Home News Wednesday Afternoon News, March 31st

Wednesday Afternoon News, March 31st

State To Offer COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics At Colleges

(Des Moines) — Governor Reynolds, during her weekly news conference held Wednesday, announced that several Iowa community colleges and four-year private colleges would be setting up clinics, beginning next week, to vaccinate both faculty and students. Two of the colleges mentioned, are familiar to northwest Iowa.

The governor says in following weeks additional Johnson and Johnson vaccines will be allocated for the sole purpose of vaccinating students and faculty at other Iowa colleges. Governor Reynolds also announced that beginning on April 5th, everyone of all ages will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Des Moines Area Community College headquartered in Ankeny, along with Dordt University and Northwestern College will hold a clinic with the state’s assistance to vaccinate its student body and faculty. DMACC president, Rob Denson appeared at the governor’s news conference and explained the importance of the clinic.

Denson mentioned some of the specific details relating to the community college’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic.

The DMACC president says he is pleased to get the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

Denson says having the clinic available to the students will assure the campus will be able to return to a normal style of education much sooner, than earlier anticipated.

 

 

 

COVID Vaccinators Helping More Iowans Schedule Shots

(Des Moines, IA) — Iowans under age 65 with underlying health conditions and do not have internet access may now dial 2-1-1 for help in scheduling a COVID shot. Operators answering calls to 2-1-1 have been helping technologically-challenged Iowans over the age of 65 connect with so-called vaccine navigators. These navigators have helped schedule several thousand vaccination appointments. This service is now available to the other Iowans who currently qualify for vaccinations due to a medical condition like diabetes, but can’t navigate the online scheduling. The vaccine navigators have translation services available to help Iowans with language barriers that make scheduling a shot difficult. Governor Reynolds says the state is
on track to open vaccination appointments to all Iowans on Monday.

 

 

 

Iowa Lottery Sales On Rise After Pandemic Losses

(Clive, IA) — The Iowa Lottery is regaining momentum and more from sales lost during the height of the pandemic last year. The Lottery’s Mary Neubauer sales are nearly 25 percent ahead of what they budgeted. Sales for the fiscal year that started June 30th and ran through February were 292-point-eight million dollars. Neubauer says proceeds to state causes are more
than 43 percent ahead of budgeted projections – or more than 69-million dollars through last month. Sales of scratch tickets continued on a record pace with more than 200-million dollars in sales through February. That’s about a 23 percent increase compared to 2020.

 

 

 

Suspect Arrested in Fatal Newton Stabbing

(Newton, IA) — Police in Newton say a suspect is jailed in connection with a fatal stabbing Tuesday night. Officers called to a fight at an apartment building found 41-year-old Randall Mikesell, Junior unresponsive and bleeding from his torso. Mikesell died of his injuries at the scene. Investigators
say 33-year-old Shane Borrego came to the apartment to retrieve some property and an altercation ensued resulting in the stabbing. Borrego is accused of first-degree murder charge in Mikesell’s death.

 

 

 

Run in Anamosa Honors Slain Prison Nurse and Correctional Officer

(Anamosa, IA) — A one-mile run at Downing Field in Anamosa honored the prison nurse and corrections officer killed by inmates last week. Dozens of people came out Tuesday night to run in honor of Lorena Schulte and Robert McFarland. Some community members carried American flags and signs and
several fire departments and law enforcement agencies were at the track showing their support. The event was hosted by Honor and Respect L-L-C, a group that helps first responders and military personnel. The run was also coordinated with Running 4 Heroes in Florida, and that one-mile run last night was in honor of Officer McFarland.