(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Department of Public Health says two Iowans who returned recently from China are undergoing testing for the coronavirus. Department Medical Director, Kaitlin Pedati says the two are under voluntary home confinement while testing is done. “These individuals are isolated with Public Health Supervision and this testing is being done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We anticipate the results will likely come back to us in several days,” Pedati says.

She says they won’t release any more information on the identity of the two. “We always balance patient privacy and security with sharing information that is important to protecting the public’s health. We do that thoughtfully and in accordance with state and federal laws,” according to Pedati. “So, in this circumstance, we’re not going to be providing any additional information about the patients or their location to the public.”

Doctor Pedati says there is no confirmation that the two actually have the cornonavirus until the results come back. “There’s no recommended action that the general public needs to take at this time. Now, if that were to change, we would certainly adjust accordingly,” she says. Pedati says we are still in the flu season and everyone should continue to take precautions to avoid any kind of virus.

“We want Iowans to remember those good respiratory etiquette habits of covering your cough, washing your hands and truly staying home from work or school when you are ill — which we know is hard to do,” Pedati says. She says there is one group of people who should pay particular attention to their health. “We also want to reiterate that anybody who has traveled to China in the past 14 days and become sick with fever or breathing problems, should reach out to their health care provider and call ahead to let them now they are coming,” According to Pedati.

“And we’d like health care providers to be on the lookout for people with these symptoms who have traveled to China within the last 14 days.” Thousands of people have been infected in China and nearly 500 have died.

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Buttigieg is clinging to a slight lead over Bernie Sanders in a new batch of votes released by the Iowa Democratic Party. The race remained too early to call with 75% of precincts reporting by Wednesday afternoon, almost two full days after the state hosted its first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. Much of the political world has already shifted its attention to New Hampshire, which votes on Tuesday.

Wednesday’s updated results show Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar trailing. Iowa officials attributed their delay to technical problems. The chaos surrounding the reporting breakdown has undermined the impact of Iowa’s election, which typically rewards winners with a surge of momentum.

Authorities in southwest Iowa are asking for your help in finding a stolen pickup and the man who stole it. Red Oak Police say at around 5:20-a.m. today (Wednesday), officers were notified about a pickup stolen from an alley behind  709 E. Nuckols Street. Surveillance video showed the white Chevy extended cab with Iowa license plate CCU 984, was stolen at around 1:23-a.m., and the suspect was 45-year old Stuart James Andrew Sellers, who is wanted in connection with a theft from the University of Iowa Hospital, had fled from authorities Tuesday evening. The pickup has black fender flares over the wheel wells, a silver toolbox in the back, and rust on the rear bumper. Officials say the keys to the vehicle had been left in the unlocked pickup. If you see the vehicle, call Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-888-434-2712. You can remain anonymous, and your information could result in a cash reward.

Stuart Sellers

Authorities said on Tuesday, Red Oak Police were contacted by detectives with the University of Iowa Police, who requested assistance in attempting to positively identify a possible burglary suspect. The U-of-I Hospital had recently been the victim of a burglary resulting in a loss of more than $10,000. Items stolen included electronic equipment, printers, phones, personal belongings and miscellaneous equipment. Red Oak Police located the suspect (Stuart Sellers), and began an investigation into attempting to positively identifying him for the U-of-I Police. During the investigation, Sellers fled on foot and eventually entered a creek.

A perimeter was set up, and three K-9 units as well as the Montgomery County Emergency Management drone equipped with an infra-red search camera, searched for Sellers. Despite their efforts, authorities lost track of Sellers and called off the search at around 8:45-p.m., Tuesday. As a result of the investigation, though, authorities were able to recover a majority, if not all, of the stolen property. The investigation is ongoing, and charges are currently pending against Sellers. If you have any information on his location, contact Montgomery County Crimestoppers or Red Oak Police, at 712-623-6500.

Red Oak Police were assisting in their investigation and incident by: The University of Iowa Police Department; Montgomery, Mills, and Fremont County Sheriff’s Offices, as well as the Montgomery, Mills and Fremont County K9 Units.

(12-p.m. News)

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, is not pleased with Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s action to tear up a copy of the President’s speech right after he finished the State of the Union. “I’ll put it diplomatically — I thought it was very disrespectful…Just truly unbelievable really that the Speaker of the House would act out in such as way,” Ernst says. Ernst says it was not appropriate. “I know that she and the president have disagreements and we are obviously going through a very trying time in the last several weeks and months — but that does not excuse her behavior,” Ernst says.

Some of the trying times that Ernst refers to is the impeachment hearings. She says she will vote not against impeachment when it comes before the U-S Senate. “Bottom line, the articles of impeachment that were sent over from the House clearly do not define anything that the president has done that rises to the level of impeachment,” according to Ernst. Ernst was also asked about the issues with the Iowa Caucuses during her weekly conference call with reporters. She doesn’t buy into any conspiracy theories about what happened. “I think it was technology. And we all know that certainly technology needs to be rigorously tested,” Ernst says. “And so I don’t want to go into any of the political side conversations. So, I do think that it was simply a failure of technology.”

She says the Iowa Caucuses are still important in the selection of the president. “The process itself — you know I still believe in it and think the grassroots way that we do business in Iowa is very, very helpful. Not only to our citizens, but also very helpful to all of those candidates,” according to Ernst. “Iowa is a great testing grounds — it doesn’t matter who you are — whether you are a campaign with the least amount of money, or a campaign with the most amount of money.”

Ernst says she will continue to defend the process because she believes it puts the candidates through a rigorous test with all the questions they face in the state.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), set Feb. 26^th at 9:30-a.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing, with regard to a Proposed Property Tax Levy. Adair County Auditor Mandy Berg said the Board discussed the proposal this (Wednesday) morning, as well. She said they are required by law to complete a Maximum Levy Budget Notice, hold a Public Hearing on the notice, and then approve by Resolution during their regular budget hearing. Berg presented the figures to the Board, which show the tax dollars raised this year was only a .95 (point-nine-five) percent increase in the General and General Supplemental Fund.

She said rural property owners would see a .25 (point Two-five) percent increase, under the proposal. In other business, Berg said Brenda Dudley, from Stuart, spoke to the Board about closing down White Pole Road for a few hours, on April. 18^th for the 2^nd Annual, “Bonnie and Clyde” Run/Walk from Dexter to Stuart. The road will be closed from 10:30-a.m. until 1-p.m. that day, for the event, which begins at the Dexter City Museum and follows White Pole Road into Stuart. It ends in downtown Stuart, near the former 1^st National Bank (The site of Bonnie and Clyde’s last bank robbery in April, 1934).

For more information look for the Bonnie and Clyde 5 mile Run/Walk on Facebook.

The Iowa Dept. of Public Safety today (Wednesday), identified the victim of a shooting that occurred Friday night, in Monona County. Authorities say an autopsy by the State Medical Examiner determined 16-year old Joseph Hopkins, of Mapleton, died as the result of a single gunshot wound. Investigators do not believe there is a current danger to the public.

The teen’s body was discovered when Mapleton Police and EMS responded to a reported shooting in Mapleton, at around 9:40-p.m., Friday.  Authorities spoke with minors in the residence as part of their investigation, which is ongoing. No further details are being released at this time.

(Radio Iowa) — Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is bringing up the delayed results from the Iowa Caucuses as he campaigns in New Hampshire.  “For some reason in Iowa, they’re having a little bit of trouble counting votes,” Sanders said, drawing laughter from the crowd, “but I am confident that here in New Hampshire, I know they’d be able to count your votes on Election Night.”

With 71 percent of the Iowa Caucus precincts reporting, Sanders leads in the “popular vote” measurement, but trails Pete Buttigieg in the delegate count by about one-and-a-half percent. Sanders told reporters on his campaign plane that there is “no excuse” for the Iowa Democratic Party’s failure. “We should all be disappointed in the inability of the (Iowa Democratic) Party to come up with timely results,” Sanders said, “but we are not casting aspersions on the results that are being counted.”

Elizabeth Warren will finish third in the Iowa Caucuses and she got laughs from a New Hampshire audience by mentioning the results. “Wow, but here’s what we know. It’s a tight, three-way race at the top. We know that the three of us will be dividing up most of the delegates coming out of Iowa. I’m feeling good,” Warren said, to cheers. Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar are going to finish behind the three Iowa Caucus leaders.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports they were notified at around 9:48-p.m. Tuesday, that a man with a gunshot wound was at the hospital in Creston. 48-year old William Ray Peckham was treated for a non-life threatening injury, and released. The incident remains under investigation. Additional information was not released.

And, 24-year old Cody Joseph Reighard, of Creston, was arrested at around 7:15-p.m. Tuesday, in Jasper County. Reighard was taken into custody on two Union County warrants for violation of probation. He was being held without bond for Union County, in the Adams County Jail, pending an appearance before a magistrate.