(Des Moines, Iowa) — Positive COVID-19 tests are on the rise again in Iowa after dipping slightly late last week. The Iowa Department of Public Health reports 36,731 positive tests in the last seven days, up from 33,502 at the last report on Friday. The state’s 14-day positivity rate has climbed to 24.3%, up from 23.5% on Friday.

IDPH reports virus hospitalizations have decreased from 998 on Friday to 953 Monday. Of those hospitalized with COVID-19, 68.4% are unvaccinated, while 77.1% of those listed in intensive care with the virus are unvaccinated.

The number of long-term care facilities reporting a virus outbreak in Iowa climbed from 50 to 56 since Friday.

(Radio Iowa) – Advocates are raising concerns about regulatory changes that would increase staff-to-children ratios in Iowa child care centers. House Republicans have drafted a plan to let one employee oversee up to eight two-year-olds. The president of the Iowa Child Care Coalition says it would lead to more staff burn-out and turn-over, which ultimately would harm the brain development of two-year-olds. “You are going to significantly stress them, which leads to additional behavior problems,” she says.

A child care task force assembled by Governor Reynolds recommended raising the staff-to-child ratio in day cares as one way to increase the number of available child care slots without hiring additional workers. Janee Harvey, a Department of Human Services administrator, says under current law, the ratio is one worker to a maximum of six two-year-olds. The agency is proposing a more modest increase of one staff member for up to seven two-year-olds. “There is a high level of biting among that age, which does create risk to other kids,” she says. “That is not a good situation.”

And Harvey says many two-year-olds are not yet potty trained, creating a greater need for staff in a room of two year olds. The agency is proposing one day care worker be allowed to oversee up to 10 three year olds. House Speaker Pat Grassley says the proposals are options, not requirements, and part of a broader conversation about addressing workforce issues.

“I think we’re in a position where we have to be putting all of the options on the table…whether it’s child care, housing, attracting people to the state,” Grassley says. “We need to have to have these kind of hard conversations and find out what we really think the long term solutions and part of that plan is going to be.”

Grassley made his comments during an appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.

(updated) (Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Board, Monday night, approved a contribution of $4,000 toward the $12,000 cost of a study designed to move forward on getting a Splash Pad at the Sunnyside Pool and other renovations/remodeling at the pool. Prior to approving the funds, the Board heard from Quality of Life Committee members Brigham Hoegh (Cass County Wellness Coordinator), and Dave Chase (with Nishna Valley Trails), who said there were numerous members from various groups who comprised the committee that spearheaded the 2021 Cass County “What people want and Need” study, which covered several areas, including Physical and Outdoor Recreation. Chase says..

That’s where the studies come in, and Chase said “those studies don’t come cheap.” The committee, he said, is asking everyone with a stake in the endeavor, “to kick-in a little bit.”

Chase said the Nishna Valley YMCA “has provided the leadership to call meetings and get the ball rolling, but it’s gotta be a community effort.” Chase said those persons who sat-in on the committee were asked to go back to their respective organizations and ask if they can kick-in something for the studies. He included himself and the NVT group as part of the funding stream. The YMCA he said, he agreed to chip-in $6,000. Parks Board member John Krogman, speaking via video conference, said he hopes others kick-in on the study or later, when the projects are ready to come to fruition.

Parks Board Chairperson Jolene Smith agreed.

Other sources of funding could possibly include the Community Promotion Commission (CPC), Cass County Community Foundation and various grant opportunities. Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen said in discussions with City Administrator John Lund, it was clear having the Parks & Rec Board chip-in for the study wouldn’t impact the department’s projects planned for this year or next year.

The second phase study will specifically focus on how to raise funds for the project itself, once the price tags have been established. The total cost of both studies is estimated to be $33,000. The Parks and Rec Board will contribute additional funds in the upcoming Fiscal Year, once the funding streams come together.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent arrests. On Jan. 13th, 26-year-old Andrew John Meissner, of Eagan, MN., was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol on I-80 near Adair. Meissner was taken into custody following a traffic stop for speeding at around 1:48-a.m., Thursday. A K9 Unit showed up at the scene and conducted a free-air search around the vehicle. After the K9 indicated the presence of drugs in the vehicle, a search was conducted, and resulted in the recovery of a jar with green, plant-like material, and a grinder. Meissner turned over another jar containing a similar material. He was subsequently arrested for Possession of Marijuana/1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was released later that same day on a $1,300 cash or surety bond.

On Jan. 11th, Stuart Police arrested 40-year-old Kristina Marie Johnson, of Stuart, for Poss. of drug paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, and Child Endangerment – Meth Exposure. Her arrest was the result of a DHS Caregiver request, who was at Johnson’s apartment, visiting with the woman and her minor son. The DHS worker told Police there was visible drug paraphernalia in the bedroom of the residence.

After Officer Katherine Guisinger received permission to enter the bedroom, she saw a collection of glass bongs, pipes and baggies. One of the bongs and multiple pipes had a dried white residue consistent with meth. Prior to the Officer’s arrival, the DHS worker advised most of the items were located in a cabinet in the closet. A glass pipe was found in Johnson’s purse. Two other bongs were found that were filled with liquid, under the sink. Additional drug paraphernalia including baggies, pipes, a glass mirror with glass pipes, razor blade and tubing. Most of the items were accessible to anyone in the residence. Johnson was released at the scene on her Own Recognizance.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office says on Jan. 10th, 43-year-old Jereamy Lee Rice, of Stuart, was arrested on an Adair warrant for Driving While Barred, following an investigation into a domestic incident at a residence in Stuart. Rice was released after posting a $3,000 cash or surety bond.

And, 32-year-old Jennifer Nicole Troxel, of Adair, was arrested Jan. 9th in Casey, for Driving while license denied or revoked for and OWI test failure. Troxel was cited and released, and issued written warnings for vehicle equipment violations.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

(Radio Iowa) – Travel on the state’s roadways is back to what you’d normally expect in January after the big weekend storm that dumped more than one foot of snow in some areas. D-O-T winter operations administrator, Craig Bargfrede says clearing the snow was not easy as it started out wet and then froze.

“We actually saw a lot of compaction and a lot of freezing to the pavement, so we really had to adjust our treatment practices in or to really break up that snow and ice pack on the pavement, so that we could get back down to the bare pavement,” Bargfrede says. He says that made the job tougher in some areas.

“Took us a little longer than typical — but we are back to pretty much winter seasonal conditions all across the state,” he says. The sun has been out since the storm blew through, and temperatures rose above freezing today (Monday). “That actually does help tremendously when we can get that sunshine and get those warmer temperatures. That helps us with the treatment that we do have out there to continue to work, and make sure that we don’t get the refreeze,” Bargfrede explains.

He says there was some drifting in parts of the state and they have been also working on clearing in those areas today (Monday). “We’ve had a number of trucks out working on some of the known trouble areas. We’ve had some blowing and drifting, we’ve had some issues with some slick ramps — just those known kind of trouble spot areas that traditionally we have problems with. We’ve been out working on those all day today,” according to Bargfrede. There was a lot of advanced warning about the storm and Bargfrede says it appears drivers were paying attention.

“For the most part, they listened to the warnings — but as the snow let up and things started to clear up a bit, then traffic started to pick up quite a bit and we did have some issues out there with traffic and whatnot,” he says. “We did have some closures during the event as well where we had some semis that jackknifed. That caused some problems. Overall, we really got through this not too bad.” Bargfrede says it’s one of the biggest snowfalls we’ve had in a while.