(Radio Iowa) – The president of the Board of Regents says they will continue to try and get vaccinations for everyone at the three state universities — but Michael Richards says they won’t require them. “The Regents universities will not be mandating any vaccinations for any students employees now, or for the 2021-2022 academic year,” Richards says. He did encourage students at Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa to get a vaccination.

“I strongly believe in the effectiveness of the vaccines. We will continue to make them available, and we encourage people to get vaccinated — but they will not be required at our three universities,” according to Richards. Richards noted that some colleges in the U-S are requiring student vaccinations. He made his comments during the Board of Regents meeting today (Wednesday).

The Regents today (Wednesday) voted to approve the proposed room and board rates. The most popular double residence hall room and meal plan at the University of Iowa will go up two-point-six-nine percent. The rates at Iowa State University will drop on those plans by one-point-one-four percent — while the rates at U-N-I will stay the same.

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County, Wednesday, arrested 40-year-old Phillip Jay McClish. The man was arrested on an active Page County Warrant for failure to appear on a violation of probation charge. McClish was booked into the Page County Jail, where his cash or surety bond was set at $5,000.

Two women face assault charges, following incidents Tuesday in Harlan. According to the Harlan Police Department, 30-year-old Ashley Elizabeth McWilliams, of Harlan, was arrested for Assault with Injury. And, 36-year-old Jeannie Kay Kleymann, of Portsmouth, was cited for Simple Assault.

(Radio Iowa) –  Governor Kim Reynolds predicts the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations will not be slowed by the two-week suspension of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as possible health complications are carefully studied. “While the White House reported yesterday on its weekly call with governors the temporary pausing the use of the vaccine should not impact supply going forward,” Reynolds says. “Fortunately, additional doses of Pfizer and Moderna will be available for nationwide distribution next week and we’ve been receiving an ample supply of both here in Iowa.”

None of the six women who have had adverse reactions to the Johnson and Johnson vaccine were Iowans. Reynolds says the decision to put administration of that vaccine on pause was sudden and surprising. “While news of a serious reaction to the J and J vaccine is concerning, it’s important that we don’t jump to conclusions prematurely before more details are known,” Reynolds says. “Nearly 7 million doses of J and J vaccine have been administered in the United States and at this time, we’re aware of only six cases resulting in the rare blood clots. Currently the odds of this happening are literally one-in-1,000,000.”

IA Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks during a Press Conference (File Photo)

State health officials redistributing the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to adjust and the governor is again calling for Iowans to be patient as details are finalized.  “Even though Johnson & Johnson doses are on hold right now, we were already planning for a minimal supply over the next few weeks due to the slowdown in manufacturing that had been anticipated,” Reynolds says. “The immediate impact of this decision on our vaccine supply should be manageable.” The state was only expecting to get 18-hundred doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine next week.

“Putting even one vaccine on hold is disappointing, especially as we’re fast approaching 2 million doses being given and administered in Iowa,” Reynolds says, “but ensuring a safe vaccination process, one that everyone can be confident in, will continue to be a top priority.” Reynolds and her husband got the Johnson and Johnson shots on March 3rd on live T-V and the governor says she had mild symptoms: a dull headache and fatigue.

“But I was still able to report to work the next day and within 24 hours I was back to feeling 100%, so I’m glad that I did have the opportunity to have the J and J vaccine. I would do it again,” Reynolds says. “Vaccination is the best defense against the virus and, as you’ve heard, the reward far outweighs the risk.” Reynolds is praising Linn County Public Health officials for setting up a 24-hour mass vaccination clinic.

State officials say 20 county health departments refused the doses of Pfizer and Moderna they could have received this week, so those doses have been reallocated to other counties, according to the acting director of the IDPH

In western/southwest Iowa, those counties include:

• Adair
• Cass
• Sac
• Union and
• Woodbury

There’s a new person in charge of the Audubon Police Department. The City Council, in Audubon, Monday, approved Coby Gust as Chief of Police. Gust will succeed Police Chief Matt Starmer, who announced in February, that he would be retiring effective June 1^st, or as soon as his replacement was hired. According to City Clerk Joe Foran, Gust has been with the Audubon Police Department since 2005. His starting salary will be $70,000.

Gusts’ hiring creates an opening for a Police Officer withing the department.

A man being held at the State Penitentiary in Anamosa, was arrested Tuesday on a Page County warrant. The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 28-year-old Richard Osmond McLachlan, Jr., was arrested on an

Richard O. McLachlan, Jr.

active Page County Warrant for Possession of a controlled substance and Possession of Contraband in a Correctional Institution. His cash-only bond was set at $6,000.

April 5, 2021 —Did you receive a text with a survey about your vaccine? The Better Business Bureau says it’s one of those scams that just keep reappearing… each time with a new twist. This time, the phony survey claims to be from pharmaceutical company Pfizer, with questions about their COVID-19 vaccine.

How the Scam Works:

You receive an email or text message that claims to be from Pfizer, one of the pharmaceutical companies producing an approved COVID-19 vaccine. In some versions, the message claims that you will receive money for completing a quick survey. Other versions offer a “free” product.

It sounds easy, but don’t click the link! These survey scams have a variety of tricks. The link may lead to a real survey, which upon completion, prompts you to sign up for a “free trial offer.” Victims reported to BBB Scam Tracker that they entered their credit card information to pay what they thought was a shipping fee. Instead, the scammers billed them many times more and never sent the product.  In other versions, the form is actually a phishing scam that requests banking and credit card information.

Just because scammers are currently impersonating Pfizer doesn’t mean the other COVID-19 vaccine producers are off the hook. Watch out for variations claiming to be from Johnson & Johnson and Moderna, too.

How to Spot a Survey Scam:

In general, it’s best not to click on links that come in unsolicited emails. Here are some more ways to spot a malicious email just in case your spam filter doesn’t catch it.

The email claims to have information about you, but you never signed up for it. Scams often pretend to be personalized for you, but they are actually blast emails. Don’t fall for this! If you never signed up for emails from a company, you shouldn’t be receiving them.
Pushes you to act immediately: Scammers typically try to push you into action before you have had time to think. Always be wary of emails urging you to act immediately or face a consequence.
Watch for typos, strange phrasing and bad grammar. Scammers can easily copy a brand’s name, but awkward wording and poor grammar are typically a giveaway that the message is a scam. For example, one version of the survey scam impersonating Pfizer uses the wrong company logo.
Hover over URLs to reveal their true destination. Typically, the hyperlinked text will say one thing, but the link will point somewhere else. Make sure the links actually lead to the business’s official website, not a variation of the domain name.
For More Information

Read more about coronavirus scams on the Federal Trade Commission’s website and on BBB.org/coronavirus. Learn more about the disease at the CDC’s FAQ page. The BBB has identified many ways in which scammers are cashing in on the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about clinical trial scams, contract tracing cons, counterfeit face masks, and government agency impostors. If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help others avoid falling victim to scams. Find more information about scams and how to avoid them at BBB.org/AvoidScams.

(Radio Iowa) – House Republicans are proposing to more than double the amount of state money for so-called challenge grants to build or renovate space for child care centers. The grants have been available to businesses, non-profits and organizations that are retrofitting or building new child care facilities.

That’s Representative Phil Thompson of Jefferson, who says House Republicans propose three million dollars worth of these grants for the next state budgeting year. Representative Tracey Ehlert, a Democrat, is an early childhood instructor who has operated a child care center in Cedar Rapids. Ehlert says it’s exciting to have state grants for child care infrastructure.

Increasing the number of child care slots by expanding the physical space is a goal Ehlert supports, but she says state policymakers must do more to address the worker shortage.

The three million dollars for Child Care Challenge grants proposed by House Republicans would be distributed, as it is now, by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Last month, the agency distributed 13 million dollars in FEDERAL pandemic relief money to 64 current or under construction child care centers in the state.