(Radio Iowa) – University of Iowa officials are investigating the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity for alleged alcohol and hazing violations. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports the fraternity is accused of holding in-person social events that included alcohol inside the chapter’s house in Iowa City. A letter from the University of Iowa’s Dean of Student Accountability says officials also have been notified that activities with new fraternity members allegedly posed a risk to their health and safety.

The Gazette reports the University of Iowa investigated another fraternity for an alleged hazing incident. However, officials ultimately determined the activity — which was recorded on video — was not an initiation or required for fraternity membership.

The Iowa Department of Public Heath at 10-a.m., Friday, reported an additional 564 positive COVID-19 test results returned from the lab, for a pandemic total of 366,055. There were also 13 additional deaths reported, for a total of 5,549, including one additional death in Harrison County, where the total is now 70.

The number of Long-Term Care facility COVID-19 Outbreaks are down to 11. Hospitalization data show 176 Iowans are hospitalized with COVID, compared to 184 in the previous report. COVID patients in an ICU are unchanged, at 39. There were 35 patients admitted to hospitals over the 24-hour reporting period (compared to 30 previously), and nine patients remain on a ventilator.

Hospitals in Western & Southwest Iowa report: 15 people are hospitalized for COVID; seven are in an ICU, four patients with COVID symptoms were admitted over the past 24-hours, and one person remained on a ventilator. More than 200,000 Iowans are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Health department data shows 768,426 vaccine doses have been administered in Iowa, with 208,429 individuals completing inoculation. The new Johnson & Johnson vaccine, also known as the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, were made available in Iowa this week, the state is not reporting those numbers so far.

Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate is 4.0%, while the seven-day rate is 3.8%.

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, 1,358 cases; {+2}; 51 deaths
• Adair, 925; {+4}; 29
• Adams, 325 {+0}; 4
• Audubon, 492 {+2}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,170 {+3}; 28
• Harrison County, 1,800; {+4}; 69
• Madison County, 1,556; {+4}; 18
• Mills County, 1,633; {+1}; 20
• Montgomery, 1,043; {+0}; 36
• Pottawattamie County, 10,824; {+21}; 146
• Shelby County, 1,225; {+2}; 33
• Union County,  1,268; {+5}; 31

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa journalist faces trial on charges stemming from her coverage of a protest against racial injustice. Prosecutors have pursued the misdemeanor case against Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri despite international condemnation from free press advocates who say she was just doing her job. Sahouri was pepper sprayed and arrested by a Des Moines police officer while reporting on a clash between protesters and police outside a shopping mall.

Police officers are shown arresting Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri after a Black Lives Matter protest she was covering on May 31, 2020, in Des Moines, Iowa, was dispersed by tear gas. Sahouri is set to stand trial on Monday, March 8, 2021, on misdemeanor charges, a case that prosecutors have pursued despite international condemnation from advocates for press freedom. (Photo courtesy Katie Akin via AP)

The two-day trial at Drake University will highlight an aggressive legal response by Iowa authorities against those who organized and attended protests that erupted last summer and occasionally turned violent. Sahouri and her former boyfriend are charged with failure to disperse and interference with official acts.

(Radio Iowa) – Key elements of the governor’s 2021 agenda have failed to clear the legislature’s first deadline for policy bills. House Republicans did not have enough votes for state scholarships to cover private school expenses for students in 34 under-performing schools. Governor Kim Reynolds’ plan to make it easier to form charter schools, though, is eligible for House debate. Representative Skyler Wheeler, a Republican from Orange City, says it would let a school district or a group of people found a state-funded charter school. “Charter schools gives parents and students another option. Students have different needs and wants and different educational settings fit different students,” Wheeler says. “This bill simply provides the extra option to give our children a world class education and we all want that.”

Democrats like Representative Mary Mascher, of Iowa City oppose the plan. “I’d feel differently about this if our schools were failing, but quite frankly they aren’t,” Mascher said. “They’re doing a heck of a job.” G-O-P lawmakers also failed to act on part of the governor’s criminal justice agenda that called for steps to combat racial profiling in law enforcement. Representative Jarad Klein, a Republican from Keota, says the House G-O-P’s bill was drafted after consulting with police. “This is not the governor’s bill. This is our bill. This is the Public Safety Committee in the House’s bill that is meant to support law enforcement. I don’t know. There might be one thing that overlaps between in the governor’s bill and what we’re doing,” Klein says. “I went to the folks that deal with this day in and day out, asking what we could do to help.”

The Iowa Legislative Black Caucus is calling on the governor to veto any bill on policing that does not include anti-racial profiling language. Representative Ras (like “Ross”) Smith, a Democrat from Waterloo, notes a SENATE committee has voted to deny state funds to cities that reduce police and sheriffs’ department budgets. “By excluding the anti-racial profiling language, by defunding local cities that seek to modernize public safety, including brain health professionals, I think our governor has shown they have no real intent to have equity and justice for all people,” Smith says.

However, the bill penalizing Iowa cities that might “defund the police” did NOT clear a House committee this week, meaning that proposal is unlikely to become state law.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports a person wanted in connection with a bar fight in Atlantic, last month, was arrested Thursday. 30-year old Timothy Brown, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Assault Causing Serious Injury, Interference with Official Acts, and Disorderly Conduct. He was taken into custody after turning himself-in. The charges stem from a call at around 12:10-a.m. on February 19th, about a fight at the Fireside Lounge. Brown was booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending a court appearance.

Earlier this week, we told you 29-year-old Cody Christensen, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Disorderly Conduct/fight or violence-related, and Assault Causing Serious Injury. He had remained in the jail as of Thursday. And, 36-year old Ty Daniel Jordan, of Exira, was cited in connection with the incident, and released on a charge of Disorderly Conduct.

Officers and Sheriff’s Deputies called to the bar on Feb. 19th, found two subjects unconscious, on the floor. Both were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, by ambulance. One was subsequently flown to a trauma center. The arrests and citation was the result of a lengthy investigation of the video evidence and interviews with witnesses.

Chief Erickson said also, 40-year old David Thomas, of Atlantic, was arrested Wednesday on an Audubon County warrant for Extortion and Theft in the 2nd Degree. Thomas was transported to Audubon County and turned over to the Sheriff’s Department.

(Submitted by Progress Iowa) Des Moines, Iowa – A new effort to recognize the more than five thousand Iowans lost to COVID-19 since March 24, 2020 launched today, with a new website at iowacovidmemorial.org. Anyone who has lost a family member, friend, or loved one due to COVID-19 is invited to submit their name to be listed on an online virtual wall. Along with a growing list of partner organizations, Progress Iowa published the website to recognize this tragic milestone by listing the names of individuals that have passed away and will share memorial events in the coming weeks.

The memorial site will also share personal stories and memories of Iowans lost to COVID-19, and has a form for loved ones to provide this information. Each Iowan with a story or photo shared will have their own page dedicated to their memory.  “Too many Iowans lost a loved one this year, and we cannot forget their memory,” said Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa. “Iowans have lost too much this past year for us to simply let this go by as just another day. Our hope is that we recognize the devastating loss felt by so many, and reflect on how we can best move forward safely together as one community as we still face significant challenges as a result of the pandemic.”

“I am 78 years old, and like all my aging friends and relatives, we are living with a target on our backs,” said Mike McCarthy, president, Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans. “In Iowa, 9 out of 10 deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic have been people my age. Wearing a mask, social distancing and other mitigation measures are easy compared to planning a funeral. We must remember the lessons from this pandemic and those we have lost. May they rest in peace.”

The memorial website launch will lead up to a variety of memorial events in the coming weeks. These events will be promoted by the coalition listed on the iowacovidmemorial.org website.