Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Republicans in Iowa have flipped one U.S. House seat and are competing in a tight race to pick up another. Republicans were guaranteed to control at least two of Iowa’s four seats when the House reconvenes in January, up from the one they held during the current two-year session. Republican Ashley Hinson defeated first-term Democratic Rep. Abby Finkenauer in the district that includes Cedar Rapids and much of northeast Iowa. Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks was competing to flip a second seat that came open with the retirement of Democrat Dave Loebsack. Miller-Meeks’ race against Democrat Rita Hart remained too close to call Wednesday. Democrat Cindy Axne won a second term representing a congressional district that stretches from Des Moines through southwest Iowa.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Republican state Rep. Ashley Hinson has defeated Democratic incumbent Abby Finkenauer to win a northeastern Iowa congressional seat. Hinson, a former television news anchor, won the U.S. House seat Tuesday after a race in which she stressed the need for lower taxes, smaller government and border security. Finkenauer lost in her first bid for reelection following her victory in 2018 over Republican Rod Blum. Hinson, 37, had a conservative voting record in the state Legislature, where she represented a House district in suburban Cedar Rapids.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hospitalizations in Iowa continued to accelerate, reaching new highs with 777 people in hospitals and 164 additional people admitted in the past 24 hours. Another record was set in the past 24 hours Wednesday with 182 people in intensive care with serious COVID-19 illness. Iowa doctors and hospital administrators have recently sounded alarms that increasing virus infections in the state will soon overwhelm hospitals if not reversed. Many are already dealing with high rates of virus infections among hospital staff further reducing the ability to care for patients. More than 2,800 new confirmed cases were identified Wednesday and 26 additional deaths, raising the state total to 1,781.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa voters have reelected Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst to a second term after a heated race in which she portrayed herself as a conservative who was willing to work with Democrats. Ernst beat Democrat Theresa Greenfield, a Des Moines real estate developer. Ernst argued that she had been true to her deeply conservative beliefs as both a state legislator and U.S. senator. She said she had been able to work with Democrats on issues such as veterans health care and child care, though she also served in Republican leadership and has been an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a Red Oak man was arrested Wednesday on two counts Delivery of Methamphetamine.

Robert Lee Bopp

40-year-old Robert Lee Bopp‘s arrested came as part of an ongoing  investigation into the trafficking of meth in southwest Iowa.

Bopp was being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, passed by a vote of 4-to 3, the third and final reading of an Ordinance amending the City’s Code of Ordinance, with regard to “Stop Required” at 22nd and Olive Streets, making the intersection a four-way stop instead of the current, two-way stop.

Prior to passing the Ordinance, the Council City discussed the matter at length. Councilman Richard “Dick” Casady said he’s had people “on both sides of the fence” talk to him, and that he was of the opinion Atlantic has too many stop signs as it is. “I don’t know as it it’ll save any lives,” he said. “It might save some lives. Hopefully it would if we put ’em in.” Casady voted no on the measure.

Councilpersons Pat McCurdy and Linda Hartkopf voted in favor. McCurdy said he had spoken with four people in the affected area, and that “All four of them want it because of the extra traffic from {the new] quarry.” Councilperson Grace Garrett said she conducted her own traffic survey of the area on at least four separate occasions. Garrett said she concluded 22nd & Olive was “Not a safe intersection,” especially when the road is icy, and that a 25 mile per hour speed limit and more signs warning of the impending stop (especially for those coming down the hill), would be necessary, if the four-way stop is implemented.

Those voting in favor of the change include Councilpersons McCurdy, Hartkopf, Brink and Behrens. Casady, Garrett Councilwoman Somers voted no. Mayor Dave Jones said the proposal would include two “Stop ahead” and or “Dangerous Intersection” warning signs in-place well before the intersection.

Tom Cappel and Heather Rudolph cut the sleeves off of Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson’s uniform during the Nov. 4 2020 City Council meeting. (Ric Hanson/photo)

In other business, Dennis Rudolph and his wife Heather, representing Karl Emergency Vehicles, in Des Moines, and Tom Cappel with Deter Motor Company in Atlantic, each bid/donated $200 for the honor of cutting the sleeves off Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month. The sleeves came with a special pink patch with the Police Department insignia. Afterward, the Chief said there are still approximately 20 patches left to purchase individually for $10 each, or including the sleeves, for the highest bid.

Last week, Governor Kim Reynolds and Senator Joni Ernst each took the opportunity to cut off one of the department’s pink police patches from his uniform, while the two women were in town. Money raised from the sale of the patches will be donated to the Cass County Relay for Life.

The Council received an Annual report from Atlantic Public Library Director Michelle Andersen before taking action on passing a Resolution “Obligating funds from the Hotel Whitney Urban Renewal Area Revenue Fund for appropriation to the payment of annual appropriation TIF (tax increment financed) obligations,” which will be due in the next fiscal year.

The Council held and approved the first reading of an Ordinance vacating a certain City alley, as previously discussed. And, they approved the Fiscal Year 2020 Urban Renewal Report, which details everything related to TIF districts and projects, and must be submitted to the State prior to December 1st.  Toward the end of the meeting, Mayor Dave Jones strongly recommended the public wear mask as much as possible, and maintain a six-foot social distance.

He said healthcare workers, including his daughter-in-law in Ames, are stressed out over the pressure caring for COVID patients puts on those workers, to the point some are considering leaving the profession.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests. On Tuesday, 37-year old Quintin John Perdue, of Stanton, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Perdue was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $5,000 bond.

And, on Sunday, Cass County Deputies arrested 33-year old Johnathon Dean Napier, Jr., of Atlantic, on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. Napier was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.