WASHINGTON, Iowa (KCRG-TV) — An investigation is underway in a fire that killed two people at a home in eastern Iowa. KCRG-TV reports that the fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. Saturday near the town of Washington in Washington County. Authorities identified the victims as 58-year-old Sherry Lynn Bertsch and 66-year-old Michael Lee Shannan. No other details about the fire have been released.

WHITING, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa couple who have been married for nearly 70 years are back home after they both recovered from bouts of COVID-19. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 88-year-old Bert McCandless and his 89-year-old wife, Ardis, contracted the disease caused by the coronavirus in March. Both were hospitalized at Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy, where Bert nearly didn’t make it.

Ardis spent three days in the hospital in late March, but as she started to get better, Bert’s condition worsened. He was placed on a ventilator for two weeks and doctors estimated he had no better than a 20% chance of surviving.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (WOWT-TV) — A man suspected of shooting at a Council Bluffs police officer is hospitalized after being shot by the officer. WOWT-TV reports that the shooting happened Saturday. The officer was unhurt. Police say the man went into a gas station and tried to steal a gas can. An officer had just pulled into the parking lot. The clerk told the officer that the man was stealing the gas can, and the officer told him to return it.

Police say the man grabbed a gun and fired one shot at the officer, who returned fire. The suspect’s injuries are believed to be non-life threatening.

(Radio Iowa) – A famous Jones County landmark is no more. The Hula Hoop Tree has been cut down. Over the past few years, visitors have stopped to visit the old tree, which sat along County Road E-23 near Amber. The tree’s branches were filled with hula hoops. The Hula Hoop Tree’s Facebook page announced on Friday that the tree was taken down to keep the public safe. They say it was with “very mixed feelings and heavy hearts” that the tree will now just live in the memories, photographs, and videos of all who have visited.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has announced the availability of the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Action Plan.   The Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act passed by congress allocated $96,741,000 to the state of Iowa for purpose of assisting in long-term recovery from the major flooding disaster that took place in the Spring of 2019.   The Action Plan details how the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) plans to expend the CDBG-DR allocation.

The public is encouraged to comment through 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2020. The report may be obtained and comments accepted via the Internet at https://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/our-agency-detail-resources/6501  or by contacting: Ann Schmid, Disaster Recovery Team Leader, IEDA, 1963 Bell Ave, Des Moines, 50315 or by e-mail at ann.schmid@iowaeda.com or phone (515) 348-6202.

In addition, a virtual public hearing will be held starting at 2:30 p.m. on May 20, 2020.  Please contact Ann Schmid at the email or phone number above to request a call-in number.  The purpose of the public hearing will be to receive public comments on the plan.

(Radio Iowa) — A judge has ruled the number of polling places in Woodbury County for the Primary Election on Tuesday, June 2nd and a special election Tuesday, July 7th must be increased from two to a minimum of five. The judge also ordered Woodbury County Auditor Patrick Gill to establish a polling place in each of the five state representative districts in Woodbury County. Gill says that’s a workable compromise. “Our focus has been, as it has been from the beginning, will still be to protect the voters and our precinct election officials,” Gill says.

At least five voting booths will be at each location. Iowa’s secretary of state is encouraging Iowans to vote by mail rather than in-person, to limit the spread of COVID-19. Gill says he decided to limit polling locations after his office staff talked with long-time poll workers in the county. “They’re all ‘Iowa Nice’ and they would like to work on Election Day, but they do have genuine concerns, as we do,” Gill says.

The judge’s ruling states that if the risk of exposure to COVID 19 subsides, Gill may increase polling locations and voter access throughout Woodbury County for the primary in June and the special election in July. Former State Senator Rick Bertrand of Sioux City filed the court petition asking a judge to order that all precincts polling sites be opened for upcoming elections in Woodbury County.

Bertrand’s attorney argued that with just two voting centers, voters would have to wait in long lines and be at greater risk of contracting the coronavirus. He also argued a large number of Republican and non-party male voters would be harmed by not being able to vote in person. Woodbury County has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases, with 742 confirmed through testing through Thursday morning. A “Test Iowa” drive-through testing site will open in the county Monday.