(Radio Iowa) – Republican Joni Ernst says she and other members of the Senate committee should be tested for Covid before they convene confirmation hearings this coming week for President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. “I actually do think that it would be smart to do that,” Ernst said. “I hate to do it without having reasons to do so, but I think if we’re going to be working in close proximity over long hours, it’s probably not a bad idea.”

The hearings are scheduled to start Monday. Both of Iowa’s U.S. Senators are on the Judiciary Committee. During a news conference Sunday, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley was asked if he agrees with Ernst about having all members take a Covid test before Monday’s hearing. “I suppose there’s 99 other ways to answer the question. I can only answer Chuck Grassley’s way,” Grassley said. “I follow the protocols that are given out by the attending physician on Capitol Hill and I’ll continue to follow those.”

Two other members of the committee who attended the White House event for nominee Amy Coney Barrett tested positive for the virus last weekend. Grassley says he has been tested for Covid, but hasn’t revealed when that test was taken. Ernst took a Covid test before she debated her Democratic opponent, Theresa Greenfield, on September 28th. Greenfield says Covid tests for Ernst and other members of the Senate Judiciary Committee makes sense. “That’s a great place to start, absolutely,” Greenfield says. “They should be wearing masks and following public health guidelines. If they’ve been exposed and they should be quarantining.”

Greenfield and Ernst made their comments at separate events Saturday and both candidates wore face coverings as they spoke with reporters.

Red Oak Police say a juvenile and her unidentified passenger were checked by medics for injuries but refused treatment, following an accident Saturday at the intersection of N. 3rd and E. Joy Streets. Authorities say as a 2007 Ford Mustang owned by John Allison, of Red Oak, and driven by 17-year old Allie Jean Marie Curtis, of Red Oak, was turning south on the N. 3rd, Curtis thought she was going to hit a parked car. She over-corrected and lost control of the vehicle. The car left the road and hit a large tree as well as a stop sign. Damage from the accident amounted to $9,100.

Police cited Curtis for Failure to Maintain Control of a Motor Vehicle.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 5:30-p.m. Saturday, of Deidre Cain. She was taken into custody following an incident in the 1100 block of F Avenue, and charged with Simple Assault. Cain’s bond was set at $300. No other details are available.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office investigated a single-vehicle, property damage accident, Saturday afternoon. Authorities say 65-year old Calvin D. Myers, of Coburg, tried to back his 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup into a field drive, but misjudged the width of the driveway. His vehicle entered the ditch and rolled over, causing about $1,500 damage to the vehicle. The accident happened at around 1-p.m.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Red Oak Fire and Rescue. No injuries were reported.

An accident early Saturday morning in Montgomery County has claimed the life of a rural Red Oak man. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened at around 4:15-a.m., in a field located in the 2500 block of C Avenue, just north of 260th Street. Authorities say Authorities say 41-year old Chad M. Harold died in the crash.

Harold had been driving a 2020 Polaris XP1000 southbound in a farm field, when he lost control of the machine near a terrace, and overturned. The ATV sustained approximately $10,000 damage.

Red Oak Fire and Rescue assisted the Montgomery Sheriff’s Office at the scene.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a freshman at the University of Northern Iowa was struck and killed by a passing tractor-trailer while outside his car on a highway overpass. Cedar Falls Public Safety says 19-year-old Isaac Roerig of Sioux City, was hit Friday on U.S. 20. He was taken to a hospital where he later died.

A Facebook post by Bishop Heelan Catholic High School in Sioux City said Roerig was a 2020 graduate of the school. He was studying music education at UNI. The post described what happened as “devastating.”