IOWA (IRN) – Iowa has reported nearly 20,000 positive COVID-19 tests just this week. The state surpassed 170,000 confirmed coronavirus cases today, just five days after reaching 150,000 positive tests. At 10 a.m., the state was reporting 1,928 COVID-19-related deaths, an increase of 30 deaths since the state’s tally at 10 a.m. yesterday. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Only 47 votes are the difference in Iowa’s Second Congressional District, and it may be weeks before we know who won. Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks declared victory with the latest count, but the race is far from final. A recount is expected and Secretaryof State Paul Pate has until November 30 to certify a winner. Miller-Meeks holds a narrow lead over Democrat Rita Hart, which has flipped twice during recounts and canvassing. After Miller-Meeks led on election night, a reporting error in Jasper County swung the count to Hart’s favor. A counting error in Lucas County swung it back to Miller-Meeks. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – State Sen. Janet Peterson said she won’t seek reelection as Senate minority leader. Peterson was the first woman to be elected to lead Senate Democrats in 2017. On Sunday, Senate Democrats will meet to select caucus leaders for the upcoming legislative session. Republicans hold large majorities in the state Senate and state House. BELMOND, IA (IRN) – The Belmond-Klemme Community School District is mourning the loss of a beloved teacher. Jason Englert’s family said he tested positive for coronavirus three days before he died. The 38-year-old teacher was found dead inside his home on Nov. 8. Dan Frazier, superintendent of Belmond-Klemme, said “Jason was always such a pleasure to have because he had such a positive attitude, a lot of energy, and the rapport he had with students was remarkable.” IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Associated Press announced on Wednesday that University of Iowa senior Luka Garza headlines the 2020-21 Preseason All-America Basketball Team. Garza was the lone unanimous selection. Garza becomes the first Iowa men’s basketball player named to a preseason AP All-American team.

IOWA (IRN) – White House experts are urging Iowa to ramp up testing, require masks and take other steps to control its raging coronavirus outbreak. The new White House coronavirus task force says in its latest report that “the unyielding COVID spread across Iowa continues with new hospital admissions, inpatients, and patients in the ICU at record levels–the most recent trends, showing steep inclines across all indicators, need immediate action including mask requirements to decrease severity in morbidity and mortality among Iowans.” DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – UnityPoint Health Des Moines and MercyOne Des Moines are searching for more nurses to help with the growing coronavirus outbreak. Both hospital systems say they are competing with other states to recruit. UnityPoint says 40 of its staff members were out sick Tuesday. MercyOne also reports a significant staff shortage. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – As COVID-19 hospitalizations surge in Iowa, physicians warn that it’s possible to catch the virus more than once. MercyOne in Des Moines reports they have treated three people who were infected with COVID-19 twice. CHICAGO, IL (IRN) – Federal fraud charges have been filed against the head of a suburban Chicago biotechnology company that was formed at the start of COVID-19 pandemic and swindled two hospitals out of millions of dollars. Dennis Haggerty was arrested Tuesday and charged with wire fraud. Haggerty is accused of stealing $2.6 million from university hospitals in Chicago and Iowa City. He allegedly used some of the money for personal benefit, including two Maserati cars. LUCAS COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Republican U.S. House candidate Mariannette Miller-Meeks took to social media Tuesday to claim victory in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District despite the race not being called. The race between Miller-Meeks and her opponent, Democrat Rita Hart, is undergoing a second recount after unreported precinct results in Lucas County resulted in incorrect numbers. Miller-Meeks pulled ahead in the race by 40 votes after officials discovered the error. WOODBURY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Over 200 migrating ducks were killed when they mistook a wet highway for a wetland or marsh in Woodbury County. Conservation officers report many of the ducks were hit by cars. The ducks were different species, including bluebills, mallards, buffleheads, and teal.

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.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A West Des Moines police officer was seriously injured when a car crashed into his patrol vehicle during a traffic stop. Officer Jon Kaufman pulled over a vehicle on Interstate 35 at 12:08 a.m. Sunday. As Kaufman was sitting in his patrol car behind the subject vehicle, another car hit his patrol car from behind. Kaufman suffered serious injuries. The car that hit Kaufman’s vehicle was driven by 61-year-old John Schwartz of Kellogg, who was also injured. The Iowa State Patrol is investigating. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – On Sunday evening, hospitalizations in Iowa surpassed 1,000 people due to coronavirus. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported that there are 1,034 Iowans currently in the hospital due to COVID-19. A total of 1,843 Iowans have died from the virus. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Public Schools will request a waiver to move the district to completely online learning as coronavirus cases spike in Polk County. In an emergency school board meeting on Sunday, the school board voted 6-1 to allow the district to request an online-only learning waiver from the state. The positivity rate is 16%. AMES, IA (IRN) – The College Republicans group at Iowa State University is facing criticism for a tweet on the group’s Twitter account Saturday. Just after President-elect Joe Biden was projected the next president of the United States, the group posted: “Everyone, you must arm up, expect these people to attempt to destroy your life, the elites want revenge on us.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – In Iowa, some people spent Saturday celebrating President-elect Joe Biden’s victory while others said it’s not over yet. Groups gathered at the Capitol and Cowles Commons in Des Moines to voice their feelings about President-elect Joe Biden’s win. The events were peaceful. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa prison officials reported a coronavirus outbreak has infected nearly half of the inmates at an Iowa prison in Anamosa. A total of 476 inmates among 985 at the prison tested positive for the virus. A report provided by the department indicates 37 staff members also tested positive. Across the nine institutions the department manages, 601 inmates are currently infected as of Friday afternoon. AMES, IA (IRN) – Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes in the second half after throwing three interceptions in the first, and No. 17 Iowa State came from behind to beat Baylor 38-31 Saturday night. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Tyler Goodson ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns as Iowa throttled Michigan State 49-7 on Saturday. Goodson led a balanced Iowa offense that racked up a season-high point total. The sophomore’s outing included a career-long 71-yard scamper, which set the Hawkeyes up for their sixth touchdown of the day.