By DAVID PITT Associated Press
JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered that all bars be closed in six of the state’s largest counties in response to surging numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases blamed in part on young people ignoring mask and social distancing recommendations in such establishments. Reynolds ordered the action in Black Hawk, Dallas, Linn, Johnson, Polk and Story counties effective at 5 p.m. Thursday on a day when the state saw nearly 1,500 confirmed cases, a new high that topped levels recorded in the spring. In the last 24 hours as of Thursday morning, Iowa recorded 1,475 confirmed cases, surpassing the April 25 total of 1,284. During that period, there were 18 more deaths for a total of 1,079.

The Creston Police Department reports the arrest at 10:40 a.m. Wednesday of 24-year-old Ryan Michael Johnson of Creston on a Polk County warrant for the charge of Violation of Probation. The probation stems from the original charges of Attempted Burglary 3rd degree and Criminal Mischief 3rd degree. He was arrested at his residence on S Birch Street and taken to the Union County Jail and then transferred to the custody of Polk County authorities.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s elections office has accused county officials who tried to make it easier to vote by mail during the pandemic of illegally breaching voters’ personal information. The assertion by the office of Secretary of State Paul Pate is a boost for President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign, which is suing three Iowa counties to invalidate at least 70,000 returned absentee ballot request forms. The claim comes ahead of a hearing Thursday in a lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign and state and national GOP groups against Linn County Auditor Joel Miller. The lawsuit seeks to invalidate about 50,000 requests for absentee ballots that have been returned since July, when Miller’s office sent forms with personal information to about 140,000 registered voters.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s secretary of state has issued instructions that counties cannot set up drop boxes to accept early ballots for this year’s general election. That comes despite not challenging the use of those boxes in more than a third of Iowa’s counties in previous elections. The Iowa Secretary of State’s Office recently told county auditors during training that Iowa law doesn’t allow the use of drop boxes for ballots. Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz told the Des Moines Register that 39 of Iowa’s 99 counties indicated to her in recent days that they have previously used a drop box system to collect ballots.

MOUNT PLEASANT – Tuesday night, the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility (MPCF) was notified that three COVID-19 tests they had submitted were positive for COVID-19. The facility has been implementing changes to operations since receiving this information, and have placed the facility on a restricted movement status as they work to mitigate further spread of the virus. Restricted movement status will be lifted as soon as staff are confident viral spread has been contained.

Working with the Iowa Dept. of Public Health and the State Hygienic Lab, MPCF is conducting additional testing at the facility to identify those that might be carrying the virus while asymptomatic.

The department has been preparing and dealing with the eventuality of COVID-19 in the prison system for months. An outline of the changes to DOC protocols can be found at doc.iowa.gov/department-corrections-steps, and more information related to COVID-19 in the DOC can be found at doc.iowa.gov/COVID19. For members of the public with questions about COVID-19 in the prison system, a hotline is available during business hours Monday-Friday by calling (515) 373-5457.

The Montgomery County Auditor’s Office has released the final list of candidates that have filed paperwork to be on the ballot for the November 3rd General Election.

Montgomery County Auditor (Vote for 1)
• Stephanie Burke (Rep)

Montgomery County Sheriff (Vote for 1)
• Jon Spunaugle (Rep)

Supervisor District #3 (Vote for 1)
• Randy Cooper (Rep)
• Bryant Amos (Nomination by Petition)

Supervisor District #5 (Vote for 1)
• Donna Robinson (Rep)

Hospital Trustee (Vote for 3)
• Sarah Wearin Smith
• Lorin Petersen
• James Norris
• Ann Carder

County Agricultural Extension Council (Vote for 4)
• Mike Thomas
• Kassandra Houdek
• Chad Jacobs
• Lucas Oster

Soil and Water Conservation Board (Vote for 3)
• David Carbaugh
• Fred Hossle
• Kent D. Swanson

Township Trustees (Vote for 2 per township)

Pilot Grove Township
• David W. Olson
• Ronald Adams
Lincoln Township
• Kirk Baird
• None Filed
West Township
• Edgar R. Wilkins Sr.
• David L. Gohlinghorst
Red Oak Township
• Donna DeVries
• None Filed
Sherman Township
• James Good
• Dan Phelps
Garfield Township
• John Willms
• Gary Querry
Grant Township
• John Sunberg
• Dennis Carlson
Frankfort Township
• Rodney Hart
• None Filed
Washington Township
• Mike Jackson
• None Filed

East Township, Douglas Township, and Scott Township are appointed by the Board of Supervisors.