Democrat Rita Hart Wednesday withdrew her challenge in the Iowa Second Congressional District race won by Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks by six votes. Hart had filed a challenge with a U.S. House committee that drew national attention because of the partisan nature of that process, and the fact she had not exhausted all state appeal remedies first. Hart said after many conversations with people she trusts about the future of the contest, she decided to withdraw the challenge.
Davenport Police said Wednesday afternoon that the human remains found on March 23 in the area of a pond in DeWitt have been confirmed to be those of 10-year-old Breasia Terrell…turning that missing persons case to a homicide. Terrell was last seen on July 10th and an Amber Alert was first issued five days later. Police say they will not release any further details on the investigation into her death. So far, no arrests have been made.
Police say a man was found stabbed to death at his Newton apartment complex and another man has been arrested. Newton police say the stabbing happened Tuesday evening, when officers were called to the apartment complex in north-central Newton. Officers found 41-year-old Randall Clark Mikesell Jr. lying on the ground and bleeding from wounds to his abdomen. Police say Mikesell died at the scene. By Wednesday morning, 33-year-old Shane Romine Borrego, of Newton, had been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder. Investigators believe Borrego had gone to the apartment to retrieve property from Mikesell when an altercation between the two men occurred, leading to the stabbing.
A week before Gov. Kim Reynolds officially makes all adult Iowans eligible for coronavirus vaccinations, public health officials acknowledged some counties have already started providing the shots to everyone over age 16. In northwest Iowa’s Humboldt County, for example, public health officials announced they would hold mass vaccination clinics on Wednesday and Thursday for anyone age 16 and up. Public health officials said they have 650 doses of the Pfizer vaccine available. The state had planned to open vaccines to everyone above age 16 next Monday.
Meanwhile, Hy-Vee announced that COVID-19 vaccines are now available at all 270 Hy-Vee Pharmacy locations in eight states, including Iowa. Through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, Hy-Vee began vaccinations in their last state, Wisconsin, this week. Free COVID-19 vaccinations are available by appointment only.
Governor Kim Reynolds said at her news conference Wednesday that the state is set to get the biggest allocation of vaccine to date. After talking with the White House COVID Response team, Governor Reynolds learned Iowa will receive nearly 161,000 doses of vaccine, including 45,800 of the Johnson & Johnson ‘single dose’ vaccine. Those will go to the remaining employer vaccine clinics so the vaccination of essential workers in food processing, ag production, and manufacturing and distribution can be completed by the end of next week. Reynolds said the J & J vaccine will then be more widely available to Iowans. The governor said because of the convenience of the single dose vaccine, J & J will be ideal for those whose work schedules may not have the flexibility for two appointments.
A 32-year-old Sumner woman has entered a guilty plea in a distracted driving crash that paralyzed a man. Melissa Dawn Nickerson entered the plea Wednesday in Bremer County District Court to serious injury by vehicle, a class “D” felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Officials say Nickerson was driving in the 3400 block of 140th Street on September 17, 2019 when she rear ended a vehicle driven by Jeffery Bloom. Investigators say Nickerson was having a Facebook Messenger conversation on her phone when she hit Bloom. The collision left Bloom paralyzed from the chest down. Nickerson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15.
The John Deere Foundation announced Wednesday it will invest $200 million over the next 10 years in initiatives focused on supporting families and youth in its home communities who have struggled with access to online learning and to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Money will also go to assist poor farmers around the globe. Since its founding in 1948, the Deere foundation has awarded more than $340 million in grants. The foundation will invest $100 million to support youth and families, with a focus on youth education, and including a $2 million annual investment to food banks that will provide the equivalent of 100 million meals over the next decade.
