The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) said today (Wednesday), eight more people died from COVID-19 since Tuesday’s report, for a total of 732, and there were 414 new, positive confirmed cases of the virus (total 32,343). Negative test results to date amount to 311,494. The IDPH says 25,860 Iowans have recovered from the virus, and 341,941 have been tested to date, in-all.  Completed Assessments number 854,638, to-date. (Data current as of 10-a.m. [24-hour cycle])

The latest statewide hospitalization data show: 165 are hospitalized with COVID-19 (unchanged from Tue.); 44 are in an ICU (also no change from Tue.); 23 were admitted to a hospital (4 less than yesterday), and 23 were on a ventilator (3 more than yesterday). In southwest/western Iowa (RMCC Region 4), five people remain in a hospital, 3 are in an ICU, no one was admitted over the past 24-hours, and no one was on a ventilator. Long-Term Care (LTC) facility outbreaks are up again, this time to 18. In those facilities, 399 residents/staff have tested positive for COVID-19, 287 have recovered, and there have been 387 deaths.

County-by-County COVID-19 cases, 24-hour change (if applicable) [   ], and the number of person who have recovered (   ).

• Cass: 24 (18)
• Adair: 17 [1 more than yesterday] (12)
• Adams: 8 (8)
• Audubon: 16 (15)
• Guthrie: 68 [+2] (58)
• Montgomery: 10 (8)
• Pottawattamie: 754 (645)
• Shelby: 117 [+3]    (103) [+3]

The Red Oak Police Department reports three arrests took place, Tuesday. At around 9:50-p.m., 57-year old Rogelio Hernandez, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving While Suspended, with three withdrawals in effect. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $566 bond. About 15 minutes earlier, 46-year old Amy Jo Runyon, of Red Oak, was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree. She was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 bond. And, at 4:25-p.m. Tuesday, Red Oak Police arrested 28-year old Nathan Allen Aldrich, of Red Oak, for Driving While Barred. Aldrich was issued a citation to appear and court, and released at the scene.

Unofficial results from the Shelby County Auditor’s Office show Rick Kiesel was the winner of a special election held Tuesday (July 7), to fill a vacancy on the Shelby City Council. Kiesel garnered 58 votes, and will serve the remainder of a term left open by the unexpected death of Donavan Dontje.

Kiesel will hold the seat through 2023. His challenger Patty Welsh, received 46 votes.

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

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds says city and county officials in Iowa do not have the authority to implement mandatory mask wearing unless the governor says they can. Reynolds on Tuesday reiterated her stance when asked about a proclamation signed by Muscatine Mayor Diana Broderson on Sunday requiring residents to wear a face covering in public. Reynolds says local government officials cannot under Iowa law implement orders that conflict with public health declarations of the governor. Reynolds also acknowledges spikes in cases in some counties among young adults. She says if it’s tied to bars she may consider limiting hours or rolling back “some of the mitigation efforts on bars.”

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Prosecutors in Iowa have filed a rarely used leak charge against a Black Lives Matter protester accused of stealing a confidential police document and another who allegedly displayed it during a TV news broadcast. The two have been charged with unauthorized dissemination of intelligence data. It’s a felony charge that carries up to five years in prison. The Iowa Judicial Branch says it’s only the second time the charge has been used since 2010. Des Moines police spokesman Paul Parizek says it’s appropriate given the circumstances of the case. The document was a bulletin related to protesters who were under investigation for allegedly destroying a police car.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Employees at the Iowa Veterans Home have been disciplined more than 20 times for personal protective equipment lapses that potentially exposed residents and staff to coronavirus. Commandant Timon Oujiri says the strict approach to requiring masks and other equipment when interacting with residents and colleagues has helped keep coronavirus largely out of the state’s biggest nursing home. He says 25 employees and seven residents have tested positive since the beginning of the pandemic and all have recovered. Oujiri says he considers that a major success, noting that the Marshalltown home has 456 residents and 900 employees. Nineteen employees have been suspended or reprimanded for potentially exposing residents or staff, and two others were fired during their probationary periods.

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she will spend $50 million in federal funding on adult and childhood mental health and substance abuse programs. The money is part of the state’s allocation from the $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package that was approved by Congress and signed by the president in March. Reynolds says $30 million will be used for mental health services administered regionally across the state. The remaining $20 million will go to mental health and substance abuse providers to cover increased costs. Reynolds says stress caused by the coronavirus has increased the need for mental health services.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says the state trooper who hit a Black Lives Matter protester last week with the governor’s S-U-V did nothing wrong. The protester, who was not hurt, has said he hoped that by positioning himself in front of the S-U-V, the governor would roll down her window and speak with protesters. “I do feel like the driver acted appropriately and I think if you look at the report that Commissioner Bayens in the Department of Public (Safety) put forth, as we were leaving the facility the individual sped up and stepped in front of the vehicle intentionally and you cannot block traffic as we’re leaving an event.”

Jaylen Cavil  — a lead organizer for Des Moines Black Lives Matter — told the Iowa Capitol Dispatch it was the governor’s driver who acted inappropriately and anyone else who hit a person with a vehicle would be treated differently by law enforcement. Cavil also tweeted it was unacceptable that reporters asked Reynolds about the incident in an Ackley parking lot, but did not ask about felon voting rights during the governor’s 35 minute news conference on Tuesday.

Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh reports that as of Monday (July 6th), the Fareway Store in Atlantic is participating in Double Up Food Bucks. Hoegh says “With this program, for every dollar customers using EBT cards spend on fresh fruits and vegetables, they receive another dollar to spend on fresh produce (up to $10/day).”

She adds “This is a great program which has been working well in other areas of the state, and it’s fantastic that we have it now available in Cass County. Fareway already does so much to address food needs in our community, this is just one more action worthy of recognition.”

Additional information on the program can be found below:

Double Up Food Bucks now available at 100+ grocery stores

Iowans facing food insecurity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to access free fruits and vegetables at more than 100 grocery stores statewide. This month, 106 Fareway stores, 13 Hy-Vee stores, plus additional food co-ops and farmers markets are joining the Double Up Food Bucks program.

The healthy food incentive program allows SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) customers to match purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables made with their EBT card, up to $10 per day, with Double Up Food Bucks which can be spent on additional fresh produce.

Double Up Food Bucks received $1 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to fund the grocery sector expansion. This funding was made possible through the leadership of Gov. Kim Reynolds in consultation with the Feeding Iowans Task Force, led by Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, to expand access to nutritious food for Iowans in need.

• Effective July 6, the program is available in all Fareway stores statewide
• Effective July 20, the program is available in 13 select Hy-Vee stores
• Double Up Food Bucks is also available at more than 20 farmers markets, farm stands and food co-ops across Iowa

Find a Double Up Food Bucks location

The CARES Act provides temporary relief funding and expires December 31, 2020. All new locations added with CARES Act funding will be considered temporary locations.

Learn more about Double Up Food Bucks

Double Up Food Bucks provides a solution to give Iowans access to more healthy food and double their food assistance dollars while recovering from COVID-19. Learn more about how the Double Up Food Bucks program works in both farmers markets and grocery stores at DoubleUpIowa.org.

Five people were arrested on drug charges in Mills County over the past four days. Sheriff’s officials say Monday morning, 21-year old Tanner Lee Anthony Bailey, of Malvern, was arrested following a traffic stop at Highway 34 and 315th Street. Bailey was charged with: Distributing drugs to a minor; Intent to Deliver marijuana; Possession of a Controlled Substance; 2 counts of Drug Tax Stamp criminal penalties; Possess of a firearm with narcotics; hosting a drug house; and Possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also cited for Failure to Obey a stop sign, and yield the right-of-way. Bond was set at $50,000.

Monday evening, 20-year old Oscar De Eduardo Navarro, of Pacific Junction, was arrested at 221st and Kane Avenue, for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Drug Paraphernalia. Bond was set at $1,300. Also arrested Monday evening, was 25-year old Jericho Cash Clements, of Pacific Junction. He was arrested in Mineola for: Possession of Contraband in a Correctional Institution; Carrying weapon (A knife over 8″); Possession of Paraphernalia; Public Intoxication, and Interference with Official Acts. Bond was set at $7,000.

And, there were two drug-related arrested on July 3rd at 195th and Allis Road, in Mills County. Authorities say 38-year old Dustin Eugene Kalkas and 27-year old Shelby Lynn Ross, both of Shenandoah, were arrested for: Possession w/the intent to deliver – Meth; Possession of Drug paraphernalia, and Drug Stamp Criminal Penalties.

Ross was also charged with Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, and Interference with official acts. She was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail. Kalkas faces additional charges that include: Felony Eluding; Reckless Driving; Speeding, and Failure to show proof of insurance. His bond was set at $100,000.

Other arrests in Mills County include:

• On July 3rd – 23-year old Modesto Antonio Jimenez-Perez, of Waterloo (IA), for OWI/1st offense ($1,000 bond)
• On July 5th – 41-year old Dawn Irene Griffin, of Carter Lake, on a Warrant out of Pottawattamie County for Failure to Appear at a Contempt Hearing. (No Bond).; 27-year old Steven Austin Ripley, of Red Oak, for OWI/3rd offense ($5,000 bond).
• On July 6th – 22-year old Dakota Lynn Girouex, of Red Oak, was arrested at the Pott. County Jail on a Mills County warrant for Eluding, and Theft. (Bond $2,300)

Mills County Public Health officials, Tuesday, reported one additional positive case of COVID-19. The latest case is a person 18-to 40-years of age, who contracted the virus through community spread. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mills County as of Tuesday, was 37.  MCPH reports 33 out of the 37 persons have recovered from the affects of the virus. A total of 1,994 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Mills County.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A coronavirus virus outbreak that has infected 61 inmates and five staff members at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility has claimed the life of its first inmate there. The Iowa Department of Corrections said in a news release Tuesday that 71-year-old Ray Allen Vanlengen was diagnosed with COVID-19 before he died Monday at the University of Iowa Hospital. He also had multiple preexisting medical conditions and had been serving up to 100 years in prison for four sexual abuse convictions from Black Hawk County. The earliest he was eligible to be released was January 2039.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police have released the name of the fourth victim of a fiery single-vehicle crash southwest of downtown Des Moines. Des Moines police said Tuesday that the Polk County Medical Examiners Office has identified the victim as 23-year-old Zachary McBride, of Weaver. Police previously identified the other victims as the car’s driver, 22-year-old Ross Jacob Welsher, and passengers 22-year-old Jordan Van Gundy and 24-year-old Jacob Lee Van Gundy, all of Des Moines.

A woman also was injured but survived. Investigators said the crash happened around 2:30 a.m. Sunday near Water Works Park. The car caught fire after crashing into a tree, police said.