DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Nearly two-thirds of Iowa’s counties lost population between 2011 and 2012 even as the state gained 10,089 overall. The latest U.S. Census estimates show that Iowa had 3,074,186 residents last year, but the population of 65 of the state’s 99 counties declined between 2011 and 2012.

Many of the population declines were in rural areas where aging populations are dying off while younger residents move to urban areas in search of work. Fifty-five Iowa counties had more deaths than births in 2012.

The biggest population gains in the state were reported in Polk, Johnson, Dallas, Scott and Linn counties, which are home to Des Moines, Iowa City, Davenport and Cedar Rapids.

Officials at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, have announced some additional work is schedule to occur in the new Inpatient Services area of the hospital.  According to Pat Markham, CEO, the zero entry showers in the Medical/Surgical and Intensive Care patient rooms are not containing water as intended.  Markham says they became aware of the problem immediately upon occupying their new patient rooms last summer. She says ” Since that time we have been working with the design firm to arrive at an agreeable resolution to the problem, while utilizing temporary measures to prevent falls,” and they are “Now going to proceed with the necessary changes to eliminate this safety risk.”

Markham says the process will, at times, be quite loud and potentially disruptive to patients.  Four patient rooms at a time will be taken out of service – two for repair work, and one on each side to help buffer construction noise.   Additional steps will be taken to reduce the noise for patients, including providing noise-reducing headphones and ear plugs. Markham said they apologize for the inconvenience, “But in the interest of patient and staff safety,” they have to move forward with correcting the situation.

Hospital officials continue to negotiate with the design firm to determine financial liability for the corrective measures.  Work will begin Monday, March 18, 2013 and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2013.

No injuries were reported after a semi tractor-trailer went out of control and crashed Tuesday afternoon, just north of Audubon. According to the Sheriff’s Department, 24-year old Justin Michael Steffen, of Albert Lea, MN, was driving a 2003 Peterbilt semi pulling an empty livestock trailer. When Steffen lost control of the rig on a slush covered Highway 71, the semi went into the east ditch, hit a small tree and continued across a small stream before coming to rest against the north bank of the creek. Neither Steffen nor his passenger, Clinton Helget, of Comfrey, MN, were injured. Damage to the semi was estimated at $60,000. No citations were issued.  Officers with the Audubon Police Department assisted at the accident scene.

One person suffered possible, unknown injuries during a single-vehicle accident Wednesday night south of Gray, in Audubon County. Sheriff’s officials say 40-year old John Presley Lampe, of Indianola, was transported by Audubon Fire and Rescue to the Audubon County Memorial Hospital, after the car he was driving went into a ditch off of westbound 120th Street. The accident happened at around 10:30-p.m., as Lampe was driving and looking up at the stars. The man was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.There was no damage to Lampe’s 2001 Buick.