(Radio Iowa) – Rental assistance programs are bracing for a spike in eviction filings in August after the federal hold on some evictions ends this week. As of last week, the state had only distributed seven-million dollars of the nearly 200-million it received to help Iowans who are behind on rent payments. A separate Polk County program has given more than twice as much money to renters as the program meant to serve all 99 counties. Eric Burmeister is executive director of the Polk County Housing Trust Fund, one of the program’s partners. “Let’s not panic, certainly tenants, don’t panic because there is assistance available,” Burmeister says. “The tenants have legal rights.”

Burmeister says Polk County has given about 16-million dollars to renters through the program so far with the goal of keeping people in their homes. “That’s our hope, is that we’ve reached a big chunk of those folks with the rental assistance,” he says. “If not, I think we’re prepared here in Polk County to meet that surge.”

The state’s only distributed a small portion of the money it was given for rental assistance due to a deluge in requests. An Iowa Finance Authority spokesperson says the agency hopes to get through a backlog of applications by July 30th. Iowans facing eviction in any county can go to iowa-finance-dot-com for more information about assistance.

(By Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)

For a time, it seemed as though in mid-June, Iowa was winning the war against COVID-19, with the positivity rates falling to 2-percent or less, depending on the day. Now (As of July 26th), however, the 14-day positivity rate has increased to 4.6%, and the seven-day rate is 4.2-percent. Positive tests (PT) over the last seven-days have increased in several area counties:

Cass – 7 total PT (10% rate); Adair – 6 TP (17%); Adams – three PT (11% rate); Guthrie – 2 PT (4% positivity rate); Harrison –  5 PT (17%); Madison – 3 PT (5%); Mills – 1 PT (3%); Montgomery – 4 PT (10%); Shelby 4 PT (9%). (See the County pandemic totals below). Fortunately, the number of deaths since June 25th in southwest Iowa have not increased as dramatically, with most counties reporting no change in the statistics. One month ago, the pandemic death toll stood at 6,124. The latest Coronavirus dashboard data show 6,170 people have died from COVID.

There are two Long-Term Care (LTC) outbreaks in Iowa. The number of persons hospitalized with COVID in Iowa, has increased from a low of 46 on June 25th, to 106 as of July 26th. Health officials report 39 patients are in an ICU, 23 were admitted over the past 24-hours, and 13 patients are on a ventilator. In RMCC Region 4 (which was down to zero hospitalizations, no ICU patients, zero new admissions, and no one on a ventilator on June 25th), there are currently nine hospitalized, 3 in an ICU, 3 were admitted, and one person was on a ventilator.

In the immediate KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County (since the beginning of the pandemic) and the total number of deaths (Since the beginning of the pandemic) in each county to date:
Cass, 1,494 cases; 55 deaths
Adair, 1,027; 32
Adams, 360; 4
Audubon, 547; 13
Guthrie, 1,328; 32
Harrison County, 1,956; 73
Madison County, 1,820 19
Mills County, 1,806; 24
Montgomery, 1,149; 38
Pottawattamie County, 12,449;174
Shelby County, 1,337; 38
Union County, 1,376; 35

(Radio Iowa) – Authorities are now releasing the name of the Hampton teenager who was killed in a head-on weekend crash in Mason City. The Iowa State Patrol says 17-year-old Cammie Haack was driving northbound on US Highway 65 at about 6:30 Saturday morning when her vehicle drifted into the center turn lane and then into the inside southbound lane, colliding head-on with a vehicle driven by 30-year-old Joanna Gautier of Charles City.

The State Patrol confirmed that Haack died from the accident, while no condition update was provided for Gautier. The accident remains under investigation

(Radio Iowa) – Authorities are investigating the apparent suicide of a man late last week, who evidently shot himself when Marshalltown police showed up to arrest him at his house in Ames. Marshalltown police were in Ames to serve an arrest warrant on the man on sexual exploitation and inappropriate sexual contact between a former Marshalltown school employee and a former student. Police heard a gunshot and found a body in the basement. It is the third related incident of sexual exploitation between an employee of the Marshalltown Community School District and students reported over the last couple of weeks. Marshalltown police says the three incidents are NOT related. The school district says counseling services will again be available for students and staff through Thursday of this week.

Twenty-six-year-old Mark Esquivel was charged on June 30th with sexual exploitation by a school employee and resigned as a teacher at Marshalltown High School. Former Marshalltown middle school teacher Adam Edgington of Nevada was found dead in his car on July 8th after being charged with having inappropriate contact with a 13-year-old student.

With excessive heat expected to persist through this workweek, facilities in Cass County have opened their doors to people who need a break from the extreme heat. Libraries in Cass County will be available as cooling stations during their regular operating hours throughout this week. The Nishna Valley YMCA in Atlantic will also serve as a Cooling Station. SWIPCO Transit Director Mark Lander says SWIPCO “will provide free rides this week for folks that need to get to cooling stations. All they have to do is call for a ride and tell us they need to go to a cooling station.” Call (712)-243-4196 if you need a ride to a cooling center.

Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon would like to thank the area libraries, the YMCA and their staffs for providing this important service. “We are heading into a stretch of hot temperatures and very high heat indexes for the region. Drink plenty of fluids, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the heat of the day, stay out of the sun, and check on relatives, neighbors, the elderly and pets. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency…call 9-1-1.”

The 8:05-a.m. News from Ric Hanson.

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The Washington G.E.M. 4-H Club is celebrating 100 years as a club.  Spokesperson Melanie Petty says the club is asking both present and past members and leaders please join in on Thursday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. during the King and Queen contest, for a celebration.  Afterwards Washington G.E.M. past and present club members and leaders are invited to stop at the 4H Food Stand for an ice cream social to reminisce about the club’s history and thoughts for the future.

Petty says “We are sure there are many stories to be told and heard.” You can also take time during the fair to view the glass case in the entry of the community center building displaying some wonderful pieces of the club’s history.

The Cass County Fair begins Wednesday, July 28^th and runs through Tuesday, August 3^rd.  The fair is free to all ~ come out and enjoy what we have to offer!

The broadcast News at 7:07-a.m., with Ric Hanson.

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Officials with the Nebraska-Iowa Region of the American Red Cross report, as uncertain as the past year has been, one constant has been the need for lifesaving blood. Patients rushed to emergency rooms, those battling sickle cell disease and mothers with complicated childbirths rely on the generosity of volunteer donors to help receive the blood transfusions they rely on. And right now, the blood supply has fallen to critical levels. The Red Cross needs to collect more than 1,000 additional blood donations each day to meet current demand as hospitals respond to an unusually high number of traumas and emergency room visits, organ transplants and elective surgeries.

Patients need the help of the American people, who can make a difference by making an appointment to give blood or platelets as soon as possible by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).   In thanks for helping meet patient needs, all who come to give between now and July 31 will receive automatic entry for a chance to win gas for a year (a $5,000 value) and a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Additional information and details are available at rcblood.org/fuel.

Red Cross Disaster Team Completes Busy First Half of 2021

The first half of 2021 saw an increased number of disasters, keeping volunteer responders busy. Between January 1-June 30 in the Nebraska-Iowa Region, the Red Cross responded to more than 470 disasters, 95 percent of which were home fires. Through those responses, the Red Cross served more than 2,000 people.

Disaster Responses (January 1-June 30, 2021)

State            Events        Individuals Assisted

Nebraska          174                755

Iowa                 297                1,281

The Red Cross provides shelter, food, relief supplies, comfort, health service, recovery planning and other assistance in times of disaster through the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Nationally, the Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters every year, most of which are home fires. However, large disasters such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and wildfires are increasing with frequency and intensity.

To learn more about Red Cross Disaster Relief, visit redcross.org.