DES MOINES, Iowa — Two more Iowa prisons are reporting outbreaks of coronavirus infections.
The Iowa Department of Corrections says testing has revealed outbreaks at prisons in Clarinda, where 377 inmates and 16 staff members are positive, and Rockwell City, where 254 inmates and four staff members are positive. The Clarinda prison has about 900 inmates and Rockwell City has 426.

The department released data Friday showing an outbreak at the Anamosa prison and updated numbers show 485 infected inmates of the 982 inmates at the prison. An additional 50 staff members tested positive.

Additional smaller prison outbreaks also have been reported. In total, 1,145 inmates and 103 staff members are positive in Iowa’s prisons.

Atlantic, IA – Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Cass County Health System is suspending its Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation services until further notice. This includes services for both Phase II and Phase III patients. Stress tests and other cardiology services will remain operational.

(Radio Iowa) – Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines, a Democrat, says now that the campaign is over, the current congress should act before year’s end to provide another round of assistance to help individuals and businesses hit hard by the pandemic.  “It’s just a really difficult time for way too many people,” she says, “and we’ve got to get this done.” Axne says it’s been more than seven months since congress passed the so-called CARES Act and most of the money has been spent.

Axne says congress should provide more federal money for hospitals, health care workers and small businesses — as well as more assistance to low-income Americans with overdue utility bills who are at risk of losing heat and electricity during the winter. The temporary spending plan for the entire federal government is set to expire next month as well.

“We’ve got to make sure that we keep government open and pass a budget,” Axne says. “That’s just a basic that needs to get done, but we need to make sure there’s things in there.” For example, Axne says congress must ensure parents can carry over any unused money they’d put aside in flexible savings accounts for child care expenses. The money in traditional pre-tax savings plans for medical and other expenses must be used by year’s end — or individuals forfeit that money.

Axne says due to the pandemic, many parents weren’t able to find child care — and they stand to lose the money they’d saved to cover those expenses. “There’s just a lot we need to do in a budget, given the fact where we’re at with Covid,” Axne says. Axne, who represents Iowa’s third congressional district, was re-elected to a second term in the U.S. House last week.

(Radio Iowa) – The Ankeny-based Casey’s convenience store chain has purchased another chain with stores in several states. Casey’s announced the agreement today (Monday) to acquire Buchanan Energy — the owner of Bucky’s Convenience Stores — in an all-cash transaction for 580 million dollars.

Bucky’s Convenience Stores were founded as a family-owned and operated business in 1980. It has stores mainly in Illinois and Nebraska — with others Missouri, Texas, and one in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Casey’s acquisition will include 94 retail stores and 79 dealer locations, and multiple parcels of real estate for future new store construction. The purchase will increase Casey’s store count to more than 23-hundred. The transaction is anticipated to close by the end of this year.

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Alex Londo, Monday afternoon, issued on update on a report we first brought you early this (Monday) morning, with regard to a missing child. Londo said at approximately 4:25 am, Monday, a call was received at the Shelby County 911 Center for a child that was missing.

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Harlan Police Department, Shelby County EMA, Panama Fire Department, Portsmouth Fire Department, Earling Fire Department, Westphalia Fire Department, Harlan Fire Department, and Iowa State Patrol responded to assist in locating the child.

The child was found a short distance from the family’s home in good health and returned to his parents.