More than half of Black Hawk County’s adult population has gotten at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of the beginning of this week…that’s according to county health department information disclosed at Wednesday’s health board meeting. Just under 53 percent of residents 18 years of age and older is either fully or partially vaccinated against the virus. Of those 65 and older, the number is nearly 84 percent. Officials admit that demand and interest for the COVID-19 vaccine in Black Hawk County is now declining. Black Hawk County’s overall vaccination rate is just above Iowa’s overall vaccination rate of 50.9%.
The University of Northern Iowa has announced the second finalist in the search for its next Provost will be interviewing today and tomorrow. Dr. Kelly Burke, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate College at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, will interview remotely with faculty, staff, students and other members of the campus community. Burke is one of four candidates invited to participate in the final round of interviews. The other candidates will visit virtually next week. Information about each candidate will be made public 24 hours before their visit.
Police say a Des Moines police officer and three others were injured in a collision, and one driver was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Police say it happened Tuesday evening, when a car pulled out of a driveway along Hickman Road and hit a police SUV that had its lights and siren activated at the time. Police say Officer Angel Perez, two people in the other car and a pedestrian who was hit by flying debris from the collision were all treated and released from hospitals. Police say the driver of the car, 24-year-old Ibrahim Lugendo, was arrested on suspicion of second-offense OWI, driving without a valid license and other counts.
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed new legislation yesterday addressing the state’s broadband infrastructure. The new law is expected to dramatically improve internet connectivity across the state. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers. The governor noted that Iowa currently has the second-slowest broadband speed in the country and a third of the state’s counties are in so-called broadband deserts. Reynolds said the bill will facilitate better healthcare, better public services and better jobs across the state.
Hardin County authorities say they have recovered the body of a man in the Iowa River, and are ruling it “accidental” at this point. Officials received a 911 call reporting a man in distress jumping into the water shortly before 6:30 Tuesday evening north of the Washington Avenue Bridge in Iowa Falls. After their search and rescue efforts, the man’s body was recovered just before 10 p.m. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Ames City Council has approved installing security cameras in Campustown near Iowa State University, after first considering the move around ten years ago. Last summer, the streetscape in the 100 block of Welch Avenue was rebuilt and the city of Ames installed fiber-optic lines to be able to connect the cameras to the city system. Initially there were concerns over privacy issues by some members of the Campustown Action Association, a group of around 40 businesses operating in the Campustown area. That group ultimately decided the benefits outweighed the privacy concerns and approved the plan. The proposal was also approved by Iowa State University Student Government.
A Mason City driver was injured after running off the road at a highway interchange during the noon hour Tuesday. The Iowa State Patrol says 30-year-old Garrette True was westbound on Highway 18 and taking the cloverleaf ramp to southbound Interstate 35 south of Clear Lake, when True’s vehicle left the roadway, rolled down the embankment, and ended up on its side. The patrol says True’s life was saved by wearing a seatbelt. He was flown by helicopter to MercyOne Medical Center North Iowa for treatment of injuries.
