(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa State Board of Health has voted to recommend that Governor Kim Reynolds issue a statewide mask mandate. The vote was seven-to-two among the board members — all of whom were appointed by Reynolds. Reynolds has repeatedly said mask mandates are unenforceble, although she did issue an order Tuesday requiring masks at hair salons, barber shops and in certain group settings.

Board member Jay Hansen, a Democrat from Mason City, says with Covid cases spiking, a statewide requirement might persuade people who have resisted wearing mask.

Board member Patti Brown, a Republican from Waukee, voted against the recommendation.

On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control issued a memo saying face coverings DO protect the person wearing one as well as others around them.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Natalie Krebs)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa. (AP) — Morningside College in Sioux City will become Morningside University next year. The Sioux City Journal reports that the school announced the change Thursday in a news conference on the school’s campus. Morningside President John Reynders says the name change “has the potential to open new doors and new hearts within the global marketplace.”

Reynders says the main difference between a college and university is that a university generally offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. He said Morningside has offered graduate degrees since the late 1960s and now serves more graduate students than undergraduates. Officials say the new name takes effect June 1.

DES MOINES, Iowa – State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald is spreading the news about College Savings Iowa across the entire state with a year-end giveaway. College Savings Iowa is giving away a $529 plan contribution to a family in each of Iowa’s 99 counties, and one grand prize winner, from all entrants, will win a $1,529 College Savings Iowa contribution. “As the end of the year approaches, many families start to think about gifts to give their children and grandchildren,” said Fitzgerald. “A College Savings Iowa account could be the perfect gift, and our giveaway is an opportunity to help boost your family’s education savings.” From now until the end of the year, families with children and grandchildren under the age of 18 can register to win. Those interested can visit Iowa529Contest.com to read the official rules and register for their chance to win before December 31, 2020.

College Savings Iowa offers families a tax-advantaged way to save money for their children’s higher education with tax-free withdrawals for qualified expenses. “No matter how young or old the children in your family are, starting an education savings account is an important step for setting up their future,” Fitzgerald said. “With so many different options for how to use your 529 account savings, we can help our future generations achieve their education and career dreams.” Investors can withdraw their investment federally tax-free to pay for qualified higher education expenses, which includes tuition, books, supplies and certain room and board costs at any eligible college, university, community college, technical training school or apprenticeship program in the United States or abroad.* Families can find great resources and answers about College Savings Iowa by visiting CollegeSavingsIowa.com today.

Iowa taxpayers have the additional benefit of being able to deduct contributions up to $3,439 per beneficiary account from their 2020 Iowa income taxes.** Since its launch in 1998, College Savings Iowa has grown to more than $5.5 billion in assets and more than $3.2 billion has been used for qualified educational expenses. The plan has over 254,000 active accounts with an average size of $20,659.

Visit Iowa529Contest.com to complete the registration for the giveaway. To learn more about College Savings Iowa, please visit CollegeSavingsIowa.com or call (888) 672-9116. For more information about future giveaways and events, find College Savings Iowa on Facebook and Twitter.

Montgomery County conducted its fourth post-election audit on Thursday, November 12th, under a new law designed to monitor and protect election processes. Auditor Stephanie Burke says the audit was successful. Iowa law allows the Secretary of State choose, at random, one precinct in each Iowa county to be audited. County auditors must then supervise a hand count of the ballots from that precinct and compare the results to the voting machine count from election night.

Julie Rubey, Will Lester, Bonnie Miller and Jeanice Lester conduct the audit of ballots

In Montgomery County, the Secretary of State chose Precinct 4, which votes at the Elliott Community Building. 259 ballots were cast on election night and the results matched perfectly to the hand count done on Thursday.

“The hand count shows that our machines are accurately counting ballots,”said Burke. “All voters deserve to have confidence that their vote has been counted properly.”Four precinct election officials, representing the two major political parties, conducted the count under the supervision of Auditor, Stephanie Burke.

As required in the law, the Auditor’s Office notified the county chairs of both of the two major political parties. Questions about the post-election audit and other election matters may be directed to the Montgomery County Auditor’s office at 712-623-5127.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Polk County jury has convicted a Des Moines man of first-degree murder in the killing of his mother. Station WHO-TV reports that 33-year-old Christopher Thompson was convicted last week in the death of 50-year-old Paula Thompson, whose body was found March 13 in her home. Officers were called to the Des Moines home for a welfare check and found the woman dead. Police later determined she had been beaten to death with a crowbar days earlier after arguing with her son. Christopher Thompson later turned himself in to police. He is being held in the Polk County Jail until his sentencing on Dec. 18, when he faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), reports one person was injured and two others checked by paramedics, following an accident Wednesday morning south of Harlan. Authorities say a 2007 Honda 4-door, driven by 29-year old James Miller, of Hancock ,and a 2002 Toyota RAV 4, driven by 70-year old Bret Anderson of Papillion, Nebraska, were both northbound on Highway 59 at the 68 mm and were stopped in a construction zone area.

51-year old Darian Robinson of Shelby, who was driving a 2006 Hyundai Tiburon and also northbound on Highway 59, said he could not slow in-time for the vehicles in front of him.  Robinson’s vehicle struck the rear end of Anderson’s SUV, causing that vehicle to be pushed into the Miller vehicle.

All three vehicles were moved to the shoulder of the road prior to the arrival of Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies.  Miller and his passenger, Amanda Miller, were checked-out by Medivac Ambulance personnel, but did not request immediate transport to the hospital. Anderson was transported to Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan for treatment of possible injuries.

Robinson was cited for failure to maintain control. Damage to the three vehicles amounted to $16,000.

(Radio Iowa) – As COVID-19 positivity rates and hospitalizations sharply rise in Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds says the number of testing kits is starting to dwindle as they’re in such high demand.

Reynolds says Iowa’s contract with Nomi Health is being amended and another 360-thousand test kits are being ordered. More than 45-hundred new COVID cases are reported in the state today along with 30 more deaths. Health officials say about two-percent of all Iowans currently have the virus.

For the sixth consecutive day, more than 4,000 Iowans have tested positive for the coronavirus. As the virus continued its rapid spread, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported Thursday the number of people being treated in hospitals increased to 1,208 patients. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University report the seven-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Iowa has risen over the past two weeks from nearly 29% on Oct. 28 to 50% on Nov. 11. Iowa’s rate is second in the nation to South Dakota, which is at 54.5%.

In her press conference late Thursday morning, Governor Kim Reynolds said since November 1^st, there have been more than 37,000 new cases of COVID-19 in Iowa at an average positivity rate statewide of 21.8%. She broke the cases down to their respective age brackets.

She highest the highest number of new cases continue to be in the most populated counties, smaller, rural counties are far exceeding them, when comparing cases per 100,000.

Reynolds said contrary to some media reports warning people may not be able to receive care because hospital beds are full of covid patients, her team has assured her that is not the case.

The Governor said there has been a significant increase (72%) in hospitalizations of patients age 60 and older, many of whom have other health issues.

Reynolds said the State’s Coronavirus website (Coronavirus.Iowa.Gov) will be updated to include the age demographics of currently confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations. The new data will also include a daily breakdown of hospitalizations by age, going back to July 23^rd, when the data was first required by the Feds. The age groups will also be categorized differently.

The Governor said also TestIowa sites have reopened after being closed for the Veterans Day holiday. Each site has added 200 more appointments to their daily schedules. She says 520 appointments will be available at the Council Bluffs site.