KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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Iowa health officials today (as of 10-a.m/24-hours), report 1,048 new, positive COVID-19 cases (including 12 more in Cass County) and 18 more deaths (including 3 more in Guthrie County). Deaths attributed to a pre-existing medical condition amount to 918. Iowa currently has confirmed 1,342 COVID-19 deaths and 88,555 positive cases. There have been 6,014 Lab results returned since 10-a.m. Tuesday, for a total of 797,138. Of the latest results, 5,368 came back Negative for COVID-19 (for a total of 707,037), and 637 were positive, for a 14-day rolling average of 8.8%. The number of Iowans who have recovered from the virus is 68,365.
A White House coronavirus task force report dated Sunday found that Iowa last week had the nation’s sixth-highest rate of coronavirus infections per 100,000 people. The task force again recommended the state institute a statewide mask requirement. Gov. Kim Reynolds has said such a requirement is unnecessary.
In the KJAN listening area, since 10-a.m. Tuesday, the IDPH reports new positive COVID-19 test results numbering: 52 in Pottawattamie County (bringing their to-date total to 2,216 cases); 17 in Mills County; 14 in Guthrie County; 13 more cases in Harrison County; Eight more cases in Madison County; Three new cases in Audubon and Montgomery Counties; 2 more cases in Union County, and one new case in each of Adair and Adams Counties.
The data show hospitalizations continue to rise in Iowa. There are 390 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, up from 376 the previous day. There are currently 100 patients in intensive care, compared to 97 yesterday. The IDPH says 61 people were admitted to a hospital since 10-a.m. Tuesday, and 31 patients were on ventilators, down from 36 the previous day. In western/southwest Iowa, 18 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, eight are in an ICU, two were admitted since yesterday, and no one is on a ventilator.
There are currently 52 long-term care facilities reporting coronavirus outbreaks in Iowa, a number had been unchanged since Friday. IDPH reported 1,128 positive cases and 718 recoveries within those facilities. There have been 693 deaths in Iowa’s long-term care facilities, six more than yesterday. A White House coronavirus task force report dated Sunday found that Iowa last week had the nation’s sixth-highest rate of coronavirus infections per 100,000 people. The task force again recommended the state institute a statewide mask requirement. Gov. Kim Reynolds has said such a requirement is unnecessary.
In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases in each county, the number of persons recovered, and the total number of [deaths] (if any), since the pandemic began:
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s wineries are trying to hold on from the pandemic that’s dealt a double hit to their business. Iowa Wine Growers Association, marketing director, Nicole Eilers says it is a business tailored to public interaction. “They had to shift their whole business plan from bringing people into the tasting rooms and giving them the experience that Iowa wine is kind of known for,” Eilers says, “to how do we survive, how do we get the product in their hands when we are not supposed to be around people — so it has been really tough.”
Sales of wine and liquor have been up during the pandemic — but Eilers says local wineries aren’t gaining from that trend. “It’s just getting the product into consumers’ hands, that’s the tricky part. Because most wineries in Iowa — if not all — self distribute,” she says. The second hit to the wineries has been a loss of the added features they provide customers not directly related to selling wine. “Most of them are also functioning event venues. so a lot of them have spaces for weddings and private events. They do live music, all sorts of things,” according to Eilers. “And so,with COVID and a lot of the mandates in place, that has really taken a toll on businesses. Because that really sort of helps offset the decreased wine sales.”
Eilers says some may not be able to stay open. “I haven’t really heard of any wineries for sure closing down due to COVID specifically — but I anticipate that most likely that will be the case for some,” Eilers says. Eilers says they have a report that comes out at the end of the year that details sales and that will give a better idea of where the industry stands.
Police in Red Oak report two arrests. At around 3:23-a.m. today (Wednesday), Officers arrested 75-year old Mary Katherine Pierce, of Red Oak, on a warrant out of Page County, for Failure to Appear on a Theft in the 5th Degree, charge. Pierce was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond. And, at around 10:40-p.m. Tuesday, Red Oak Police arrested 59-year old Ronald Dean Kammerer, JR., of Red Oak. He was taken into custody on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Contempt – Failure to Pay Child Support. Kammerer, JR., was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail, while awaiting extradition to Pott. County.
(Radio Iowa) – Two “Test Iowa” locations are opening in Orange City and Sioux Center to expand Covid-19 testing capacity in the northwest corner of the state. Governor Kim Reynolds says coronavirus cases have been elevated in Sioux County for the past three weeks.
“Sioux County currently has the highest 14-day average positivity rate in the state at nearly 28%,” Reynolds says. “Neighboring Lyon and Osceola Counties are both above 20% and some other counties in the surrounding area top 15%.” The governor says new Covid cases in northwest Iowa are evenly distributed across age groups rather than being among young adults.
“The case investigation process tells us that increased cases in these areas…aren’t really tied to a specific event or activity,” Reynolds says. “…The virus is simply spreading from person-to-person during the course of normal daily activities.” In Sioux County, for example, half of recent Covid cases were among adults between the ages of 41 and 80 and another 12 percent were among children under the age of 18. Reynolds says the virus seems to move around the country and is currently hitting the Midwest and the tri-state region of northwest Iowa and neighboring counties in Nebraska and South Dakota.
“We’re bringing in additional tests so that we can identify, so I think we’re going to see, kind of, hopefully what we saw in other areas where we see that spike,” and then, hopefully, we’ll see that come back down.” Since August, the testing sites in Orange City and Sioux Center have been screening students and staff from Northwestern and Dordt University. Now, those sites will offer Covid tests to others who register online at Test-Iowa-dot-com.
The number of Iowans hospitalized for treatment of Covid-19 has increased 20 percent in the past week. Dr. Caitlin Pedati, the state medical director, says the best advice for curbing community spread of the virus is what it’s been since the start of the pandemic: stay at least six feet away from others, wear a mask and wash your hands. The number of Iowans hospitalized for treatment of Covid-19 has increased 20 percent in the past week.
Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:25 a.m. CDT
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A 21-year-old Davenport man charged with killing a woman as she was leaving a civil rights protest will remain in jail. A district court judge on Tuesday denied Parker Belz’s request to be released on bond. He is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Italia Marie Kelly. She had joined a protest on May 31 over the death of George Floyd but was leaving because the gathering was becoming unruly. She was shot in the back. Belz has pleaded not guilty. He has been held without bond since his arrest in June.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced a policy change to make it easier for students, teachers and business workers exposed to an infected person to avoid a two-week quarantine, despite a surge in cases throughout the state. Under new state guidance, children in daycares and schools and workers do not have to quarantine as long as they and the infected person with whom they were in contact were consistently and correctly wearing face coverings. Only the infected person must go into isolation, while the close contacts should monitor their health. The change breaks with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, which recommends a 14-day quarantine for anyone who is in close contact with someone who has tested positive regardless of mask use.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst says she has been “very consistent” in her views on Supreme Court nominees despite supporting a vote on President Donald Trump’s nominee while working with other Republicans to block a nomination by President Barack Obama. Ernst was asked about her seemingly contradictory stands during a televised debate with Democrat Theresa Greenfield that touched on topics ranging from the Supreme Court and Trump’s tax returns to health care and racial justice. Ernst says this nomination is different than in 2016 because Republicans control both the Senate and presidency. Greenfield argued the GOP-majority Senate shouldn’t act on Trump’s nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett fewer than 40 days before the presidential election.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Is Iowa regaining swing state status? President Donald Trump has spent millions trying to secure the state’s six electoral votes, but several recent polls show a surprisingly close race with Democrat Joe Biden. Voters in the state where Trump won by 9.4 percentage points in 2016 have soured on Trump’s handling of the coronavirus and the overall direction of the country. A competitive presidential race in Iowa, where polls show the candidates running about even, suggests a tightening in other states he won by similar margins, such as Ohio, and potential peril in those he won by smaller margins, such as Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh reminds area residents, that “As September ends, “Grow Another Row, Cass County!” is wrapping up, but Cass County pantries continue to welcome donations.”
“Grow Another Row, Cass County,” a Healthy Cass County campaign by a group of local growers to encourage residents to grow and share more food in 2020, saw success this summer. Many people helped Grow Another Row have a good year. The planning committee thanks everyone who contributed. While gardens are winding down with the cooler weather, Cass County food pantries continue to welcome donations.
Local pantries continue to see increasing numbers, and appreciate both food and monetary donations. See below for specific information on how to support Cass County food pantries this fall. Cass County Food Pantry Information:
Anita Food Pantry: Phone: (712) 762-3645 Address: 208 Chestnut St, Anita, IA 50020 Hours: 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9:00am – 11:00am Produce donations: Tracey Lett (712)249-4996 Monetary donations: mail checks to “Anita Food Pantry” (PO Box 96, Anita, IA 50020)
Atlantic Food Pantry: Address: 19 W. 4th St., Atlantic, IA 50022 Hours: Thurs., drive-through 1:00pm – 2:00pm (closes at 3:00 PM) Produce Donations: Pre-bagged produce requested. Contact: (712)243-1820 Monetary Donations: mail checks to “Atlantic Food Pantry” (19 W 4th Street. Atlantic, IA 50022)
Cumberland Care & Share Pantry: Phone: (712) 774-5818 Address: 317 Monroe St, Cumberland, IA 50843 Hours: 1st & 3rd Wednesday, 4:00pm- 5:30pm Produce Donations: contact (712) 774-5818 Monetary Donations: mail checks to “Cumberland Care & Share” (317 Monroe St, Cumberland, IA 50843)
Lord’s Cupboard of Griswold: Phone: (712) 778-4178 Address: 100 Cass St., Griswold, IA 51535 Hours: 2nd and 4th Tuesday, 11:00am – 2:00pm Produce Donations: contact (712) 778-4178 Monetary Donations: mail checks to “The Lord’s Cupboard” (55546 Wichita Rd. Griswold, IA 51535)
Cass County COVID-19 Mobile Food For All: Cass County COVID-19 Mobile Food For All will continue to accept produce donations through October. Donations can be dropped at the back of Cass County Community Center (805 W. 10th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022) Mondays between 10:00am – 11:00am.; Produce Donations: contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh (712)249-5870 or hoeghb2@iastate.edu.
For information on Cass County food pantries, farmers markets, and other locally-driven food initiatives, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council on Facebook @CassCountyLocalFood.
The Atlantic Police Department reports two arrests in the past three days. On Saturday Atlantic Police arrested 53-year-old Rex McDermott of Atlantic for Public Intoxication. He was booked into the Cass County Jail and held. This was McDermott’s second arrest on the same charge in two days.
On Monday, September 28th Atlantic Police arrested 30-year-old Joshua Beedle of Atlantic for Operating While Intoxicated. He was taken into custody, booked in to the Cass County Jail and held.
Police in Glenwood report two arrests. Last Friday, 20-year old Nathaniel Bolte, of Minden, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. He later posted a $1,000 cash or surety bond, and was released.
On Sunday, 41-year old Bobby Burr, of Omaha, was arrested for driving while barred, and on a Page County Warrant for failure to appear on a driving while barred charge. Bond set for the warrant is $5,000 cash only, and the charge of driving while barred bond was set at $2,000.
The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports 45-year old Todd Ryan Guisinger, of Stuart, was arrested at around 4-a.m. Saturday (Sept 26),on charges that include Interference with Official Acts, Disorderly Conduct, Harassment 2nd and Public Intoxication.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred outside the residence of Stuart Police Officer Martinson and his family. According to the report, Guisinger was behind the residence, screaming and allegedly threatening to harm the officer for an incident that took place earlier between the Officer and Guisinger, that caused him to become upset.
Once he was restrained an taken into custody, with the help of two other law enforcement officers, Guisinger refused a breath analyzer test. The report said he has two previous convictions for Public Intoxication. Guisinger was transported to Guthrie Co Jail, and later transported to Dallas County Jail under the authority of a Dallas County warrant.
During an initial appearance before a Magistrate, bond was set at $ 1,000 cash or surety. Guisinger posted bond and was released.