Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:50 a.m. CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Black man who was shot by police outside an Iowa nightclub five years ago has agreed to a nearly $400,000 settlement. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that 33-year-old Jovan Darnell Webb alleged in his suit that he was singled out because of his race in April 2015 when he was wounded while attempting to pull out of the parking lot of the New World nightclub in Waterloo during a disturbance. His suit also alleged excessive force, equal protection violations and battery on the part of the police officers. The lawsuit had been scheduled to go to trial this month. The decision to settle for $399,999 was made by the city’s liability insurance carrier. The city’s attorney, David Baker, declined to comment.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge has ordered a Quad Cities couple who operated two telemarketing firms to pay $820,000 for consumer fraud. The Des Moines Register reports that Misty and Paul Barnes and their companies, telemarketing firms PM Specialties and Milestone Consulting, were sued in February by the Iowa Attorney General for a range of allegations. They included calling businesses to demand payment for fraudulent invoices and selling advertisements in fictitious publications.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa voters are casting ballots early in person or by mail at a record pace for the Nov. 3 election with several days of early voting still remaining. The Iowa secretary of state’s office reported that 685,234 absentee ballots have been returned to county auditors statewide by Friday morning. Those include people who voted by mail or early in person at auditor’s offices or satellite voting locations. While Democrats typically lead in early voting in Iowa, their advantage this year is significantly bigger than 2016 or 2012. About 51% of the ballots returned have come from registered Democrats compared to 31% from Republicans and 18% from those that do not belong to either party.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials are rolling out a new system to test sexual assault evidence collection kits more quickly as they work to clear a backlog that once numbered in the thousands. The system, called Track-Kit, was rolled out in phases this year. It helps law enforcement, health care providers and labs keep track of kits moving through the system. The Des Moines Register reports that about 75% of Iowa law enforcement agencies are now connected, with the remainder expected to join soon. Each person examined for sexual assault evidence also will be given a login to track the progress of their kit.

Mills County Public Health officials along with Mills County Emergency Management Agency announced Saturday, there two additional deaths associated with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the county. The first individual had underlying health conditions and was in the age range of 80+. The second individual was in the 61-80 age range and also had underlying health conditions. Both deaths occurred on the evening of October 23, 2020.

Mills County Public Health Administrator Julie Lynes says “Our thoughts and condolences are with the families. This is a sad reminder of how COVID can impact those at high risk for severe symptoms. It is important that we do all we can to contain the spread of this virus by wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and using good hand hygiene.”

Preventive health measures are still the best defense against COVID-19. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces. Wear a face mask and maintain social distance when in public. If you are sick, stay home. Carefully consider whether certain social or recreational activities are worth putting yourself or your family at risk. If you or someone you were in close contact with tests positive for COVID-19 and told to quarantine, take it seriously. By isolating yourself from others during the full 14-day incubation
period you will be doing your part to effectively stop the spread of the virus.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Black man who was shot by police outside an Iowa nightclub five years ago has agreed to a nearly $400,000 settlement. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that 33-year-old Jovan Darnell Webb alleged in his suit that he was singled out because of his race in April 2015 when he was wounded while attempting to pull out of the parking lot of the New World nightclub in Waterloo during a disturbance.

His suit also alleged excessive force, equal protection violations and battery on the part of the police officers. The lawsuit had been scheduled to go to trial this month. The decision to settle for $399,999 was made by the city’s liability insurance carrier. The city’s attorney, David Baker, declined to comment.