(Updated 11:00-a.m.) – Iowa has reported another 413 coronavirus cases, for a total of 31,656 to-date. The state Department of Public Health reported no new deaths. The total stands at 721, of which 509 had a pre-existing condition. Health officials report also: 24,958 coronavirus patients have recovered; 840,934 assessments have been completed; 335, 716 people have been tested; 302,550 tests came back negative for COVID-19.

Long-Term Care facility (LTC) data show: 19 current outbreaks (1 less than over the weekend); 504 clients or staff have tested positive for COVID-19; 375 have recovered and 383 have died.

In Statewide RMCC data: 151 are hospitalized with COVID-19 (up 10 from Sunday); 41 are in an ICU (up 2 from yesterday); 4 more people were admitted to a hospital (for a total of 25); and 15 were on a ventilator. RMCC data for western/southwest Iowa is unchanged from Saturday (4 hospitalized, 2 in an ICU, 0 admitted and 0 on a ventilator). Also mostly unchanged from the last COVID-19 dashboard data, is the number of positive test results and persons recovered in Cass and surrounding counties.

Here are the latest number of positive COVID-19 test results and the number of people who have recovered (   ):

• Cass 22 cases (18)
• Adair County: 16 cases [up 1 from Sunday], (12)
• Adams County: 8 cases, (8)
• Audubon County: 16 cases, (15)
• Guthrie County: 66 cases [up 1 from yesterday], (58)
• Montgomery County: 10 cases, 8 recovered
• Pottawattamie County: 730 cases [up 8], (632) [up 7]
• Shelby County: 113 cases, (95) [up 1]

A traffic stop today (Monday) at around 1-a.m. northwest of Stanton, resulted in the arrest of a man from Nebraska. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Braino Parra-Munoz, of North Platte, NE., was pulled-over at Highway 34 and M Avenue. Upon further investigation, it was determined Parra-Munoz’ blood alcohol content was .118, or slightly over the legal limit of .08. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and charged with OWI/1st offense. Bond was set at $1,000.

A Red Oak woman was arrested at around 10:20-p.m. Sunday, for Public Intoxication. According to Red Oak Police, 31-year old Nikki Mae Brown was taken into custody in the area of 3rd and Corning Streets. She was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where bond was set at $300.

(Radio Iowa) – The Indigenous activist group Seeding Sovereignty are asking state lawmakers to remove two monuments on the state capitol grounds. The group held a rally at the statehouse on the 4th of July. Christine Nobiss spoke in front of a statue that’s described by a state website as a pioneer man and his son being guided by a, quote, “friendly Indian.”

“This is not the story of this state. We did not have friendly Indians showing the way to people. We had settler invaders and colonial militias come into this state and murder their way across this country,” she said. “This land is stolen land.” The group also wants the state to remove a Christopher Columbus memorial outside the capital. They delivered a letter to lawmakers that also mentions removal of a mural inside the capitol building that depicts westward expansion.

Kelly Buffalo-Quinn says she thinks the Iowa Capitol is one of the most beautiful statehouses in the country, but it’s marred by what she calls these symbols of white supremacy. “There are better ways to depict every person within the state of Iowa, especially seeing as how this is Native land,” she said at the 4th of July rally, “the Meskwaki, the Ioway and the Lakota.” Counter-protesters gathered near the Columbus statue, but the two competing events ended without violence.

The organizer of the counter protest said it was about standing up for the rule of law and not succumbing to mob rule.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Katarina Sostaric)

(Radio Iowa) – The mayor of Muscatine has issued a proclamation for a city-wide face covering mandate starting at 6 a.m. today (Monday) and lasting for six months. Muscatine Mayor Diana Broderson says she’s concerned by growing COVID-19 caseloads in neighboring areas.

“Our numbers aren’t terrible right this minute. If we wait ’til they are, it’s going to be too late. People will be sick, people will die and businesses will close,” she says. Broderson made her comments during an online event organized by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. Broderson announced her decision in a Sunday afternoon news conference and was booed by a crowd outside city hall as she removed her face mask to begin speaking.

Broderson told the crowd a face mask is not required outdoors when a person is more than six feet away from others. According to the Iowa attorney general’s interpretation of state law, mayors do not have the authority to issue the requirement that face masks be worn in public. Broderson says she’s exercising the “home rule” authority local election officials are granted in the Iowa Constitution.

“Mayors have the authority by statute to take control of their city in an emergency situation and make whatever mandates or whatever orders need to be done in order to provide for the health and safety of their community,” Broderson says. There have been 633 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Muscatine County and 70 percent of those cases have been adults between the ages of 18 and 60. Fourty-four Muscatine County residents have died of COVID-19.

Participants in high school team sports in Muscatine will be allowed to play without face coverings and Broderson is granting other exceptions to her face-mask mandate if social distancing is maintained. The exceptions include exercising or engaging in outdoor or indoor sports where social distancing is maintained, eating while seated at a restaurant or bar. Broderson also says face coverings may be removed when a service, like dental work, requires temporary removal.