DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers began their legislative session, Monday (today) with no mask requirements, and many members are opting not to wear face coverings even as rates of coronavirus infections rise in the Des Moines area and much of the state. Republicans, who hold majorities in both the House and Senate, chose not to mandate masks or even require that members disclose if they have been infected by the virus.

And during opening ceremonies Monday, most Republicans didn’t wear masks while all Democrats were protected by a mask or face shield. More than 200 unmasked people opposing mask mandates protested before lawmakers began the session. They chanted “freedom” and many held signs that said “coercion is not consent,” and “mandates belong in socialist countries.”

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office Monday (today), said four people were cited following an investigation into a reported Theft. Deputies responded at around 2:08-p.m. Sunday to 1075 Sycamore Avenue, following a call about a possible theft taking place. Upon further investigation, the following individuals were cited for Trespass:

• 38-year-old Travis Wollums, 45-year-old John Neely, and 46-year-old Alisha Peckham, all of Creston.
• and, 34-year old Trisha Moffitt, of Diagonal.

The case remains under investigation. And, at around 9:10-a.m. on January 4th, Adams County Deputies arrested 45-year old Sandra Shimer, of Prescott. Shimer was arrested on an Adams County warrant for Failure to Appear. Her cash-only bond at the Adams County Jail was set at $600.

PERRY, Iowa (AP) — Police in west-central Iowa say a 14-year-old girl stole a police car, then led officers on a chase that topped 110 mph at times. Television station KCCI reports that the incident began Sunday afternoon in Coon Rapids, when the girl jumped behind the wheel of a Coon Rapids Police Department car and took off. A chase ensued, involving officers from Coon Rapids, Perry, and Dallas, Guthrie and Greene counties.

The Iowa State Patrol says officers eventually used tire-puncturing strips to disable and stop the stolen police car on Highway 141 near Perry. The girl was arrested on suspicion of first-degree theft, theft of firearms, eluding and several traffic violations.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports six arrests from over the past week. Saturday evening, 28-year old Joshua Awstin Curry, of Greenfield, was arrested by Greenfield Police, for Simple Assault, and 47-year old Scott Sherman Ingram, of Fontanelle, was arrested for Going Armed with Intent. Both men were later released, with Ingram released on a $5,000 cash or surety bond, and Curry on a his Own Recognizance. Authorities say an Adair County Deputy was dispatched to a residence on SE 6th Street in Greenfield, with regard to an assault and a person who was allegedly assaulted heading back to the residence, armed with a gun. The Deputy located Ingram, sitting in a vehicle behind the residence. Ingram said Curry assaulted him by striking him in the face several times while Ingram sat at a computer desk. Ingram acknowledge he had access to a .9mm handgun, which was in the vehicle’s center console. There was no round in the chamber, but the magazine was loaded.

Friday night, Adair County Deputies arrested 41-year old Ryan James Cook, of Anita, on an Adair County Mittimus (Court ordered jail time of two days) for OWI/1st offense. Late Friday evening, 31-year old Cody Andrew Carter-Baumgardner, of Stuart, was arrested on an Adair County Felony warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault/impeding air and/or blood flow, causing bodily injury, and Harassment in the 2nd Degree. The day before, Carter-Baumgardner was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense – Hashish, and Possession of Paraphernalia. During the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Stuart, authorities found multiple drug paraphernalia items and a small baggie containing a black substance believed to be Hashish. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

On Jan. 6th, 56-year old Jimmy Alan Robertson, of Bridgewater, was arrested in Bridgewater, following a reported Fight in Progress. He was charged with Domestic Assault w/injury – 1st offense, and Harassment/1st offense. Robertson was released the following day on a $3,000 cash/surety bond. And, on Jan. 4th, 29-year old Dalton James Cormeny, of Orient, was arrested on an Adair County warrant for Forgery and Theft in the 2nd Degree. Cormeny was released later that same day on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots both went unclaimed and are at a combined total of more than one billion dollars. Iowa Lottery spokeswoman, Mary Neubauer says it is just the second time that the jackpots have simultaneously topped the 500 million-dollar mark.  “They both were last won in mid-September,” Neubauer explains. The last time bother were more than 500 million dollars was in October 2018 when the Mega Millions jackpot was on its way its record amount in that game of more than one-point-five billion dollars. Mega Millions has the next drawing at 10 p-m Tuesday.

The Mega Millions jackpot now stands at an estimated 600 million-dollar annuity and a 442-point-four million lump-sum option. That is the fourth-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history. The next Powerball drawing happens Wednesday. The Powerball jackpot currently stands at an estimated 550 million dollars annuity — or 411-point-four million lump-sum option. That is the ninth-largest jackpot in Powerball history. Neubauer says there is one thing to remember if you want to buy a ticket for either drawing.

“There is a deadline to buy tickets for both Mega Millions and Powerball — it is 8:59 the night of the drawing here in Iowa. So if you buy a ticket after that deadline it will be for an upcoming drawing and not that night’s drawing,” Neubauer says. “We have had people who have cut it too close before and then they were not happy. So, just watch out for that timeframe.” Neubauer says you won’t increase your odds if you buy more tickets and they urge people to play responsibly. She says they’re calling them dueling jackpots, and are waiting to see which one will be won first.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she and her fellow Republicans need to lead the way and help unite the country after last week’s attack on the U.S. Capitol. “It was attacked. There is no doubt about it, folks,” Ernst says. “And the people that illegally entered that Capitol are anarchists.” Ernst has issued written statements, but her first public remarks on the riot came this (Monday) morning at an Iowa G-O-P fundraising breakfast in Des Moines.  “This past Wednesday was a horrible day for the United States of America,” Ernst said, “and what happened was absolutely inexcusable.”

Ernst did not mention President Trump or the D-C rally that preceded the Capitol attack, but she did address those who have excused the actions of the rioters.  “We, as Republicans, are better than that,” Ernst said. And Ernst issued a call for unity. “We, as Republicans, need to lead the way,” Ernst said. Ernst said she was praying for the two Capitol Police Officers who have died.

Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann began this (Monday) morning’s fundraiser by asking for a moment of silence. “The Republican Party of Iowa condemns all violence across the ideological spectrum, period,” Kaufmann said. “You’re not going to hear me parse words.” Kaufmann says the G-O-P remains the party of “law and order” and he criticized out-going Iowa Democratic Party chairman Mark Smith. “There’s a big difference, folks, between your Republican Party of Iowa chair essentially condemning violence across the board and my colleague,” Kaufmann said. “I’m guessing my colleague is going to be very selective in the violence that he condemns.”

Governor Reynolds and the other speakers at this (Monday) morning’s fundraiser did not mention the attack on the Capitol, nor did they mention President Trump. Instead, they focused on the 2020 victories of Iowa Republicans and the 2021 Iowa legislative session which begins today (Monday).