Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — As Iowa sees some of the highest rates of coronavirus cases in the nation, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’ll wait to determine whether her move to close bars in six counties causes spread of the virus to slow before considering additional steps. Reynolds says the soaring number of confirmed virus cases is largely due to infection among young people, especially those in the college towns of Iowa City and Ames. That trend prompted her last week to order the closure of bars. Now, she says it’s best to wait to see if those moves will cause numbers to drop. If not, she will consider additional actions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa is suggesting government statistics on coronavirus infections and deaths have been inflated. Ernst, who is facing an unexpectedly tough reelection fight, is echoing a discredited conspiracy theory. Ernst made the comment after a man at a campaign stop in Waterloo, Iowa, said he believes the numbers of cases and deaths are being exaggerated. Experts refute that and some data suggests the toll is higher than the official count. Ernst said she, too, is “so skeptical” of the official numbers. In a statement later Wednesday, she referred to the government-reported death toll as fact.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police are investigating the shooting death of a man at an apartment complex near Drake University. Officers were called to the complex Wednesday afternoon. They found a 36-year-old man dead from apparent gunshot wounds. The man was identified Wednesday night as Sean Newman. Police say they believe the shooter and the victim knew each other and there is no danger to the public. No other details were released. The death is Des Moines’ 16th homicide of the year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A longtime special education teacher with Des Moines Public Schools has died of complications from the coronavirus. District spokesman Phil Roeder said the teacher at the Ruby Van Meter School for intellectually disabled students fell ill after an out-of-state trip and died this week. He did not release the teacher’s name or gender for privacy reasons. The death is believed to be among the first of an Iowa educator during the pandemic. A 73-year-old gym teacher at Iowa City Regina High School died in April, and the state’s coronavirus website lists only one known death of an educator. Roeder said the teacher had not been in the classroom for several months.