Officers with the Council Bluffs Police Department responded at around 8:12 pm Monday, to a robbery call at the D & S Express convenience store, located at 1220 N. 25th Street. It was reported that a male came into the store displayed a handgun and took an undisclosed amount of cash, he then fled the area southbound towards Roberts Park.

The male was described as white (unknown age), 5’8 to 5’10, skinny build, white baseball hat with sunglasses on top of the hat, black jacket, blue jean, black handgun and had acne scars on his face. As the time of the report late Monday night, the suspect was unknown. No injuries were reported.

An investigation was underway by the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division. Anyone with any information that was in the area at the time of this incident is encouraged to contact this Division at 712-328-4728 or they may call Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

(Radio Iowa) — Two of the state’s five medical cannabis dispensaries have abruptly closed. The Have a Heart Compassionate Care dispensaries in Council Bluffs and Davenport are permanently closed. A news release from the Iowa Department of Public Health says state officials were “made aware today” of the decision to close the two outlets. There are three other state-licensed facilities that sell medical cannabis products in Sioux City, Waterloo and Windsor Heights, which is a Des Moines suburb.

In a written statement, officials in the Department of Public Health said the agency will work to license two new dispensaries in western and eastern Iowa as soon as possible. The medical cannabis industry has been lobbying legislators to expand the state law that set up the system for growing, producing and selling cannabis products in Iowa, arguing current restrictions mean they are not able to make a go of their businesses.

Last year, Governor Kim Reynolds vetoed a bill that would have let the businesses sell more potent medical marijuana products. This year, lawmakers have been crafting a bill that would meet the governor’s objections, but medical marijuana advocates say it’s still too restrictive.

Council Bluffs, Iowa- Officials with Miller Orthopedic Specialists say they are now offering Telehealth options for all established patients. With COVID-19 (Coronavirus) cases on the rise, Miller Orthopedic Specialists is working hard to provide quality care while protecting their patients and staff. This would give the opportunity to better practice social distancing while still providing for patients’ orthopedic needs.

The telehealth option for established patients will allow the clinic staff and providers to interact with patients through Internet capabilities, audio and video via their tablets, phones or computers. This will help the doctors do check-ups on patients without the patient feeling as though they are being put at risk by going out. With many older patients, this is very important as it allows the patient to be seen and have their questions answered, without having to leave their home.

During a time of uncertainty, it is important that patients can feel as though they can have their orthopedic needs addressed without endangering themselves or others. It will help limit patients having to cancel their appointments by providing better access to this healthcare.

While this option is currently only available for established patients, it will still greatly increase the safety of new patients and staff. Telehealth can provide a quick, accessible and easy option for appointments, without violating social distancing.

Patients can call the Council Bluffs office 712-323-5333 or Omaha office 402-991-9958 to schedule an appointment.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Workforce Development has updated its leave policy for filing unemployment insurance benefits following the enactment of the federal coronavirus relief bill. Iowa Workforce says, employees who are or will be laid off, or are unable to work for reasons related to COVID-19, will no longer be required to use all paid leave prior to being eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.

This change is not retroactive and claims will not be backdated prior to the week of March 29th for new or existing claims. The federal bill known as the CARES ACT provides funding to help sustain the Iowa Unemployment Trust Fund, which is funded entirely by employers doing business in Iowa and is the source of all benefit payments.

For more information, see the Iowa Workforce Development website.

(Radio Iowa) — State officials have confirmed there’s an outbreak of COVID-19 at a Cedar Rapids nursing home. Governor Kim Reynolds made the announcement Monday afternoon:

“Twenty-one of Linn County’s 71 total positive COVID-19 cases are directly related to this outbreak,” Reynolds says. “State and local public health officials are working closely with the facility regarding the care of those who are sick and assisting with the monitoring of residents and staff.”

Last week, Reynolds issued an order that all staff entering any long-term care facility in the state be screened for a fever, as that’s one of the key symptoms of COVID-19. Some city and county officials in the state have been asking the governor to issue a statewide “stay at home” order, but she says the data does not indicate that move is necessary at this point.

Officials with the Cass County Health System in Atlantic report, that as of 2-p.m. today (Monday), CCHS has done 34 tests. None have come back positive. 33 have come back as negative for COVID-19, and one is pending. The test result numbers released so far, are only what CCHS has tested. Officials say if someone who lives in Cass County was tested by another provider, CCHS would not know that.

While Cass County remains COVID-19 free, one case of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed in Guthrie County. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Guthrie County Public Health, the individual is self-isolating at home.

Guthrie County Public Health Director Jotham Arber said “While this is Guthrie County’s first case, it may not be the last, and that’s why we encourage all residents to continue working together as a community to make prevention a priority.”