(Iowa News Service) DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa hasn’t seen as much economic pain as some other states during the pandemic, but many residents and small businesses are still struggling.
Supporters of expanding the state’s solar tax credit say it could help with any recovery from the crisis. The reimbursement budget for Iowa’s credit is capped at $5 million annually, and with many homeowners and businesses investing in solar panels, there’s a waiting list to get return dollars from the state.

Aerial shot top view of solar panel photovoltaic farm

Cody Smith, policy associate at the Center for Rural Affairs, said that’s why the Legislature should consider modifications. He noted immediately paying those on the waiting list, while increasing the cap, would help a lot of Iowans hurting right now. “Now that we have this economic problem caused by the coronavirus pandemic, this solar tax credit could help put money back into the pockets of people who own those small businesses on main street, and people who have already invested in renewable solar energy,” Smith contended. Smith asserted Iowa should also decouple from the federal incentive, given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding that plan.

Rep. John Forbes, D-Urbandale, said he’ll advocate for an expansion in the next session. But he warns its future could depend on the upcoming budget forecast, and whether small businesses see more declines from the crisis. He also wondered whether Republican leaders will consider the idea. Certain sectors of Iowa’s economy, such as manufacturing, have held steady, but Forbes said smaller consumer-driven businesses like restaurants are still seeing pain.

Dwight Dial, a farmer from Lake City, said trying to get by in this environment is tough. He installed a solar array in 2018, and he said the benefits from that investment are helping. “My purpose of sustainability is that I am able to farm next year, that I can financially keep going,” Dial emphasized. “And the solar unit has made it feasible.” Dial said his operation’s energy costs have gone down considerably in a roller-coaster year for Iowa farmers. But he’s still waiting on state reimbursement for his solar purchase, and he said getting that would help pay off the initial investment, bringing more stability.

Those calling for changes say increasing the cap to $10 million not only helps those on the list, it would encourage others to take advantage, creating more demand for the solar industry.

(Updated 10-a.m.) Iowa’s Coronavirus dashboard today (Monday), shows 13 additional deaths have been attributed to COVID-19 since Sunday’s 10-a.m. report, for a total of 2,205. The number of deaths attributed to a pre-existing condition statewide are 1,310, while deaths at Long-Term Care facilities amount to 1,004, 1 more than on Sunday. There is one more death to report in Pottawattamie County, for a total of 66.

Officials say there have been 1,661 new confirmed, Positive cases of the virus reported since yesterday, for a total since the pandemic began, of 211,722. Cass County has one new, Positive cases of COVID, for a total of 734. There are two less Long-Term Care facility (LTC) outbreaks, for a total of 119. Those care facilities report 4,413 positive cases and 1,887 recovered. Cass County’s three LTC facilities have a total of 201 confirmed positive cases and 104 recovered.

For the fifth day in a row, Iowa has fewer patients hospitalized with COVID-19. There are currently 1,333 patients hospitalized with the virus, down from 1,340 a day earlier. There are 273 patients in intensive care, up from 255 the previous day. There were 135 patients admitted in the last 24 hours, down from 186 a day earlier. There are also 135 on a ventilator.  In western/southwestern Iowa: there are 65 COVID patients in the hospital; 22 are in an ICU; 5 people were admitted to a hospital, and five people are on a ventilator.

Hospital analysis shows 964 of Iowa’s virus patients were hospitalized with a primary COVID-19 diagnosis, while 369 were hospitalized for another reason but tested positive. State data shows 80% of those hospitalized with the virus are age 60 or older. The state’s data shows that 1,167,512 Iowans have been tested for coronavirus. Test results received yesterday amounted to 6,870, with 5,358 coming back Negative and 1,468 Positive. Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate is 20.7%, and the Individual Positivity rate is 18.1%. Data from Johns Hopkins University shows Iowa’s seven-day rolling average of the positivity rate was 44.7% on Nov. 22, ranking third-highest third in the nation behind Wyoming and South Dakota.

The IDPH says 116,807 Iowans have recovered from the virus. In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases in each county, along with the 24-hour change in case numbers {+#}; the number of persons recovered, and the total number of [deaths] (if any), since the pandemic began,

• Cass, 734 cases {+1}; 480 recovered; 19 deaths
• Adair, 408 {+3}; 171; 6
• Adams, 152 {+1}; 80; 1
• Audubon, 281 {+1}; 145; 1
• Guthrie, 700 {+14); 380; 15
• Harrison County, 1,014 {+12}; 634; 28
• Madison County, 641 {+6}; 360; 4
• Mills County, 980 {+15}; 397; 6
• Montgomery, 426 {+11}; 202; 10
• Pottawattamie County, 5,746 {+72]; 3,302; 66
• Shelby County, 717 {+8}; 437; 4
• Union County,  686 {+6}; 264; 6

(Radio Iowa) – Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says Iowans may spend more online this holiday season, but in-store sales are likely to be down. His Rural Mainstreet Index indicates the combination means retail activity in the 2020 holiday period will drop. “According to our survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of 10 states, including Iowa, they’re expecting holiday sales compared to 2019 to be down about 3.1%. Of course, that’s in-store sales,” Goss says. “The online sales are going to be up as much as 30%.” On-line activity for the holiday sales period is well underway, according to Goss.

“Retailers this year have been particularly aggressive in starting early because they understand the stress that consumers are under this year,” Goss says. Goss says consumers, in general, have more money to spend this year compared to last — because of the pandemic. “The savings rate went from 2-3% for the consumer to about 28%, so there is some money out there,” Goss says, “particularly when consumers have cut back in other areas.”

But Goss says his survey and others indicate consumers are pessimistic and that dampens purchasing. Each month, Goss surveys bankers in 10 states in the Great Plains and Mountain West. The overall index for the Rural Mainstreet Survey’s overall index fell in November from October — the first month-to-month decline since April.

A collision between two pickup trucks Sunday, in Creston, resulted in one person being transported to the hospital. Creston Police report a 2014 Dodge RAM pickup driven by 35-year old Julie Sandeman, of Creston, was stopped at the intersection of Sumner Avenue and Adams Street, waiting to turn left. A 2016 GMC pickup driven by 26-year old Ryan Sandoval, of Hastings, NE., came up behind Dodge. When Sandolval attempted to go around the Sandeman pickup, he misjudged the distance and did not swing out far enough. His pickup hit the other pickup in the right rear, causing a total of $9,000 damage. The accident happened at around 9:50-a.m.

Sandeman – who wore her seat belt – was transported by EMS ground ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston, after complaining of pain and possible injury. Sandoval was not hurt. No citations were issued.

Red Oak Police, late Sunday night, arrested a man on an assault charge. 28-year-old Nathan Allen Aldrich, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 11:40-p.m., for Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense. Aldrich was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State officials said 3,401 new cases of COVID-19 were reported Sunday to give Iowa 210,061 cases since the pandemic began. The number of deaths linked to the virus grew by 33 to 2,192. The number of people hospitalized with the virus in Iowa remained at a high level Saturday even though it declined slightly to 1,340 from the previous day’s 1,416. The state said 92 of Iowa’s 99 counties had 14-day positivity rates over 15% on Sunday, and six more counties reported rates between 10% and 15%. Iowa had the fourth-highest rate of new cases in the nation Saturday.

MONROE, Iowa (AP) — House Democrats lost enough seats in this month’s elections that they’ll have the smallest majority in over a century. To find out what happened, the party has already begun a “deep dive” examination, and so far it’s blaming a parade of missteps. They include moving too far to the left on national issues, not explaining well of how they’d fix an outbreak-ravaged economy, and failing to grow their appeal with enough Latinos. House Democrats also were hurt by curtailing in-person campaigning amid the pandemic. But a major factor was President Donald Trump’s ability to drive strong turnout.

UNDATED (AP) — Republican governors in some hard-hit states are refusing to ask families to limit Thanksgiving celebrations despite warnings from federal health officials that gatherings could worsen a coronavirus surge that’s already spinning out of control. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem says her administration “won’t stop or discourage you from thanking God and spending time together this Thanksgiving.” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt says people “should be with their loved ones over Thanksgiving” and that he will also attend a football game this weekend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is pleading with Americans to gather only with people in their immediate households as infections overwhelm hospitals in many states.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The head of one of the largest health systems in the Midwest has told employees he’s recovered from COVID-19 and is back in the office, without a mask. Sanford Health’s CEO, Kelby Krabbenhoft, said in an email Wednesday that he believes he’s now immune for “at least seven months.” And he says he isn’t a threat to transmit it, so wearing a mask would be merely for show. Krabbenhoft’s email comes as hospitals throughout the region are struggling. Other Sanford Health executives tried to walk his statement back, saying in an email Friday that his words don’t reflect the views of the system as a whole.

A collision in southern Iowa’s Lucas County Sunday evening, claimed the lives of two teenagers, and resulted three adults ranging in age from 18 to 55, being injured. The Iowa State Patrol says the crash happened at around 5:10-p.m. in Chariton. A 2008 Ford F-250 pickup driven by 55-year-old Shawn Blanchard, of Des Moines, was traveling west on Highway 34 and approaching S. 1st Street, at the same time a 1995 Jeep Wrangler driven by 18-year-old Blake Skinner, of Corydon, was traveling east, and attempting to turn north onto S. 1st Street.

When the Jeep turned in front of the pickup and was struck broadside, it rolled over, ejecting Blake Skinner and his two passengers, 16-year-old Chase Lavely, Chariton, and 15-year-old Kaitlynn Spicer, of Des Moines. The passengers died at the scene. None of the Jeep occupants were wearing seat belts.

Blake Skinner suffered life threatening injuries and transported by helicopter to Mercy Hospital in downtown Des Moines. Blanchard’s passenger, 55-year-old Angel Blanchard, of Des Moines, was also flown to Mercy hospital. Shawn Blanchard suffered minor injuries, and was transported by Chariton Ambulance to the hospital in Chariton. The Blanchard’s were wearing their seat belts.

Chariton Police assisted the Patrol at the accident scene.

Officials with West Des Moines-based Hy-Vee have announced the chain will bring back special hours for customers who are high-risk as COVID-19 cases rise in Iowa. The company took to social media to announce that customers over 60 years old, pregnant mothers and those with underlying health conditions are welcome to shop from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Monday through Friday. “We kindly ask that all other customers please respect this hour and limit shopping to 8 a.m. or after on these days,” Hy-Vee wrote on Facebook.

DAVENPORT – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections, Sunday, said 36-year-old David Lee Reinier Sr., who was convicted of Arson 1st Degree and other crimes in Muscatine County, failed to report back to the Davenport Residential Facility as required Saturday night.

David Lee Reinier, Sr.

Reinier is a white male, height 5’9″, and weighs 319 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on November 10, 2020. Persons with information on Reinier’s whereabouts should contact local police.