MARION COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Supreme Court will hear an appeal later this month in a civil case from a Marion County man who was found civilly liable for the death of his mother but acquitted in a criminal trial. Oral arguments in the case will be heard by the Supreme Court on Jan. 21. Jason Carter was found civilly liable for the death of his mother during a December 2017 trial and ordered to pay $10 million to her estate. Shirley Carter, 68, died on June 19, 2015, from two gunshot wounds fired by a rifle. After a three-week trial in March 2019, a jury acquitted Jason Carter of a criminal charge of first-degree murder.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa public health officials are no longer receiving reports about the state’s COVID-19 outbreak from the White House coronavirus task force. CNN reported on Dec. 23 that the White House task force would only send the weekly reports if local officials asked for them. Iowa Department of Public Health spokesperson Sarah Ekstrand says, “We are not requesting the report at this time.” She didn’t respond when asked why the state is no longer requesting them.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention says over 53,000 Iowans have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines started for health care workers in Iowa on Monday Dec. 14. Staff and residents in Iowa’s long term care facilities were the next to be vaccinated; that started last week.

IOWA – (IRN) – Iowans have set a record for voter registration for the third month in a row.
Secretary of State Paul Pate announced Monday that the number of active registered voters is over 2,100,000. More than 90 percent of Iowa’s eligible population is registered to vote.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Drake men’s basketball team, picked to finish seventh in the preseason MVC poll, is turning heads. Monday night the Bulldogs blasted SIU 86-55 to improve to 13-0 and extend the best start to a season in school history. Thirteen wins also leads the NCAA. Drake also is receiving votes this week in the AP Poll.