INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa woman is facing charges for the June death of a newborn child. KCCI-TV reports that 30-year-old Amber Nicole Phillips of Indianola is now charged with child endangerment resulting in death, after an autopsy showed the child tested positive for drugs. Authorities were called to a home on June 15 after the child stopped breathing.

According to court records, Phillips told police she had been sleeping and woke to found the baby not breathing. The child was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say the autopsy found methadone and buprenorphine in the infant’s system, which “likely contributed to the respiratory failure from respiratory distress syndrome.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have issued a statement with the purpose of raising awareness of the potential threat posed by foreign-backed online journals that spread disinformation regarding the 2020 elections. Authorities say foreign intelligence services have been known to use websites, including pseudo-academic online journals, to disseminate articles with misleading or unsubstantiated information. Such sites could be employed during the 2020 election season in an attempt to manipulate public opinion, increase societal divisions, cause widespread confusion, discredit the electoral process, and undermine confidence in U.S. democratic institutions.

Foreign intelligence services have used online journals, including some with a global reach, to exacerbate disunity and dysfunction in the United States while also misinforming or misleading readers. Foreign governments have used these journals to amplify their disinformation and overt propaganda, and they have used websites, social media, and other online platforms to amplify the journals’ messages and increase their global reach. As foreign actors intensify their efforts to influence the outcome of the 2020 U.S. elections, they could use online journals to advance and launder misinformation and disinformation to denigrate or support specific candidates or political parties. Foreign actors could also use online journals to target the U.S. elections by making claims of voter suppression, amplifying reports of real or alleged cyberattacks on election infrastructure, asserting voter or ballot fraud, and spreading other information intended to convince the public of the elections’ illegitimacy.

Recommendations

• Seek out information from trustworthy sources, verify who produced the content, and consider their intent.
• Rely on state and local election officials as the authoritative sources of information about how elections are conducted in their jurisdictions.
• Verify through multiple reliable sources any reports about problems in voting or election results, and consider searching for other reliable sources before sharing such information via social media or other avenues.
• Report potential election crimes—such as disinformation about the manner, time, or place of voting—to the FBI.
• If appropriate, make use of in-platform tools offered by social media companies for reporting suspicious posts that appear to be spreading false or inconsistent information about election-related problems or results.

The FBI and CISA urge the American public to critically evaluate the sources of the information they consume and to seek out reliable and verified information. The FBI is responsible for investigating malign foreign influence operations and malicious cyber activity targeting election infrastructure and other U.S. democratic institutions. CISA is responsible for protecting the
nation’s critical infrastructure from physical and cyber threats. The FBI and CISA provide services and information to uphold the security, integrity, and resiliency of the U.S. electoral processes.
Victim Reporting and Additional Information The FBI encourages the public to report information concerning suspicious or criminal activity to their local field office (www.fbi.gov/contact-us/fieldoffices) or to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov).

For additional assistance, best practices, and common terms, please visit the
following websites:

• Protected Voices:
  www.fbi.gov/investigate/counterintelligence/foreigninfluence/protected-voices
• Election Crimes and Security: www.fbi.gov/scams-andsafety/common-scams-and-crimes/election-crimes-and-security
• #Protect2020: www.cisa.gov/protect2020

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa faces a rising rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations as it moves into flu season and colder weather as recent daily hospitalization numbers have reached their highest levels since May. Thomas Tsai, a professor of Health Policy and Management at Harvard, expects the number of those seeking medical care to increase during the colder months, but he says the number of new cases and hospitalizations depends on the public.  “We actually have a lot of control over the course of the pandemic, depending on what our public health response is, our testing responses,” Tsai says, “and our behavior on masking and physical distancing.”

Tsai says the focus should be on suppressing the curve, not flattening the curve, which can be done through public health guidelines. COVID-19 hospitalizations in Iowa have been ticking upwards since early July, but rates have increased sharply in the last two weeks. While demand for medical care will increase during colder months, Tsai says hospitals are more ready for the virus now compared to last spring. “The hospitals have had the opportunity to prepare both the supplies needed to treat the patients, but also plan for contingencies in terms of how to create excess capacity,” he says.

Tsai says it’s extremely important this year for people to get a flu shot. He says public health precautions like social distancing and wearing masks play a big role in lowering case counts and hospitalizations.

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) – Authorities are investigating a fatal weekend accident at the Target Distribution Center in Cedar Falls. Cedar Falls public safety officials were dispatched to the Target Distribution Center Sunday just after 11:30 AM on a report of an unresponsive man in the parking lot.

According to officials, emergency crews determined the man was deceased and evidence indicated that the victim had been run over by a semi-tractor. The victim’s name was not immediately released.

The Creston Police Department has issued a report on arrests and incidents that took place over the past week. On Sunday, 22-year old Colleen Corell, of Hudgins, VA, was arrested at the Creston Dollar General Store, for Theft in the 5th Degree. She was cited and released from the scene on a Promise to Appear. And, 19-year old Dakota Nix, of Independence,  was arrested at the Creston Wal-Mart, Sunday, also for Theft in the 5th. She was released from the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

On Saturday, 30-year old Alex Richard Cunningham, of Creston, was arrested at his residence, on a Union County Warrant for Violation of Probation, on the original charge of Possession of Controlled Substance/2nd and Harassment/1st Degrees. He was also additionally charged with Violation of a No Contact Order. Cunningham was being held at the Union County Jail without bond until seen by the magistrate.

On Friday, 32-year old Danny Fry Jr., of Creston, was arrested for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $300 Bond. 47-year old Chuck Allen Johnson, of Des Moines, was arrested Friday at 203 N. Oak, for Public Intoxication. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $300 Bond. Friday morning, 27-year old Brandon Scott Lawrence, of Creston, was arrested at his residence, on a Union County Warrant for Theft in the 5th. He was released from the Union County Jail on a $300 Bond. And at around 5:40-a.m. Friday, 34-year old Michael Matherly, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on three Union County Warrants for:

• Failure to Appear on the original charges of Harassment 1st and Threat – Explosive or Incendiary Device
• Failure to Appear for Bond Revocation Hearing on the original charge of Assault on Persons in certain Occupations (2 counts).
• Failure to Appear on the original charge of Possession of Controlled Substance 1st.

Matherly was being held in the Union County Jail on $7000 cash only bond. In other news, Creston Police said that on Sunday morning, a woman reported her garage was broken into and a piano tuning kit was stolen. The incident happened in the 300 block of S. Maple Street. The loss was estimated at $125. And, a Creston man reported that sometime between 3-p.m Saturday and 9:24-a.m. Sunday, someone broke into his vehicle and took some cash. The loss was estimated at $200. The incident occurred in the 200 block of S. Birch Street, in Creston.

A Creston woman reported to Police, Sunday, that sometime between 9-p.m. Saturday and 8:30-a.m. Sunday, someone broke into her vehicle that was parked at her residence in the 200 block of S. Maple Street, and stole cash and the vehicle registration. The loss was estimated at $7.00. And, Friday night, a man residing in the 500 block of Livingston Street, in Creston, said that someone had keyed his vehicle while it was parked at the Creston High School. The incident happened sometime between 6:30-p.m. Friday and 10-p.m. The damage was estimated at $250.

(Mike Moen/IA News Service) – DES MOINES, Iowa — For many, working from home has become the new norm during the pandemic. As companies continue to invest in this approach, people living with disabilities say it’s time for businesses to consider them an equal part of the workforce. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and advocacy groups agree it’s a good opportunity to close the hiring gap. According to the Brookings Institution, only four in ten working-age adults with disabilities in the U-S are employed.

Brooke Lovelace, executive director for the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, is concerned the coronavirus is widening that gap. “Folks with disabilities, some of them have had to stay home because they feel that they are at risk and they cannot participate in their employment, or cannot participate in the workforce,” Lovelace reported. At the same time, she noted workers have long called for companies to provide more accommodations for working from home.

As a result of the health crisis, technology is proving that remote jobs can be done in a variety of fields, and Lovelace said businesses should make sure they are truly being inclusive in their hiring. In addition to hiring practices, Lovelace added this month is a good reminder for companies to ensure their buildings have the necessary accommodations for all people living with disabilities. “It’s not just for employers,” Lovelace stressed. “But it’s just to make it more inclusive for your customers, and for the community.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the latest jobless rate for workers with disabilities is higher than 14%, compared to an overall unemployment rate of around 8%. And in an annual report that tracks state-by-state rankings, Iowa is 13th in the nation for hiring people with disabilities.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The State of Iowa’s COVID-19 dashboard indicates that from 10-a.m. Sunday through 10-a.m. today (Monday), there were seven more deaths attributed to the virus, for a total of 1,388, and 356 more Positive cases, for a total of 92,901. Deaths attributed to a pre-existing medical condition number 944. There have been 3,289 lab results returned since 10-a.m. Sunday, with 2,971 coming back Negative for the virus, and 316 positive. The total number of tests administered to-date, amount to 824,048, with 729,587 total Negative results. The 14-day rolling average remains 8.8%. Health officials say 71,798 Iowans have recovered from the effects of COVID-19.

In the KJAN listening area; There are six new, Positive cases of COVID-19 in Harrison County; five new cases in Pottawattamie County; 2 cases each in Adams and Shelby Counties, and one new positive case in each of Adair; Guthrie and Madison. The IDPH says there was also one more COVID-19 related death in Guthrie County, for a total of 11.

Hospitalization data due to COVID-19 show: 389 are hospitalized (compared to 392 Sunday); 99 patients are in an ICU (compared to 104 previously); 54 people have been admitted to a hospital, and 43 COVID patients are on a ventilator (up from 39 previously).

In western/southwest Iowa, 20 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 (compared to 21 on Sunday), seven are in an ICU (8 previously), two were admitted since Sunday (3 previously), and no one is on a ventilator.

There are currently 52 long-term care facilities with coronavirus outbreaks, in Iowa. IDPH reports 1,160 positive cases and 684 recoveries within those facilities. There have been 713 deaths in Iowa’s long-term care facilities, five more than yesterday.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases in each county, the number of persons recovered, and the total number of [deaths] (if any), since the pandemic began:

• Cass, 194 cases; 163 recovered; 2 deaths
• Adair, 77; 52; 1
• Adams, 42; 28; 0
• Audubon, 104; 39; 1
• Guthrie, 292; 179; 11
• Harrison County, 326; 183; 5
• Madison County, 266; 186; 2
• Mills County, 221; 143; 1
• Montgomery, 109; 94; 5
• Pottawattamie County, 2,350; 1,812; 41
• Shelby County, 286; 255; 1
• Union County,  152; 102; 3

The Atlantic City Council is scheduled to hold a regular meeting 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, in the Chambers at City Hall. Among the action items on their agenda, is:

• An Order to refer a proposal to vacate an obsolete Right-Of-Way (ROW) on E. 9th Street, to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Commission would be tasked with further reviewing the proposal and forwarding its recommendation to the City Council for action at subsequent meetings, to include a public hearing and three readings of an ordinance.
• The Council, Wednesday, will also act to approve an Amended City Attorney Retainer Agreement with Otto, Lorence & Wiederstein, P.L.L.C, for the services of Blake Miller. Miller, who currently works with a law firm out of Harlan, would replace Audubon County Attorney Sarah Jennings, who also served as the Assistant City Attorney for the City of Atlantic. It was announced last month that Jennings resigned her position in Audubon County, and has left the region to be closer to her family.
• The Council will hold the second reading of an Ordinance Vacating a City ROW between Hemlock & Sycamore Streets, south of E. 18th Street, to include “Phantom” alley.
• And, the Atlantic City Council will act on the first reading of an ordinance that amends the Code of Ordinances, with regard to “Stop Required” at the intersection of 22nd & Olive Streets. The City’s Community Protection Committee (CPC) has unanimously recommended the current two-way stop at the intersection be expanded to four-way, and they recommend making the intersection of 32nd Street and Chestnut be converted to a three-way stop, to slow down the traffic flow in that area.

In other business, the Council will act on passing a Resolution adopting a policy on limiting street closures for certain events. The CPC recommends approval of the Resolution the says street closure request shall be granted no more than twice per year, per individual or business, and that such closures be made for “a good cause.” Events sponsored directly by the City or through the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, would be exempt from the requirement.

And, the Council is expected to act on orders accepting the Tax Sale Certificate for 301 Maple and 101 Cedar Streets, in addition to a Change Order for the Downtown Revitalization Project, the latter of which adds $19,613 to the project, but still keeps it within the overall scope of the project cost. In his report to the Council, City Administrator John Lund will discuss the Standard & Poor’s Rating on the City Of Atlantic’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Debt.