FORT MADISON – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections, Saturday, said that on the evening of Friday, January 7, a correctional officer was assaulted by an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary.

The department can confirm that the inmate approached the officer at his post and a short time after the inmate began assaulting the officer. Nearby staff were alerted and responded to restrain the inmate. As a result of the incident, the facility has been placed on modified restricted movement until further notice.

The officer was transported by department vehicle to the local hospital and after further evaluation was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for examination and observation. The department continues to follow the recovery of the officer closely. The inmate was found to have not suffered any injuries.

The department is continuing to collect and confirm all details and the incident remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Public Health says the state is starting to receive shipments of new antiviral pills. Two new medications from Merck and Pfizer will help treat people with mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19. The pills aim to reduce the ability of the virus to spread through the body.

For now, there will be a very limited supply at select pharmacies and hospitals. The IDPH will determine how and when the anti-viral pills will be allocated to pharmacies and health care facilities.

It’s not known when the prescription drugs will be more widely available to the public.

DES MOINES – On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments related to the OSHA Vaccine Mandate and has not yet issued a decision in the case. But as required by federal regulations, Iowa Labor Commissioner Rod Roberts has submitted a notice that Iowa will not be adopting or enforcing the mandate.

Roberts said “As a state plan state, the Iowa Division of Labor is charged with protecting the health and safety of those in the workplace and has the authority to enforce workplace safety and health standards for Iowa businesses. Iowa doesn’t have a standard requiring the Covid-19 vaccine or testing. But after closely reviewing the federal OSHA Vaccine Mandate, Iowa has determined it will not adopt the federal standard. Iowa has concluded that it is not necessary because Iowa’s existing standards are at least as effective as the federal standard change.”

In response to Commissioner Roberts’ decision, Gov. Reynolds issued a statement applauding Commission Roberts’ decision. “We are going to continue to protect the freedoms and liberties of Iowans,” Reynolds said. “The Biden Administration continues to ignore the constitutional rights afforded to all Americans, which our country was built on. Instead, they’d rather dictate health care decisions and eliminate personal choice, causing our businesses and employees to suffer and exacerbating our workforce shortage.”

With Commissioner Roberts’ decision, Iowa OSHA will not be enforcing the federal OSHA Vaccine Mandate. Iowa employers and their employees are not required to comply with the federal OSHA Vaccine Mandate.

Red Oak Police are searching for information on a small dark SUV that left the scene of a two vehicle accident in Red Oak on Friday. The accident happened at approximately 4:41 p.m. at the intersection of North 2nd Street and East Reed Street. After investigation at the scene it was determined a 2014 Cadillac SRX owned and operated by 55-year-old Debra Lynn Blay of Red Oak was traveling westbound on East Reed Street at the intersection with North 2nd Street. A smaller black or dark SUV was traveling northbound on 2nd Street and ran the stop sign and hit Blay’s Cadillac. The SUV continued northbound on 2nd Street and turned East on Hammond Street.

Blay was uninjured in the collision and her vehicle sustained an estimated $2,500 damage.

If anyone was in the area of the accident and provide further information in regards to the vehicle that left the scene, please contact the Red Oak Police Department at 712-823-8600.