CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A former Waterloo resident has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the drug death of a woman. Court records say Eric Griggs entered the pleas Tuesday in Cedar Rapids. The charges: distribution of heroin resulting in death, possession with intent to distribute and use of communications facilities to facilitate a drug felony.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that authorities have said the heroin Griggs distributed resulted in the death of Abigail Wilder, a 19-year-old who lived in Cedar Falls. Her body was found Sept. 1, 2018, at the home where she lived with a friend and the friend’s mother.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials in Nebraska say a Cass County, Nebraska man in his 50s has tested positive for the new coronavirus, making him the 11th known case in Nebraska. The man recently flew back to Nebraska from Minnesota on the same connecting flight as the woman who is Nebraska’s first case of COVID-19. Officials say the man’s been self-isolating at his home since last Saturday.

The 36-year-old Omaha woman tested positive March 6. Health officials say she had recently traveled to the United Kingdom with her father and first started showing symptoms of a respiratory illness on Feb. 24. She returned to Nebraska on Feb. 27.

Police in Council Bluffs are looking for the white female driver of a vehicle who led authorities on a chase early this morning. Officials say at around 1:15-a.m., a Council Bluffs officer located a vehicle stolen from Council Bluffs, on the lot of Super 8 Motel on South 24th St. When the officer and another officer made contact with the stolen vehicle, the female driver exited the vehicle as commanded. Once out of the vehicle, however, the woman refused to follow officer’s commands. She got back in the vehicle and fled northbound on So. 24th St at a high rate of speed. The officers pursed the stolen vehicle west on 23rd Ave then north on So. 35th St.

As the fleeing vehicle was going through the intersection at 35th Street and Broadway, it was struck broadside by a westbound vehicle on West Broadway. The stolen vehicle continued north on N. 35th St and struck a stop sign at N. 35th St and Ave A where it came to a stop. The driver (who is pictured here) fled the scene on foot and officers were unable to locate her. The passengers in the stolen vehicle were not injured and refused to cooperate with officers.

The driver and passenger of the vehicle on Broadway were not injured. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. Anyone with information on the suspect driver is asked to call Council Bluffs Police Criminal Investigation Division at 712-328-4728 or Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867(STOP).

A traffic stop Thursday afternoon in Adams County resulted in the arrest of a man from Union County. Adams County Sheriff’s officials say Christopher Alan Pierce, of Creston, was found to have a suspended driver’s license. During the investigation, the K9 Baxo was deployed and alerted to the odor of narcotics. Pierce was subsequently arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines Public Schools, Iowa’s largest school district, will cancel all classes and activities for at least 17 days starting Friday evening. The news Thursday came as health officials announced two new cases of COVID-19 in Iowa, bring the state’s total to 16. In a letter sent to staff, Superintendent Thomas Ahart announced Thursday that classes wouldn’t immediately return after spring break next week. Ahart expressed hope that classes could resume March 30 but given the “dynamic situation,” officials would have to adjust as needed. The move will effect the district’s 33,000 students and 5,000 employees. The school district’s decision comes as many colleges are taking similar actions.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican legislative leaders say they are not planning on curtailing the legislative session due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. Some Iowa Democratic senators have encouraged Republican leaders to consider suspending the current session or going home early. Iowa has 16 people who have tested positive but the risk to the public in Iowa remains low. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver and House Speaker Pat Grassley say plans are for the session to proceed as usual. It’s scheduled to run through April 21. The Capitol remains open to the public.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State budget experts have reduced the estimated revenue for the state by $12.3 million from their December calculation. That means lawmakers must make a slight adjustment to their plans for the 2021 fiscal year starting in July. With an ending balance of more than $400 million, the adjustment won’t be significant. The Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference now estimates revenue at $8.24 billion, or $146 million more than the current year. Iowa’s budget director David Roederer says the coronavirus isn’t likely to affect 2020 fiscal year and the revenue impact on the fiscal year starting in July is difficult to predict.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police say a man shot while trying to rob an armored vehicle outside a Waterloo bank branch has died and a suspected accomplice has been arrested. The shooting happened just before 10 a.m. Wednesday outside a U.S. Bank branch. Police and medics who arrived on the scene found a man with gunshot wounds who was taken to a hospital where he died later. He’s been identified as Bryce Miller, of rural La Porte City. The other man also was wounded and was caught later. A manager at Rochester Armored Car says none of the company employees was injured.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican legislative leaders say they are not planning on curtailing the legislative session due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. Some Iowa Democratic senators have encouraged Republican leaders to consider suspending the current session or going home early.

The latest report from the Iowa Dept. of Public Health, says 16 people have tested positive for COVID-19, but the risk to the public in Iowa remains low. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver and House Speaker Pat Grassley say plans are for the session to proceed as usual. It’s scheduled to run through April 21. The Capitol remains open to the public.

Atlantic, IA – Cass County Health System now has a hotline available for the public to address concerns about COVID-19 testing. People can call 712-243-7479 to listen to a recorded message about the current COVID-19 testing criteria. As the COVID-19 situation continues to change, the hotline will be updated with relevant information for the public.

At this time, the only people who can be tested for COVID-19 are:
· symptomatic people (i.e. have a fever, cough or shortness of breath) who had close contact with a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 within 14 days of symptom onset OR
· symptomatic people requiring hospitalization and a history of travel from affected geographic areas within 14 days of symptom onset OR
· symptomatic people with severe acute lower respiratory illness (e.g., pneumonia, ARDS) requiring hospitalization and without alternative explanatory diagnosis (e.g., influenza) and no source of exposure identified.

Officials say the need for COVID-19 testing will determined by your healthcare provider. If you are concerned about your symptoms and you meet these criteria, please call 712-243-3250.

The Iowa Department of Public Health says it is committed to taking critical steps to ensure long term care facility residents are protected from communicable diseases, including Novel Coronavirus [COVID-19].

Because older adults and those with chronic medical conditions are at highest risk for serious complications from COVID-19, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) encourages long term care facilities to align their practices with recent guidance issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services which limits non-essential visitors to long term care facilities. In addition, IDPH is requesting that long term care facilities report to the department when greater than two staff or residents are ill with respiratory symptoms without another diagnosis.

The Department further encourages long term care facilities to implement additional visitor limitation protocols as deemed necessary to protect the life and safety of their residents.

The CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 is available here.

DES MOINES – Testing at Iowa’s State Hygienic Laboratory has indicated two additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iowa residents, a total of 16 positive cases. An additional 16 tests were negative.  According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) both cases are tied to the same Egyptian cruise as other positive cases. Both are older adults (61 – 80 years), one is from Johnson County and one is from Carroll County. Both are recovering at home in isolation. And, as previously mentioned, one case is in Pottawattamie County, separate from the other test positives.

IDPH also put out guidance to PK-12 school administrators on COVID19 policies, linked here.

Gov. Reynolds said Thursday, “The health and safety of our students, teachers, and faculty is a top priority. At this time, the Iowa Department of Public Health is not advising any school closures. We are finalizing key decision points needed to mitigate COVID19 to provide school districts with thorough guidance. This situation remains very fluid, and we will continue to equip local school districts with the information they need. If any school districts have questions or concerns, please reach out to IDPH.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines Public Schools, Iowa’s largest school district, will cancel all classes and activities for at least 17 days starting Friday evening. The news Thursday came as health officials announced two new cases of COVID-19 in Iowa, bring the state’s total to 16. In a letter sent to staff, Superintendent Thomas Ahart announced Thursday that classes wouldn’t immediately return after spring break next week. Ahart expressed hope that classes could resume March 30 but given the “dynamic situation,” officials would have to adjust as needed. The move will effect the district’s 33,000 students and 5,000 employees. The school district’s decision comes as many colleges are taking similar actions.

(Radio Iowa) — A coalition of organizations is lobbying legislators to expand the state’s trail system. Iowa Bicycle Coalition executive director Mark Wyatt says the governor’s plan to raise the state sales tax would place money in the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Fund. “Greater investment in trails through the ‘Invest in Iowa Act’ will only accelerate the community and workforce development that we do need in this state,” Wyatt says. “But most of all, Iowa trails make Iowa a great place to live.”

Groups pushing to convert abandoned railroad lines to trails are joining with members of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and economic development officials to stress the need for improved access to spots for hiking, biking and swimming. Wyatt says many towns that have developed trail systems have seen the economic impact and health benefits.

“Because people that get physical activity often are healthier,” Wyatt says. Wyatt says a study his group did nine years ago found bicycle trails created an annual impact of 365 million dollars. Representative Andy McKean of Anamosa joined the groups at a news conference on the statehouse steps. He says investing in trails reaps tremendous dividends. “We’ve been chasing smokestacks and in many cases giving away useless tax credits instead of taking a good, hard look at the quality of life issues that attract and keep young people in our state,” McKean says. “And trails rank way up there in that equation.”

Governor Kim Reynolds is holding a town hall meeting in Ankeny tonight (Thursday) to discuss her “Invest in Iowa Act” which includes more money for trails. It also would lower some taxes, but raise the state sales tax and it’s unclear if the legislature will vote for the plan.