chance to take time to stop and assess yourself and those around you to ensure those you need help have access to it and aren’t living at risk. By raising awareness and educating people about the signs that can indicate someone is having suicidal thoughts or are possibly in danger of attempting suicide, we can help to prevent suicide from happening,” said Karmen Roland, RN, Program Director of Senior Life Solutions.

The event will kick-off at 7:00 pm with local speakers who will share their story on how suicide has touched their lives. The walk portion of the evening will begin around 7:30 pm. Participants will walk the trail loop at the Schildberg Recreation Area. Information about mental health services and community resources as well as light refreshments will be available at the Rotary Shelter.

If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately. If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

For more information about the walk, check out the Facebook event or call 712-250-8100.