DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Coronavirus hospitalizations continue to surge in Iowa as the state reported three new records Wednesday. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 2,818 new positive cases and 26 additional deaths for a total of 1,781 deaths since the pandemic began. The three coronavirus hospitalization records set were the number of Iowans admitted to hospitals, the number of patients in intensive care, and the number on ventilators.

IOWA (IRN) – While votes are still being counted in several key states, and the presidential election is still in play, President Donald Trump kept Iowa in the red column defeating former Vice President Joe Biden 53% to 45% here.

IOWA (IRN) – Sen. Joni Ernst is keeping her seat in the U.S. Senate for another term earning 51.91% of the vote. Her opponent, Democratic candidate Theresa Greenfield had 45.06% of the vote with 93.68% of precincts reporting. Ernst, a Red Oak native, was first elected into the Senate in 2015.

IOWA (IRN) – Republican state representative Ashley Hinson defeated Rep. Abby Finkenauer, the Democratic incumbent in Iowa’s first congressional district. In the second congressional district, the race is too close to call, as Republican state senator Mariannette Miller-Meeks leads state senator Rita Hart by 282 votes. Democratic Representative Cindy Axne will continue to serve Iowa’s third congressional district, beating former Congressman David Young. Republican Randy Feenstra has been elected into the U.S. House of Representatives for Iowa’s fourth district seat, defeating J.D. Scholten.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowans have voted against having a Constitutional Convention by approximately 70% to 30%. The ballot asked voters whether they would want a convention held to change the current state constitution. The question is required on the ballot every 10 years. In recent decades, the question about the constitutional convention has been rejected by voters.