From the Associated Press (11:20 a.m.):
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa motorists will soon have the option of keeping their driver’s license on their phones. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that state officials have begun a pilot project to make digital driver’s licenses, or “mobile IDs,” available for download via smartphone apps sometime in 2022. Iowa plans to test devices equipped with digital versions through December, with about 100 state Department of Transportation employees expected to enlist by spring as a test group. The mobile ID will be optional and motorists will still be expected to carry hard-copy licenses.
URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa hospital says it is implementing procedures to ensure it doesn’t repeat a mistake made last weekend, when more than 100 children were given the wrong dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. MercyOne said in a statement that the children under age 12 at a mass vaccination event on Saturday in Urbandale should have received the prescribed 10-microgram dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Instead, they received 20 micrograms, still less than the adult dosage of 30 micrograms. The hospital says the higher dosage could include more pronounced side effects such as a sore arm, mild fever, headache and fatigue.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Milton Andrew Munson’s obituary recalled his life as an Air Force veteran, a pharmacist, husband and father, and as a Nebraska football fan. That was evident in one line in the obit, which reads: “In lieu of flowers, please place an irresponsibly large wager on Nebraska beating Iowa.” The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the obit, written by Munson’s sons, ran Nov. 18 in the Hastings Tribune. It caught fire on social media and captured the attention of two radio hosts. Soon, more than $5,000 had been contributed for the big bet. Some of the money will go to Big Brothers/Big Sisters. The Huskers are a point-and-a-half underdog in Friday night’s game.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Western Iowa farmer and former Crawford County supervisor Dave Muhlbauer is ending his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Chuck Grassley. Muhlbauer announced Tuesday he would no longer seek the Democratic nomination for Senate. In his announcement, Muhlbauer noted the recent death of a nephew and the “devastating effect” on his family. Muhlbauer began his campaign in May. Former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer, retired Navy Adm. Mike Franken, Minden City Council member Glenn Hurst and former state Rep. Bob Krause of Burlington are still seeking the Democratic nomination. Grassley is running for an eighth U.S. Senate term. State Sen. Jim Carlin also is seeking the Republican nomination.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A 17-year-old suspect is now charged with first-degree murder and other crimes in the shooting death of an 18-year-old in Des Moines. Authorities on Tuesday announced the charges against Quarian Deonte Moore. He was arrested Thursday on several warrants unrelated to the killing. Police say further investigation led to the charges in the Nov. 14 shooting death of Dean Titus Deng of Des Moines. Deng was found in a vehicle with a gunshot injury and died at a hospital. A second person was treated for a minor gunshot injury. The killing was the 12th in Des Moines in 2021.
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – An Illinois man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for killing his former girlfriend and leaving her body at the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. KCRG-TV reports that 22-year-old Richard Forsythe of Galena, Illinois, was sentenced Tuesday in the February death of 20-year-old Jennifer Lopez. Authorities say she was stabbed at least 15 times. Forsythe pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and won’t be eligible for parole for 35 years. Relatives and friends of Lopez packed the Dubuque County courtroom, many wearing pink shirts reading “Justice for Jennifer Lopez.”
