The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports 55-year old Ryan Pullen, of Corning, was cited for Driving While Revoked, Friday afternoon, following a traffic stop. Pullen was transported to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, was officially cited, and then released.

The Council Bluffs Police Department reports one person was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle Friday afternoon on Interstate 29. Officers responded to the scene on I-29 southbound near mile marker 53 (the 9th Avenue Exit), at around 4:27-p.m. for a car vs. pedestrian accident.

Upon arrival an adult male was lying on the shoulder of the road unconscious with serious injuries. The driver of the vehicle that struck him was on scene and was cooperative. Authorities say their preliminary investigation shows that the victim was southbound on I-29 and had pulled over to the side of the road and exited his vehicle, in order to remove some debris from the roadway. He was then hit by another southbound vehicle.

The victim was transported to Nebraska Medicine by Council Bluffs Fire Department. His name was being withheld pending notification of family.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

UNDATED (AP) — Iowa surpassed 5,000 new confirmed coronavirus cases for the first time in a single day, Friday, as a surge in infections is sending more people to hospitals and pushing more schools to send student home for online classes. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 5,065 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours Friday. There were 19 additional deaths, raising the total to 1,947. One in every 102 people in Iowa tested positive in the past week. The seven-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Iowa was 51.4% on Nov. 12, second in the nation behind South Dakota.

UNDATED (AP) — Eight Iowa labor and civil rights groups filed a federal complaint Friday alleging the state has failed to protect workers in meatpacking, dairy, construction, transportation, health care facilities and other industries. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and others filed the complaint Friday with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration office in Kansas City. They’re seeking a full investigation and corrective action by the federal government. The complaint cites several examples of alleged failure of Iowa OSHA to do on-site inspections or investigate unsafe conditions related to the coronavirus pandemic. But the groups also say safety issues go beyond coronavirus problems.

UNDATED (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court has tossed out a murder conviction and ordered a new trial for a man accused of the gruesome 2017 stabbing death of his girlfriend. The state’s high court in a split decision Friday ordered a new trial for 30-year-old Gregory Michael Davis. The court found his trial attorney’s failure to object to confusing jury instructions cost Davis a fair trial. Davis was convicted in 2018 of first-degree murder and other counts in the September 2017 death of 29-year-old Carrie Davis, whose body was found rolled in a blanket inside a trailer in Marion. She had been stabbed 26 times.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Democrat trailing by 47 votes in the nation’s tightest congressional race says her campaign will request a full recount in the southeastern Iowa district. Rita Hart’s campaign noted Thursday that her contest against Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks has been marked by two tabulation errors that, when discovered, flipped the lead between back and forth in recent days. Hart campaign manager Zach Meunier says voters “deserve to know categorically that their ballots have been accurately counted” and the campaign will request recounts in all 24 counties in the district. The candidates are vying to replace retiring Democratic U.S. Rep. David Loebsack.

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) — A judge in western Iowa has found a man guilty of first-degree murder for killing his grandmother. The Sioux City Journal reports District Judge Zachary Hindman on Friday ruled Eliot Stowe is guilty for the beating death of 66-year-old Cheryl Stowe at her rural home in Castana in June 2018.

Cheryl Stowe’s body was found wrapped in a rug and duct tape at the edge of a cornfield near her home. Prosecutors say Eliot Stowe had beaten her with a baseball bat. Eliot Stowe’s attorneys argued he’s not guilty by reason of insanity. He faces a mandatory life sentence.

Atlantic, IA— Cass County Health System officials, Friday evening, issued an update about the status of the local hospital in regards to its operating capacity and current operations. CCHS CEO Brett Altman said “We’ve been running between 50 to 75 percent inpatient bed capacity for the past several weeks now. COVID inpatient numbers have fluctuated greatly. At the most, we’ve had up to slightly more than 50% of our inpatients here due to COVID. At this point in time, we are able to staff to our full capacity of 25 beds. Our entire team has been amazing throughout this year, and everyone has pitched in extra to make sure we are ready to serve our patients.”

All CCHS clinics and services are currently open with the exception of cardiac rehab, which was suspended to keep high-risk patients safe and to redeploy nurses to inpatient care. Depending on daily inpatient census and case mix, CCHS is also evaluating each non-emergent, elective surgery that would require hospitalization afterward on a case-by-case basis.

Chief Clinic Administrator Tammy Bireline added “We have to be as nimble as possible during this pandemic, so that our entire health system can swiftly respond to the staffing needs in our hardest hit departments. Cross-training and redeploying staff is one of the most important aspects of our surge plan.”

Bireline said also, “All patients with respiratory illness symptoms will continue to be seen in the respiratory care clinic. Those patients will now enter at the Emergency Department entrance on the south side of the hospital and check in at the Emergency Department admissions office.”

CCHS officials continue to work through other components of their surge plan to prepare for the future. This includes frequently communicating with other hospitals in the region and across the state. Brett Altman said “We talk daily with Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Des Moines hospitals. It’s often because they want to transfer patients to us. We’ve accepted some of those patients, and we’ll continue to accept appropriate cases so long as we are able to provide care for our own service area.”  He noted that all hospitals are under a considerable amount of strain, saying “Every hospital is stretched – large and small. That’s why we ask everyone to do their part and follow the recommendations from the Iowa Department of Public Health to slow the spread and prevent hospitals from getting overwhelmed.”

IDPH recommendations include:

• Wash your hands often, with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay at least six feet from others at all times.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others.
• Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.

Current data about COVID-19 in Cass County and Iowa can be found online at coronavirus.iowa.gov.

Officials with the Iowa Restaurant Association based in West Des Moines, report that on Monday, November 16^th the Association will present its annual state hospitality awards at the Community Choice Convention Center in Des Moines.  New this year is a Rural Operator of the Year Award which was created to recognize the role and importance of restaurants and taverns in Iowa communities with fewer than 1,000 people. The inaugural recipient of this award is Mike Muller of Grace on Main in Elk Horn (population 610).

Jessica Dunker President and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association, says “This event is a much needed celebration of one of Iowa’s most resilient and important industries. After the challenges we’ve faced this year, we’re ready to honor hospitality professionals who exemplify innovation and business acumen, as well as shine a light on the significant contributions they’ve made to their communities and Iowa’s hospitality culture.”

2020 Award Winners include:

• Operator of the Year– Matt Johnson, Barley’s Bar, Council Bluffs
• Chef of the Year– Chef Jeremy Moskowitz, Duck City Bistro, Davenport
• Emerging Hospitality Leader of the Year – Katy Nelson, Scenic Route Bakery, Des Moines
• Hospitality Employee of the Year– David Basinger, Rodina, Cedar Rapids
• American Dream Award– Suman Hoque, HoQ, Des Moines
• Faces of Diversity Award– Lorena Bryan, Delicias by Lorena, Des Moines
• Purveyor Partner of the Year– Justin Woodard, Sysco Iowa, Ankeny
• Industry Champion– Ryan Achterhoff, Pizza Ranch, Orange City
• ProStart Educator of Excellence – LaRae Arment, Alburnett High School, Alburnett
• Restaurant Neighbor Philanthropy Award– Nick Kuhn, The Hall DSM, West Des Moines
• Legislator of the Year– Senator Craig Johnson, Senate District 32, Independence

In addition to the Celebrating Excellence Awards Ceremony which will feature the honorees, the Association will host its Annual Tasting Gala featuring food and beverage from its statewide Culinary and Mixology Competitions.   Attendees will be able to sample the competition dishes from Iowa chefs as well as cocktail creations from the state’s top mixologists.

Attendees will be able to cast a vote for their favorite dish and cocktail. Wine pairings and spirits will also be available to sample. The tasting event begins at 4:00 pm followed by the awards program at 5:30 pm.   The event is open to the public, Tickets are $25 and available at www.restaurantiowa.com

The Carroll County Board of Supervisors has enacted a county wide mask mandate. The mandate calls for masks or face shields need to be worn when people are in public, and cannot keep 6-feet of distance from others, or are inside a building other than their home. This includes all businesses. Officials say if you are eating or drinking while seated or are exercising, you may temporarily remove your mask. The mandate remains in effect until January 15, 2021.

The Board of Supervisors in neighboring Greene County have also unanimously approved a face covering mandate. Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf says the recent spike in cases is partly because people have become complacent. Wolf says the county had a two-week infection rate below 6% a couple weeks ago, but today it’s above 24%.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge says an Iowa man is guilty of second-degree murder for killing his former girlfriend in a Sioux City hotel room and setting it aflame. But the Sioux City Journal reports District Judge Steven Andreasen on Friday ruled Jordan Henry’s drug-addled brain and underlying psychosis prevented him from forming the specific intent to kill her.

Andreasen’s ruling spares Henry from a life in prison without parole that’s mandatory for first-degree homicide. The 30 year old from Sioux City instead faces 50 years in prison for second-degree murder and 25 years for first-degree arson. His sentencing hasn’t been scheduled yet.