Iowa public health officials posted an additional 62 deaths yesterday as the state death total reached 4,394. Iowa had the 17th highest per capita death count in the nation and the second highest 7-day average positivity at 33%, behind Idaho; that’s according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. However, the state’s positivity rate has dropped over the past two weeks. Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that Iowa has administered nearly 145,000 coronavirus vaccine doses, and 12,629 individuals have received both doses for full immunization.
And good news, as Black Hawk County moved yesterday from “high” to “moderate” risk for for COVID-19 for the first time since October. The current ranking is given when the 14-day average positivity rate is less than 10%, according to the county website. Black Hawk County had a 9.7% 14-day average positivity rate as of yesterday, which is calculated by dividing the number of cases testing positive by the total number tested.
The city council in Iowa City has approved more than $12 million in tax increment financing for a downtown development designed to revitalize and preserve the character of the Pedestrian Mall there. The council unanimously approved the financing Tuesday. The $54.4 million project involves designating buildings as historic landmarks in order to renovate and preserve them. The move is intended to revitalize a stretch of East College Street and allow smaller businesses to move into the space. A 102-unit, nine-story multifamily building also is planned south of the existing buildings.
And a day after putting it on the schedule, UNI and Cornell mutually agreed yesterday to cancel the men’s basketball game scheduled for tonight. UNI coach Ben Jacobson said the team “had a couple of issues pop up that had an impact on the number of players” available. No other details were released, but Jacobson says they still plan to host Coe on Monday, with pregame at 5:30 p.m. on KXEL.
A former Des Moines sports radio host has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for swindling at least eight people out of about $1.5 million. Federal prosecutors say 60-year-old Marty Tirrell was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Des Moines to serve 41 months; he had faced up to 20 years in prison. Tirrell entered a plea of guilty last month to one count of mail fraud. Prosecutors say he told investors he could buy sports tickets with their money, resell them, and then split the profit with them. But prosecutors say Tirrell soon began lying to the victims and sending them bad checks while spending their money on personal items or to pay back other investors.
A former Webster City Chamber of Commerce assistant was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty in connection with the theft of more than $239,000. A state audit in 2019 found the money missing from the chamber’s account. Investigators discovered that 40-year-old Leah Mulholland issued 247 unauthorized checks totaling more than $149,000 from March 2015 through June 2018. She admitted to a charge of first-degree theft and was ordered to pay back $193,000.
A 25-year-old Council Bluffs man has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for having a Molotov cocktail during racial injustice protests in downtown Omaha last year. Steven Fitch was sentenced yesterday in federal court for unlawful possession of a destructive device. He will also serve three years of supervised release after his prison term. Prosecutors said Omaha police found Fitch with a Molotov cocktail in his front pants pocket during protests on May 31. The device contained a clear liquid inside a bottle with a red rag attached. The rag had gasoline on it and Fitch had several lighters in his pocket.
A 37-year-old rural Adel man has been charged with first-degree murder for the shooting death of his nephew. Mark Mash was charged yesterday in the death of 20-year-old Jakob Mash of Perry. Jakob Mash was found dead from a gunshot wound on Dec. 22 in a car at an intersection in Adel. Court records say Mark Mash fired a gun at a vehicle that his nephew was riding in. It was not clear if Mash was aiming at his nephew or what prompted the shooting. Mark Mash was taken into custody that day on other charges and remains in custody.
And another COVID casualty, as the Pella Historical Society and Museums announced yesterday it will be canceling the 2021 Tulip Time parades. During the three-day celebration scheduled for May 6 through May 8, there are traditionally two parades a day featuring various floats and bands. The committee said the decision came out of an abundance of caution. The organizers said they will continue with other festivities during Tulip Time and will spread them out to control capacity. Certain events such as wagon tours, grandstand events and the Dutch Market will have reduced seating and availability.
