(Radio Iowa) – As Iowans battle cold temperatures, snow, ice and oh, the isolation of the pandemic, it’s little wonder some people say they’re depressed or have the winter blues, even if it’s not even officially winter yet. Jonathan Sikorski, a licensed mental health practitioner in Omaha/Council Bluffs, says Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a very real condition.  “A big misconception about Seasonal Affective Disorder is that it’s just something in your head,” Sikorski says. “It’s actually a diagnosable subset of major depression and it affects a lot of people nationally.”

Typically, a contributing factor to SAD is a lack of sunlight. “As a species, we’re solar-powered,” Sikorski says. “We like the sun and when we’re out in the sunlight we get Vitamin D, we get Vitamin D-12 from some of the foods that we eat, but also as we decrease activity, our moods just generally drop.” Sikorski, director of wellness education at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, says there are things you can do to boost your mood, including buying a special light that’s very bright and sitting under it.  “Light therapy, you want to find something that has around 10,000 lux or lumens in the light,” he says. “For a lot of people, it’s a real godsend this time of year.”

He also suggests adding foods to your diet that are rich in Vitamin B-12, like beef and other protein-rich foods, and increase your intake of food with Omega-3 fatty acids, like fish, and raise your Vitamin D-3 intake. He says supplements are okay if you first check with your doctor. One other easy potential solution — get more sunlight.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says a traffic stop at around 10-p.m. Monday at Boxelder Avenue and Highway 34, resulted in the arrest of two men. Tawakal Noor and Kalid Mahamed, both of Omaha, were taken into custody on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st offense/Marijuana, and Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. Red Oak Police assisted in the arrests.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says the state is returning $21 million of federal coronavirus aid money it planned to spend on upgrading state information technology systems. Reynolds says she has directed the Iowa Department of Management to return the money to the state’s virus relief fund by Friday. The funds were initially allocated for payments related to Workday, a cloud-based human resources, finance, and planning system being implemented to modernize the state’s IT infrastructure. She says U.S. Treasury officials initially indicated it was an allowable expense but is now saying it is not. Iowa received $1.25 billion from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act and must allocate the remaining $47.3 million by Dec. 30.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A small group of health care workers were the first people in Iowa to get the coronavirus vaccine, kicking off a months-long campaign to deliver shots to state residents. The arrival of the vaccine marked a milestone in the fight against a virus that has killed one in roughly every 964 residents in Iowa, infected hundreds of thousands more, filled up hospitals and closed many public school buildings. University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics said on Monday morning it received 1,000 doses of the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. The hospital soon started vaccinating employees, saying it anticipated more than 50 would receive the first of two doses of the vaccine on Monday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s six Republican electors cast their votes for President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, affirming their win in an election that saw record turnout and victories in 93 of the state’s 99 counties. Gov. Kim Reynolds presided over the meeting at the Iowa Capitol, where the six Republican activists filled out ballots Monday. The vote was a formality since the electors were required by law to vote for the candidate who won the state popular vote. Trump won the state 53% to Joe Biden’s 45%. A record 1.7 million voters cast ballots, for a turnout rate of more than 76%.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Waterloo officials are working to determine the cause of an explosion and fire at a school bus garage. Authorities say the explosion happened Monday afternoon at School Bus Sales in Waterloo. Four people were taken by car to hospitals. The extent of their injuries was not immediately known. Fire Battalion Chief Troy Luck said walls at the business were blown out and a burning school bus was found inside the building.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Waterloo officials are working to determine the cause of an explosion and fire at a school bus garage. Authorities say the explosion happened Monday afternoon at School Bus Sales in Waterloo. Four people were taken by car to hospitals. The extent of their injuries was not immediately known. Fire Battalion Chief Troy Luck said walls at the business were blown out and a burning school bus was found inside the building.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 33-year old William Dean Meredith, of Glenwood, was arrested Friday evening at the Mills County Jail. He was presented with a warrant for Probation Violation, and was being held on $2,000 bond.

And, Glenwood Police, Monday, reported the arrest on Friday, of 52-year old Alfredo Moreno, from Sidney. Moreno was arrested for Driving While Revoked, with his cash or surety bond set at $1,000.

DES MOINES – Governor Reynolds has directed the Iowa Department of Management to return $21 million to Iowa’s Coronavirus Relief Fund. The funds were initially allocated for payments related to the state’s contract with Workday, a cloud-based human resources, finance, and planning system being implemented to modernize the state’s IT infrastructure. Of the allocation, $4.45 million was spent on the project.

“The COVID-19 pandemic only further highlighted the critical need for integrated IT systems that will improve operational efficiency and effectiveness for the State of Iowa,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Following multiple conversations with the Treasury Department last spring, we believed we had assurances that the upgrade to Workday qualified as an allowable expense. We would not have moved forward without those assurances.”

The Department of the Treasury’s OIG affirmed its determination that payments for Workday were not allowable expenditures under the CARES Act. While the State still maintains its position that these are allowable expenditures, it respects the decision and will return the funds by December 18.

Replacing the State’s outdated IT systems remains a critical need, and has received overwhelming bi-partisan support from the Legislature and elected officials. As such, the Workday implementation will continue as planned. The estimated costs and timelines of the project have not changed. Supplemental funding will needed to support the completion.

Iowa received a total allocation of $1.25 billion from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The $4.45 million spent on Workday represents just 0.36% of the total funds, while more than 96% has been allocated to programs that have provided direct relief for Iowans.

• More than $76M to support Iowa families
• More than $126M to support small businesses and non-profits
• More than $110M to support Iowa farmers and producers
• $125M to support Iowa communities
• Nearly $112M to support Iowa health care providers
• $490M for the Unemployment Trust Fund, creating tax relief for 40,766 employers
• $35M for Broadband Expansion Grants
• $127M for COVID-19 operations

The State will allocate the remaining $47.3 million by the December 30 deadline, but an extension from the federal government would allow time to use the funds to create additional programs and support other needs among Iowans.  Governor Reynolds strongly encourages Congress to work together and make additional support possible for American families, workers and businesses before the end of the year.

A crash at around 8:52-a.m. today (Monday), in Sac County, claimed the life of a 21-year old woman. The Iowa State Patrol reports Courtney Graffunder, of Sac City died, after the car she was driving collided with the rear of a semi tractor-trailer on Highway 71. The woman was not wearing a seat belt.

Officials said her 2015 Chevy Camaro was northbound and failed to stop for a 2021 Peterbilt semi in the northbound lane, that was stopped on Highway 71 and waiting to turn left into the drive for 1887 Highway 71.

The driver of the semi, 40-year old Joshua Cordes, of Enid, OK., was not injured. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A small group of health care workers were the first people in Iowa to get the coronavirus vaccine, kicking off a months-long campaign to deliver shots to state residents. The arrival of the vaccine marked a milestone in the fight against a virus that has killed one in roughly every 964 residents in Iowa, infected hundreds of thousands more, filled up hospitals and closed many public school buildings.

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics said on Monday morning it received 1,000 doses of the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. The hospital soon started vaccinating employees, saying it anticipated more than 50 would receive the first of two doses of the vaccine on Monday.

(Radio Iowa) – Six Iowans have cast their votes in the Electoral College for President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Trump finished eight points ahead of Joe Biden in Iowa and carried all but six of Iowa’s 99 counties. Governor Kim Reynolds was on hand this (Monday) morning to greet the Electors at the State Capitol. “Turn out for the General Election was incredibly high in the State of Iowa and I think that’s something we can all be very proud of,” she said.

Turnout in Iowa was over) “897,672 Iowans voted for Donald Trump for president and Mike Pence for vice president…Those votes were technically and legally votes cast for the six of you,” Pate said. “…I want to congratulate you, the Electors, and thank you for your service.” David Chung of Cedar Rapids is a long-time Republican Party activist, but this was the first time he’s served as an Elector. “It’s kind of bitter sweet,” Chung says. “Obviously I’m a Republican Elector, so I was hoping to be part of re-electing a Republican president, but still happy to be part of the process.”

The Electors signed a number of documents, some of which will be delivered to congress.

(Des Moines) A reminder from the Iowa Department of Human Rights: The CDC’s moratorium on nonpayment evictions ends on December 31, 2020.  The Order protects renters who meet certain requirements and who sign a declaration form and give it to the landlord. Evictions can take place if certain terms of the lease are broken.  Late fees can still be charged, and the obligation to pay rent remains. The process and requirements around the moratorium and evictions can be complex. For information on how to take advantage of the moratorium, visit Iowa Legal Aid’s website.

If you are unable to pay your rent, here are some resources on rental assistance, housing, and other help.

• Iowa legal Aid-Eviction Information/Rights
• Resident Declaration Form – Other Languages
• Eviction Moratorium Information in 18 Asian Languages
• COVID-19 Legal Advice Hotline 1-800-332-0419
• HHS/CDC Frequently Asked Questions
• Houseiowa.org – database of housing resources
• 211iowa.org or call 2-1-1 for resources

Iowa Emergency Solutions Grant CARES Act 
The Emergency Solutions Grant program helps prevent households from becoming homeless due to eviction, and assists Iowans experiencing homelessness to quickly regain rental housing.  Examples of assistance available to eligible individuals include rent and utility payments, including in arrears, legal assistance, application fees, security and utility deposits, moving costs, case management and credit repair. All financial assistance is paid directly to landlords and service providers  The assistance will remain available until all funds are exhausted or September 30, 2022.

For assistance and eligibility, call the Housing Recovery help line at 1-833-739-0065 or use the Regional Coordinated Entry Contact Finder to find a service agency in your area