DES MOINES, Iowa/KCCI — The Iowa Department of Public Health on Monday released new COVID-19 data that shows positive tests are on the rise after a steady decline since mid-September. IDPH reports 9,841 positive tests, up from 9,628 at last report on Friday. That brings the total number of positive tests to 495,810 since the start of the pandemic. IDPH also reports an increase in the statewide positivity rate, up from 9.5% to 9.6%. State data shows those under 18 are responsible for 24% of all positive tests in the state. However, that age group makes up only 3% of those hospitalized.

There are 629 Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19, down from 634 reported on Friday. There are 140 patients in intensive care units, down from 149 on Friday. Of those hospitalized with COVID-19, 76.4% are not fully vaccinated and 87.9% of those in ICU are not fully vaccinated. IDPH reports one additional long-term care facility reporting a virus outbreak, bringing the total to 29.

Iowa reports 3,474,752 vaccine doses administered in the state, with 66.2% of all Iowans 18 and older fully vaccinated. The Iowa Department of Public Health releases new COVID-19 data each Monday, Wednesday and Friday on this website.

DES MOINES, Iowa —October is Pork month, and the Iowa Pork Producers Association on Monday (Today) announced the finalists for this year’s best breaded tenderloin. Three are in southwest Iowa. The list (In no particular order) includes:

Elk Horn — Larsen’s Pub (winner in 2007)
Emerson — Old Road Cafe & Bar
Harlan — Victoria Station
Indianola — Z’s Eatery and Draught Haus
Miles — Stalker’s Pub

Kelsey Sutter, IPPA’s marketing and programs director, said “We are always looking for a tenderloin that celebrates the taste of pork. I’ve been involved with this contest for 10 years, and I’ve seen a definite increase in restaurants offering thick, hand-breaded tenderloins that do just that.” In the spring, IPPA called on tenderloin fans everywhere to nominate their favorite sandwiches. Nearly 6,000 nominations were submitted for 526 different establishments.

The five restaurants with the most nominations from each of IPPA’s eight districts—for a total of 40 from around the state—were reviewed during the summer by IPPA’s restaurant and foodservice committee. Leading contenders were then turned over to undercover judges who scored tenderloins on the quality of the pork, taste, physical characteristics, and eating experience. Any Iowa restaurant, café or tavern offering hand-breaded or battered pork tenderloins on its daily menu was eligible to be nominated. To win, the business must be open year-round with regular hours. Food trucks, concession stands, seasonal establishments, and catering businesses were not eligible.

The first- and second-place winners will be announced later this month, dubbed #Porktober21 on social media channels as part of the monthlong celebration of pig farmers and the great product they produce. The winning restaurant will receive $500, a plaque, a banner to display, and statewide publicity that will bring in new business.

First-place restaurants are not allowed to compete for five years afterward.

Winners from the past five years: 2020 – PrairieMoon On Main, Prairieburg; 2019 – The Pub at the Pinicon, New Hampton; 2018 – Three C’s Diner, Corning; 2017 – Grid Iron Grill, Webster City; and 2016 – Nick’s, Des Moines.

(Des Moines, Iowa) –  As part of an ongoing effort to address the financial impact of COVID-19, Iowa has received over $10 million in federal aid to help households that have fallen behind in water bills and are facing disconnection of service or have already been disconnected. The new federal Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) will provide assistance in the form of benefit payments made directly to water vendors on behalf of households for past-due charges, fees, and taxes for drinking and wastewater services.  The program will be administered by the Iowa Department of Human Rights and locally through Iowa’s Community Action Agencies that serve all 99 counties.

Iowans may apply by contacting their local Community Action Agency starting October 8, 2021. To locate the agency nearest you, please visit https://humanrights.iowa.gov/dcaa/where-apply or call the Iowa Department of Human Rights at 515-242-3861. Program eligibility mirrors that of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), meaning applicants must qualify to receive federal LIHEAP benefits, total household income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, and a current water crisis must be present.

The application period is open year-round.  LIHWAP will run through September 30, 2023, or until funds are exhausted. To learn more about LIHWAP, visit https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/lihwap or contact your local community action agency.

(Radio Iowa) – The Facebook whistleblower who will testify in congress this week was born and raised in Iowa City. Francis Hougen, a former data scientist at Facebook, kept her identity a secret when she filed a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission against Facebook and shared internal Facebook documents with The Wall Street Journal. Last night, Hougen was revealed as the whistleblower during a report on “60 Minutes” and Hougen said she’ll testify to congress that Facebook has deceived regulators and the public about its monitoring of hate speech and misinformation. She said on “60 Minutes” that Facebook is choosing profit over safety.

Hougen is a 2002 graduate of Iowa City West High School and her website says her parents are professors. Hougen has an electrical engineering degree from Olin College and an M-B-A from Harvard. She worked at Google and Yelp before she was hired at Facebook in 2019. She resigned from Facebook in May of this year.

A spokesman for Facebook told C-N-N that the social media platform reflects the good, the bad and the ugly of humanity and Facebook is trying to amplify the good and mitigate the bad.

(Radio Iowa) – An elderly man has died in a house fire in Marshalltown. Firefighters were called to the 800 block of North Center Street around 5:00 Sunday morning. Fire was visible in the living room area and neighbors told firefighters they heard knocks and screams for help. After getting into the house, firefighters found the body of a 71-year old male. No name has been released. The body was sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.