Cases of severe respiratory illness associated with vaping continue to be reported across the U.S. and in Iowa. Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 805 cases and 12 deaths. In Iowa, there have been 23 reported cases and no deaths. Of the 23 Iowa cases, ages range from 17 to 60 and 18 have reported the use of THC. Mirroring national statistics, most of the cases (78%) have been male. All Iowa cases have recovered.

Nationally, most cases have reported the use of vaping and e-cigarette products containing THC; however, vaping products and devices that do not contain THC have also been reported among affected states. Case numbers will likely continue to increase as this investigation continues.

Iowans should not use vaping and e-cigarette products since the cause of this outbreak is not yet clear and the long-term health impacts of these products are unknown. Patients with a history of vaping who are experiencing breathing problems should seek medical care. Health care providers should ask patients with respiratory illness about the use of vaping and e-cigarette products. Health care providers are asked to report severe respiratory illness in patients with a history of vaping or e-cigarette use to the Iowa Department of Public Health (1-800-362-2736).

To learn more, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/ehi/lung-disease-vaping. Weekly Iowa case counts may also be found on this page.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate John Delaney’s Iowa state director has left his 2020 campaign in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.

Monica Biddix had been his state director since January but served on his campaign since June 2018, starting first as his communications director. She said in a statement to The Associated Press on Friday that she was leaving to “pursue other opportunities.”

His campaign announced later Friday that it had named Brent Roske the new Iowa state director. Roske earlier served as Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson’s Iowa state director.

The former Maryland congressman launched his presidential campaign in 2017, making him the longest-campaigning candidate in the field. But he has failed to gain much traction and routinely polls at the bottom of the pack.

He’s scheduled to visit Iowa this weekend.

OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) — An Oskaloosa woman has pleaded guilty in the 2014 death of her 17-month-old daughter.

Des Moines television station KCCI reports that Alicia Ritenour pleaded guilty Thursday to child endangerment causing death. KCCI says she received a sentence of 50 years in prison with credit for time served.

Ritenour was convicted of first-degree murder in November 2014, but a judge set aside her conviction in December and ordered a new trial after agreeing with her that her trial attorney had been ineffective.

Police went to Ritenour’s Oskaloosa apartment in January 2014 following a 911 call and found 17-month-old Ava Ritenour dead. An autopsy showed she died of head trauma.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa now has 24.9 million pigs on farms, a record number and up 6% from last year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the figures Friday for the quarter ending Sept. 1. It showed Iowa farms have just over 1 million breeding pigs and 23.9 million market hogs, or those raised for meat.

The growth in hog numbers comes as environmental groups are trying to force the state to slow expansion of pig farms. A state court judge on Sept. 10 said two environmental groups may proceed to trial in their lawsuit alleging the state’s policy of expanding hog farms and its voluntary farm pollution controls violate the rights of citizens to clean water in the Raccoon River.

The USDA says the national inventory of pigs is at 77.7 million, the highest number for Sept. 1 since records began in 1988.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Portions of interstates in Omaha and across the Missouri River in western Iowa have reopened after being closed for several days for flooding.

The Interstate 680 bridge spanning the Missouri River from Omaha to the Interstate 29 interchange in Iowa reopened Friday afternoon, as did I-29 in Iowa from Crescent to Council Bluffs.

The Iowa Department of Transportation tells the Omaha World-Herald that floodwaters have receded and cleanup is complete on the roadways.

The department cautioned that rainfall expected in the area could cause additional flooding that would require the exit and entrance ramps in the area to close again with little or no advance notice.

Flood-related closures continue on both directions of I-29 between the Crescent and the Loveland exits and on Iowa Highways 275 and 333 near Hamburg.

MITCHELLVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A former employee of women’s correctional facility in Mitchellville was arrested Friday morning after being accused of engaging in sexual acts with an inmate in exchange for tobacco products.

The Des Moines Register reports that 55-year-old Shawn William Durrell, of Urbandale, was arrested Friday and charged with sexual misconduct with an offender. He had been employed as the correctional food service coordinator at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women when the alleged sexual misconduct took place between July 4 and Aug. 9. He had been working at the facility for 16 years before resigning in August.

Court documents say Durrell was released $2,000 bond. His next court appearance is Oct. 7.

No attorney for Durrell appears in online court records. Durrell did not immediately return a message left Friday at a phone listing for him.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest on Friday at 3:30pm of 49-year-old Thomas Shawn Johnson of Red Oak on charges of Theft 4th Degree, False Reports to or Communications with Public Safety Entities, and Malicious Prosecution. The charges stem from an investigation done at a residence in the 200 block of North 5th Street in Red Oak on September 12th. Johnson was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $1,000 cash bond.

ARNOLDS PARK, Iowa (AP) — A businessman has become the fourth Republican challenger for the U.S. House seat held by fellow Republican Steve King.

Fifty-eight-year-old Steve Reeder, of Arnolds Park, said in announcing his candidacy Thursday that balancing the federal budget, revitalizing rural areas and improving access to quality health care are key issues for his campaign.

He says he wants to create “task teams from communities in the 4th District, so that concerns, ideas and solutions may be heard.”

The GOP field also includes state Sen. Randy Feenstra, of Hull; former state legislator Jeremy Taylor, of Sioux City; and Bret Richards, a former mayor of Irwin.

King was first elected in 2002 and is seeking another term. He’s known for his comments about race, immigration and abortion. In January he was stripped of his committee assignments and rebuked by the House in a 424-1 vote for comments about white supremacy.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new trial date has been scheduled for a Guatemala man accused of killing an Iowa woman and her two children.

Polk County District Court records say 31-year-old Marvin Escobar-Orellana is charged with three counts of first-degree murder under what authorities say was a false name he initially gave to police: Marvin Esquivel-Lopez. He’s pleaded not guilty.

Police say he fatally shot 29-year-old Rossibeth Flores-Rodriguez, her 11-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son on July 16 in a Des Moines home.

Court records show the new trial date of Jan. 27 will give attorneys for both sides more time to prepare. The original trial starting date was Oct. 28.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have said Escobar-Orellana is in the United States illegally and had twice been deported before the shooting. He was convicted in 2010 of illegal entry into the U.S.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Des Moines man who already lost his license was driving drunk with his 8-year-old daughter as he tried to speed away from a state trooper.

Polk County court records say 37-year-old Kevin Dyer is charged with driving while intoxicated, third offense; felony eluding; child endangerment; and other crimes. Jail records say Dyer remained in custody Friday. The court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for Dyer.

A court document says the chase early Thursday hit 115 mph (185 kph) in a 55 mph (88.5 kph) zone and 100 mph (160.9 kph) in residential areas. It also says Dyer drove on the wrong side of a highway, over a curb, through grass, over sidewalks and ran red lights.

The chase ended in Des Moines after Dyer’s care became disabled.