The Iowa Department of Public Health added 469 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 between 10 a.m. Sunday morning to 10 a.m. Monday morning. Three additional COVID-19 related deaths were reported, after no deaths during the weekend…that brings the total number of Iowans who have died from the virus to 829.
Changes announced to the University of Northern Iowa fall sports schedule today. The Missouri Valley Conference announced it is switching volleyball and soccer to conference-only seasons. And the cross country, golf and tennis seasons are delayed until Sept. 18. Meanwhile, no new changes to UNI football…the Missouri Valley Football Conference announced that the conference will continue to wait before modifying the 2020 season. The UNI-Iowa football game was previously called off when the Big Ten announced its members would play conference-only football schedules.
Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information in connection with the recent murder of a Waterloo teen. 15-year-old Cortez Harrison died of gunshot wounds at UnityPoint-Allen Hospital on July 20th. Waterloo police continue to investigate the death, and no arrests have been made. Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,500 reward for information that “brings closure” to the case, according to the reward offer. Police say Harrison was shot numerous times in an alley behind the 2800 block of East Fourth Street just after 10 p.m. that evening. He was taken to the hospital by private vehicle and died a short time later. Harrison’s death is the second homicide in Waterloo this year.
Three teens have been arrested in connection with a parking lot robbery earlier this month. Cedar Falls police arrested 17-year-old Jonathon Jorgensen of Waterloo; 16-year-old Jada Meier of Cedar Falls; and 16-year-old Emari Bennett of Waterloo. All three are charged as adults with second-degree robbery. According to court records, Meier arranged to meet the victim, a teenage male, in the College Square parking lot around 8:45 p.m. on July 6th. When the victim arrived, Jorgensen held a handgun to his chest, and Bennett threatened him with a knife. Court records indicate they then took his wallet and wireless earphones and left in Meier’s vehicle.
News/Talk 1540 and the American Red Cross are sponsoring a blood drive to be held this Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cedar Valley Sports Plex in downtown Waterloo…Judi Faas of the Red Cross says testing will be done to determine if a donor’s plasma contains COVID-19 antibodies, which may be important for helping treat patients. To stop the spread of COVID-19, appointments need to be made for the drive…go to redcrossblood.org to register.
A survey conducted by the Iowa auditor shows a majority of health care organizations are dissatisfied with the state’s Medicaid program and think the privatized system has not been good for the more than 650,000 poor and disabled residents receiving care. Iowa shifted the state’s Medicaid system from a state-run program to one managed by private insurance companies in 2016. There have been persistent complaints over the past four years that providers have a more difficult time getting fully paid and that access to care has worsened for patients. Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, said Monday that his survey reinforces those complaints.
Concerns about policing, particularly in cities of size, led one Cedar Valley business to take action. CBE Companies made a six-figure donation to the Waterloo Community Foundation to start a fund dedicated to support training for Waterloo police tied to racial justice. Tom Penaluna, chairman and CEO of CBE Companies, talks about the training that will be used in a podcast you can hear at kxel-dot-com. Donations to this on-going effort are being accepted by the Waterloo Community Foundation.
A 50-year-old Iowa Falls man is dead after an accident in Galena Sunday morning. Investigators say Jacob Thomas was killed while riding on a motorcycle on Highway 20 westbound around 5 a.m. According to the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, Thomas veered off the road and hit a tree near Oldenburg Lane. The accident is still under investigation.
A woman has died in an apartment fire in downtown Fort Dodge. Firefighters were called to the building Sunday afternoon after a fire alarm activated and a neighbor reported smelling smoke. Crews were met with heavy smoke in the apartment and then found an unresponsive woman. 67-year-old Jeanne Miller was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
A new indoor dog park area will be unveiled at Hawkeye Downs this fall through winter. Organizers say dogs and their owners will be allowed to play in a climate-controlled portion of the South Expo Hall on Wednesday nights from October to March. The North Expo Hall is expected to feature a mini vendor market. Evening play hours will be from 5-8 p.m. and admission is $5 per dog, with free admission for owners. Organizers say new sanitation and social distancing policies will be in place to keep staff and patrons safe.
