(Radio Iowa) – The five state-operated “Test Iowa” sites will continue to offer drive-through screenings this winter, but not in open parking lots. Governor Reynolds says sites in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Waterloo have already relocated to enclosed spaces test-takers can still drive through.  “The sites range from industrial buildings to a Windsor Lions bus facility and a former Sears Auto Center,” Reynold says. “The site in Council Bluffs has been the only one remaining without an enclosed building secured for winter operations, until now.”

Today (Friday) will be the final day of testing for the Council Bluffs site at the Western Trails Historic Center. It will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday in the Southwest Iowa Transit Agency facility in Council Bluffs.  “As the seasons began to change, we knew it would be critical to maintain operations of the five drive-through sites located in some of our states most populated areas throughout the winter months, but recognized that adjustments would be necessary to accommodate the weather and protect Test Iowa staff as well as those being tested.”

Last week, more than 19-thousand Iowans were screened for Covid during the four weekdays the five Test Iowa sites were open. Reynolds says on the Monday before Thanksgiving, a record six-thousand-seven-hundred-three (6703) test kits were collected at the five locations. The sites were closed on Thanksgiving Day.

(Radio Iowa) – Now that the calendar says December, Iowans will start autographing their holiday letters and getting packages ready to mail to far-away friends and family. Nicole Hill, a spokeswoman for the United States Postal Service, says Iowans will need to remember a couple of key deadlines. “So, we’re looking at December 18th, send your greeting cards, send your Christmas cards out to your loved ones,” Hill says. “Get those in the mail. Make sure they have the right postage, make sure that the addresses are legible.”

For Iowans who want to send a package Priority Mail, the deadline is just one day later if you want that gift to arrive before the 25th. “December 19th is when we’re looking at that Priority Mail service,” she says. “So, if you’re sending a Priority Mail flat rate to a loved one somewhere else, make sure that you’re Priority Mail package is in the mail stream by December 19th.”

Hill says if you’re sending something via Express Mail, it has to go out by December 23rd at the latest. For more information about packaging or postage, visit usps.com.

(Radio Iowa) – A Webster County man accused of murdering an 18-year-old woman plans to defend himself in court. Eighteen-year-old Denahrrio Lewil of Fort Dodge has given notice to the court he will be defending himself in upcoming court proceedings. He’s facing first-degree murder and attempted murder charges after police say he opened fire on a vehicle and killed Jlynn Beason. The incident occurred September 20th in Fort Dodge.

Police say the bullets were intended for Beason’s brother, as he and Lewil had an altercation prior to the shooting. Lewil has entered not guilty pleas to both charges and both charges will be condensed into one trial.

KCCI-TV in Des Moines reports the Iowa Department of Human Services is facing a whistle-blower lawsuit connected to the Glenwood Resource Center. The lawsuit references the troubling allegations at the Center, where former Superintendent Jerry Rea was accused of spearheading human experiments including sexual arousal studies on Iowans with severe mental disabilities. The latest 50 page lawsuit filed on behalf of six former employees outlines what they describe as an environment of emotional distress.

KCCI says the former employees claim Rea proceeded with the experiments after receiving commitment from the Iowa Special Assistant Attorney General to begin work. The governor’s office has not responded to the allegations.