The Creston Police Department reports the arrest at around 1:40-p.m. Tuesday, of 39-year old Jennifer Beard, from Creston. Beard was taken into custody on a Union County Warrant for Violation of a Protection Order. She was being held in the Adams County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Des Moines are investigating the fatal shooting of a man in a city park. Police say officers were called to Prospect Park around 8 p.m. Tuesday for reports of a shooting and found a man critically injured with a gunshot wound. The man was later identified as 31-year-old Paye Blawou of Des Moines. He was taken to an area hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

Police have not released information on what may have led to the shooting, and no arrested had been reported by Wednesday morning. Police say Blawou’s death is the city’s 13th homicide of 2020.

(Radio Iowa) — The American Red Cross is now testing all blood donations from Iowans for COVID-19 antibodies. Red Cross spokesman Joe Zydlo says the tests will let donors know if they have been exposed to coronavirus, plus, it’s another way to encourage people to donate a pint. Zydlo says, “There continues to be an urgent need for blood donations as our hospital partners resume surgeries and treatments that require blood products.” The F-D-A-authorized tests will run until further notice. Donors are expected to learn the results in seven-to-ten days. Zydlo says Red Cross chapters have received several calls from people who reported coronavirus symptoms but never took a test.

“I think this gives people peace of mind, but it’s also a sort of two-way street,” he says. “Number one, they can help by donating blood right now when we have an urgent need. Blood drives continue to be canceled. Hospitals are doing more procedures and surgeries. They’re going to need more blood. More people are on the roads. There could be more of a chance of trauma situations.” Zydlo says the testing will let donors know if they have the antibodies in their bloodstream.

“If they have those in their plasma and they want to come back in and maybe donate some plasma to help COVID-19 patients recover, or they may not have it. But at least it gives them peace of mind,” he says. If you don’t feel well, postpone donating blood. If you think you might have COVID-19, wait until you’re symptom-free for at least 28 days and feeling well before making a donation.

Zydlo says it’s important to note, the Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. Also, a positive antibody test results does -not- confirm infection or immunity, but it does indicate potential exposure to the virus.

The Iowa Department of Public Health reports as of 6-a.m. today (Wednesday), the number of Iowans who have tested positive for COVID-19 to-date, is 26,470. Of that total, 6,799 have a pre-existing condition. Authorities say two more people died from the virus since the last report, for a total of 690. Officials say 486 of the persons who have died to-date, had a pre-existing medical condition.

The number of Iowans who have tested negative is 239,751. Of those who had the virus, 16,716 have recovered. A total of 266,592 tests have been completed, while completed assessments number 774,842.

COVID-19 outbreaks at Long-Term Care facilities (LTC’s) is down to 30. Health officials say 892 staff/residents of those facilities have tested positive for the virus, 558 have recovered and 356 have died.

In southwest/western Iowa RMCC Region 4, seven patients are hospitalized (1 more than Tues), two are in an ICU, there were two new admissions, and one person remains on a ventilator. Statewide the numbers continue to decline, with 140 hospitalized, 43 in an ICU, and 25 on ventilators. Seven people were admitted to a hospital over the past 24-hours, for a total at 21 new admissions.

In the immediate KJAN listening area, the only changes in positive COVID-19 cases and the number of persons who have recovered, are as follows:

• Shelby County: 85 cases (an increase of 2 positive cases from Tuesday) 49 recovered (3 more than yesterday)
• Pottawattamie County: 626 cases w/427 recovered.