DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health has confirmed 1,266 additional COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours as of 10 a.m. today. There have been 37 additional COVID-19 deaths for a statewide death toll of 2,349. OMAHA, NE (IRN) – A Bellevue, Nebraska, man was jailed after a lengthy chase that crossed back and forth across the Iowa-Nebraska line. The 34-year-old suspect faces multiple charges including reckless driving and possession of methamphetamine. The chase began shortly after 2 a.m. Thursday when Council Bluffs officers stopped a Chevrolet Silverado, but the driver took off and drove into Nebraska. The truck reached speeds of more than 100 mph. The truck later crossed back into Iowa, where Council Bluffs police picked up the pursuit again, deploying spike strips, but the truck headed back to Nebraska. In Omaha, troopers pulled in front of the truck and the driver got out and tried to run but was caught. HIAWATHA, IA (IRN) – Five people were displaced after an early morning fire on Thanksgiving Day in Hiawatha. The five occupants of the building had evacuated after waking up to the power out and smell of smoke in the laundry room. The building is uninhabitable. It had previously been damaged in the August 10th derecho and several units were still under repair. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The City of Iowa City has announced locations in Iowa City and Coralville where people can recycle holiday lights no longer wanted. Drop-offs began on November 23rd and are available until January 10, 2021. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Hawkeye basketball player Luka Garza unveiled a new fadeaway shot Wednesday in a 97-67 victory over North Carolina Central. Garza had 26 points and 10 rebounds to help the Hawkeyes win their 10th consecutive opener.

JASPER COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Election officials in Jasper County launched a second machine recount of absentee ballots Wednesday to finalize results in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District race. Democrat Rita Hart has cut Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ lead to 9 votes out of more than 394,400 cast, with recount boards in all but two of the district’s 24 counties reporting the results of their recounts. AMES, IA (IRN) – The Ames Police Department is looking for a burglar who they say has broken into multiple apartments. Sometimes he steals things and assaults the women, and sometimes he just watches them sleep. DES MOINES, Iowa – The state of Iowa saw another increase in initial and continuing unemployment claims last week. According to Iowa Workforce Development 9,458 initial claims were filed last week. That’s up more than 3,000 from the week before. LINCOLN, NE (IRN) – The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska is creating the nation’s largest tribal national park on a forested bluff overlooking the Missouri River and a historic site of its people. The 444-acre park will allow the tribe to tell the story of the Ioway people and provide a rustic getaway where people can hike, camp and bird-watch.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reports a record 47 additional COVID-19 deaths while six more of the state’s long-term care facilities confirm virus outbreaks. The health department reported 3,435 new statewide coronavirus cases Wednesday. The previous record of 40 deaths was reported Nov. 18. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A man has been arrested in connection with the September shooting at a private club in Waterloo that left two people dead and several others injured. Willie Edward Saffold Jr., 21, was booked Monday. Six others had gunshot wounds and survived. Several others were injured by debris or hurt in the chaos. FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – An officer was assaulted by an inmate yesterday at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility. As the officer was taking an inmate to their cell, the inmate punched him in the face. More staff arrived to stop the fight and another officer suffered minor injuries. The inmate wasn’t injured. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Thanksgiving typically marks one of the busiest travel times of the year, but not this year. Warnings from the CDC not to travel due to COVID-19 have contributed to less travel nationally. Data shows the Des Moines International Airport had 43% fewer customers flying out of Des Moines compared to 2019. The airport expects about half the normal numbers of flyers this Thanksgiving. The Eastern Iowa airport expects about half the number of travelers as well. JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds urged Iowans to be mindful of safety on the Thanksgiving holiday and asked them to limit the size of their gatherings to 15 people or less. U.S. Rep. Steve King — the Fourth District Republican from Kiron who lost re-election — criticized his party’s leader. King tweeted about Reynolds’ “magic # Covid rules,” saying his household will use their own judgement. U.S.A (IRN) – The Iowa State Cyclones and Iowa Hawkeyes made the first College Football Playoff Top 25 of the season. The CFP Top 25, released Tuesday, lists Iowa State at No. 13 and Iowa at No. 24. Alabama is No. 1, followed by Notre Dame, Clemson and Ohio State.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A slim lead held by a Republican candidate for an open congressional seat in Iowa has gotten even smaller as counties recount their votes. Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks led Democrat Rita Hart by 47 votes in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District in unofficial results before recounts began last week. Miller-Meeks’ lead has shrunk to 36 votes out of more than 394,000 cast as the recount continues. So far, 15 of 24 counties have completed recounts and sent their new unofficial totals to the state. None of the four counties Hart won have reported new numbers. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Corrections announced Monday that a ninth inmate died due to COVID-19 complications. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Transportation reports there has been an 11% decrease in travel on roads statewide this year. Gas tax revenues going to the department are down 3%, which may result in over $50 million in losses for the department’s road building fund. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – An Ottumwa police officer is on administrative leave after being arrested and charged with Domestic Abuse. Officer Jordan Woodward was arrested in Monroe County and is accused of choking a woman. The alleged victim reportedly had red marks on her neck and was having trouble breathing when officers arrived. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A University of Iowa student-athlete has been named a Rhodes Scholar, one of the highest academic honors in the world. Marissa Mueller is a Biomedical Engineering student, who is also a thrower on the track and field team. She’s the 22nd Rhodes Scholar from the University of Iowa, and the first woman from the school to win that honor in more than 30 years.

CHARITON, IA (IRN) – Two teenagers were killed in a crash in Lucas County. The wreck happened Sunday night on Highway 34 in Chariton. The Iowa State Patrol reports the driver of a Jeep turned in front of a pickup. Two passengers in the Jeep were killed. They were identified as 15-year-old Katilynn Spicer, of Des Moines, and 16-year-old Chase Lavely, of Chariton. The Jeep and the pickup drivers were rushed to a hospital in critical condition. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A cell phone sale went wrong in Cedar Falls Sunday. A 24-year-old man was attempting to meet a 21-year-old woman he had met on Facebook Marketplace to sell her an iPhone. She drove away with the phone without paying, and he fired on the vehicle with three people inside. Both are in jail. MARION, IA (IRN) – A 31-year-old Colorado woman is behind bars after leading police on a chase Sunday night in Marion. The car was stolen. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Another 13 people with COVID-19 have died in Iowa, the state reported Monday. The statewide death toll is now 2,205. Of Iowa’s 99 counties, 92 report 14-day positivity rates above 15%. Only one Iowa county, Lucas County, reports a 14-day positivity rate below 10%. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hy-Vee announced it will be bringing back special hours for customers who are high-risk as COVID-19 cases rise in Iowa. Customers over 60 years old, pregnant mothers and those with underlying health conditions are welcome to shop from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Other customers are asked to shop after 8 a.m.