Democrat Rita Hart announced she will bypass further state challenges and seek help by the U.S. House as she challenges her 6-vote defeat to Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa’s Second Congressional District. The Secretary of State certified the result this week after a district-wide recount found Miller-Meeks ahead by 6-votes. The Hart campaign had until yesterday to file a state action, but claimed Iowa law requiring a state election challenge be completed by December 8th would not be enough time. So instead, Hart will file a federal petition with the House Committee on Administration, under the Federal Contested Elections Act. She’s choosing to have the Democrat-controlled House determine if she should be recognized as Iowa’s member of Congress, as opposed to her state-certified opponent, Republican Miller-Meeks.
Waterloo police have identified the victim in Tuesday afternoon’s shooting near the intersection of Logan Avenue and Kern Street. Police said 44-year-old Terrell Manning was injured by a gunshot wound to the left side of his face. He is receiving treatment in Iowa City. Authorities have not released any other information at this time.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a burglary that led to the discovery of an active meth lab. Just after 5 a.m. on Tuesday, November 24th, deputies on patrol discovered a burglary to a camper that was parked in rural Fayette. After investigating, they arrested 22-year-old Dalton Bunn of Maynard. The Sheriff’s Office served search warrants on the car Bunn was driving and his home. Authorities discovered he had an active meth lab in an outbuilding at that home. Bunn has been charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, two counts of burglary in the third degree, and single counts of burglary in the second degree and criminal mischief in the first degree. He was taken to Fayette County Jail where he was released the next day by the courts to pre-trial services. Deputies said the investigation is ongoing and more charges and arrests could be made.
Half of the approximate $133.4 million of damage Cedar Rapids businesses sustained in the August 10th derecho was not covered by insurance, according to a City of Cedar Rapids survey. The city presented those findings at Tuesday’s City Council meeting as an overview of the impact of the storm, which does not include losses by the government or individuals. The 2020 derecho that tore across Iowa and other Midwest states is the most costly natural disaster in U.S. history with an estimated $10 billion in losses. Property damage made up the bulk of the Cedar Rapids losses, totaling $69 million. Lost sales made up another large chunk, adding up to an estimated $41 million. More than half of businesses in Cedar Rapids were closed for a week or more after the derecho hit, 32% were closed 2 weeks or more. The survey found industries already hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic–tourism, retail and dining—were the hardest hit by the storm. On the positive side, of the 112 businesses that responded to the survey, just 15% planned job cuts in 2020 due to the storm losses.
Meanwhile, the city of Des Moines said yesterday it has lost $25 million in revenue since the pandemic began. It’s the biggest loss city leaders say they can remember, and that means big changes to the city budget. The losses come from several areas, similar in Iowa’s other large cities. Fewer people are shopping and parking and staying in hotels downtown, so sales tax revenue is down. Fewer people are driving, and that decreases the gas tax revenue. The city says fewer office workers means sanitary sewer revenues are down too. Officials say they do not expect job cuts or cuts in services, but capital spending on things like new roads likely will be scaled back.
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the COVID-19 Arts & Cultural Recovery Program yesterday. Some $7 million in federal CARES Act funding will go to provide short-term relief to arts venues, cultural organization and creative workers who have lost significant business or income due to the pandemic. The program will be offered through the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. The Iowa Arts & Cultural Recovery Program will provide grants to venues to make up for lost admissions, ticket sales, and other revenue, as well as to artists who can demonstrate lost revenue or increased expenditures, due to the pandemic.
A Lisbon man was taken into custody after leading police on a high-speed chase Tuesday night. It happened at around 6:30 p.m. in Central City. A Linn County Deputy attempted to stop 37-year-old Hunter Campbell for driving 65 mph in a 20 mph zone. Campbell failed to stop and a pursuit ensued northbound on Highway 13, reaching speeds of 90 mph. The chase continued into Jones County. Ultimately, Monticello Police were able to deploy a tire deflation device and stop the car. Campbell was charged with Eluding, Operating While Intoxicated 3rd Offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Prescription Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Carrying Weapons, and multiple traffic offenses.
The Iowa Department of Corrections reports a second prison worker has died from COVID-19. The department says a staff member from the Clarinda Correctional Facility died on November 28. No other information about the staffer has been released. The first prison worker died with COVID-19 on November 16; that employee worked at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville. So far, 10 inmates across the state have died from COVID-19-related complications.
The Iowa Department of Public Health reported yesterday an additional 22 Iowans died of COVID-19, making a total of 2,449 Iowans who have died because of the virus. In the most recent 24-hour reporting period, 2,964 Iowans tested positive for the virus. According to the data the state makes available, the positivity rate over the last 24 hours was 43 percent. There are currently a total of 1,162 Iowans hospitalized with the virus, with 181 having been admitted in the previous 24 hours. Of the hospitalized patients, 226 are in the ICU and 131 are on ventilators.
Waterloo native and Iowa wrestling icon Dan Gable will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump next Monday at the White House. Gable’s entire family, including his 13 grandchildren, will be in attendance. The Presidential Medal of Freedom recognizes individuals who have made meritorious contributions to the country’s national interests or culture. Gable, was a two-time national champion at Iowa State University who later went on to become an Olympic gold medalist in 1972. He then coached the Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling program to 15 NCAA team titles before retiring in 1997. Gable joined President Trump on stage at a political rally in Des Moines on Oct. 14.
