Unofficial results from the Shelby County Auditor’s Office show Rick Kiesel was the winner of a special election held Tuesday (July 7), to fill a vacancy on the Shelby City Council. Kiesel garnered 58 votes, and will serve the remainder of a term left open by the unexpected death of Donavan Dontje.

Kiesel will hold the seat through 2023. His challenger Patty Welsh, received 46 votes.

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

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds says city and county officials in Iowa do not have the authority to implement mandatory mask wearing unless the governor says they can. Reynolds on Tuesday reiterated her stance when asked about a proclamation signed by Muscatine Mayor Diana Broderson on Sunday requiring residents to wear a face covering in public. Reynolds says local government officials cannot under Iowa law implement orders that conflict with public health declarations of the governor. Reynolds also acknowledges spikes in cases in some counties among young adults. She says if it’s tied to bars she may consider limiting hours or rolling back “some of the mitigation efforts on bars.”

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Prosecutors in Iowa have filed a rarely used leak charge against a Black Lives Matter protester accused of stealing a confidential police document and another who allegedly displayed it during a TV news broadcast. The two have been charged with unauthorized dissemination of intelligence data. It’s a felony charge that carries up to five years in prison. The Iowa Judicial Branch says it’s only the second time the charge has been used since 2010. Des Moines police spokesman Paul Parizek says it’s appropriate given the circumstances of the case. The document was a bulletin related to protesters who were under investigation for allegedly destroying a police car.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Employees at the Iowa Veterans Home have been disciplined more than 20 times for personal protective equipment lapses that potentially exposed residents and staff to coronavirus. Commandant Timon Oujiri says the strict approach to requiring masks and other equipment when interacting with residents and colleagues has helped keep coronavirus largely out of the state’s biggest nursing home. He says 25 employees and seven residents have tested positive since the beginning of the pandemic and all have recovered. Oujiri says he considers that a major success, noting that the Marshalltown home has 456 residents and 900 employees. Nineteen employees have been suspended or reprimanded for potentially exposing residents or staff, and two others were fired during their probationary periods.

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she will spend $50 million in federal funding on adult and childhood mental health and substance abuse programs. The money is part of the state’s allocation from the $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package that was approved by Congress and signed by the president in March. Reynolds says $30 million will be used for mental health services administered regionally across the state. The remaining $20 million will go to mental health and substance abuse providers to cover increased costs. Reynolds says stress caused by the coronavirus has increased the need for mental health services.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says the state trooper who hit a Black Lives Matter protester last week with the governor’s S-U-V did nothing wrong. The protester, who was not hurt, has said he hoped that by positioning himself in front of the S-U-V, the governor would roll down her window and speak with protesters. “I do feel like the driver acted appropriately and I think if you look at the report that Commissioner Bayens in the Department of Public (Safety) put forth, as we were leaving the facility the individual sped up and stepped in front of the vehicle intentionally and you cannot block traffic as we’re leaving an event.”

Jaylen Cavil  — a lead organizer for Des Moines Black Lives Matter — told the Iowa Capitol Dispatch it was the governor’s driver who acted inappropriately and anyone else who hit a person with a vehicle would be treated differently by law enforcement. Cavil also tweeted it was unacceptable that reporters asked Reynolds about the incident in an Ackley parking lot, but did not ask about felon voting rights during the governor’s 35 minute news conference on Tuesday.

Five people were arrested on drug charges in Mills County over the past four days. Sheriff’s officials say Monday morning, 21-year old Tanner Lee Anthony Bailey, of Malvern, was arrested following a traffic stop at Highway 34 and 315th Street. Bailey was charged with: Distributing drugs to a minor; Intent to Deliver marijuana; Possession of a Controlled Substance; 2 counts of Drug Tax Stamp criminal penalties; Possess of a firearm with narcotics; hosting a drug house; and Possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also cited for Failure to Obey a stop sign, and yield the right-of-way. Bond was set at $50,000.

Monday evening, 20-year old Oscar De Eduardo Navarro, of Pacific Junction, was arrested at 221st and Kane Avenue, for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Drug Paraphernalia. Bond was set at $1,300. Also arrested Monday evening, was 25-year old Jericho Cash Clements, of Pacific Junction. He was arrested in Mineola for: Possession of Contraband in a Correctional Institution; Carrying weapon (A knife over 8″); Possession of Paraphernalia; Public Intoxication, and Interference with Official Acts. Bond was set at $7,000.

And, there were two drug-related arrested on July 3rd at 195th and Allis Road, in Mills County. Authorities say 38-year old Dustin Eugene Kalkas and 27-year old Shelby Lynn Ross, both of Shenandoah, were arrested for: Possession w/the intent to deliver – Meth; Possession of Drug paraphernalia, and Drug Stamp Criminal Penalties.

Ross was also charged with Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, and Interference with official acts. She was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail. Kalkas faces additional charges that include: Felony Eluding; Reckless Driving; Speeding, and Failure to show proof of insurance. His bond was set at $100,000.

Other arrests in Mills County include:

• On July 3rd – 23-year old Modesto Antonio Jimenez-Perez, of Waterloo (IA), for OWI/1st offense ($1,000 bond)
• On July 5th – 41-year old Dawn Irene Griffin, of Carter Lake, on a Warrant out of Pottawattamie County for Failure to Appear at a Contempt Hearing. (No Bond).; 27-year old Steven Austin Ripley, of Red Oak, for OWI/3rd offense ($5,000 bond).
• On July 6th – 22-year old Dakota Lynn Girouex, of Red Oak, was arrested at the Pott. County Jail on a Mills County warrant for Eluding, and Theft. (Bond $2,300)

Mills County Public Health officials, Tuesday, reported one additional positive case of COVID-19. The latest case is a person 18-to 40-years of age, who contracted the virus through community spread. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mills County as of Tuesday, was 37.  MCPH reports 33 out of the 37 persons have recovered from the affects of the virus. A total of 1,994 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Mills County.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A coronavirus virus outbreak that has infected 61 inmates and five staff members at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility has claimed the life of its first inmate there. The Iowa Department of Corrections said in a news release Tuesday that 71-year-old Ray Allen Vanlengen was diagnosed with COVID-19 before he died Monday at the University of Iowa Hospital. He also had multiple preexisting medical conditions and had been serving up to 100 years in prison for four sexual abuse convictions from Black Hawk County. The earliest he was eligible to be released was January 2039.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police have released the name of the fourth victim of a fiery single-vehicle crash southwest of downtown Des Moines. Des Moines police said Tuesday that the Polk County Medical Examiners Office has identified the victim as 23-year-old Zachary McBride, of Weaver. Police previously identified the other victims as the car’s driver, 22-year-old Ross Jacob Welsher, and passengers 22-year-old Jordan Van Gundy and 24-year-old Jacob Lee Van Gundy, all of Des Moines.

A woman also was injured but survived. Investigators said the crash happened around 2:30 a.m. Sunday near Water Works Park. The car caught fire after crashing into a tree, police said.

(Des Moines, IA) – Today (Tuesday) Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that $50,000,000 in federal funds allocated through the CARES Act will be invested in Iowa’s mental health care system. (Watch Governor Reynolds’ announcement on Facebook here.)

“We are making meaningful investments into Iowa’s mental health services to help vulnerable Iowans and their families,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Today’s investment is not only about adapting to the challenges we face today, but sustaining a compassionate and coordinated system for the future. I also want to commend Flora Schmidt with the Iowa Behavioral Health Association and Andrew Allen, CEO of Youth and Shelter Services for making a difference in the lives of so many Iowans.”

$50,000,000 in CARES Act will be allocated through the providers: 

Mental Health Providers – $10M

• Will go to Medicaid providers of non-hospital based inpatient and outpatient services to cover increased costs associated with pandemic.

Substance Use Disorder Providers – $10M 

• Will go to Medicaid providers of non-hospital based residential and outpatient services to cover increased costs associated with pandemic.

Mental Health and Disability Services Regions – $30M

• State will distribute an equal per capita amount to each MHDS region to support ongoing adult and children’s mental health services, including to cover increased service need due to the stressors and isolation associated with pandemic.
• With $98-99M of property tax levy dollars going to MHDS regional services, the additional $30M investment brings the overall system funding to nearly $130M.

Gov. Reynolds was joined at her press conference by Flora A. Schmidt, the Executive Director for the Iowa Behavioral Health Association, Andrew Allen, President & CEO of Youth and Shelter Services, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, and DHS Director Kelly Garcia.