Iowa officials have certified a Republican candidate as a six-vote winner for an open seat in the U.S. House, in what is shaping up to be the closest congressional election in decades. Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks finished ahead of Democrat Rita Hart in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District after a recount saw her election night 47-vote lead steadily dwindle to single digits. The state Board of Canvass voted Monday afternoon to certify Miller-Meeks as the winner over Hart by a final count of 196,964 to 196,958—six votes out of 394-thousand cast. The board also certified President Donald Trump as the winner of the state’s six electoral votes.
Iowa coronavirus deaths continued to increase in the past two weeks as the state ends November posting 687 deaths. That’s a 34% increase from the 512 deaths reported in October. Iowa reported 28 additional deaths on Monday, pushing the state total to 2,403. There were 1,200 new coronavirus cases in the previous 24 hours. Hospitalizations continued to fall but some health care officials are expressing concern that they may rise again if Thanksgiving gatherings caused additional virus spread as expected.
Police are investigating gunfire that broke out in a Waterloo neighborhood yesterday afternoon. No injuries were reported, but at least one vehicle was struck by several bullets. This apparently happened in an alley behind the 1100 block of Leavitt just after 3:30 p.m. Spent shell casings were found in the alley around the vehicle. Monday’s shooting comes just two days after a shooting in the same area. A bullet struck a mail box and entered a house on Leavitt Street late Saturday night. No injuries were reported in that shooting, and no arrests have been made.
U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, the longest-serving Republican senator and third in the line of presidential succession, was back in the Senate yesterday after testing positive for coronavirus two weeks ago. The 87-year-old Grassley self-isolated after finding out he had been exposed to the virus and tested positive shortly after that. He said in a statement that he never had any symptoms and had been cleared to return to the office by his doctors. He says the disease affects people differently. He added, “More than a thousand Americans are dying every day and many more are hospitalized. That means we all have to do our part to help protect our friends, family and fellow Americans.”
A northeastern Iowa teenager has been arrested after authorities say he intentionally rammed a law enforcement vehicle while running from police, injuring a Winneshiek County deputy. The incident happened over the weekend, when deputies responded to a report of domestic assault. Deputies say 18-year-old Druey Hood of Decorah left the scene in a stolen vehicle, leading deputies on a high speed chase. Police believe Hood was intoxicated during the chase. Officials say at one point in the chase, Hood turned his vehicle around and rammed a squad car, leaving a deputy with minor injuries. Police say Hood resisted arrest and faces several felony charges.
Law enforcement officials in Iowa City are asking for the public’s help after an apparent robbery on the east side. Just before 8 o’clock Saturday night, Iowa City Police officers were sent to the corner of Muscatine Avenue and First Avenue after a man reported a robbery in the area. According to the man, a woman, who was described as having a dark complexion, wearing a blue sweatshirt and a pink face mask, and being approximately in her 20s, approached him and asked for help getting into a nearby home. The man agreed to help, and she guided him to an alleyway near the 2200 block of Muscatine Avenue. The man told police that the woman then sprayed him in the face with what was likely pepper spray. Afterward, the man said two other men with dark complexions appeared in the alley and assaulted him, then took something of value from him. Police said the man sustained minor injuries. No additional information about the suspects was made available. An investigation into the matter is ongoing.
Police responded to a shooting incident at a home in the 400 block of F Avenue NW just before 11 o’clock yesterday morning. Officials said they found one deceased person at the scene and a person of interest is being questioned. Police believe this to have been a targeted shooting. Investigation is ongoing.
Cedar Rapids Police are investigating after an armed robbery at the Subway located at 555 Gateway Place SW just after 7 p.m. Sunday night. Someone robbed the same Subway 12 days earlier. In the latest case, officials said a man entered the restaurant, displayed a handgun and demanded money. There have been no arrests at this time. This is yet another in a string of reported armed robberies at businesses in Cedar Rapids over the last three weeks. Officials have reported armed robberies at three Hy-Vee locations, a Little Caesars and a Perkins restaurant in addition to the two robberies at Subway. Police have not said if these incidents are connected.
Due to the increased community spread of coronavirus the City of Waterloo will stop holding in person hybrid city council meetings and move to virtual meeting only using the Zoom platform. The change will take effect next Monday. The public can find a link to meetings on the City Council page of the City website. Registration is required to participate virtually. Access to the meetings is also available through Waterloo Public Access TV channel and on the City’s YouTube page. These changes include public hearings.
Federal transportation officials say an Oklahoma man was caught with a loaded handgun in his carry-on bag at an Iowa airport. The incident happened last Tuesday at the Des Moines International Airport, but details were just made available this week. Transportation Security Administration agents say a .380 caliber handgun loaded with six bullets, plus an additional 13 bullets, were found in the man’s carry-on bag at a security checkpoint. Des Moines police were called to the airport, and officers confiscated the gun and charged the man on suspicion of carrying weapons. TSA officials say it was the sixth gun confiscated at the Des Moines airport so far this year. By comparison, with more people flying, there were 12 guns found at the airport last year.
