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

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Republican donor was awarded millions of dollars in no-bid contracts to supply personal protective equipment to Iowa’s executive branch, despite facing a pending felony charge alleging he brutally beat a woman last November. David Greenspon, owner of Competitive Edge, Inc., is charged with willful injury causing serious injury in the November 2019 assault at his West Des Moines mansion. Police say he kicked and struck the 37-year-old ex-lover numerous times in the head and face, chipping her front tooth and bruising her ribs.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds says Iowa regulators acted appropriately when they declined to inspect a Tyson Foods pork plant in Perry before hundreds of workers tested positive for the coronavirus. Iowa Occupational Safety and Health records show the agency received an April 11 complaint alleging the virus was spreading on the production floor and in the cafeteria. The agency didn’t contact Tyson until April 20 and closed the inquiry April 28 after determining Tyson’s safety efforts at the plant were satisfactory. Iowa OSHA declined to inspect the plant, citing federal guidance at the time that said most coronavirus complaints don’t require on-site visits.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The coronavirus has sparked concerns about how private medical information is being used. An Associated Press review shows that health officials in at least 35 U.S. states are sharing the addresses of those who test positive for coronavirus to first responders who request it. Ten of those states also share names. Law enforcement officials say first responders use the information to take extra precautions that help them avoid contracting and spreading the disease. But civil liberty and community activists have expressed concerns of potential profiling in African American and Hispanic communities that already have an uneasy relationship with law enforcement.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is considering whether to allow additional activities to resume as her current proclamation prohibiting large gatherings and operation of some businesses expires next Wednesday. Reynolds recently allowed restaurants, fitness centers, malls and hair salons to reopen with limits but she continued the closure for many other businesses. They include bars, casinos, movie theaters and amusement parks. Reynolds said Tuesday she’ll make some announcements on Wednesday and more next week. State data shows more than 300 new positive coronavirus cases and 12 additional deaths bringing the state totals to 15,296 known positive cases and 367 deaths.

(Radio Iowa) — The Bishop of the Des Moines Catholic Diocese is allowing in-person masses to return in 15 counties beginning Thursday. Bishop William Joensen says the decision comes after looking at information surrounding the coronavirus pandemic for the past month. “We just thought that a kind of gradual coming back looking at much of the same medical data that our health care officials and some of our state officials have been doing,” Joensen says.

Joensen says they will be allowed to hold morning masses Monday through Saturday. “We were seeing numbers that were giving us comfort that if we gathered in a daily mass situation what we could both respond to our heartfelt need of the people to come for mass to receive the Eucharist — but not overwhelm ourselves — so that we can observe social distancing and the cleansing process,” according to Joensen. “We felt very comfortable then with what we call phase one.”

Phase one includes Wayne, Lucas, Clarke, Decatur, Madison, Union, Ringgold, Adair, Adams, Taylor, Cass, Montgomery, Page, Fremont, and Harrison Counties. Mills County will be permitted to regather for daily mass beginning on Monday. Joensen says this is not a mandate and local priests will be able to determine if they can take the steps to safely hold the masses. “If this were only a matter of hey I’m willing to take on this individual risk of contagion in order to celebrate the sacraments and to worship — but it’s not — we are mindful of each other….the fact that so many are asymptomatic and how contagious the virus is,” Joensen says. “So, I think that’s where we have to have the common good at stake.”

Joensen says they will take several steps to continue social distancing. “We’re not going to eliminate all risk, but within a reasonable degree, making adjustments, wearing a face mask, not being close to others, reducing greatly if not entirely the music that is so much the part of the mass and other prayer experiences,” he says. Joensen says they are asking parishioners to wear face masks during the masses and there will be masks on hand.

“That would be the expectation, and so people would keep their masks on, keep the spacing. The priests and all the other associated ministers are also obliged to wear masks as they distribute communion,” Joensen says. “We ask people to receive on the hand — not on the tongue. So, as they come forward they receive the host say ‘amen’ and then step to the side and loosen one side of the mask, consume the host and then go back to their place.” Joensen says the shut down of daily masses has given everyone something to reflect on.

“Making possible, gracefully aware of what he is calling us to, not only to center our lives ever more on the things that matter,” Joensen says, “the relationships with God and people and others may be outside our immediate circle. How are we mindful and present to them. I think the devotional practices, the emphasis on God’s word and scripture. The sense that we need to take the initiative on our own lives as disciples at home and with our families.”

The other counties in the Des Moines Diocese are still prohibited from celebrating daily masses with more than ten persons present. Those counties are Polk, Warren, Dallas, Guthrie, Audubon, Shelby, and Pottawattamie Counties. Joensen says when parishes in these counties reach the point where risk has appropriately abated, he will let them know when they can enter phase one. The Catholic Diocese in Davenport, Dubuque and Sioux City have not indicated they are ready to resume masses. The governor lifted the limit of holding public gatherings to 10 people on May 1st to allow churches to resume worship services.

PELLA, Iowa – The Pella Police Department and the DCI have identified the victim and arrested a suspect in Monday evening’s homicide. After responding to a report of an argument at 101 Glenwood Street, #4, Pella police officers found 46-year-old Tracy Mondabough of Ottumwa injured inside a vehicle. Officers performed lifesaving measures on the woman, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Monday night, Pella resident, 55-year-old Michelle Boat, was arrested and charged with a Violation of No-Contact Order. Ms. Boat was transported to the Marion County Jail. Today, the charges against  Boat were amended to include one count of Murder in the First Degree (Class A Felony). Ms. Boat remains in the Marion County Jail on a $2 million bond.

The Pella Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County Attorney’s Office and the DCI are continuing the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pella Police Department at 641.628.4921.

An autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death will be conducted by the Office of the State Medical Examiner. The facts of this case have been referred to the Marion County Attorney’s Office and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office for prosecution.

The Harlan Police Department today (Tuesday) released information on arrests and citations dating back to April 28th. Last Saturday, 18-year old Jordan Alexis Holley, of Scranton, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Holley was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession drug paraphernalia.

On Friday, 36-year old Troy Dakota Weelborg, and 32-year old Tamara Leigh Dryer, both of Harlan, were arrested following a domestic disturbance.  Weelborg was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault and violation of a no contact order.  Dryer was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with violation of a no contact order.

And, 54-year old Michael Mario Morelli, of Harlan, was arrested Friday on an active Shelby County warrant.  Morelli was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was also charged with assault on a peace officer and interference with official acts.

On May 9th, 51-year old John Anthony Wyatt, of Harlan, was cited following a traffic stop, for: driving while suspended, operating a non-registered vehicle, and open container. And, on  April 28th, 21-year old Austin Lee Thomas Dusenberry, of Harlan, was cited for driving while suspended, also following a traffic stop.

Officials with the Clarinda Regional Health Center, today (Tuesday) said they were saddened to learn LifeNet 2-3 based in Clarinda, has decided to close their base at the CRHC. In a social media post, CRHC says “The staff at LifeNet have been a wonderful addition to our team and they will be dearly missed.”

CRHC Facebook page photo

LifeNet is not closed. The AirMethods company still has other bases that will continue to serve the Southwest Iowa Region. Hospital officials said “Rest assured that LifeNet services will still be available at CRHC when the patient need arises and we will continue to work with Lifenet and utilize their air ambulance services.” Company officials have said the decision to leave Clarinda was made “after a thorough review and analysis of its operations.”  More specifically, the company cited current reimbursement models for Medicare, which they say are not sustainable for continued operations at CRHC. Medicare reimbursement for services, according to the company, has not kept up with costs.

LifeNet 2-3 first came to CHRC in 2012 under an agreement with LifeNet/Air Methods. The air ambulance primarily serves an area within a 40-mile radius of Clarinda, with the ability to stretch greater distances for emergencies.

On May 19, Pottawattamie County Public Health (PCPH) reported 11 new COVID-19 cases. One of the cases is a child (0-17), four of the cases are 18-40 years old, five are 41-60 years old, and one is 61-80 years old. These individuals were tested between May 9 and May 18. Thus far, 2,121 Pottawattamie County residents have been tested for COVID-19, and a total of 182 have tested positive.

An additional 12 people have recovered bringing the total of recoveries to 86. Currently, four individuals are hospitalized, 88 individuals are self-isolating. Based on PCPH contact tracing investigations, a total of 57 Pottawattamie County COVID-19 cases are the result of community spread.