(Radio Iowa) — Republicans in the Iowa House have passed legislation to shield businesses, churches and other organizations from lawsuits over COVID-19. Representative Gary Carlson, a Republican from Muscatine, says it’ll help reboot the economy. “We are dealing with a very uncertain time and uncertainty is what holds economies back more than anything else,” Carlson says. “Countless businesses are concerned…they’re scared to death that they’re going to be sued.”

House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard of Charles City says the bill will reward businesses that haven’t taken steps to adequately protect customers and workers. “We want to recover from COVID. We want businesses to thrive. We want workers to feel safe because we know that when workers feel safe and employers feel safe to go back to work, they will,” Prichard said. “Think about what you’re doing here, because you know what? Your decision and your vote has lives hanging in the balance.”

The legislation would bar people from filing civil lawsuits against health providers or individuals that have for the most part followed public health guidelines for COVID-19. The bill’s new liability protections would be retroactive to January 1st of this year. The bill now goes to the Senate. The Senate’s G-O-P leader has identified this proposal as a priority.

Six people from Fort Wayne, Indiana, were injured during a rollover accident late Sunday afternoon, in Pottawattamie County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2007 GMC driven by 35-year old Carlos Valensia, was traveling east on Interstate 80 near mile marker 19, when for reasons unknown, the vehicle went out of control and entered the median, where it skidded sideways and flipped over before landing on its wheels. The accident happened at around 4:53-p.m.

Among the injured passengers in the vehicle, was 29-year old Lourdes Santamaria, and five juveniles, ages 10, six, five, and two four-year olds. All were wearing their seat belts, and were transported to by Underwood Rescue to Mercy Hospital, in Council Bluffs.

The inside lanes of both I-80 east- and west-bound were closed until debris from the incident was cleared.

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

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Public outrage over the death of George Floyd is spilling over into small town America. Rallies have surfaced in places such as Norfolk, Nebraska, and Sioux City, Iowa, drawing hundreds of people in communities that are mostly white. Experts who study race relations say the protests illustrate the degree to which the movement demanding social justice has spread, fueled by social media and persistent but less visible racism experienced by minorities in smaller cities. The gatherings have been largely peaceful although some turned to violence and vandalism.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa health officials are reporting 5 more deaths linked to the coronavirus outbreak and 151 new cases of the disease caused by the virus. The Iowa Department of Public Health said Sunday that 602 people have died with COVID-19 in the state and 21,589 cases of the virus have been confirmed in the state since the outbreak began. Nearly half of Iowa’s coronavirus cases are located in four counties: Polk, Woodbury, Black Hawk and Buena Vista. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, it can cause more severe illness.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa football strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle denies any “unethical behavior or bias” based on race after being accused by several former players of contributing to what they allege is systemic racism in the program. Doyle was placed on administrative leave Saturday. The move was made by coach Kirk Ferentz in what he called “a defining moment” for Iowa’s football program. Several black former players posted on social media Friday night about issues they saw in the football program and attributed many to Doyle. The 51-year-old assistant coach issued a statement Sunday on Twitter in which he disputes the claims.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a man who was found dead at the scene of what they say was an ambush on police officers during a night of unrest in Davenport, Iowa, earlier this week. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday identified the dead man as Marquis M. Tousant, of Rock Island, Illinois, which is just across the Mississippi River from Davenport. Tousant was found dead at the scene of what authorities say was an ambush on an unmarked police truck in an alley early Monday. Police say men fired several times at the truck, wounding the officer who was driving it. Another officer returned fire. Six suspects were later arrested after a high-speed chase.

Sheriff’s deputies in Montgomery County, Sunday, arrested a College Springs man. 44-year old Jay D. Miles was taken into custody at around 8:45-a.m., on a warrant charging him with a Controlled Substance Violation. Miles was arrested at a residence in College Springs by Page County authorities, and transported to the Montgomery County line, where he was then transported by Montgomery County deputies to the Montgomery County Jail. Miles was being held in the jail on a $10,000 bond.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Public outrage over the death of George Floyd is spilling over into small town America. Rallies have surfaced in places such as Norfolk, Nebraska, and Sioux City, Iowa, drawing hundreds of people in communities that are mostly white. Experts who study race relations say the protests illustrate the degree to which the movement demanding social justice has spread, fueled by social media and persistent but less visible racism experienced by minorities in smaller cities.

The gatherings have been largely peaceful although some turned to violence and vandalism.