Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Restaurant closures due to the coronavirus have contributed to an estimated $5 billion in losses this year for the U.S. pork industry, and almost overnight millions of hogs stacking up on farms now have little value. Some farmers have resorted to killing piglets because plunging sales mean there is no room to hold additional animals in increasingly cramped conditions. After extended trade disputes and worker shortages, this was supposed to finally be the year hog farmers hit it big with prices expected to climb amid soaring domestic and foreign demand. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is promising to send cash and buy stored pork but industry leaders say it might not be enough to stem devastating losses.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has launched a $26 million program to dramatically increase the state’s lagging capacity to test for the coronavirus. Under the TestIowa plan announced by Gov. Kim Reynolds Tuesday, the state’s 3.2 million residents will be asked to complete an online health assessment. Those who have symptoms or who have been exposed to the coronavirus will be eligible for free tests at drive-thru sites. The state will alert the contacts of those who test positive. Reynolds says Iowa has signed a contract to purchase 540,000 tests over the next six months, increasing the state’s testing capability by 3,000 tests per day.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — One Iowa pork plant at the center of a major coronavirus outbreak is reopening as another began testing all employees to learn the scope of their infections. Tyson Foods resumed limited operations at its pork processing plant in Columbus Junction, where more than 200 workers have become infected and at least two have died. The plant, which has about 1,400 employees, had been shut down for two weeks after reporting the outbreak. In northern Iowa, Wright County officials reported that 16 employees at a pork processing facility run by Prestage Foods of Iowa have tested positive. Mass testing at the plant began Monday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police allege a man intentionally ran over and killed a Des Moines college instructor. Police also allege in newly released court documents that 49-year-old Jason Sassman was using meth on April 5 when he hit 38-year-old Lauren Rice as she walked her dog, which also died. Rice was an instructor at Des Moines Area Community. The Des Moines Register reports that police say Sassman believed Rice was a criminal about to kill someone. Sassman is charged with first-degree murder and animal neglect. He is being held at Polk County Jail on a $1 million bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police allege a man intentionally ran over and killed a Des Moines college instructor. Police also allege in newly released court documents that 49-year-old Jason Sassman was using meth on April 5 when he hit 38-year-old Lauren Rice as she walked her dog, which also died. Rice was an instructor at Des Moines Area Community.

The Des Moines Register reports that police say Sassman believed Rice was a criminal about to kill someone. Sassman is charged with first-degree murder and animal neglect. He is being held at Polk County Jail on a $1 million bond.

(Radio Iowa) — An Estherville teenager was arrested this weekend and is facing several charges after police say she tried to set grass and her jacket on fire with a cigarette lighter.  An officer attempted taking the lighter and then the suspect brandished a knife and cut the officer on the arm.

Eighteen-year-old Grace Hrbek was then taken into custody and was transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation before being transported to the Emmet County Jail. She’s charged with willful injury, assault on a peace officer and going armed with intent. The officer was treated and released.

COLLINS, Iowa (AP) — Sheriff’s investigators in central Iowa say three people have been found dead in a Collins travel trailer and likely died from accidental carbon monoxide asphyxiation. The Story County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release that deputies were called to the residence just before 8 a.m. Tuesday to check on the welfare of people there.

Arriving deputies discovered the bodies of three adults inside, including a 62-year-old woman, a 41-year-old woman, and a 20-year-old man. Officials say all three lived there. Three dogs were also found dead inside the trailer. Investigators say there were no signs of foul play.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports four arrests took place over nearly the past 10-days. On April 12th, 27-year old Danielson Allen-Harris, of Stuart, was arrested by Stuart Police on charges that include: Interference with Official Acts; Trafficking stolen weapons/1st offense; Felon in control of a firearm; Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree; Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer without injury, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. Allen-Harris – who also had multiple felony convictions in Illinois – was released from the Adair County Jail in Greenfield the same day, on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

31-year old Tyrone Anthony Morris, of Stuart, was arrested at the same location on charges of Trafficking stolen weapons/1st offense; Reckless use of a firearm (for discharging a weapon near a residence where other persons were located), and Felon in control of a firearm. Morris had a previous conviction in Iowa for Domestic Assault causing bodily injury. He was released from the Adair County Jail on a $10,300 cash or surety bond.

As we reported last week, the incident began at around 11-p.m. Saturday, April 11th, with a report of shots fired at 615 SW 7th St. in Stuart, Apartment 6. Officers responding found fresh shell casings and determined that several shots had been fired within feet of the front door of the apartment Officers could hear people arguing inside the apartment and discovered three adults and several children were inside.

An investigation resulted in the discovery of two handguns, one of which has the serial number filed-off and was believed to be stolen, and marijuana. It was discovered that one of the male subjects fired several shots from one of the recovered handguns leading to the shots fired call. During the arrest, Allen-Harris allegedly became combative and assaulted a Stuart Reserve Police Officer by chest bumping him and spitting on a him. He also allegedly damaged a Sheriffs Department vehicle by kicking the door and windows. Deputies from the Adair and Guthrie County Sheriff’s Offices and Iowa State Troopers assisted at the scene.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 20-year old Jaxson Timothy Blade Hall, of Stuart, was arrested April 12th at a separate location from the previous incident. Hall was taken into custody for Domestic Abuse Assault w/injury or mental illness/1st offense, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Hall admitted to assaulting his girlfriend at their residence in the 500 block of Max Drive. He was later released on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

And, on April 13th, 33-year old Michael Eugene Matherly was arrested on two Union County warrants. He was later released on his Own Recognizance.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will conduct an electronic meeting 6-p.m. Wednesday (April 22nd) via YouTube (at https://youtu.be/g7b5aQpscRs). On the agenda is discussion with regard to the IASB Needs Assessment Survey Results, along with COVID-19/District Response and Planning.

Last week, Governor Reynolds announced that all school districts and nonpublic schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year and will continue to offer continuous learning to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. That also includes the cancellation of spring sports activities.

The governor and the Iowa Department of Education also announced that the state of Iowa will:

• Waive instructional time requirements for the remainder of the 2019-2020 regularly scheduled academic year for schools that continue to provide continuous learning through one of two approved options, voluntary educational enrichment opportunities, required educational services, or a combination of the two.
• Require schools to submit a Return to Learn Plan to the Iowa Department of Education by July 1 outlining ways they will address disruptions to learning as a result of COVID-19. This could include summer school, enrichment activities or other opportunities to address the needs of learners.
• Waive the requirement that schools start no earlier than Aug. 23, allowing school districts and nonpublic schools to make local decisions about the length of their 2020-2021 academic year.

The Atlantic School Board will also act on the resignation of Jordan Newberg as 2nd Grade Teacher/Girls Soccer/MS Wrestling Coach. And, they will act on the disposal of two buses: #12 (A 2008 Thomas) and #15, (a 2007 Thomas), both of which are being replaced with money from the VW grant. In order for the district to receive the grant money, the buses mentioned will need to be salvaged or destroyed.

The Board will act on approving Change Orders/Proposal Requests with regard to the Atlantic Athletic Facilities Improvement Project. Proposals for dirt work/perforated drain tile and related costs were received from Central Iowa Dirt Works of Johnston, for 8,173, and $8,710, from Rochon Corporation of Iowa.