(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks is among House Republicans questioning co-authors of an academic paper on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper was published in March of 2020, just as government shutdowns were being ordered. The scientists concluded it was unlikely that the strain of the coronavirus had been created in a lab, but had spread from wild animals to humans. “It’s not as conclusive as you’d like us to believe that it emerged through nature,” Miller-Meeks says.

Miller-Meeks says understanding the origins of COVID helps officials prepare for the next pandemic. “The international community and scientists in particular have a vested interest in understanding what type of laboratory research is done and what type of laboratory safety, ” Miller-Meeks said. “Critically important.”

Miller-Meeks made her comments during a House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. Republicans on the panel have accused the scientists of covering up the origins of the virus. Democrats on the panel accuse Republicans of pushing a partisan narrative and attacking public health officials.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Hitchcock House near Lewis, Tuesday, spoke with the Cass County Board of Supervisors about structural issues with the historical building that need to be addressed as soon as possible, and the possible need for funding to make the repairs happen. Hitchcock House Board Chair Sharon Guffey-Lewis said the issue is with the south basement wall of the historic landmark.

Guffey-Lewis said a representative with the National Park Service in Omaha, came to inspect the building last Fall. He returned in the Winter.

Because of the amount of deterioration of the basement wall requires the Hitchcock House to stop offering tours of the building, effective July 23^rd. Because the structure is a National Historic Landmark, any repairs must be approved by the National Parks Service. The Hitchcock Board received from the Parks representative a list of five approved restoration contractors. One is in Chicago.

She said they never even received a cost estimate from that company. The Advisory Board therefore decided the company would not be acceptable, for that and other reasons. The second restoration company was also out of Illinois. The company flew out a crew to personally inspect the situation.

Hitchcock House. (photo from Hitchcock House Facebook page.)

Their bid was $317,300, due to the travel and equipment costs. The third restoration company is in Crescent, with experience in restoration work in Omaha’s Old Market area and buildings the age of the Hitchcock House. The company has been in business for 46-years. Their cost estimate was $72,000, with a down payment of $22,000 required.

The company owner has said he wants to get started on the project as soon as possible, preferably by August 1^st.

Guffey-Lewis said the Hitchcock Board has applied for a Network to Freedom Grant in the amount of $150,000. They should know by August 1^st if their grant request was approved. In the meantime, she said they are searching for other sources of grant funding, as well. The Board of Supervisors took no action on any funding,Tuesday. Instead, they chose to get an update on what funds the Hitchcock Board is able to acquire before the Supervisors offer to commit toward the project.

Atlantic, Iowa – As businesses in the area continue to grow and commute costs continue to increase, Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) is creating improvements to the transit system to attract workers to the area while reducing expenses for commuters. In partnership with Commute with Enterprise, SWITA is helping to continue to provide an innovative and sustainable shared mobility option: vanpooling.

The Commute program is a coordinated vanpool program available to people who live inside or outside of Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby counties and wish to access jobs in the area. The program coordinates participants who indicate their interest through various channels such as at their jobsite or via an online portal. The program then matches riders who have similar work shifts in similar areas and are interested in riding together. Each vanpool is customized to the specific needs of the group. Once four or more people are matched, a Commute with Enterprise representative will work with the group to identify needs and provide solutions. Commute with Enterprise provides the 7-15 passenger vehicle, insurance, maintenance, and ongoing support. SWITA chose to work with Commute with Enterprise to bring their expertise, scalability, and professionalism to the southwest Iowa region to ensure program success.

“Our new partnership with Enterprise allows SWITA to support the vanpool program and employment needs of local businesses in our community, while introducing our community to a proven, efficient form of public transportation,” said Mark Lander, Transit Director with SWITA.

The vanpool program will be partially subsidized by SWITA using local state and federal grant funds. The remaining cost is split among the employer and/or participants, with each vanpool rider paying a set fee per month. Enterprise will provide coordination services and technology, vehicles, liability insurance, scheduled vehicle maintenance, and 24-hour roadside assistance, as well as best practices for cleaning.

Participants can choose a qualifying vanpool vehicle from Enterprise’s selection of makes and models that includes crossovers, SUVs, minivans, and large passenger vans. Vanpoolers may choose to upgrade their vehicles with optional high-end features such as satellite radio and in-vehicle Wi-Fi service.

People who commute to or from the eight county southwest Iowa service area and are interested in joining the program can visit https://www.swita.com/services/work-routes/ or https://www.commutewithenterprise.com/content/commute/en/partners/swita.html.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says there were four arrests made over the past few days. Two people were arrested on drug charges at around 11:40-p.m. Monday, in the area of 221st St./Elderberry Road in Mills County: 39-year-old Laura Eileen Bunten and 40-year-old Joseph William Patten, both of Council Bluffs, were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. Their bonds were set at $25,000 each.

Sunday evening, 21-year-old Collin Michael Huntley, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on Highway 275 in Mills County, for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of an offensive weapon. His bond was set at $1,000. And, 49-year-old Christopher John Christensen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on I-29 in Mills County on Sunday, for Driving While Denied or Revoked. His bond was also set at $1,000.