DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines group has launched a $3 million campaign to bring back and revamp the iconic Varsity Theatre near the Drake University campus in Des Moines. The movie theater was a go-to venue known as an “art house” cinema that showed mostly independent and foreign films from the 1960s until its closure in 2018. The Des Moines Film Society’s campaign seeks to transform the one-screen theater into a modern cinema and film center dedicated full-time to screening first-run, foreign and independent films, among other screening events.

The effort comes as Drake, developers and business owners are investing millions to improve and expand the University Avenue business district sometimes known as Dogtown.

The Harlan Police Department, Tuesday, issued a report on arrests from nearly the past couple of weeks. Authorities say on January 22nd, 18-year old Trent James Ring, of Minden, was arrested following a traffic stop, on a possession of a controlled substance charge. Four days later, 45-year old Rick Allen Erwin, of Woodbine, was arrested in Harlan, following a traffic stop. Erwin was charged with driving while barred and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Jan. 29th, 60-year old Brenda Lee Mercil, of Denison, was arrested in Harlan on an active Pottawattamie County warrant following a traffic stop. The next day, 29-year old Lora Elizabeth Noll, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. She was charged with prohibited acts penalties, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and child endangerment.

And, last Saturday, 23-year old Rhiannon Shae Grant-Fohl, of Madison, WI, was arrested during a traffic stop. Grant-Fohl was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating while intoxicated, eluding, interference with official acts, reckless driving, fail to maintain control, and fail to obey stop sign.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa bars and restaurants have begun to apply for another round of state grants to cover pandemic-related losses. Governor Kim Reynolds says the grants are available to bars and restaurants that saw sales slump in the second and third quarters of 2020 compared to the year before. “The one-time grants are intended to assist with short-term cash flow and award amounts, up to $25,000 will be tiered based on lost sales,” Reynolds says, “…to help them recover, bring their employees back to work and to keep their doors open.” The state began accepting applications at noon yesterday (Monday).

The deadline for making an application is Monday, February 15th at 5 p.m. According to the Iowa Restaurant Association, total sales at the bars, taverns and restaurants in Iowa dropped by 33 percent in 2020 compared to 2019. Forty-one percent of those business owners expected to close before this summer if they can’t get additional relief from the state and federal government.

The Iowa Department of Public Health’s Coronavirus dashboard, Tuesday (10-a.m.), indicated there have been 844 new, positive cases of COVID-19 in test results since 10-a.m. Monday, for a pandemic total of 320,339, to-date. There were 13 additional deaths, for a pandemic total of 4,919. Officials say 4,460 deaths have been attributed to an Underlying Cause, while COVID was a contributing factor in 459 deaths. There were NO new COVID related deaths reported from around southwest Iowa.

Long-Term Care (LTC) facility data show there are 48 current outbreaks among those facilities in Iowa (Down from 55, Monday). Those facilities account for 1,417 of Iowa’s positive cases, while 857 LTC patients have recovered from the virus. LTC deaths make up 2,018 of the State’s total number of deaths.

The IDPH reports there are near 25 more people hospitalized with COVID symptoms, for a total of 390. Officials say 88 COVID patents are in an intensive care unit (ICU), which is down slightly from Monday. The number of patients admitted over the past 24-hours is up from 41 Monday to 49 today, and there are 31 people on a ventilator, compared to 20 on Monday. In RMCC Region 4 (Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa), there are 27 hospitalized with COVID symptoms, nine are in an ICU, no one was admitted since 10-a.m. Monday, and two people remain on a ventilator.

The Health Dept. reports also, 256,096 doses of the vaccine have been administered. Of those doses, 132,922 persons have received their first, or initial dose, while 60,092 have received their second dose.  The State’s 14-day positivity rate is 9.6% (compared to 9.9% Monday), and the seven-day average is 7.3% (Compared to 7.5% on Monday). A total of 286,339 Iowans have recovered from the virus.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

• Cass, 1,182 cases; {+2}; 45 deaths
• Adair, 707; {+1}; 24
• Adams, 309; {+1}; 3
• Audubon, 434 {+0}; 8
• Guthrie, 1,057 {+0}; 27
• Harrison County, 1,614; {+1}; 65
• Madison County, 1,308; {+12}; 12
• Mills County, 1,406; {+5}; 17
• Montgomery, 923; {+2}; 30
• Pottawattamie County, 9,360; {+27}; 126
• Shelby County, 1,104; {+5}; 29
• Union County,  1,146; {+1}; 27

Des Moines – Iowans currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan have options to switch through the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period that continues through March 31.
“During this open enrollment period Iowans can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage.  They can even go back to Original Medicare and, if needed, join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan,” Kristin Griffith, Director of the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) said.

Iowans switching Medicare Advantage Plans or switching to Original Medicare with or without a Medicare drug plan, will have new coverage start the first day of the month after your new plan gets your request for coverage. “Iowans should keep in mind, if you go back to Original Medicare, you may not be able to buy a Medicare Supplement insurance policy.  Call 1-800-351-4664 to be connected to a SHIIP counselor who can help you make the change and answer your questions,” Griffith said.

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period isn’t for people who are enrolled in Original Medicare or are enrolled in a Medicare Cost plan.