(Radio Iowa) — A special investigation by the state auditor’s office has concluded an employee in the Iowa Department of Human Services filed more than 10-thousand dollars worth of improper or unsupported travel claims. Social worker Bobi Miller worked out of the agency’s office in Dallas County. Auditors reviewed the travel claims and work records she submitted over a nearly three year period. The auditor’s report concludes Miller claimed excess mileage for some destinations, didn’t have supporting records for other trips and had claimed reimbursement for work-related travel on days she was out sick or on vacation.

Last April, Miller asked the agency’s director to pay her more than was allowed annually for travel. That sparked an internal review of her travel claims. Miller was placed on administrative leave last May. She resigned from her job last summer. Copies of the state auditor’s report have been filed with Des Moines Police and the Polk County attorney as well as the state attorney general and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

AMES, Iowa – Social distancing, self-isolation, quarantine: the changes from COVID-19 can be hard to handle. Tammy Jacobs, coordinator for the long-time service from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, says Iowans can turn to Iowa Concern for help. With a toll-free phone number, live chat capabilities and a website, Iowa Concern services are available 24 hours a day, seven days per week at no charge. Iowa Concern provides access to stress counselors and an attorney for legal education, as well as information and referral services for a wide variety of topics.

To reach Iowa Concern, call 800-447-1985; language interpretation services are available. Or, visit the website, https://www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern/, to live chat with a stress counselor one-on-one in a secure environment. Or email an expert regarding legal, finance, stress, or crisis and disaster issues. Jacobs says “All personal information given to Iowa Concern, whether on the hotline or through e-mail or live chat, is kept confidential.” She also suggests visiting Human Sciences Extension and Outreach’s “Finding Answers Now” website for additional information and resources on dealing with stress.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a Creston man reported Wednesday evening, that sometime since last September, someone took his John Deere GX335 54-inch deck mower. The machine was valued at $4,000.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Weeks into the coronavirus outbreak, Iowa hospitals have been ordered to report daily statistics to the state on the number of patients they’re treating and whether they have enough resources. The Iowa Department of Public Health issued an order April 3 requiring hospitals to report every day on the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized, in intensive care and on ventilators. Gov. Kim Reynolds has said repeatedly that data is driving her decisions on how to manage the outbreak.

Iowa Department of Public Health deputy director Sarah Reisetter said Wednesday that the mandatory order was necessary because hospitalization numbers haven’t always been accurate or timely.

Here is the feed for Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ Thursday press briefing on COVID-19. KJAN will have live audio of the presser as well at approximately 11:00 a.m.

A Council Bluffs man was transported from the Montgomery County Jail to the Pottawattamie County Jail, Wednesday morning. 28-year old Dakota Allen Culbertson was wanted in Pott. County, on warrants for Theft in the 2nd Degree and Fugitive from Justice. His bond on the Theft charge was set at $5,000.

The Harlan Police Department today (Thursday), said two people were arrested March 26th. 50-year old Anthony Elwood Rikle, of Harlan, was arrested for violation of a no contact order. Rikle was transported to the Shelby County Jail. And, 37-year old Justin Charles Henriksen, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. Henriksen was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of prescription drugs, interference with official acts, and improper light.

(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds has declared today (Thursday) as a “Day of Prayer” in Iowa in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Now, more than ever, we should pray for each other,” Reynolds said. “Pray for your neighbor. Pray for all in need of aid and those on the frontlines in delivering it.”  Reynolds made remarks by video during the 59th annual Iowa Prayer Breakfast. For the first time ever, the event was held entirely online this (Thursday) morning. “Prayer has always been a big part of who I am, but I have to tell you never has it been as important or as powerful for me as it is today in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic,” Reynolds said.

In announcing her “Day of Prayer” proclamation, Reynolds noted today (Thursday) is the start of the Jewish festival of Passover and is Maundy Thursday in the Christian tradition’s Holy Week.  “Whether we are on the frontlines in delivering health care to sick people, at home doing the right thing and socially distancing to slow the spread or involved in making decision, we are all children of God and need to let our faith in him be our guide,” Reynolds said in her video message.

The featured speaker at today’s (Thursday’s) Iowa Prayer Breakfast was Jim Garlow, an evangelical leader from San Diego, California. His video address began by acknowledging the coronavirus has altered all our lives. Garlow urged viewers of the event to use their time of isolation to declutter their lives. “You’re being called during this time to pray — you, to pray,” he said, “and to stand between the living and the death and help stop this plague.”

The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa is criticizing Governor Reynolds for declaring today (Thursday) a day of prayer in Iowa. The group’s executive director says while many Iowans are people of faith who do pray, it’s inappropriate for elected officials to promote any particular religious practice.

A fire that officials say was most likely caused by discarded smoking materials, destroyed a home in Hancock Wednesday afternoon. The fire was reported a little before 3:10-p.m. at 409 E. Duncan Street. The flames had fully engulfed the front porch when the first firefighting crews arrived, and were quickly spreading throughout the house. The home’s owner, daughter and some dogs escaped before the flames consumed the structure.

Firefighters from Hancock, Oakland, Avoca, and Walnut Fire Departments responded to the scene.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A historic surge in unemployment claims continued last week in Iowa as more workers lost their jobs in an economy devastated by the coronavirus. The U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday that 67,334 people in Iowa filed for unemployment benefits in the week that ended April 4. That is roughly the population of Waterloo, Iowa’s sixth largest city. The labor department said the claims were a 20 percent increase over those filed in Iowa the prior week, which had been a high for the state. Pandemic-related layoffs in several industries, from health care to food services, were driving factors behind Iowa’s claims.