(Radio Iowa) – With the arrival of March and the one-year anniversary of sweeping COVID-19 shutdowns across the state, more people are getting vaccinated which is prompting some Iowans to consider Spring Break trips or summer vacations. Bao Vang, spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau, says if you’re planning to get away, be sure to take a “pandemic bag” with you. “A pandemic bag includes staples like hand sanitizer, face masks, disinfecting wipes, health insurance cards, all good things to have,” Vang says. “Other items, a thermometer, latex gloves, hand soap.”

You may want to opt for a road trip instead of flying, she says. While road travel carries risks along with flying, it’s much easier to mitigate risks from within a smaller space you and your family control. Vang reminds, the pandemic isn’t over and there are still multiple risks associated with travel. She encourages you to do your homework ahead of time. “Research travel restrictions,” she says. “Now, every single state has unique mandates and recommendations as those items about mask-wearing or whether businesses are open and at what capacity, they will impact your plans.”

Vang says flexibility is key. Be willing to pay extra for fully refundable flights, car rentals, and accommodations, plus, recognize your plans may change last-minute due to an unexpected lockdown or infection.

(Radio Iowa; updated) – Tyson Foods has announced Covid-19 vaccines will be available later this week for all meat processing workers at its plants in Iowa. Last Thursday, the governor announced Iowa would be getting nearly 26-thousand doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine this week. Public health officials indicated that supply of the new single-dose vaccine would be enough for ALL frontline workers at the state’s meatpacking plants. Tyson is the first company to announce that its 13-thousand Iowa employees will have a chance to be vaccinated later this week. Mass vaccination sites will be set up at or near the company’s plants in Columbus Junction, Council Bluffs, Independence, Perry, Storm Lake and Waterloo.

A site in Sioux City will be set up for Iowa residents who work at Tyson’s Dakota City, Nebraska plant. Essential workers are now eligible for vaccinations. State officials say employees in meatpacking plants are classified as essential workers because they work in close proximity to others and cannot maintain six-feet of separation.

The Iowa Department of Public Heath at 10-a.m., Monday, reported an additional 238 positive COVID-19 test results returned from the labs since Sunday, for a pandemic total of 363,707. There was also one additional death reported, for a total of 5,472. Long Term Care facility deaths account for 2,168 of the State’s total number of deaths.

The number of Long-Term Care facility COVID-19 Outbreaks are unchanged, at 19. Hospitalizations increased slightly, to 197. COVID patients in an ICU decreased from 50 to 48. There were 31 patients admitted to hospitals over the 24-hour reporting period, and 15 patients on a ventilator.

Hospitals in Western & Southwest Iowa report: 11 people remain hospitalized for COVID; five COVID patients are in an ICU, there were three new admissions for patients with COVID from 10-a.m. Sunday through 10-a.m. Monday, and one person remained on a ventilator.

Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate is up a bit, to 4.3%, while the seven-day rate increased from 4.2% to 4.5%.

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, 1,331 cases; {+0}; 51 deaths
• Adair, 920; {+0}; 28
• Adams, 326 {+1}; 4
• Audubon, 485 {+0}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,164 {+1}; 28
• Harrison County, 1,793; {+1}; 69
• Madison County, 1,542; {+0}; 18
• Mills County, 1,631; {+2}; 20
• Montgomery, 1,037; {+0}; 36
• Pottawattamie County, 10,756; {+0}; 143
• Shelby County, 1,206; {+1}; 33
• Union County,  1,262; {+1}; 31

A man who suffered from a medical condition was injured during a single-vehicle accident Sunday afternoon on I-29, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 46-year old James Bushey, of Council Bluffs, was traveling south on I-29 at mile marker 27 at around 1:25-p.m., when he lost control of his 2008 Toyota Tundra, while suffering from a medical episode. The pickup crossed the median and both northbound lanes before entering a ditch, hitting a barbed wire fence, and coming to rest in a farm field.

The vehicle sustained minor damage. Bushey was flown from the scene by LifeNet helicopter to Bergan-Mercy Hospital in Omaha. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office and Glenwood Rescue assisted at the scene.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

A man from southern Iowa’s Lucas County is accused of purposely ramming his car into a pickup, then stabbing that vehicle and assaulting responding deputies. KCCI says court documents show the incident happened Saturday on Interstate 80, near Earlham. Thirty-year-old Brandon Carroll, of Russell, reportedly told authorities he intentionally crashed into a truck because he saw it try to run law enforcement off the road.

The Dallas County Deputy who responded says he was the only law enforcement in the area, and that he was 10 miles away. Court documents show Carroll tried to grab the deputy’s firearm multiple times while he was being arrested, and even said to the deputy quote, “I am going to kill you.” Carroll is now facing multiple charges including assault, harassment, reckless driving and disarming a peace officer.

He’s being held in the Dallas County Jail in lieu of a $10,000 cash bond.

The Creston Police Department reports two people were arrested on drug charges over the past few days. At around 2-a.m. today (Monday), 35-year old Mike W. Post, of Lorimor, was arrested at Fremont/Walnut Streets in Creston, with assistance from the Creston Police K9 Baxo. Post was taken into custody for: Possession of a Controlled Substance w/the intent to deliver more than 5 grams of Methamphetamine, PCS w/intent to deliver less than 50 kilos, of Marijuana; Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp; Carrying weapons; Possession of Meth/1st offense, and Possession of Paraphernalia. Post was being held in the Union County Jail, while awaiting a bond hearing.

And, at around 8:50-p.m. Saturday, Creston Police arrested 41-year old Justin Hodge for Driving While Suspended, and Poss. of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. Hodge was released from custody on a $1,300 bond.

Creston Police said also, 28-year old Devin Heimke, of Creston, was arrested at around 3-a.m. Sunday, for Public Intoxication. He was later released on a $300 bond. Authorities say a man from Lenox reported late Friday morning, that sometime late Thursday or early Friday, someone broke into a residence he was working on, in the 500 block of W. Mills Street. A person or persons unknown gained entry by breaking glass on the front door of the residence. Once inside, they took a Masterforce Chop Saw. The loss and damage was estimated at $200.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Radio Iowa) – A Fort Dodge man is now charged with last Thursday’s bank robbery in Scranton.  According to a release from Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams, 27-year-old Zachary Michael Anderson Wailes was taken into custody at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. He has been charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree theft. Anderson Wailes is alleged to have entered the People’s Bank in Scranton at around 10:30 a.m. Thursday wearing a face mask and sunglasses with a sweatshirt hood pulled over his head.

Still photos from the bank’s security video were distributed and the public’s assistance was requested in helping to identify the suspect. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Gaming Enforcement; the Carroll, Calhoun and Boone County Sheriff’s Offices; and the Lake City, Boone and Ames Police Departments assisted in locating and arresting Anderson Wailes. The investigation into the robbery is ongoing.

(Radio Iowa) – There has been discussion about potential college student loan changes by the Biden administration — and possibly loan forgiveness. At the non-profit Iowa Student Loan, president Steve McCullough, says you shouldn’t wait to see what the federal changes are before reviewing your loans.  “The most important thing those people can do now rather just wait for some additional assistance, is to call their loan servicers and inquire about what tools are already in place that can help them,” McCullough says.

He says it is an important issue that does need attention. “There are some student borrowers who are in desperate need of assistance. It’s not every student loan borrower — as a matter of fact it is only a minority percentage of borrowers who are really in crisis — but for those borrowers, they really need some help,” McCullough says. “So it is good that policy makers are looking to provide additional help for student loan borrowers.” College students used to have ten years after they graduated to pay off their student loans. McCullough says that has changed. “Over time what happens, is borrowers have been given a lot more repayment options and extra time to repay,” according to McCullough. “There is a program right now called income contingent repayment, or income-based repayment, where people will pay as a percentage of their income. And if that loan is not repaid after 20 years, that remainder is forgiven.”

McCullough says everyone is different and you should review your own situation and see what is best. He says is you are struggling to make payments you should look at the income contingent payment program as it can lower your payment amount and if you don’t get a better job, the amount will eventually be forgiven. McCullough says you can also call Iowa Student Loan and they can help you find the information to consider what to do with your student loans.