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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered restaurants, bars, fitness centers, theaters and casinos to close for two weeks as part of a public health emergency plan designed to ease the community spread of the coronavirus. Reynolds on Tuesday prohibited mass gatherings and events of more than 10 people including parades, festivals, conventions, and fundraisers. The closures are intended to last through March 31. Reynolds says the emergency declaration is necessary to protect the health and safety of Iowans and mitigate the spread of the virus. The Iowa Department of Public Health says 29 residents have now tested positive for coronavirus.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating what appear to be human bones found on a property in northern Des Moines. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release that the remains were found Tuesday morning by children playing in a dirt pile near a home. A medical examiner and Polk County detectives were called around 10:30 a.m. to investigate. Detectives say the bones appear to be old. No other details have been released in the case.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — A man charged with a fatal shooting in Marshalltown is being held on $1 million bail. Marshall County court records say Mustafa Muhammad, 30 is charged with first-degree murder and other crimes. The shooting was reported around 3:30 a.m. Sunday. Officers responding to the report found a critically injured 27-year-old man. Police say he died later at a Marshalltown hospital. He’s been identified as Blake Thomas, who lived in Marshalltown. A 37-year-old woman also suffered a minor wound. She’s been identified as a Marshalltown resident, Sarah DeSautels.

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man who’d taken a woman hostage was shot and killed after an Iowa State Patrol team entered a residence in central Iowa’s Webster City. The Iowa Public Safety Department says officers responded around 3:30 p.m. Monday after the woman called 911 to report that the man had fired shots at her. Police negotiators talked to the man for hours, but he threatened to shoot the woman within a specified time period, The department says that’s when the patrol team went into the home and shot the man. The names of the man and woman haven’t been released.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) said Tuesday, they are taking a number of steps to ensure continued access to critical services during the COVID-19 global pandemic. DHS is exploring all opportunities for flexibility to provide public assistance. Medical, Food and Cash Assistance will continue for current recipients. DHS officials say they will be submitting waivers to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure continuous coverage for recipients of Medical Assistance in Iowa and to ensure providers are able to provide much needed services during this emergency.

Iowa’s waivers will allow the DHS to:

• Waive co-pays and premiums for Iowa Health and Wellness Plan (IHAWP), Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities (MEPD), Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Hawki and Dental Wellness Plan members;
• Pause all dis-enrollments for our medical assistance programs;
• Continuous eligibility for adults CHIP kids who age out will be enrolled in IHAWP
• Equip hospitals to determine presumptive eligibility for categorically eligible members;
• Provide home delivered meals for non-waiver members who are home-bound;
• Provide home delivered meals for waiver members where the waiver does not have meals as an allowable service;
• Allow additional flexibility for home- and community-based services (HCBS) providers to continue to meet our member’s needs throughout the duration of the disaster proclamation.

Iowa also requests a waiver of the following regulatory requirements:

Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities:

• Direct care residential living unit staff: Such authority will permit modifications to direct care staff numbers if required because of reduced staff availability due to the national emergency.
• Continuous active treatment program: This authority will allow for the health and safety needs of residents to be met if sufficient staff are unavailable to implement continuous active treatment due to the national emergency.
• Preventive Care and Dental Services: This will allow for flexibility if the timeliness requirements cannot be met due to the national emergency.
• Housing of similar ages, developmental levels and social needs: This will allow for movement and housing based on availability of sufficient staffing and potential health issues of clients.

Nursing Facility Pre-Admission Screening:

Preadmission screening of applicants for admissions to nursing facilities: Temporary suspension of pre-admission screening and annual resident review which will allow a nursing home to continue admission of an individual who has not had assessment completed if there is a workforce disruption or hospitals reduce or limit outside contact in their facilities.
Hospitals

24-hour nursing requirement: This will permit a nurse to cover more than one ward in the event of staffing shortages caused by the national emergency.

DHS is requesting the waivers be effective retroactive to March 13, 2020, in alignment with the President’s national emergency proclamation. Similar waivers are being developed for their other public assistance programs, such as Food and Cash Assistance. Officials say “We will share additional information in the coming days and weeks. We all have to do our part to care for and support our fellow Iowans during this critical time.”

DES MOINES, Iowa – To support the Governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency pursuant to Iowa Code, the Iowa Department of Public Safety and Iowa Department of Public Health, Tuesday evening, provide the following guidance in the enforcement of this order.

The Proclamation contains a number of orders issued by the Governor in conjunction with the Department of Public Health, including orders related to the closure of:
•    All restaurants and bars. Food or beverages may continue to be sold if delivered to customers off the premises or if such food or beverages are promptly taken from the premises, such as by carry-out or drive-through services.
•    All fitness centers, health clubs, health spas, gyms, and aquatic centers.
•    All theaters or other performance venues at which live performances or motion pictures are shown.
•    All casinos or other facilities conducting pari-mutuel wagering or gaming operations.
•    All facilities that conduct adult day services or other senior citizen centers.

It further prohibits social, community, spiritual, religious, recreational, leisure, and sporting gatherings and events of more than 10 people. This includes parades, festivals, conventions, and fundraisers.

Under Iowa Code [chapters 29C and 135], the orders are enforceable by peace officers and a violation of such orders is a crime: “A peace officer, when in full and distinctive uniform or displaying a badge or other insignia of authority, may arrest without warrant any person violating or attempting to violate in such officer’s presence any order or rule, made pursuant to chapter 29C.  This authority shall be limited to those rules which affect the public generally.” In addition, officers of homeland security and emergency management “shall execute and enforce the orders or rules made by the governor or under the governor’s authority.”

In addition, peace officers have a duty to enforce lawful public health orders within their respective jurisdictions and a violation of an order included in a public health disaster proclamation is a misdemeanor. Under Iowa Code [section 135.35], “all peace officers of the state when called upon by the department shall enforce its rules and execute the lawful orders of the department within their respective jurisdictions.”  Any person who knowingly violates these provisions of the disaster proclamation or a lawful order of an officer is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Tuesday, said they had been notified of six additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19, for a total of 29 positive cases. According to IDPH, three individuals are residents of Johnson County; the other three are residents of Adair, Blackhawk and Dallas Counties.

Earlier today (Tuesday), Gov. Reynolds issued a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency, activating the public health response and recovery aspects of the State Disaster Emergency Plan. She released a video statement that can be viewed here.

The governor also signed SF 2408, legislation that creates emergency measures and supplemental appropriations for key government services to combat the spread of COVID-19. Read more about that here.

A status report of monitoring and testing of COVID19 in Iowa provided by IDPH can be found here. In addition, a public hotline has been established for Iowans with questions about COVID-19. The line is available 24/7 by calling 2-1-1 or 1-800-244-7431.

SWITA taxi service in Atlantic, Harlan, Red Oak, Missouri Valley, Shenandoah and Glenwood is cancelled from tomorrow (March 18th), until further notice. Officials with Atlantic-based SWIPCO (Southwest Iowa Planning Council) said Tuesday, other SWITA service are still running but calling ahead is encouraged.

(Atlantic, IA) — Due to recent mandates implemented by the State of Iowa, all restaurants, bars, theaters, senior centers, adult daycare facilities and recreational facilities are to be closed now through March 31st. Restaurants are encouraged to stay open for carry-out or delivery options. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, said “We’ve been working with local businesses confirming their adjusted business plans for the foreseeable future. We understand the current circumstances can make people feel uneasy.

“We will be tirelessly working to communicate to the community that Atlantic is still open for business. Circumstances have been changing daily and we will do our best to update Atlantic’s current situation as new mandates are put into place.”

Click to enlarge Food Carryout/Delivery/Drive-thru Options

Multiple restaurants throughout Cass County are open for carry-out and delivery options only. Along with restaurants, all retailers in Atlantic are currently open and operating normal business hours. Numerous businesses have implemented online shopping resources, curbside assistance, delivery and phone-in order services. For service industry needs including: Vision, Dental, Veterinary Care, Chiropractic, Medical, Nails & Hair, contact the business directly before arrival.

Some area churches are offering errand running services for those in need. We encourage you to contact your local church for more information. The following banks in Atlantic are operating as drive-thru and online only: Rolling Hills Bank & Trust, TS Bank, Great Western Bank and Nishna Valley Credit Union. Wells Fargo Bank and First Whitney Bank & Trust are currently operating at full service. If loan appointments or other in-person banking services are needed, you are encouraged to call the bank first before arrival.

To keep up with the latest, visit Chamber’s Facebook page or call the office at 712-243-3017.

Officials with the Cass County Auditor’s Office said Tuesday (Today), “Due to the Cass County Courthouse being closed to the public, the Cass County Auditor’s Office will be available to the public by appointment only for the following:

• Candidate Filings
• Passports (only those needed for imminent travel)

You MUST call ahead (712)243-4570 to alert them that you will be on your way. Office staff will go over all matters pertaining to your passport or filing prior to having you come to the courthouse. Once at the courthouse, you will still not be allowed into the building; a staffer will meet you at the south doors. No one from the public will be allowed into the office.

Absentee Voting: Please call or email and a request form will be mailed to you for the upcoming Primary Election (June 2, 2020). You can then mail the form back. Ballots will be mailed out beginning May 4th. The Auditor’s Office URGES everyone to request a ballot by mail with all of the unknowns officials are facing at this time.

All other matters can be handled via email, online or phone. The contact information is as follows:
Email:

• Dale Sunderman (Auditor)- dsunderman@casscoia.us;
• Sheri Karns- skarns@casscoia.us
• Mary Anstey- manstey@casscoia.us

Phone: (712) 243-4570 Ext 0; Website: https://www.atlanticiowa.com/county/county-departments/auditors-office/
Passport information: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones, Tuesday afternoon, issued an Emergency Proclamation effective today (Tuesday), and continuing through 11:59-p.m. on March 31st. Read the proclamation below:

(Radio Iowa) – The governor’s emergency order requires the state-licensed casinos to shut down for the next two weeks. Iowa Gaming Association C-E-O, Wes Ehrecke, says four casinos had already made the decision to temporarily close — and others were discussing it.

“These are unprecedented times, and it’s imperative to flatten the curve to minimize exposure to the coronavirus so we don’t overwhelm the health care system,” Eherecke says.. Iowa’s 19 commercial casinos are premiere entertainment destinations that attract thousands of patrons each week, and we support the governor’s order to help contain that during these critical next two weeks.”

Prairie Meadows Casino in Altoona was the first to announce that it was suspending operations. The casino announced a 30-day closing and says it will continue paying employees during that time. Ehrecke says other casinos might follow that pay policy.

“Anticipate that other gaming companies will do likewise — btu have not confirmed that entirely yet,”Ehrecke says. The casinos have restaurants that are part of their facilities and must shut down inside service — but under the governor’s order could still operate a restaurant drive-through or with take-out service. Eherecke is not sure if that will be an option for casinos.

“If someone had a facility that was capable of a drive-through or a carry-out, they might consider that. But, it’s my understanding that most will close their entire property for the next couple of weeks,” he says. Ehrecke is not sure what type of long-term impact this might have on the casinos.

“There’s is no script for what we are experiencing here as a state, as a country as world,” Ehrecke says. “Those are discussions to be having with the properties as it relates to potential state support or even federal support as it relates to disruption of business, and helping these companies if there is some need relative to that. So, all that discussion I anticipate will be happening here in the next week or two.”

The shut down under the emergency order is effective through March 31st.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating what appear to be human bones found on a property in northern Des Moines. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release that the remains were found Tuesday morning by children playing in a dirt pile near a home.

A medical examiner and Polk County detectives were called around 10:30 a.m. to investigate. Detectives say the bones appear to be old. No other details have been released in the case.