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

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A slim lead held by a Republican candidate for an open congressional seat in Iowa has gotten even smaller as counties recount their votes. Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks led Democrat Rita Hart by 47 votes in the race for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District in unofficial results before recounts began last week. The Iowa Secretary of State’s office says Miller-Meeks’ lead has shrunk to 36 votes out of more than 394,000 cast as the recount continues. So far, 15 of 24 counties have completed recounts and sent their new unofficial totals to the state. None of the four counties Hart carried have reported new totals, including Scott and Johnson.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa surpassed 211,000 coronavirus cases and 2,200 deaths, and the state remains ranked third-highest in the nation for virus positivity rate. The Iowa Department of Public Health reports there were 1,661 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours Monday morning and 13 additional deaths. That raised the total number of cases in Iowa to 211,722 and the total deaths to 2,205. Data from Johns Hopkins University shows Iowa’s seven-day rolling average of the positivity rate was 44.7% on Nov. 22, ranking third-highest third in the nation behind Wyoming and South Dakota.

DYSART, Iowa (AP) — Twin Iowa girls who faced long odds when they were born around the 22nd week of pregnancy are celebrating a miracle milestone — they turn 2 on Tuesday. The Des Moines Register reports that Guinness World Records has recognized Kambry and Keeley Ewoldt as the world’s most premature twins. Jade Ewoldt of Dysart gave birth to the girls on Nov. 24, 2018. Kambry weighed nearly 1 pound and Keeley weighed a little over 1 pound. The girls spent the first four months of their lives in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Today, the girls love singing “Baby Shark,” doing the Chicken Dance and painting pictures.

MONROE, Iowa (AP) — House Democrats lost enough seats in this month’s elections that they’ll have the smallest majority in more than a century. To find out what happened, the party has already begun a “deep dive” examination, and so far it’s blaming a parade of missteps. They include moving too far to the left on national issues, not explaining well how they’d fix an outbreak-ravaged economy and failing to grow their appeal with enough Latinos. House Democrats also were hurt by curtailing in-person campaigning amid the coronavirus pandemic. But a major factor was President Donald Trump’s ability to drive strong turnout.

IOWA CITY – The Iowa Department of Corrections report prison inmate Timothy Christopher Bryant, who had been serving a life sentence for the crime of Kidnapping 1st Degree from Polk County, died Sunday. Officials said his death was likely due to complications related to COVID-19 and other preexisting medical conditions.

He died at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Originally housed at the Anamosa State Penitentiary, he had been taken to the hospitals several days earlier for more advanced care as his medical condition began to worsen.  Bryant was 59 years old at the time of his death.

Bryant began his sentence on February 25, 1992.

Mills County Public Health along with Mills County Emergency Management Agency, Monday, announced two additional deaths associated with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the county today. One individual was in the 41-60 age range and the other in the 61-80 age range.

“We have had another sorrowful day in Mills County today.” said Mills County Emergency Management Director Larry Hurst. “I am concerned what the coming holiday season will do for the spread of COVID-19. Everyone needs to do their part to stop the spread of the virus.”

Mills County continues to see a significant number of new cases and an increase in test positivity. We are in the RED Zone, which means we are experiencing high level of community transmission. Mills County residents and businesses must act now to get the spread of COVID-19 under control.

For further statistical data available, in near real time, visit the Iowa Coronavirus webpage at: https://coronavirus.iowa.gov

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A slim lead held by a Republican candidate for an open congressional seat in Iowa has gotten even smaller as counties recount their votes. Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks led Democrat Rita Hart by 47 votes in the race for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District in unofficial results before recounts began last week.

The Iowa Secretary of State’s office says Miller-Meeks’ lead has shrunk to 36 votes out of more than 394,000 cast as the recount continues. So far, 15 of 24 counties have completed recounts and sent their new unofficial totals to the state. None of the four counties Hart carried have reported new totals, including Scott and Johnson.

Glenwood Police report four arrests. On Sunday, 29-year old Kristopher Sparks, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Theft in the 1st and 5th Degrees. His total bond was set at $10,300. And, 44-year old Shane Baxter, of Omaha, was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Eluding. His cash/surety bond was set at $2,000.

On Saturday, 49-year old Tiffany Monson, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Assault causing bodily injury. Her Cash/surety bond was set at $1,000. Also arrested Saturday, was 36-year old Dallas Smith, of Placitas, NM., for Harassment in the 2nd Degree. His cash/surety bond was set at $1,000 also.

Rescue crews and law enforcement are very busy this afternoon, responding to and handling numerous accidents. The latest (as of 2:38-p.m.) is on I-80 eastbound at mile marker 51, where a vehicle rolled into the north ditch. A male occupant was trapped, with a female subject bleeding from the head. Marne and Atlantic Fire along with Cass EMS were responding.

A few minutes earlier, an accident was reported near the Cass-Pottawattamie County line, at Whitepole Road and 525th. Initially, there were no reported injuries, but just before 3-p.m., a woman reported she had suffered a head injury during the accident, when she was struck by a tool box.

And, at around 2:10-p.m., Cumberland-Massena Rescue was called to the scene of an accident on Highway 92, just west of the Cass-Adair County line. No injuries were reported.

Roads are reported to be very slick. Drive with caution!