DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds says more than 25,000 Iowans have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. That’s about 793 vaccinations per 100,000 Iowans.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – While some senators have announced their opposition to the Electoral College’s vote for President-elect Joe Biden, Sen. Chuck Grassley will not contest the vote. On Wednesday, Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley said he will object to the Electoral College’s vote for Biden during the next meeting of Congress. Senator Joni Ernst has not commented.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Majority Democrats in the U.S. House will allow an Iowa Republican to take office while they review her opponent’s contest claiming the six-vote race was wrongly decided. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said “yes” when asked at a news conference whether Mariannette Miller-Meeks will be sworn in with other members of the House on Sunday.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids woman is accused of trying to help her boyfriend escape from police custody outside Allen Hospital in Waterloo on Tuesday. Deputies with the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office were able to hear their conversations about the plan on the jail inmate phone recording system. Tyrone Copeland was scheduled for a medical appointment at Allen Hospital and just before the time he was set to arrive, Donsque Donston arrived in the parking lot in the car intended to be an escape vehicle. Now both are in jail.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – All-America defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon of Iowa announced he’ll declare for the NFL draft and forego his senior season. Nixon was a first-team Associated Press All-American and the AP Big Ten defensive player of the year.