(Radio Iowa) – Federal stimulus checks are arriving in Iowans’ bank accounts and mailboxes, while scammers are hoping to dupe people out of that money — which can be several hundred dollars. Bao Vang, spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau, says Iowans should be very cautious in dealing with anyone who contacts you about the stimulus payments.

“Don’t reply directly. Don’t respond to the call, text, or email,” Vang says. “If you think the message is real, find the government agency’s contact information on their website and then contact them directly.” Vang says to resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the caller’s story might be. She says scammers try to get people to act before thinking about the situation. Also, Vang says to beware of look-alikes, like callers from the “Internal Revenue Department.”

“Scammers often make up names of agencies,” Vang says, “and sometimes these names can be very similar to the ones we know and trust.” Vang says you should never have to pay a fee for a “free” government check, grant or program, as it’s not really free if there is a fee involved.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — Police have revealed that three people killed in a crash following a high-speed police chase in central Iowa were teenagers. Police in the Des Moines suburb of Clive say 16-year-old Emmanuel Martin Nyariel, 14-year-old Majok Martin Nyariel and 14-year-old Zacharia Warsame died in the early Monday crash.

Police say two other Des Moines teens, ages 13 and 15, remained hospitalized Tuesday with life-threatening injuries. Investigators say the crash happened after the teens fled when officers attempted to stop a stolen car they were in.

Police say the car launched into the air as it crossed railroad tracks, flipped several times and hit a utility pole and creek bank.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa Department of Public Safety employee who traveled to Washington, D.C., to support President Donald Trump’s push to overturn the election says she understands the rage that fueled the insurrection and that it was bound to happen. Hollie Davidson, an administrative assistant at the Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications Systems Board, says she took part in two days of “Stop the Steal” rallies but wasn’t among the mob that entered the Capitol.

Five people were killed during the rampage, which delayed certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s electoral victory. Davidson writes on Facebook that the insurrection “had to happen in order for us to have our voices heard finally.”

Iowa Senator Jake Chapman and Representative Ray Sorensen will hold joint legislative coffees for the 2021 session.The coffees will be held at The Guthrie Center Farm Bureau at 8:00a.m. on the following Saturdays: February 6; March 6 and April 3. Coffees are also scheduled for The Corner Coffee Shop in Greenfield at 10a.m. on the same Saturdays.

Newly elected as President of the Senate, Senator Jake Chapman looks to continue his leadership for a watchdog for Iowa’s taxpayers. Representative Sorensen continues his leadership in the house in a new role as a Chair of the Economic Growth Committee.

Times to be determined at a later date for Dallas and Cass Counties. Virtual options will also be available for those unable to attend in person, and information will be provided via the Sorensen for Iowa Facebook page.

(Des Moines, IA) Today (Tuesday) the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) released the guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine priority populations for Phase 1B, based on the recommendations put forward by the Iowa Disease Advisory Council (IDAC) and accepted by Kelly Garcia, IDPH interim Director.

Garcia says “I am grateful for the incredible work of the Infectious Disease Advisory Council. The work of this group is critical to ensuring Iowa’s most vulnerable are protected and have access to the COVID-19 vaccine. In a situation where there is not a playbook to follow, the thoughtful dialog and recommendations reflect their deep commitment to equity and making the right decisions in the best interest of all Iowans.”

IDAC Recommendations

Due to the current and short-term projections for vaccine allocation for Iowa, IDAC recommendations for Phase 1B focus on individuals who are age 75 and over, as well as other high risk populations. This includes Iowans who are most vulnerable to exposure to COVID-19 or high-risk for illness as the result of a COVID-19 infection, with a significant focus on equity.  Some examples include individuals with disabilities living in home settings, correctional facilities, other congregate settings and meatpacking plant workers.

Acceptance of Recommendations

Garcia accepted IDAC’s recommendations in full, modified with two additions. In addition to IDAC’s recommendations for inclusion in Phase 1B are inspectors responsible for health, life and safety as well as government officials, including staff, to ensure continuity of government, engaged in state business at the Iowa Capitol during the legislative session. Please see the IDAC recommendations and response here.

Tentative Timeframes

It will require approximately 300-400,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to complete Phase 1A statewide. Iowa has, to date, been allocated approximately 226,000 doses. Vaccination of Phase 1B populations will begin no later than the first of February, and will take several weeks to complete. This timeline is subject to change.

In order to assure that we are moving through the Phase 1A schedule swiftly, IDPH is monitoring allocation data and utilization rates as well as through discussions with healthcare providers to identify challenges with administration or uptake.

There will be more details soon on where Phase 1B populations will receive their vaccines. Many of these vaccines will be administered via employer-based clinics. There are also approximately 1,700  enrolled vaccine providers in the state. Many of these providers are pharmacies and clinical offices that are equipped to handle screening and scheduling for vaccination efforts. County health departments may partner with these providers to ensure their residents have access to the vaccine when it becomes available.

In addition, to the above recommendations, IDAC strongly supports that no individual shall be restricted from obtaining vaccine based on residency or citizenship as noted in the memo from the Iowa Department of Public Health Re: Administration of COVID-19 Vaccine – County/State of Residence, dated December 11, 2020.

https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/61/covid19/vaccine/Vaccine%20Memo-Regardless%20of%20Residence.pdf 

Garcia says “As of today we’ve learned from the federal government of significant increased availability of the vaccine based on each state’s ability to distribute supply quickly and number of residents over age 65, or under age 65 with significant health conditions. Once we have reasonable confidence that supply meets the demands of this broader eligibility criteria, we will activate the broader distribution criteria. From the very beginning from this distribution effort, it has been our goal to reach all Iowans.”

IDPH continues to urge Iowans that while the vaccine is still a scarce resource, to practice virus mitigation efforts.

• Wear a mask or face covering
• Practice social distancing with those outside your household
• Clean your hands frequently with soap and water
• Stay home if you feel sick

View the full IDAC recommendations here and vaccine administration data here.

(DES MOINES) – Monday morning, Rep. Tom Moore (R-Griswold) was sworn in to the Iowa House of Representatives on the first day of the 89^th General Assembly. The swearing in ceremony was shortly followed by opening remarks by Speaker of the House Pat Grassley, outlining some of the priorities of the Legislature for the 2021 session.

(R) Rep. Tom Moore

During session Rep. Moore can be reached by email at tom.moore@legis.iowa.gov.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lottery players will have a shot at the eighth-largest jackpot in U.S. history due to months without a winner of the big prize. A drawing will be held Tuesday night for the $625 million Mega Millions jackpot, the largest lottery prize in nearly two years. The big prize for Powerball, the other national lottery game, isn’t far behind, at $550 million for Wednesday night’s drawing.

Those dreaming of instant wishes should remember that the odds of winning Powerball are one in 292.2 million. They’re even steeper for Mega Millions, at one in 302.5 million.

ESTHERVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified a man killed in a house fire in northwestern Iowa earlier this month. The Estherville Police Department tells the Sioux City Journal that 69-year-old Paul Ostendorf died in the fire at Estherville. Police say Ostendorf was the owner and occupant of the house. Firefighters were called by a neighbor to the home just before 4 p.m. on Jan. 2.

Arriving firefighters found the house engulfed in flames and found Ostendorf’s body after extinguishing the fire. Ostendorf’s death and the cause of the fire remain under investigation.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Page County, Saturday, arrested 35-year-old Jose Manuel Huerta, of Clarinda. Huerta was arrested at his residence on a Page County Bench Warrant for Failure to appear on an original charge of Driving while License is barred. He was transported to the Page County Jail and held on on $2,000 bond, pending further court proceedings.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds will deliver the annual “Condition of the State” address at 6 p.m. tonight (Tuesday). During a speech early Monday morning, Reynolds may have given a preview of her evaluation of the state’s status. “This past year has been challenging, it’s been unprecedented, and it’s been unpredictable: a global pandemic; civil unrest; a drought; derecho; a contentious, hard-fought election cycle,” Reynolds said,”and every day I continue to be inspired by the strength and tenacity and the compassion of Iowans.”

The governor told her fellow Republican the pandemic has exposed some vulnerabilities, but she did not cite specifics. “If 2020 has taught us anything it’s that leadership matters,” she said. “It matters at the local level, the state and the federal level, so let’s continue to lead with bold ideas, creative solutions and results.”

Reynolds starts 2021 with a larger Republican majority in the legislative branch. During her speech at yesterday’s (Monday’s) G-O-P fundraiser, she emphasized the importance of Republicans continuing to work together as a team.  “Keep fighting. Get out there,” said Reynolds, who is likely to seek reelection in 2022. “Let’s keep the ground game going and let’s keep showing not only Iowans, but this country that Iowa will continue to lead and do the right thing.”

Reynolds will be presenting her proposed budget to lawmakers as well. She has been emphasizing the status quo budgets lawmakers have approved over the past two years as the reason the State of Iowa didn’t face massive budget shortfalls during the pandemic. “Because of conservative budgeting (practices), a diverse economy, and our decision to keep over 80% of our businesses open and our workers working, we closed Fiscal year ’20 with our cash reserves full and a $305 million surplus,” Reynolds said.

That was Reynolds speaking to Republicans on Monday. The scheduling for tonight’s prime time “Condition of the State” address is a departure from precedent. The speech is traditionally delivered to a joint session of the House and Senate at 10 a.m. Reynolds says she hopes to reach a larger audience with the evening time slot.