KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.6MB)
Subscribe: RSS
The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.2MB)
Subscribe: RSS
WAUKEE, Iowa (AP) — Two people are hospitalized after fire broke out an apartment complex in Waukee. The Des Moines Register reports that the fire happened Monday. Two people suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to a hospital. Deputy Fire Chief Tomme Tysdal says seven of the eight apartments were occupied and the families were evacuated. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Iowa Department of Public Health today (as of 10-a.m. Tuesday), reports 276,948 confirmed cases of COVID-19 statewide since Iowa’s outbreak began, with an additional 1,475 cases confirmed since 10-a.m. Monday. There are 67 additional deaths to report. The statewide death toll from the virus stands at 3,812. Of Iowa’s pandemic-related deaths, COVID-19 is reported as the underlying cause for 3,497 deaths. For 315 Iowans, COVID-19 was a contributing factor to their deaths. In this area, Pottawattamie and Union Counties have two additional deaths, each. Shelby County has one additional death.
The Iowa DPH reports 114 COVID-19 outbreaks among long-term care facilities in the state (9 less than on Monday), accounting for 4,510 of Iowa’s current positive cases. COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities account for 1,138 of the state’s total deaths. Health officials say 2,890 LTC patients/staff have recovered from the virus.
Iowa DPH reports hospitalizations are on the rise, from 586 Monday to 620 today. There are: 117 patients in an ICU (6 more than Monday); 77 were admitted (5 less than Monday), and 67 patients are on ventilators (an increase of 7 over Monday). Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa (RMCC Region 4) report: 35 hospitalized; 11 are in an ICU; 1 person was admitted to a hospital, and 6 people are on a ventilator.
According to the state’s website, a total of 1,346,711 Iowans received COVID-19 tests. Iowa’s average reported positivity rate is 11.8% over the last 14 days. The health department says 233,723 Iowans have recovered from COVID-19.
In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:
(Radio Iowa) – Two-thirds of Iowa counties are considered to be abnormally dry or in some stage of drought, with far northwest Iowa the driest of all. State Climatologist Justin Glisan says that makes this month’s snowfall particularly welcome. “We had precipitation deficits starting to stack up in western Iowa, especially west central Iowa, going back last fall and then drying creeping into much of western Iowa moving into April, May and especially June, where we saw drought conditions expand across western Iowa,” Glisan says.
The lack of adequate subsoil moisture is a remarkable turn-around after recording flooding just a couple of years ago in several areas. “2018 was the second-wettest year on record. 2019 was the 12th wettest year on record,” Glisan says. “You put those two years together — the wettest two-year stretch for the state of Iowa going back 148 years.” Having snow drifts stick around for a while would be a good thing, according to Glisan, because it may help replenish moisture levels. “But of course drier soils freeze faster and they’ll freeze deeper,” Glisan says, “so we don’t want a really deep freeze in the subsoil because that will act like a concrete layer, no water infiltration getting into that deeper soil.”
The National Weather Service forecasts indicate more than half a foot of snow may fall in some areas of the state today (Tuesday).
(Radio Iowa) – The three Democrats representing Iowa in the U.S. House of Representatives have voted to override President Trump’s veto of a major military spending bill, but they’ve also on record now in support of Trump’s call to send two-thousand dollar stimulus checks to most Americans. The U.S. House took votes late Monday on the both issues. Democratic Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer of Cedar Rapids says she was happy to vote for the additional stimulus spending Trump supports, while also voting to override his veto costing military service members their pay. Democratic Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines says the president’s veto was shortsighted.
On the other matter, Axne says she hopes the minds of reluctant Republicans senators have been changed by the president’s call for larger stimulus checks and last night’s bipartisan vote in favor of the move. Axne joked, however, that if she had a dollar for every time a House-passed bill faced an uncertain fate in the U.S. Senate, she might be able to make the stimulus payments herself. Democratic Congressman Dave Loebsack of Iowa City was also in the majority on both votes.
On Monday morning, Republican Congressman Steve King of Kiron tweeted criticism at Republicans he called “never Trumpers” — but last (Monday) night King was recorded as “not voting” on either issue that came before the House.
FORT MADISON – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections, Monday, said Iowa One staff member was assaulted by an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary earlier in the day, Monday. The inmate was in the prison clinic area for a routine medical appointment. Upon entering the exam room, the inmate began to immediately assault the physician. Nearby staff heard the assault and responded to restrain the inmate.
The staff member was taken by department vehicle to receive treatment at the local hospital. He has since been treated and released. The inmate was found to have not suffered any injuries.
Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a man wanted on two Union County warrants for Parole Violation and Failure to Appear, was arrested Sunday night. The Sheriff says 22-year-old Kane Allen Michael Farlow, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 7:30-p.m. following a traffic stop near the intersection of Stuart Road and Arbor Hill Drive, or about eight miles south of Stuart.
At around 7:12-p.m. Sunday, the Union County Communications Center in Creston, notified the Adair County Sheriff’s Office that a vehicle possibly involved in criminal activity had left the City of Creston traveling northbound on Cherry Street. Cherry Street turn into Henry A. Wallace Road once you enter Adair County. Union County Communications would later advise that an occupant of the vehicle may also have active warrants issued for his arrest.
The Greenfield Police Department first observed the vehicle traveling northbound on Henry A. Wallace Road, south of State Highway 92. The Greenfield Police Department followed the vehicle until additional law enforcement units were available to assist with a traffic stop.
The Greenfield and Stuart Police Departments, the Iowa State Patrol and the Union County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Adair County Sheriff’s Office with the arrest.
ONAWA, Iowa – A Sioux City man faces two counts of attempted murder in connection with a collision resulting in injury, and a shots-fired incident on Interstate 29 (I-29). The incident was reported to the Monona County Sheriff’s Office early Sunday morning December 27th, 2020. The charges were filed Monday (Dec. 28th) against 39-year-old Jayme R. Powell.
Jayme Powell (IA DPS photo)
Charging documents allege that while Powell was driving southbound on I-29 in his truck, he fired multiple rounds at another vehicle operated by Jaimi Bucholz of Sioux City. Powell then intentionally struck a motorcycle operated by Richard Polak of Sioux City. The impact forced Powell’s truck and Polak’s motorcycle into the ditch, leaving Polak in critical condition. Powell fled the scene but was later taken into custody in Sioux City.
Polak was life flighted to Mercy Hospital in Sioux City where he remains in critical condition. Powell is currently in custody at the Monona County Jail. This is an ongoing investigation and more charges may be filed at a later date.
The Iowa State Patrol reports two people were injured during a single-vehicle accident Monday night, in Pottawattamie County. The crash happened at around 8:05 near Crescent. Authorities say a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by 32-year-old Justin Colton, of Council Bluffs, was traveling north on Joslin Road, just north of Monument Road, when the vehicle went out of control and entered the west ditch.
The car struck a barbed wire fence and then entered the east ditch of I-29 and rolled over, before coming to rest on its top on the northbound shoulder of I-29. Colton, and his passenger, 32-year-old Shayla Wright, of Omaha, were transported by Crescent Rescue to Jenny Edmundson Hospital, in Council Bluffs. Both were wearing their seat belts.