(Radio Iowa) – The mayor of Muscatine has issued a proclamation for a city-wide face covering mandate starting at 6 a.m. today (Monday) and lasting for six months. Muscatine Mayor Diana Broderson says she’s concerned by growing COVID-19 caseloads in neighboring areas.

“Our numbers aren’t terrible right this minute. If we wait ’til they are, it’s going to be too late. People will be sick, people will die and businesses will close,” she says. Broderson made her comments during an online event organized by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. Broderson announced her decision in a Sunday afternoon news conference and was booed by a crowd outside city hall as she removed her face mask to begin speaking.

Broderson told the crowd a face mask is not required outdoors when a person is more than six feet away from others. According to the Iowa attorney general’s interpretation of state law, mayors do not have the authority to issue the requirement that face masks be worn in public. Broderson says she’s exercising the “home rule” authority local election officials are granted in the Iowa Constitution.

“Mayors have the authority by statute to take control of their city in an emergency situation and make whatever mandates or whatever orders need to be done in order to provide for the health and safety of their community,” Broderson says. There have been 633 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Muscatine County and 70 percent of those cases have been adults between the ages of 18 and 60. Fourty-four Muscatine County residents have died of COVID-19.

Participants in high school team sports in Muscatine will be allowed to play without face coverings and Broderson is granting other exceptions to her face-mask mandate if social distancing is maintained. The exceptions include exercising or engaging in outdoor or indoor sports where social distancing is maintained, eating while seated at a restaurant or bar. Broderson also says face coverings may be removed when a service, like dental work, requires temporary removal.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Four men died and a woman was injured in a fiery single-vehicle crash southwest of downtown Des Moines early Sunday. Des Moines Police said the crash happened around 2:30 a.m. Sunday on George Flagg Parkway near Water Works Park. The Volkswagen Golf caught fire after crashing into a tree with five people inside. An officer responding to the crash was able to pull a 22-year-old woman from the wreck. Police said she was in serious condition at a hospital. Police said the vehicle’s 22-year-old driver and three passengers, ages 22, 23 and 24, died in the crash. Their names weren’t immediately released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa reported another 321 coronavirus cases Sunday to give the state 31,243 cases of COVID-19. The Iowa Department of Public Health said that as of 10 a.m. Sunday 721 people with COVID-19 had died since the outbreak began. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness. Of all the people who have tested positive in Iowa, 24,671 have recovered. A total of 332,114 people have been tested in Iowa.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Police say an Iowa man who successfully sued one of his sons for the shooting death of his wife has been assaulted by his other son. The Des Moines Register reports that 55-year-old Billy Dean Carter was arrested Wednesday and charged with assaulting his father, 74-year-old Bill Carter. Police say the younger Carter knocked his father to the ground and kicked him twice on a road near the elder father’s home following an argument. In 2017, a jury ordered another of Bill Carter’s sons, Jason Carter, to pay $10 million to the estate of of his mother, 68-year-old Shirley, who died in 2015 from two gunshot wounds fired by a rifle. Jason Carter was later acquitted of murder in the case.

The remains of a man who disappeared Wednesday afternoon following a boating incident, was recovered Saturday, in Fremont County. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the man – whose name was not immediately released, but was said to be from out of the area – had entered the Missouri River to try and swim to shore after the boat he was in, ran out of gas on the Missouri River, in Mills County. The man’s companion made it to shore, but the victim got lost and likely drowned, or had a medical issue, authorities reported. His body was found  about two miles south of the Bartlett landing Saturday afternoon.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office says a 15-year old reported missing/runaway from Creston was located Saturday at a residence in Corning. Following-up on tips, Deputies arrived at the residence and found the teen hiding in a closet. Further investigation revealed the teen was wanted on an active warrant out of Union County.  The juvenile was placed into custody and transported to the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

(Updated) DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Four men died and a woman was injured in a fiery single-vehicle crash southwest of downtown Des Moines early Sunday. Des Moines Police said the crash happened around 2:30 a.m. Sunday on George Flagg Parkway near Water Works Park. The Volkswagen Golfwith five people inside caught fire, after crashing into a tree.

An officer responding to the crash was able to pull a 22-year-old woman from the wreck. Police said she was in serious condition at a hospital. Police said the vehicle’s 22-year-old driver and three passengers, ages 22, 23 and 24, died in the crash. Their names weren’t immediately released.

As of 10:15-a.m. today (Sunday), there was 321 new/confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Iowa for the past 24-hours. According to the Iowa DPH’s COVID-19 website, a total of 31,243 positive cases have been confirmed statewide since Iowa’s outbreak began. The Iowa DPH reported no additional COVID-19 deaths for a statewide death toll of 721. The website said 508 of the state’s deaths involved Iowans with preexisting conditions.

COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities account for 382 of the state’s total deaths. Iowa DPH reports 141 hospitalizations, of which 43 patients are in intensive care. The TestIowa program reports 837,584 completed assessments. According to the Iowa DPH, 33,830 Iowans received serology tests. Of those tested, 31,439 tested negative and 2,358 tested positive.

In the KJAN listening area: Guthrie County reports one new case of COVID-19, for a total of 66 and there are 3 new cases in Pott. County, for a total of 723. There was no change in the numbers from other counties reported on Saturday.

A pursuit that began near mile marker 37 on westbound Interstate 80 in Pottawattamie County, Sunday morning, ended after a wild chase that wound through gravel roads, along with a corn and soybean field. According to scanner traffic, an Iowa State Patrol Trooper attempted to stop a red Mazda Tribute with California plates, at around 7:24-a.m.  The driver refused to stop and, according to the Trooper, at one point, flipped-him off.

The chase ended after the SUV went off a dead-end road at 280th and Magnolia. The chase went back and forth through a soybean and corn field, with the vehicle flying over a field terrace at one point. After the vehicle crashed near 24740 280th, the driver, who was injured, tried to run, but was tasered.

He was taken into custody at 7:56-a.m., and as of this report, was awaiting treatment by medics. No other details are currently available.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report the arrest at around 1:30-p.m. Friday, of 59-year old William Henry Hoffman, from Red Oak. Hoffman was arrested at the intersection of Ginkgo Avenue & 200th Street, west of Red Oak, for Public Intoxication. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

Red Oak Police report 24-year old Brandon Lee Lunsford, of Red Oak, was cited in the area of 3rd & Oak Streets at around 3:40-a.m. today (Sunday), for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Lunsford was issued a summons to appear in court, and released at the scene. And, at around 7:50-p.m. Saturday, 31-year old Madison Marie Bowling, of Red Oak, was arrested for Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, and Violation of a No Contact Order. She was taken into custody in the 2400 block of N. 8th Street and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where Bowling was being held on a $2,000 bond.

Police in Shenandoah report a 35-year old woman faces charges in connection with a police investigation. Authorities say Melanie Joy Bowers was arrested Thursday evening for driving while barred, reckless driving and criminal mischief.

Bowers is charged in connection with an investigation into an incident occurring Tuesday. Bowers posted bond, and was giving a court date.