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(Des Moines) – The Iowa Department of Public Health, Saturday (today), reported there were 423 additional positive COVID-19 cases, for a pandemic total of 394,820, and 19 additional deaths, for a total of 5,950, including one additional death in Pottawattamie County, where the pandemic total is now 165. Deaths at long-term care facilities in Iowa account for 2,317 of the total number of deaths statewide.
According to the state’s website, Iowa’s positivity rate continues its slow decline. Data show the 14-day average is 3.8%, while the 7-day average remains 3.7%. Virus hospitalization data from the past 24-hours show: 189 hospitalized; 44 patients are in ICU; 33 persons were admitted, and 18 patients are on ventilators. In RMCC Region 4 (hospitals in western/southwest Iowa): 18 COVID patients are hospitalized; 11 remain in an ICU; three people were admitted with symptoms of the virus, and two people remain on a ventilator.
According to the Iowa DPH vaccination dashboard, more than 2.33-million total COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Iowa. The dashboard reports 1.064-million total vaccine series have been completed, 974,541 persons have received their second dose, and 89,606 individuals have received a single dose.
In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:
Cass, 1,454 cases; {+2}; 54 deaths
Adair, 980; {+0}; 32
Adams, 349 {+3}; 4
Audubon, 518 {+0}; 9
Guthrie, 1,283 {+3}; 29
Harrison County, 1,918; {+2}; 73
Madison County, 1,713; {+8; 19
Mills County, 1,777; {+5}; 21
Montgomery, 1,103;{+2}; 37
Pottawattamie County, 12,069; {+25}; 165
Shelby County, 1,361 {+6}; 37
Union County, 1,349; {+10}; 32
The 8:05-a.m. broadcast news, with Ric Hanson.
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(Radio Iowa/KJAN) – April wrapped up on a very dry note, Friday, and the state’s drought conditions are worsening in some areas. Here in Atlantic at the KJAN Studios, we received just .45″ rain during the month, which was nearly 3-inches below normal. State climatologist Justin Glisan says the latest drought map from the U-S Drought Monitor has a new “D-1” area of moderate drought that’s appeared in northeast Iowa. Also, the vast majority of the state is now considered abnormally dry, which Glisan says is something of a warning. “We’ve had a significant expansion of that D-O or abnormally dry category,” Glisan says. “As a reminder, that’s not drought but it is a sentinel for us to recognize that we are seeing drier-than-normal conditions, given precipitation deficits through late spring.”
The map shows the northwestern area of the state continues to be the driest. “We have that existing D-2 severe drought region there,” Glisan says. “Now, we haven’t seen any recent degradation as we have had precipitation fall, sometimes at timely levels. We’re still keeping a close eye on that northwest corner, given the longer-term precipitation deficits that we see there.” Forecasters are calling for a chance of rain early next week and turning the calendar page may bring a change in the drought conditions. “If we look at the short-term outlooks, getting into the beginning of May, we do see elevated signals for wetter-than-normal conditions,” he says, “and then if we look at the initial May outlook, again, we do see an elevated signal for wetter conditions.”
On the plus side, in recent weeks there was a large patch of D-3 — or extreme drought — covering several northwest Iowa counties, which is just below the worst category, D-4, for exceptional drought. This latest map shows no D-3 in Iowa at all.
The 7:05-a.m. broadcast news, w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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Police in Red Oak late Friday night, arrested 34-year-old James Harlan Rosencrans, of Red Oak. He was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Rosencrans was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $10,000 cash bond.
Two people are dead and one man is in custody, charged with two counts of Homicide by motor vehicle, following an accident Friday morning, in Fremont County. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office says Deputies were notified at around 6:14-a.m., that a man who was taken by a private vehicle to an area hospital, was possibly involved in a motor vehicle accident at an unknown location in Fremont County.
Deputies, along with Iowa DNR Officers, Iowa State Patrol Troopers and an airplane with the Iowa State Patrol assisted with the search. At around 9:44-a.m., authorities were contacted by the man’s family members, who located the vehicle, partially submerged in the East Nishnabotna River, in the 3100 block of 250th Street, west of Riverton.
Duane Michael Struck
Rescue workers discovered two occupants, 29-year-old Somia Star Moore, and 19-year-old Jonathan Lee O’Hearn, both of Hamburg, were inside the vehicle, deceased. The driver, 21-year old Duane Johnathaon Mickael Stuck, also of Hamburg, was placed under arrest for two counts of Homicide by Vehicle, (OWI) Class B Felonies, and one count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident, resulting in Death, a Class D Felony.
The Iowa State Patrol is investigating the accident. The State Patrol, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Nebraska City Police Department, Riverton Fire and Rescue, Hamburg Fire and Rescue, Sidney Rescue, Benefiel Towing, and the Midwest Regional Dive Team assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call.
The investigation is ongoing at this time and more charges are pending.
(Radio Iowa) – The number two leader at the University of Illinois will cross the Mississippi River and take over the top spot at the University of Iowa. The Board of Regents selected 63-year-old Barbara Wilson today (Friday) to become the 22nd president. Regents president Michael Richards called for a motion to approve Wilson following a closed session to review the four finalists. Richards says her term will start on July 15th and go through June 30th of 2026 at an annual salary of 600-thousand dollars and also includes a five-year deferred compensation plan with annual contributions of 400-thousand dollars.
Barbara Wilson
Wilson spoke after the board voted unanimously to approve her. She thanked the board and says they will have a great working relationship. Wilson wore a gold jacket as she talked to the board. “I am excited, I am ready to roll up my sleeves, I am wearing the right color, I am really delighted, this is such a great honor,” Wilson says. She says she is anxious to get to work.
“We’re going to make the University of Iowa as good as it can be and even better,” she says. Wilson will replace Bruce Harreld, who is retiring She has served as executive vice president and vice president for academic affairs for the University of Illinois System since 2016.
DES MOINES – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Friday, signed a new Public Health Disaster proclamation that extends critical regulatory relief for an additional 30 days to those on the frontlines of COVID19 recovery. The order, which does not require masks or social distancing, was set to expire Sunday. It has now been extended until May 30th.
The proclamation continues to strongly encourage Iowans, businesses, and organizations to take reasonable public health measures consistent with guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health.
The proclamation also continues to extend the waiver on transportation restrictions for overweight loads. The proclamation can found online here.
Two people were arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 34 Thursday evening. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says 41-year-old Joseph Dean Wallace, of Bedford, was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance, Driving while Revoked and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bond was set at $4,300. And, 28-year-old Aundrea Theresa Clay, of Red Oak, was arrested on a Page County warrant for Failure to Appear on a Possession of a Controlled Substance charge. Her bond was set at $1,000. The duo were taken into custody at around 5:22-p.m.
Atlantic Community School District Superintendent Steve Barber, Friday, updated the district’s status with COVID-19. His letter to parents, students and patrons, follows:
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