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Cedar Rapids Police investigate fatal shooting of man Sunday

News

January 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A man with a gunshot wound died shortly after his arrival at a Cedar Rapids hospital early Sunday morning. Cedar Rapids Police said the man was brought to the hospital by a private vehicle around 2:15 a.m. Sunday.

The man’s identity wasn’t immediately released on Sunday. Police did not release any details about the shooting Sunday. No arrests were reported.

 

Iowa COVID-19 update for 1/3/2021: No additional deaths to report; 1,121 new cases

News

January 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Health (10-a.m. Sunday), reports there have been 1,121 new, confirmed cases of COVID-19 in test results received since 10-a.m. Saturday, for a pandemic total to-date, of 284,265. IDPH says there were no additional deaths reported since Saturday. The total to date, stands at 3,946.

Of Iowa’s pandemic-related deaths, COVID-19 is reported as the underlying cause for 3,621 deaths, while 325 are listed as a contributing factor.

The Iowa DPH today reports 106 COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities in the state (1 less than previously reported). Those outbreaks account for 4,463 of Iowa’s current positive cases. COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities account for 1,139 of the state’s total deaths. Health officials say 3,012 LTC patients/staff have recovered from the virus.

Iowa DPH reports hospitalizations were up from 572 Saturday to 577 Sunday (today). There are: 120 patients in an ICU;  66 were admitted to hospitals, and 52 patients are on ventilators. Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa (RMCC Region 4) report: 36 hospitalized; 18 are in an ICU; 2 people were admitted to a hospital, and 8 people are on a ventilator.

According to the state’s website, 1,364,344 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19, to-date. Iowa’s average reported positivity rate for the last 14-days is 13.1%, compared to 12.7% a day earlier.  The health department says 244,022 Iowans have recovered from COVID-19.

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, 1,064 cases; {+8}; 39 deaths
  • Adair, 614; {+3}; 17
  • Adams, 269; {+3}; 2
  • Audubon, 384; {+0}; 7
  • Guthrie, 961; {+0}; 23
  • Harrison County, 1,458; {+12}; 58
  • Madison County, 984; {+10}; 8
  • Mills County, 1,294; {+9}; 15
  • Montgomery, 770; {+0}; 15
  • Pottawattamie County, 8,385; {+58}; 98
  • Shelby County, 956; {+7}; 24
  • Union County,  1,035; {+2}; 19

BERYL ALLEN KENWORTHY, 102, of Stuart (Private graveside service; Celebration of life this Summer)

Obituaries

January 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

BERYL ALLEN KENWORTHY, 102, of Stuart, died Friday, Jan. 1st, at the Stuart Community Care Center. A private graveside service for BERYL KENWORTHY will be held soon, and a homemade ice cream Celebration of Life will be held in the summer. Johnson Family Funeral Home has the arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the Earlham Friends Church, the Earlham School Quarterback Club, or the Hospice Room at the Stuart Care Center.

Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

KENNETH GEORGE DOHERTY, 72, of Dexter (& formerly of Stuart) – Svcs. 1/5/21

Obituaries

January 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

KENNETH GEORGE DOHERTY, 72, of Dexter (& formerly of Stuart), died Thursday, Dec. 31st, at home. Funeral services for KENNETH DOHERTY will be held 1-p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5th, at the Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart. The services will be streamed live on the funeral home’s Facebook page.

Visitation will be held one-hour prior to the service, Tuesday, at the funeral home.

Burial is in the Calvary Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Kenneth Doherty Memorial Fund.

Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

 

JoLYNN “JODY” NIELSEN, 63, of Walnut (Memorial svcs. at a later date)

Obituaries

January 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

JoLYNN “JODY” NIELSEN, 63, of Walnut, died Friday, Jan. 1st, at home. Per her wishes, cremation will take place, and Memorial services for “JODY” NIELSEN will be held at a later date. Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Online condolences may be left at www.hockenberryfamilycare.com.

Driver blames “Lane assist” feature for an accident in Guthrie County

News

January 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

A woman driving a 2019 Toyota RAV 4, claims the “Lane Assist” feature in her vehicle caused the SUV to leave the road Saturday night near Yale, in Guthrie County. Authorities say 43-year old Denise Katherine Beadle, of Jefferson, was traveling west on Highway 141 at around 8:30-p.m. As the vehicle was rounding a curve heading northwest on the highway, Beadle told Deputies the lane assist feature took control of the wheel out of her hands because it was directing the car westbound instead of allowing her to take the curve around.

The vehicle left the road and ended-up in a ditch in an area between the curve and main highway. Beadle was uninjured. Her vehicle sustained $5,000 damage. No citations were issued.

4 hurt in Carroll County near head-on collision

News

January 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Four people were transported to the hospital following crash Saturday afternoon, in Carroll County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2008 Dodge passenger car was traveling west on 170th Street at around 12:40-p.m., the same time as a 2015 Chevy pickup was traveling east. When the car crested a hill, it was left of the center line and struck the pickup in a head-on/ sideswipe fashion. Afterward, the car came to rest in the north ditch. The pickup rolled over once and came to rest on its wheels in the opposite ditch.

Authorities say the driver of the car, 26-year old Tyler Mattingly, of Fort Dodge, was flown by helicopter to Methodist Hospital. Two passengers were also flown by Unity Point helicopter to Methodist Hospital: 25-year old Jacob Lawler, of Wall Lake, and 21-year old Jordan Downs, of Denver, CO. One other passenger, 22-year-old Aubri Roper, of Paton, was transported to Saint Anthony’s Hospital by ambulance.

Authorities say a distracted driver was a possible factor in the collision, which remains under investigation.

Saturday’s area basketball scores (1/2/21)

Sports

January 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL

OA-BCIG 69, Denison-Schleswig 37

Omaha Skutt Catholic, Neb. 66, Sioux City, West 39

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Denison-Schleswig 46, OA-BCIG 30

Indianola 55, Lewis Central 43

Omaha Skutt Catholic, Neb. 58, Sioux City, West 27

St. Albert, Council Bluffs 65, Atlantic 64

Iowa DCI assists with Benton County death investigation

News

January 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

VINTON, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation report that at or about 9-a.m. Saturday, January 2nd, deputies with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a request for a welfare check at a residence  in the 2900 block of 28th Avenue, in rural Vinton.

Upon arrival, authorities located the body of a deceased male identified as 84-year-old James Howard Bright. Bright’s death is currently being investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol.

Authorities say, “At this time, it is believed there is no threat to public safety.”

Iowa early News Headlines: Sunday, Jan. 3rd 2021

News

January 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City police say one person was killed and four others were injured in a shooting at a New Year’s party. Police say several shots were fired Friday morning from multiple guns into a home where people were celebrating New Year’s Eve. An 18-year-old woman was found dead inside the home. Four others who were shot were treated at hospitals and are in stable condition. Police said many of the people at the party were underage. The investigation is continuing.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines attorney is suing several police officers and the city over their response to racial justice protests in May. The class-action lawsuit seeks to represent anyone arrested or assaulted by Des Moines officers during a protest May 31. Attorney Gina Messamer alleges in the lawsuit that officers illegally arrested and pepper-sprayed people protesting the death of George Floyd while he was in the custody of Minneapolis police. The lawsuit alleges the officers’ actions violated protesters’ free speech rights and were meant to deter future demonstrations. Des Moines officials did not respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — COVID-19 hospitalizations are continuing to drop in Iowa, while the positivity rate is edging upward after showing declines through the month of December. KCCI reports that the state’s 14-day positivity rate is 12.8%, up from 12.7% the previous day. The state’s 7-day positivity rate climbed from 11.5% to 11.7%. The number of counties reporting a 14-day positivity rate greater than 15% is also on the rise. Forty-three of Iowa’s 99 counties now report a rate at 15% or higher. That’s four more counties than the previous day. There are currently 572 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, a decrease of three over the previous 24 hours.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. farmers are expected to end the year with higher profits than last year and the best net farm income in seven years thanks to the government paying nearly 40% of their income. That’s according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest farm income forecast. Farmer challenges in 2020 included the impact of trade disputes, drought and wind damage, and low prices for corn, cotton, wheat, chicken, cattle and hogs. Farm cash receipts are forecast to be the lowest in more than a decade. But farmers are expected to receive $46.5 billion from the U.S. government. That’s the largest direct-to-farm payment ever. It lifts net farm income to $119.6 billion. And that’s the highest profitability since 2013.