(Radio Iowa) — Some cities in Iowa have adding thousands of residents in the last ten years and some have grown by 100 percent and are seeing all kinds of growth in schools and businesses. But, Gary Krob, coordinator of the State Data Center at the State Library of Iowa says the state’s smallest cities have just more than one dozen residents. “Beaconsfield and Leroy both have a population of 15,” Krob says. He says the small population doesn’t mean the cities have to shut down. “As long as a city can function with a government and operate the way that’s needed –they can continue to operate as a city. It really depends on the municipality if they want to,” Krob says.

Census data shows 213 cities have gained population, 712 have lost population, and 18 have had no change. “We have had a couple of cities discontinue since 2010– but again that’s based on the decision of the municipality,” Krob says. The numbers released last week are estimates of growth since the census ten years ago. Krob says we’ll get more concrete numbers from the new count that is underway – -and he says that’s why it is important for everyone to take part. “Whatever that 2020 count is — that is the county for you community for the next 10 years. and all the funding that is coming in from the federal government and the state government is going to be based on that population,” Krob says. “So, we have one shot at this and we want to make sure that get it as accurate as possible and we want to make sure that every house is counted.”

Only 43 of Iowa’s 943 incorporated cities have a population of more than 10-thousand people — but accounted for more than half of Iowa’s total population.

(Radio Iowa) – After weeks and weeks of excessive hand washing and sanitizing in an effort to stave off COVID-19, many Iowans are finding their fingers and palms dry and cracking. Dr. Jennifer Abrahams, a dermatologist, says while it’s especially important to wash our hands during this pandemic, it’s also important to take proper care of those hands. “The best time to lock in the moisture in our hands is to apply something moisturizing directly after washing them, while they’re still at the damp stage,” Dr. Abrahams says. “It helps your skin absorb it a little better so that moisture stays locked in.” If you’re cleaning with chemicals around the house, use gloves to protect your hands and while it may sound counter-intuitive, she says getting them wet will dry out your hands even more quickly.

Many Iowans will turn to hand lotion as a salve for our cracking hands, but the expert says that likely shouldn’t be your first line of defense. “Ointments and creams, like Vaseline, petroleum jelly or even some of the moisturizing creams they have on the market, are better about penetrating through the layers of the skin, especially the thick layers that we have on our hands,” Abrahams says. “That would be the ideal, rather than a lotion that you pump from a bottle which is not as moisturizing for our hands.” When cracks appear on our hands, they can bleed and be very painful. That means they’re extremely dry and your hands may need help beyond ointments and creams.

“A little trick that we use in the dermatology world is filling in that space with a little liquid bandage or even crazy glue,” Abrahams says. “It can fill in those cracks and crevices so it’s not painful and spreading every time you work with your hands, and as your body heals, it’ll push that on its way out.”  She suggests buying products that are hypo-allergenic — without the potentially-irritating chemicals — and fragrance-free as those additives can also cause irritation. As for soaps, Abrahams says to look for non-soap cleansers instead which won’t dry out your hands as much as soap. Abrahams is a professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Dermatology and a dermatologist at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha.

(Radio Iowa) — The five candidates competing in the G-O-P Primary in Iowa’s 4th congressional district are quarreling about their conservative credentials AND their ability to win the district in November. Incumbent Steve King, who’s seeking a 10th term, says he was warned soon after his narrow 2018 win that he was going to be broadsided by a coup “I”m happy to have all of this scrutiny,” King says. “…I think the people that are going to the polls are going to be real pleased with the job that I have been doing.”

By mid-May, King had raised about 330-thousand dollars, but had just 32-thousand left in his campaign. Challenger Randy Feenstra of Hull, a state senator, raised 925-thousand and had nearly four times as much money as King left for the campaign’s closing weeks. Feenstra has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Right-to-Life Committee as well as well-known Iowa Republicans like former Governor Terry Branstad and Bob Vander Plaats, president of The Family Leader. “You need to be an effective conservative leader,” Feenstra says. “I’ve proven it.”

Jeremy Taylor of Sioux City, a former state legislator and former county supervisor, raised about 165-thousand dollars and had 24-thousand left in mid-May. “Most of my funding comes from former Steve King supporters,” Taylor claimed, “about 80%.” Bret Richards, the former mayor of Irwin, says he is primarily self-funding his campaign and put 73-thousand miles on his van. “Before the pandemic, I was door-knocking,” Richards says. “After the pandemic, it’s been social media — name recognition that way.”

Steve Reeder, a businessman from Arnolds Park, filed paperwork indicating a negative balance in his campaign account on May 13th. Reeder says he didn’t chase the big money or King’s former donors. “I’m not beholden to any special interest groups or PACS,” Reeder says. “I’m beholden to the people of Iowa.” The candidates made their comments during a weekend online forum hosted by Story County Republicans.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:10 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 16-year-old boy is facing several charges after another teen was shot in the neck and died. Des Moines Police said 17-year-old Ishmael Muhammad was wounded Saturday afternoon while he was with a group of several other teens at a home in a neighborhood north of downtown. Police said Muhammad was critically injured in the unintentional shooting and died later at a hospital. The 16-year-old Des Moines resident has been arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter, carrying a weapon and interfering with police.

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa (AP) — Iowa authorities are investigating the death of a hiker in Palisades-Kepler State Park in Mount Vernon. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Sunday that 32-year-old Brian Jungen, of Coralville, died Friday after a fall. Officials say a group of four hikers found Jungen on the Cedar Cliff Trail with several cuts to his head. Jungen was able to speak to the hikers before he blacked out. When paramedics arrived, they were unable to locate Jungen’s pulse, and he was pronounced dead.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 35-year-old Waterloo husband and father is recovering after nearly dying last month of the coronavirus. Doctors at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics warned his family last month that Elvir Alicajic was likely within hours of succumbing to the virus. But after plasma and dialaysis treatments, Alicajic’s condition improved and he soon woke up from a medical coma. Alicajic has been transferred to Allen Hospital in Waterloo, where he is regaining the ability to walk on his own and hopes to leave soon. Alicajic’s friend and neighbor says the experience has been shocking and scary for everyone involved, and left the family with “outrageous” medical expenses.

One person died in a two vehicle crash, Saturday, about half-way between Hamlin and Guthrie Center. A report by the Iowa State Patrol says the accident happened at the intersection of Highway 44 and Chestnut Road, at approximately 2:30-p.m., Saturday.

Authorities say a 2001 Ford Taurus that was driven by 88-year-old Mary Virginia Mingus, of Coon Rapids, was traveling south on Chestnut Road, and as she approached the intersection with Highway 44, pulled out in front of a westbound 2016 Ford F-150 pickup, driven by 43-year-old Jonathon Roger Merk, of Waukee.

After the pickup collided with the car, both vehicles went into the south ditch. Mingus was taken by Guthrie County EMS to the Guthrie County Hospital, where she died from her injuries. Merk and a 12-year-old passenger in his pickup were transported by Audubon County EMS to the Audubon County Hospital. Each of the crash victims were wearing their seat belts.

The Iowa State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Guthrie and Audubon County Sheriff’s offices, and Audubon and Guthrie Center Fire and Rescue Departments.

Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman said Sunday, a sixth case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed in Montgomery County. The new case is a middle-aged adult (41-60 years) who contracted the virus through close contact with a positive case.

The latest report shows 5 persons have recovered from the virus, in Montgomery County. 232 persons have been tested. Serology testing data show 1 person COVID-19 positive, 28 Negative and 29 tested.

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa — On Friday, May 22, around 3:45pm, the DNR was notified of a person who had fallen on a trail at Palisades-Kepler State Park and had lacerations to his head. Four hikers came upon 32-year old Brian Jungen, of Coralville, along Cedar Cliff Trail. Jungen was lying along the trail near a bench and was bleeding from lacerations on his head. The hikers were able to speak briefly with the victim before he blacked out.

The hikers called 911 and first responders from Mount Vernon and Lisbon, as well as Linn County Sheriff’s Office deputies and DNR park rangers responded to the scene. When they arrived on scene, they were not able to detect a pulse from Jungen and began immediate medical attention. Jungen was pronounced dead at the scene.

DNR park rangers continue to investigate this incident.

DES MOINES, Iowa (The Des Moines Register) — Police say a teen who was shot in the neck at a home over the weekend has died from his injuries. The Des Moines Register reports that the shooting happened Saturday afternoon in a home just north of the city’s downtown. Police say 17-year-old Ishmael Muhammad was taken to an area hospital, where he later died. Police say people in the house initially told officers that Muhammad had shown up with a gunshot wound. But investigators determined that a small group of teens that included Muhammad were in a house when a handgun was accidentally fired and hit Muhammad. A 16-year-old has been charged as a juvenile with involuntary manslaughter and other counts.

An accident that took place at around 2:30-a.m. Sunday in Madison County, claimed the life of a young Winterset man and resulted in injuries to a Man from Peru. The Iowa State Patrol says a 1997 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 18-year old Memphis Issac Kincade Pickett, of Winterset, was in the process of eluding a Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy at a high rate of speed, when the pickup failed to negotiate a curve to the left in the 1800 block of Wind Wood Trail (A gravel road). The vehicle left the road and entered  a ditch, where it crashed into trees and a wire fence.

Kincade-Pickett died at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt. His passenger, 21-year old Quentin Lane Siefkas, of Peru, who was wearing a seat belt, was trapped and eventually freed by mechanical means. Siefkas was transported by Madison County EMS to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. The Patrol says alcohol is believed to be a factor in both the pursuit and crash.