Des Moines, Iowa (KCCI) — The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Iowa continues to climb. The Iowa Department of Public Health today (Wednesday) reported 721 patients hospitalized with the virus, up from 665 at last report on Monday. Of those hospitalized with the virus, 75.7% are unvaccinated, while 77.9% of those listed in intensive care with COVID-19 are unvaccinated.

IDPH also reported 91 additional COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total to 7,445 since the start of the pandemic. The additional deaths were reported between Sept. 17 and Nov. 24. There were 8,221 positive tests reported in the last seven days, up from 7,952 reported on Monday. The state’s 14-day positivity rate climbed from 10.8% to 11.2% since Monday.

The number of long-term care facilities reporting outbreaks dropped from 20 to 19.

(Radio Iowa) – A ten year old Le Mars boy died at the hospital after being hit by a car while riding his bike. The accident happened at about 5:12 Tuesday afternoon on Business Highway 75. The accident report says the ten year old, identified as Elijah Peters, was going westbound crossing the street riding his bicycle when he was struck by a Toyota Corolla going northbound and driven by 21-year-old Diego Gomez also of Le Mars. Grief counselors have been assigned to the Le Mars elementary schools.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors met in a regular session this (Wednesday) morning. During their session, the Board acknowledged receipt of a Manure Management Plan Update from Martin Pork Production out of Afton, to spread manure in the southeast portion of Adair County. They also accepted “with regret,” the resignation of the current Harrison Township Clerk, and they appointed Molly Dolch to take over the position.

In other business, the Adair County Supervisors heard from Bryan Belden and Ashraf “Ash” Ashour – Administrator, with the City of Stuart, with regard to a Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) TIF (Tax Increment Financing) Extension. Belden explained the “geography” and the “boundaries” stay the same, it’s just a renewal (of the LOST/TIF).

The current agreement is in effect until June 30, 2023. Any improvements have to stay within the TIF area. Supervisor John Twombly and Board Chair Steve Shelley said while they have no issue with extending the agreement, both would like to have the County Attorney look it over, to make sure “the wording is satisfactory,” according the Shelley. The rest of the Board agreed.

And, County Engineer Nick Kauffman reported on Secondary Roads Department activities. He mentioned Gus Construction is working on the Lake Road project.

(Radio Iowa) – The first new drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease in two decades was approved by the F-D-A in June and it’s finally starting to reach patients, though most Iowans won’t be able to afford it — at least not yet. Lauren Livingston, spokeswoman for the Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, says it’s encouraging that the drug is now in production. “It actually is starting to roll out in hospitals and clinics right now,” Livingston says, “as doctors are getting the equipment to be able to give the infusion treatment.”

Approval of the drug, Aduhelm, offers the promise of some relief for the 66-thousand Iowans who are now living with the most common cause of dementia.  “The barrier right now is the cost of the drug,” Livingston says. “It’s still astronomically high and that’s something the Alzheimer’s Association and other organizations are trying to call the drug company, Biogen, to lower that price so it is more accessible to everyone.”

Reports say a year-long course of the drug now costs 56-thousand dollars per patient. As six-million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, Aduhelm has the potential to be a multi-billion-dollar expense for Medicare.  “We are expecting in the springtime in 2022 for Medicare/Medicaid Services to decide if they will provide coverage for the drug,” Livingston says. “If they, hopefully, do provide coverage, then it will be much more widely available. People will be able to get it and price won’t be a barrier.”

While there’s the possibility the drug could slow progression of the disease, there’s an important distinction: it’s a treatment for Alzheimer’s, not a cure. Alzheimer’s is a progressive, degenerative and fatal brain disease. While 66,000 Iowans are now diagnosed with it, by 2025, that number is expected to grow to 74,000.

On the web at: www.alz.org/iowa

(Harlan, Iowa) – Officials with the Harlan Police Department, Tuesday, said there were three separate, non-injury accidents reported over the past two-weeks. On Nov. 17^th, a 2005 Ford F-150 pickup registered to Bernice Petersen, of Harlan, was parked on the south side of Durant Street, when the vehicle began to back onto Durant Street. A 2002 Ford Ranger pickup driven by Chad Ewing, of Harlan, was traveling east on Durant Street when, when the right front corner of the vehicle struck the rear of the F-150. Petersen’s pickup sustained disabling damage, and was towed. The Ranger also sustained disabling damage.

On November 22^nd, a 2007 Ford Escape driven by William Campbell, of Harlan, was traveling west on Chatburn Avenue, when a 2000 Honda Accord driven by Denis Portrey, of Omaha, pulled out of Hy-Vee’s parking lot northbound. The car struck the SUV on the driver’s side.

And, on Nov. 24^th, a 2001 Dodge Caravan driven by Lisa Stein, of Harlan, and a 2014 KIA Soul driven by Cody Bowman, of Avoca, were both traveling west on Highway 44. As the vehicles came to the stop sign at Highways 59 and 44. Bowman failed to stop in time. His car rear-ended the van.

The broadcast News at 8:06-a.m., from Ric Hanson.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Human Services say about one-third of the workers at three state-run care facilities are refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. The latest  DHS report shows as of Nov. 5, 197 employees at Glenwood Resource Center remain unvaccinated. The report shows 149 of them are considered direct-care or clinical workers.

At the Boys State Training School in Eldora, 61 of the school’s 181 employees have declined the vaccine. The vaccine refusal rate among workers at the state’s Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders is at 32%. All 44 unvaccinated employees there are considered direct-care or clinical workers.

The 7:08-a.m. broadcast News from Ric Hanson.

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(Shenandoah, Iowa) – A man from Shenandoah was arrested late Tuesday evening on drug charges, following a traffic stop.  Shenandoah Police say 50-year-old Neal Jay Williams was pulled over at around 10:50-p.m. in the 200 block of South Fremont Street, for an equipment violation.

During an investigation, the K9 “Remmi” was deployed, and alerted to the odor of narcotics. An additional investigation resulted in Williams’ arrest for possession of a controlled substance–methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance–marijuana, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

He posted a $2,600 bond and was released with a date to appear in court.

(Radio Iowa) – The I-R-S has dubbed this “National Tax Security Awareness Week” in an effort to remind you to keep your personal information safe. Spokesman, Christopher Miller, says the end of the year is a problem time. “We normally see scams spike during the holiday season — but we’re expecting it will be worse this year — because the crooks are finding new ways and new buzz words to attract new victims,” Miller says.

He says there are two new scam buzzwords in particular that should send you a warning. “COVID and stimulus payments. Which we know are unique words for these unique times,” according to Miller. “So we want people to watch out for criminals using new tactics. In fact — we know in Iowa alone just this year the Federal Trade Commission received more than two-thousand cases of fraud and I-D theft related to just those two unique terms,” he says. Miller says those types of fraud cost Iowans one-point-eight million dollars. “And more than 300 of those cases were related to online shopping. So, we know this continues to be a significant problem that isn’t going away — and we want people to be on the lookout,” Miller says.

Miller says scammers will try to send you files and links to open up that will infect your computer or try to get you to give up personal information. He says there is one thing you can know for certain. “The I-R-S will not send unsolicited emails or text or social media posts asking for personal or financial information — that’s not the way the I-R-S does business. In fact, most legitimate companies will not ask for personal or financial information over email, text or social media posts.”

He says you can get more information on what to look for and what to avoid at their website: IRS.gov.