Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater says there were four arrests between March 8th and the 14th. On the 14th, 54-year old Kim Lei Planthaber, of Moline, IL., was arrested following a traffic stop on Interstate 80. She was taken into custody for Operating a Vehicle (a 2019 Nissan Versa) without the Owner’s Consent, and driving without a valid driver’s license. The vehicle in question was a Hertz rental that had been reported stolen out of Moline. Dispatch was advised a female was walking eastbound on I-80 near mile marker 81. She was subsequently identified as Kim Planthaber. The woman was carrying a pillow and a purse, and was only wearing one shoe.

Authorities say when she was approached, Planthaber seemed very confused as to how she got to where she was. She was cold and showed signs of “severe drug use.” EMS received the number of her son, who said she had taken off the day before in a car her husband had rented, and did not tell anyone where she was going. Her son acknowledge the woman had a severe problem with cocaine and methamphetamine, and refused treatment. Her husband reported the vehicle as stolen. Lei remains in the Adair County Jail on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

On March 11th, 34-year old Jordan Eugene Kralik, of Creston, was arrested in Creston, for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense, for an incident that took place the previous evening, and involved his wife. Kralik was released later in the day on a $300 cash or surety bond. On March 10th, 37-year old Matthew John Harter, of Greenfield, was arrested by Greenfield Police, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (a pipe) and Possession of a Controlled Substance (marijuana). Harter was released later in the day on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

And, on March 8th, 21-year old Kaylee Starr Carleton, of Greenfield, was arrested on a Dallas County warrant. Her cash/surety bond was set at $300.

(Radio Iowa) — Fifty dollars for a 12-pack of toilet paper? Iowans are being warned to use common sense and to not give in to ridiculous prices for products that are in high demand because of the coronavirus pandemic. Lynn Hicks, communications director for the Iowa Attorney General’s office, says they’re investigating multiple reports of price gouging at Iowa stores and online retailers. “Whether it’s hand sanitizer or protective masks, they’re seeing high prices,” Hicks says. “We encourage people to send us the information, file a complaint with us and we’ll look into it.”

Iowans are warned to be on-guard when they see offers for a coronavirus cure or treatment — as there are none. Iowans are also getting calls from people claiming to be with a public health organization, when they’re just crooks phishing for your personal information. During an emergency like this, Hicks says it’s natural for prices on some hard-to-find items to rise, but not to the point of gouging. “Prices may be higher because sellers could incur increased costs,” Hicks says, “but when there are situations where the prices have gone up so much and there’s no other reason than somebody’s trying to take advantage of a disaster, that’s when we have the ability to step in.”

The state attorney general’s office has appealed to one of the world’s largest online retailers over reports from Iowans about items with unreasonable prices. “We’ve already been in contact with Amazon,” Hicks says. “They’ve removed several products and offers and a lot of the stuff that’s on there is third-party sellers who are engaged in price gouging so they’ve taken those down.”

Iowans are urged to do research on any organizations or charities claiming to be raising money for victims of the coronavirus by checking with groups like the Better Business Bureau at https://www.give.org. To reach the Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, visit www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov or call 888-777-4590.

DES MOINES, Iowa – On March 16, 2020, at 3:28 pm, the Webster City Police Department responded to a 911 call at 109 Apple Street in Webster City, Iowa, on the report a barricaded subject and hostage situation involving a man and woman. The female reported the male had fired shots at her inside the residence. The Webster City Police Department, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol all responded.

The Iowa State Patrol Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiators responded and negotiated with the male subject for more than hours. The male subject threatened to shoot the female in a specified time period, at which time the Tactical Team made entry into the residence. The male was shot and killed. The names of the parties involved will be released pending the notification of relatives.

The names of the officers involved will be released at a later time. Three Iowa State Patrol Troopers on the ISP Tactical Team have been placed on administrative leave according to DPS policy.

This incident is under investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Upon completion, the case will be forwarded to the Hamilton County Attorney for review. There is no further threat to the public.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers, Monday night, said two students had absconded from the Clarinda Academy campus, and were traveling in an unknown direction of travel. A search was underway. They were reported missing at around 8:30-p.m.

One of the students is a 15-year old white male, 5’-feet 9-inches tall”, 140-pounds, with blonde hair. He also wears eyeglasses. The second is a 17-year old Native American male. 5’10” 145 lbs. Black hair. No clothing descriptions available.

(Radio Iowa) The Iowa Legislature has suspended its 2020 session for at least 30 days and given Governor Kim Reynolds new authority to use nearly 20 million dollars from the state’s Economic Emergency Fund to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, a Republican from Ankeny, says suspending the legislature follows the advice of public health officials about avoiding large gatherings. “We also think it’s prudent at this time to pause our normal legislative business so that the governor, legislators and government employees can focus exclusively on the coronavirus outbreak,” Whitver says.

In addition, lawmakers voted to lift all limits and let the governor shift money around within the current state budget, if needed.  “We’ll give the governor the authority to do what she needs to do while we’re not in session to make sure that there’s confidence that government will function appropriately at this time,” Whitver says.

House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, says as an added precaution, the plan sets aside enough money to keep state government operating until September 1st.
“Hopefully, we can be back as soon as possible,” Grassley says. “If not, we need to be prepared and making responsible decisions so that the government will continue to operate.”

Republicans AND Democrats voted for these moves. Todd Prichard of Charles City is the House Democratic Leader. “We all can agree that we need to give the governor the powers to take decisive action,” Prichard says.

If the governor decides more than 20 MILLION is needed from the Economic Emergency Fund, GRASSLEY says the 20-member Legislative COUNCIL made up of leaders will convene to approve that withdrawal. “We made sure that the legislature was still involved as much as we could be without bringing everyone back into the building,” Grassley says.

Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen of Des Moines says the COUNCIL could also decide to reconvene the FULL legislature earlier, but she’s hoping lawmakers stay out of the Capitol for at least 30 days. “Setting a good example for Iowans by not gathering in a germ-infested building like this one,” Petersen says, “and making sure that we’re abiding by a quarantine as well.”

Part of the plan ensures schools do NOT have to make up missed days that occur between now and April 12th — but some districts may accumulate more than that. Petersen has a son who’s scheduled to graduate this spring, but that timing could be in doubt in his district and in others, depending on how many days are missed. “The state wants to do what’s in the best interest of families,” Petersen says. “…Safety first and health first.”

Pay for teachers and other school staff is determined by local district officials, but advocates say it’s unlikely districts will withhold pay over the next month since school budgets aren’t being cut. The legislature convened early Monday afternoon. Following hours of private negotiations and meetings, senators began voting on the plan at about 10 p.m. The House ended the legislature’s marathon day at 12:13 a.m today (Tuesday).

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

Des Moines, Iowa — Iowa has another confirmed positive case of COVID-19. Governor Kim Reynolds said Monday afternoon a test came back positive on a person in Dallas County, bringing the total in Iowa to 23. It’s not clear if the virus was associated with one of the cruise ships or if it was another case of “Community spread.” The State can only provide information on positive cases in a county of residence, but will no longer be able to provide information regarding any known risk factors or contact information related to those cases, due to changes in the information being presented to the State Hygienic Lab and the Iowa Dept. of Health.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Dozens of Iowa school districts are following the governor’s guidance and suspending classes for four weeks to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.And after legislative leaders made a similar decision to suspend the legislative session, lawmakers began the process Monday of at least temporarily shutting down their work at the Capitol. For schools, the rush to cancel classes came after Gov. Kim Reynolds on Sunday recommended such closures for four weeks after she learned of more cases that indicate the coronavirus is spreading in the state.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A worker at a center for disabled Iowans will be reinstated with years of back pay after a board ruled that he did not intentionally kick a resident in 2017 as alleged by its then-superintendent. The order to overturn Aaron Cole’s firing is the latest setback for management at the Glenwood Resource Center, which is facing investigations into allegations of substandard care and improper medical experimentation. It could also be an expensive one for taxpayers. Cole must be made whole under the Public Employment Relations Board ruling issued earlier this month. That means he’ll receive his roughly $60,000 annual salary and benefits for the past 2 1/2 years, minus any other earnings he received in the meantime.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the names of a woman and her 5-year-old child who died in a Des Moines residential fire. They were identified Monday as Tharassa Page, 40 and her son, Red Eagle Thundercloud Page. Firefighters were sent around 10:45 a.m. Sunday to a duplex, where they found flames coming out of windows on its north side. Three other people inside the residence escaped to safety. No other injuries were reported. The fire cause is being investigated.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s unemployment rate for January was 2.8%. Iowa Workforce Development reported Monday that the rate was unchanged from the revised rate for December. The number of unemployed residents rose slightly in January to an estimated 49,500. The number of people with jobs also increased, to about 1.7 million. Iowa’s rate is tied for the 10th lowest in the nation. The U.S. unemployment rate for January was 3.6%.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says is doing its part in preparing and taking precautions regarding the Covid-19 Pandemic. Currently the Shelby County Jail has cancelled all family & friend visitation, all jail programming, and all jail classes inside the facility, and public fingerprinting until April 6th, 2020.

Officials say “We will continue to monitor the situation and make changes as they arise. Our goal is to return to normal visitation and jail programming as soon possible.  We thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time.”

Any questions or concerns can be directed to Jail Administrator Kyle Lindberg at 712-755-5026 or klindberg@shco.org

Iowa has another confirmed positive case of COVID-19. Governor Kim Reynolds said Monday afternoon a test came back positive on a person in Dallas County, bringing the total in Iowa to 23. It’s not clear if the virus was associated with one of the cruise ships or if it was another case of “Community spread.” The State can only provide information on positive cases in a county of residence, but will no longer be able to provide information regarding any known risk factors or contact information related to those cases, due to changes in the information being presented to the State Hygienic Lab and the Iowa Dept. of Health.

The Governor said also, the legislature is considering legislation to waive the instructional time requirement in Iowa (normally a mandatory 1,080 hours or 180 days), through April 12th. The legislation would also provide Reynolds with the authority to waive the requirement for a longer period of time if it becomes necessary. Once they have finished drafting the legislation, she has indicated she will sign it.

Reynolds said while schools are out, coordinated efforts are being made to provide lunches for students, as well as Child Care Assistance. “We know that closing schools will have a ripple effect on Iowa families, businesses and our work force, and I understand many families are concerned about how to care for their children and continue to go to work,” Reynolds said.

“My staff is working hand-in-hand with the Department of Education (DOE), the Dept. of Human Services (DHS) and the Dept. of Public Health (IDPH), to put policies in place that ensure continued access to child care during this time,” she added. Gov. Reynolds said that would include financial assistance so that child care providers who receive child care assistance are paid on enrollment, rather than attendance, and a way to expedite licensing so “We can quickly ramp-up child care capacity. Many low income families who rely on meal programs in their schools are worried about how to feed their children at home,” Reynolds said.

She said “Iowa has already applied for and received a USDA waiver to allow schools to continue serving meals upon closure. Schools will be able to activate their Summer Meal Program and provide meals in non-group settings, such as drive thru pickup or a “Grab-and-go.” The DOE is currently working with school districts now, on the details, and schools will provide more information to families soon.

She said also, a second shift is being added to the State Hygienic Lab to increase the capacity and speed of COVID-19 test results from 54-to 108 per day. If the situation warrants, Reynolds said they are ready to add a third shift, so that tests can be run “around the clock.” National labs have also begun running tests from Iowa. Those labs are required to report all COVID-19 positive test results to the State Hygienic Lab. Those numbers will be included in the State’s daily update. They will not know the number of Iowa tests pending at the national lab, or the number of negative test results.

Authorities continue to stress people should wash their hands frequently, use hand sanitizer, and avoid large crowds. President Trump today said experts have determined people should avoid massing in groups greater than 10. That number has dropped from a high of 250, to 50, and now 10, as authorities look to limit the potential spread of the virus.