IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds says she will lift a moratorium on evictions and allow gatherings of more than 10 people to resume as she removes more restrictions meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Reynolds also said she would also allow casinos, amusement parks, speedways, arcades and bowling alleys to reopen in the coming days. Large gatherings for social functions and sports competitions will also be allowed to resume. The continued reopening comes as COVID-19 deaths in Iowa have increased to 471. Advocates for low-income tenants have warned that scores of tenants who have lost income due to the coronavirus pandemic could face eviction in coming months.

(12-p.m. News) – An investigation into a single-vehicle accident Saturday evening at Lake Anita State Park, resulted in an arrest. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies responded to the scene a little after 8-p.m., Saturday. Officials say a 2020 Nissan Altima owned and driven by 55-year old Shon Lamont Young, of Atlantic, left the roadway on the north side of the park and struck a tree. No injuries were reported; damage to the vehicle is estimated at $30,000.

Deputies arrested Young for Operating While Intoxicated (a Serious Misdemeanor). He was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released the following day on his own recognizance.

JOHNSTON, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa DNR said Tuesday (today), that at approximately 4:45-p.m. on Monday, May 25th, DNR conservation officers responded to a boat explosion on Saylorville Lake.  Upon initial investigation, it was determined that an accumulation of gas fumes in the engine compartment of the boat ignited when the boat was started.

At the time of the explosion, there were eight passengers on board, including the operator and owner of the boat, Michael Jenkins, of Ames. Two passengers were treated and released at the scene with minor burns and one passenger was transported to UnityPoint’s Iowa Methodist Medical Center with more serious burns.  Investigators do not believe alcohol was a factor in this incident.

The DNR reminds boat operators with inboard motors to run the blower system before starting a boat to prevent this type of incident from happening.

A 2005 Chevy Blazer that hydroplaned on Highway 25 near Creston, Monday afternoon, entered a ditch and came to rest in a creek, where it became mostly submerged. The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 25-year old Sky Jones, of Creston, was driving the vehicle when the accident happened during a heavy rainstorm. Jones complained of pain and was transported by law enforcement to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, to be evaluated. Damage from the accident amounted to $2,000.

Governor Kim Reynolds, today (Tuesday), said the State is closer to its goal of processing 5,000 tests per day through the State Hygienic and other labs. She says last week, more than 28,000 Iowans were tested for COVID-19. 6,146 tests were conducted at TestIowa locations, after it was announced any Iowan was free to be tested – with an appointment. On Friday, 2,114 people were tested, the highest amount to date. Reynolds said “On Sunday, 4,907 tests were processed at the State Hygienic lab, only 93 away from meeting our full capacity of 5,000 tests per day.

The Governor said “As testing continues to increase, the number of Iowans testing positive continues to trend down.”

The average positivity rate over time has dropped to 13.1%. Gov. Reynolds said also, the existing disaster proclamation will be extended through June 25^th and some changes to public health measures will begin June 1^st, that eases restrictions on some restaurants and bars. (See the full proclamation here: https://governor.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Public%20Health%20Proclamation%20-%202020.05.26%20%281%29.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery)

Additional businesses will be allowed to open June 1^st, with health restrictions in-place.

(That includes speedways and racetracks, outdoor performance venues, casinos and gaming facilities, along with amusement parks, bowling alleys, pool halls and arcades, all at 50% of normal operating capacity.)

Social, community, recreational, leisure and sports gatherings of more than 10 people will be permitted again on June 1^st, but groups and individuals must still practice six-feet social distancing. The proclamation also permits practices, games and competitions for youth and adult baseball/softball, and individual sports, to resume with appropriate social distancing, hygiene and public health measures in place. The continued reopening comes as COVID-19 deaths in Iowa have increased to 471. Advocates for low-income tenants have warned that scores of tenants who have lost income due to the coronavirus pandemic could face eviction in coming months.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Police in Cedar Rapids have opened a homicide investigation after determining that a man found dead in a home there last week had been shot to death. Police said in a news release Tuesday that the victim has been identified as 69-year-old Daniel James Spangler. His body was found inside his Cedar Rapids home on Friday by an officer who had been sent to check on his welfare. Police initially said Spangler’s death was suspicious, but that more investigation would be needed. On Tuesday, police said an autopsy had determined that he had died of a gunshot wound. No arrests have been reported.

In an update to a story we brought you last Thursday, the Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports 49-year old Skeet Weston Miller, of Menlo, was arrested early Wednesday morning, following a pursuit that began late Tuesday night. Miller faces charges that include Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance/3^rd or greater offense, Open container as a driver, Speeding and Driving While Barred. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Pursuit suspect Skeet Miller. (Madison County S/Of Facebook photo)

His arrest occurred after Greenfield Police Officer Josh Armstrong noticed at around 11:37-p.m., Tuesday, a 2010 Cadillac rapidly accelerate away from a stop sign at the intersection of Highways 25 & 92, in Greenfield, at around . As the officer was following the vehicle, he saw the car swerving between the lines, and crossing the fog line. The officer’s radar indicated the car was traveling at erratic speeds, from the low 50’s to the high 70’s.

When Officer Armstrong flipped on his patrol vehicle’s emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop, the car failed to pull over, and instead turned west onto 280^th Street, while increasing in speed. The pursuit ended with Miller fleeing on foot near Orient, and being tracked by Madison County Deputy Edwards and his K9 partner “Orozco.” Miller was found with the keys to the vehicle in his possession.

Canine Orozco was named in memory of Omaha Police Officer Kerrie Orozco, who died in the line of duty on May 20^th, 2015.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests over the Memorial Day weekend. Early Monday morning, 20-year old Derek Aven Lara, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested at Kane Avenue and Karns Road, for Possession of A Controlled Substance, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,300. And, at around 4:30-a.m., Monday, 19-year old De’Sean Maurice McVay, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. McVay was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

Sunday night, 29-year old Shaka Renee Gordon, of Omaha, was arrested in Malvern on two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $4,000. Sunday afternoon, 53-year old Bryan Ernest Vandusen, of Muleshoe, TX., was arrested on I-29 for Public Intoxication. His bond was set at $300.

Officials with the Pottawattamie County Department of Public Health, Monday, said there were four new, positive cases of COVID-19 in the County, and one additional death has occurred. That’s the sixth person to have died from the virus in the County. The person was a man age 41-to-60 from Carter Lake, who had pre-existing medical conditions. Of the four newly reported COVID-19 cases, three are residents of Council Bluffs, and one is from Walnut. Two of the cases are persons 18-to 40 years old, and two are 41-to 60. They were tested between May 21st and 22nd.

Health officials say so far, 2,734 Pott. County residents have been tested for COVID-19, and a total of 227 have tested positive. An additional four people have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 125. Three are hospitalized, and 85 persons are self-isolating. Based on Pott. County Public Health contact tracing investigations, a total of 72 Pott. County COVID-19 cases are the result of community spread.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The State of Iowa’s online COVID-19 dashboard (https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/) shows 464 deaths have been attributed to the virus since record keeping began two months ago. Completed assessments amount to 533,567. The figures show 134,984 were tested for the virus, 17,661 have tested positive, 117,020 tested negative, and 9,410 have recovered.

For Cass and surrounding Counties, the number of positive test results and (the number of recovered), have not changed much over the past three days. Cass County 11 positive cases (1 recovered); Adair County: 8 (3); Adams County: 5 (1); Audubon County: 12 (9); Guthrie County: 43 (29); Montgomery County: 6 (5); Shelby County: 31 (24) and Pottawattamie County: 215 (122).

In RMCC Region 4 (Southwest/western Iowa), seven people are hospitalized for COVID-19, three are in an ICU, and no one was admitted to a hospital. Those figures have also held steady for the past few days.  Across the State, 377 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, 118 are in an ICU, and 33 were admitted over the past 24-hours. There was also another Long-Term Care facility outbreak across the State, bringing the total back up to 37 from the previous figure of 36. The number of deaths at those facilities stands at 245. Patients and staff who’ve tested positive number 1,586. The number recovered is 669.