IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa confirmed Friday that head Hawkeye football coach Kirk Ferentz tested positive for COVID-19. Ferentz is reportedly asymptomatic and will remain in quarantine until Dec. 27.

IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health says they were told Iowa’s allocations of COVID-19 vaccines would be cut 30%. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says they’re wrong. There will be 19,500 Pfizer vaccines and 53,800 Moderna vaccines arriving Sunday, Dec. 20. An additional 19,500 Pfizer vaccines and 19,500 Moderna vaccines are expected to arrive on Sunday, Dec. 27. Earlier this week 26,000 Pfizer vaccines arrived and were administered to health care providers.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand sharply criticized Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday for not calling the Legislature into an emergency session to approve spending of at least a portion of the $1 billion the state has accumulated in reserve and emergency funds. Sand, a Democrat, says that restaurants and bars will lose $1.4 billion and roughly 1,000 could close due to the pandemic. He said hospitals in the state have lost $443 million and many are at risk of closure.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – N Linn Street in Iowa City has been closed to traffic since the summer, giving restaurants and customers room to spread out during the pandemic. Now, to adapt for winter, the city is experimenting with holiday lights and warming huts for diners.

AMES, IA (IRN) – The awards and accolades continue for the Iowa State Cyclones football team. On Thursday the Cyclones swept the major categories as Big 12 Coaches announced their all-conference teams. Running back Breece Hall was named Offensive Player of the Year, Mike Rose was named Defensive Player of the Year and Matt Campbell was named Coach of the Year. Twenty-two Cyclones were chosen for All-Big 12 teams, including nine on the first team.