OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 25-year-old western Iowa man has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for having a Molotov cocktail during racial injustice protests in downtown Omaha last year. Steven Fitch, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced Wednesday in federal court for unlawful possession of destructive device. He will serve three years of supervised release after his prison term. Prosecutors said Omaha police found Fitch with a Molotov cocktail in his front pants pocket during protests on May 31.

The device contained a clear liquid inside a bottle with a red rag attached. The rag had gasoline on it and Fitch had several lighters in his pocket.

(Updated 8:45-a.m.) LONACONING, Md. (AP) — A single winning ticket for the $731.1 million Powerball jackpot was sold by a store in Lonaconing, Maryland. The Maryland Lottery says it was sold at Coney Market. The Allegany County store will receive a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. This was the fifth-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever. The drawing was only a day after nobody won the even-larger Mega Millions prize, which now stands at $970 million.

Winning numbers for Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing were: 40-53-60-68-69 and a Powerball of 22. Neither jackpot had seen a winner since mid-September, allowing the prizes to grow steadily for months.

Atlantic, IA — Iowa’s Infectious Disease Advisory Council has provided recommendations to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) about the Phase 1B prioritization for COVID-19 vaccination. Phase 1B includes persons aged 75 years or older, or the following populations vulnerable to high risk of exposure or severity of illness:

• Individuals with disabilities living in home settings whom are dependent on attendant care staff, and their attendant care staff, if not otherwise vaccinated under Phase 1A.
• Correctional facility staff and individuals incarcerated, including state and city or county operated facilities.
• Staff of and individuals living in congregate settings, not covered by the first two bullets, including shelters, sober living homes, behavioral health treatment centers, and detention centers. College dormitories shall not be included as part of Phase 1B.
• Where public health data indicates outbreaks or clusters of disease among food, agriculture, distribution and manufacturing workers whom work in or live in congregate settings that do not allow for social distancing. For example, working in a meatpacking or manufacturing production line or migrant workers whom live in bunkroom style housing.
• PK-12 school staff, early childhood education, and childcare workers. Sub-prioritization should consider persons who work with younger and at-risk children in care, to better ensure child-wellbeing and mitigate impact to parent workforce.
• First responders (e.g., firefighters, police officers, and dependent adult abuse and child welfare social workers).
• Inspectors responsible for health, life and safety, including those in hospital and long-term care settings, child, and food production safety.
• Government officials, including staff, to ensure continuity of government, engaged in state business at the Iowa Capitol during the legislative session.

Cass County Public Health Director Beth Olsen reports, “At this time, IDPH expects to begin vaccinating 1B populations in February. We do not have vaccines yet for 1B, and we do not know when we will receive our first shipment, but we will keep updating the public as we receive more information.” If individuals meet the 1B eligibility criteria, they should complete the survey at casshealth.org/covidvaccine or call 712-243-3250 and press 7. Cass County Public Health is collecting contact information for those who want to receive the vaccine.

Olsen says “While we are waiting to hear when and how much vaccine we will receive, we can at least begin to keep a list of people who are eligible and want it. Then, as we are able to plan our public clinics, we can call and schedule these people.” Until vaccine is widely available to all, which may be sometime around mid-2021, it is crucial that Iowans continue to practice the mitigation measures that can slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
• Wearing a mask or face covering
• Practice social distancing with those outside your household
• Clean your hands frequently with soap and water
• Stay home if you feel sick

For information and updates related to COVID-19, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus/Vaccine and follow IDPH on Facebook (@IowaDepartmentofPublicHealth) and Twitter (@IAPublicHealth).

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says attempts to scam people from their money or identities are being made again, over the phone. The Sheriff’s Office wants to remind citizens not to give any personal information over the phone. Some citizens are reporting that the IRS and Publisher’s Clearing House are calling. The IRS will not call you over the phone and ask for personal information and you are unable to win contests that you do not enter into. Please do not fall for these scams.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa City Council has approved more than $12 million in tax increment financing for a downtown development designed to revitalize and preserve the character of the Pedestrian Mall. The Gazette of Cedar Rapids reports that the council unanimously approved the financing Tuesday. The $54.4 million project involves designating buildings as historic landmarks in order to renovate and preserve them.

The move is intended to revitalize the stretch of East College Street and allow smaller businesses to move into the space. A 102-unit, nine-story multifamily building also is planned south of the existing buildings.

(Radio Iowa) – A former administrative assistant at the Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce was given a suspended prison sentence Tuesday on a charge of first-degree theft in Hamilton County District Court.  Forty-one-year-old Leah Mulholland of Webster City entered a guilty plea on December 4th, 2020 on the charge of theft. Three other charges against Mulholland including ongoing criminal conduct-influence enterprise, forgery and unauthorized use of credit cards over $1500 and under $10,000 were all dismissed by the court.

Mulholland was arrested last February following an investigation by Webster City Police related to more than $239,586.23 in improper disbursements from the Webster City Chamber of Commerce where she served as an administrative assistant for a five-year period.  It was in June of 2019 that the Webster City Police requested the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation investigate this matter at the Webster City Chamber of Commerce.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa could spend hundreds of millions of dollars to remove nitrates from drinking water over the next five years, according to a study from the Union of Concerned Scientists. The study estimates Iowa may spend as much as 333-million dollars over a half-decade to treat large and small public water systems for nitrates that come from agricultural runoff. Rebecca Boehm is a U-C-S economist and the study’s author. Boehm says, “That’s assuming that treatment occurs as it has been, in the next five years, that’s what Iowa should expect to pay overall for just operating and maintaining nitrate treatment systems in the public water systems.”

The study does not take private wells into account, as private wells are not required to be monitored for nitrates, while public water systems are. More than 200-thousand Iowans get their drinking water from private wells. Boehm says small, rural communities will incur most of the expenses because they’re closer to agricultural production. Plus, they don’t have as many people to spread out their costs over for treatment like larger, urban areas. “These systems are expensive to build,” she says, “and if they’re only serving a few people, you’re not getting your bang for your buck, compared to like a large place like Des Moines.”

The study recommends more farmers take up practices like cover crops that help reduce nitrogen runoff.

(By Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio)

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County, Tuesday, arrested a woman on a Page County warrant for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. Authorities say 33-year old Amanda Maria Carlson, of Clarinda, was arrested at her residence. She was additionally charged with Trespass, with injury or damage greater than $300.

Amanda M. Carlson

The warrant stems from an investigation conducted by the Page County Sheriff’s Office. Carlson was transported to the Page County Jail where she was being held on $2,000 bond, pending further court proceedings.