IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Supreme Court issued an order postponing all jury trials until February 1, 2021, unless the jury is sworn in prior to November 16, 2020. Clerk of court offices throughout the state will remain open and nonjury trials and face-to-face court proceedings and services will continue.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump terminated Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday and named an Iowa City native to the post in his stead. Trump named Christopher Miller, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, as acting defense secretary. Miller, who was born in Platteville, Wisconsin, lived several years of his childhood in Iowa City, where his parents still live.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The lead in Iowa’s extremely tight U.S. House District 2 race has changed hands once again, one week after the election. Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks is now leading Democrat Rita Hart, according to the state Secretary of State’s Office. Miller-Meeks now leads with just 34 votes separating the two candidates.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – UnityPoint Health in Des Moines reports all of its hospitals are at capacity for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. According to UnityPoint Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Rossana Rosa, Methodist Medical Center, Lutheran Hospital, Methodist West and Blank Children’s Hospital are full. Rosa said, “this is truly the worst point that we have ever experienced throughout the pandemic.”

IOWA (IRN) – Two more Iowa prisons are reporting outbreaks of coronavirus infections. Recent testing has revealed outbreaks at prisons in Clarinda, where 377 inmates and 16 staff members are positive, and Rockwell City, where 254 inmates and four staff members are positive. At Anamosa, updated numbers show 485 infected inmates and 50 staff members have tested positive.

PLEASANT HILL, IA (IRN) – A Southeast Polk school bus driver has died from COVID-19. John Wright, 61, died Saturday after testing positive for the coronavirus several weeks ago.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Doctors at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics said Monday’s report from Pfizer, announcing its COVID-19 vaccine was more than 90% effective, is a promising sign. One Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trial was at the University of Iowa, and about 270 people participated.