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

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Five of the six states with the nation’s lowest unemployment rates are in the Midwest, have Republican governors and have almost no restrictions intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Those governors have said their lack of mask mandates or other restrictions are a big reason why their states are riding out the pandemic relatively well, but economists say it’s not so simple. Economists say a lack of mandates might help, but of even greater importance is the fact that Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and Missouri have economies that rely heavily on industries that weren’t hit as hard by the pandemic.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A surge in coronavirus cases across the country, including in key presidential battleground states, is creating mounting health and logistical concerns for voters, poll workers and political parties ahead of Election Day. In Iowa, county officials said they were preparing for scores of confirmed or potentially infected people to vote curbside. It’s an option typically used by disabled people that must be available outside every polling place. In Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers sought to assure voters in the critical swing state that going to the polls would not be risky, even as officials announced more than 5,000 new coronavirus cases.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — President Donald Trump and other Republicans will head into Election Day likely trailing by tens of thousands of votes in Iowa but they hope to overcome that deficit with a strong turnout of their supporters at polling places. More than 62% of active registered Democrats in Iowa and 43% of Republicans have already returned absentee ballots as part of a record-setting early vote in the state. That means 123,000 more Democrats had voted than Republicans as of Saturday. But it also means the remaining electorate Tuesday will be smaller than unusual, tilt toward the GOP and feature a plurality of voters who do not belong to either party.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa reported nearly 3,000 new virus cases Sunday, and the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 continued to soar. The state reported 2,887 additional cases of the virus Sunday to give the state 130,244 cases total since the pandemic began, according to Iowa’s online virus tracker. One additional death was also reported to give Iowa 1,716 deaths. Iowa officials said 676 people were hospitalized with the virus on Sunday, up from the previous day’s record of 630. The state said that over the past 14 days, Iowa was averaging a 14.1% positivity rate for the virus, but 43 of Iowa’s 99 counties had rates above 15% on Sunday.

(Radio Iowa) – At a windy outdoor campaign rally in Dubuque Sunday afternoon, President Trump promised what he described as a “super boom” in the U.S. economy if he’s reelected. “Our country has such unbelievable potential, let’s not blow it,” Trump said. “Go vote.” The Trump campaign distributed hand warmers to the crowd to combat below-freezing temperatures in a brisk November wind. Trump invited several Iowa Republicans who’re on the 2020 ballot on stage, including Joni Ernst, the U.S. Senator who’s seeking a second term.

“President Trump, we love you! Thank you so much. God bless you. There is not a finer president and one that has done so much for our farmers,” Ernst said, before leading the crowd in a chant. “…Iowa loves you. I love you. Four more years!” Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks — the two Republicans running in the congressional districts the border the Mississippi River — spoke as well.

“Iowa is Trump country!” Hinson said, to cheers. Miller-Meeks said: “We’re going to say to Nancy Pelosi: ‘You’re fired.'” Trump touted a Des Moines Register Iowa Poll released Saturday night which found him leading Joe Biden here.  “Thank you very much Iowa and we appreciate it,” Trump said, to cheers. “And we’ve had a great run together and I’ve been working very hard with the farmers and making them, hopefully, very rich.”

Governor Kim Reynolds mentioned the poll’s margin for Trump when the president invited her on stage. “We are going to bring it home!” Reynolds said. “We’re not satisfied with seven. We’re going for 10!” Senator Chuck Grassley praises the president for keeping his 2016 campaign promises. “Iowa’s going to go for you big time,” Grassley said.

Former Governor Terry Branstad, who until the end of September served as Trump’s Ambassador to China, gave a short speech, too, praising the president’s approach to trade negotiations with China.

The President of the Iowa Association of Auditors, Roxanna Moritz, Sunday, said “The 2020 General Election has been unprecedented in the challenges facing County Auditors in Iowa. The COVID-19 pandemic and record early voting are among those challenges. Auditors have been planning for months and are prepared to both accurately count votes as well as safely serve all voters on Election Day.”

Mortiz added, “On Saturday October 31st many County Auditors convened the absentee boards of their counties to begin the process to review and open absentee ballot envelopes. Starting Monday, November 2nd and ending on Tuesday, November 3rd, County Auditors will have 46 hours to undertake the task of tabulating all the ballots.”

She concluded by sayig “Even though this has been an unprecedented year, as always, Iowa’s County Auditors are positioned to deliver this Election in the same manner as they have for years; providing all citizens of Iowa a safe, fair, timely and accurate election.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police have arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting of a 45-year-old man in Des Moines. Shortly before 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Des Moines police officers found the 45-year-old man with a gunshot wound in the 2600 block of Ingersoll Avenue in central Des Moines. The man was taken to a hospital where he died. Des Moines Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek said in a statement that investigators arrested 24-year-old Rythm Huddleston of Des Moines on suspicion of first-degree murder and a gun charge in connection with the shooting. The victim was identified as 45-year-old Marcellas McNeil of Des Moines.

DAVENPORT – The Iowa Dept. of Corrections, Sunday, said 38-year-old Durell Ryan Parks Jr., who was convicted of Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury, in Scott County, left the Davenport Work Release Center without permission Saturday, and has not returned.

38-year-old Durell Ryan Parks Jr.

Parks is a black male, 5-feet 6-inches tall, and weighs 165 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on August 26, 2020.

Persons with information on Parks’ whereabouts should contact local police.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — President Donald Trump and other Republicans will head into Election Day likely trailing by tens of thousands of votes in Iowa but they hope to overcome that deficit with a strong turnout of their supporters at polling places. More than 62% of active registered Democrats in Iowa and 43% of Republicans have already returned absentee ballots as part of a record-setting early vote in the state.

That means 123,000 more Democrats had voted than Republicans as of Saturday. But it also means the remaining electorate Tuesday will be smaller than unusual, tilt toward the GOP and feature a plurality of voters who do not belong to either party.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A surge in coronavirus cases across the country, including in key presidential battleground states, is creating mounting health and logistical concerns for voters, poll workers and political parties ahead of Election Day. In Iowa, county officials said they were preparing for scores of confirmed or potentially infected people to vote curbside. It’s an option typically used by disabled people that must be available outside every polling place.

In Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers sought to assure voters in the critical swing state that going to the polls would not be risky, even as officials announced more than 5,000 new coronavirus cases.