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KXEL Morning News for Tue. Feb. 02, 2021

By Tim Martin Feb 2, 2021 | 6:00 AM

Iowa public health officials say coronavirus testing has identified three cases in Iowa of the virus variant found in the United Kingdom—one in Bremer County, and two in Johnson County. Based on scientific study of the variant strain called B.1.1.7, researchers believe it can spread more easily than the original strain of COVID-19 and it is believed to be deadlier. However, current vaccines are believed to be effective against the strain. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report Iowa has delivered almost 191-thousand first vaccine doses to individuals. 

A new monthly survey shows continued economic improvement in Iowa and eight other Midwest and Plains states, but business leaders indicated the coronavirus pandemic is still hurting business. The overall Mid-America Business Conditions Index for the region in January suggests improved growth, coming in at a strong 67.3 from December’s 64.1. Any score above 50 suggests growth. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey. He estimated a rosier economic outlook in the coming months, citing an increase in the survey’s separate confidence index.  

The annual Eastern Iowa Home & Landscaping Show in downtown Waterloo is scheduled to be held this year…but just a little later than usual. The date for the 70th annual home show has been moved to April 9-11 at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center in downtown Waterloo. Traditionally the event takes place in February. The change is due in part to concerns about COVID-19, but also because the change better accommodates remodeling currently under way at the convention center. 

Both locations of the Cedar Rapids Public Library reopened yesterday for “grab and go” from the library stacks in addition to curbside hold pickup. Officials say computer use, for up to one hour per person per day, will also resume. Patrons and staff are required to wear a mask when inside the Library. Capacity will be limited and patrons may be asked to wait before entering. Library book drops are open and items are quarantined for 72 hours before being circulated again.   

The Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors will vote this morning to reduce the county health department’s proposed fiscal year 2022 budget increase. The Board will likely also rescind a motion that passed last week to cut an epidemiologist position from the department. That motion has to be rescinded because its wording was deemed not legal. The budget reduction, however, will be for the same amount that would have been saved by cutting that job. The meeting starts at 9 a.m.

Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission Chair Nicole Winther submitted a letter of resignation to Mayor Rob Green this past Saturday, after working with the commission for 17 years. She did not give specific reasons for her resignation, but is the fifth commissioner to resign in recent months…currently five of the nine commission seats are vacant. Mayor Green says he’ll make recommendations to fill the vacancies, and will also change the staff liaison for the commission.

Cedar Rapids police arrested a man after an investigation determined he took money and signed contracts for four different derecho-related home repair jobs that he never completed. Police say 37-year-old Wayne Gott stole more than $48-thousand from the four different victims, and never finished, or even started the jobs. The victims claim that even the jobs Gott did start were found to have poor workmanship. Gott also reportedly refused to issue refunds to the victims. Investigators say Gott’s bank records show he used a significant portion of the victims’ money on personal purchases. Gott was reportedly doing business under the name ‘Construction Plus.’

The Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office says one person was killed after three successive accidents on the same icy stretch of state highway 163 just west of Oskaloosa yesterday morning. Deputies were initially dispatched on a report of a single rollover accident. When they arrived they found three damaged vehicles. Taylor Deney was westbound on Highway 163 and lost control of her pickup on an icy patch of the road then collided into the median. She was uninjured. Soon after, Muriel Gordon was westbound on Highway 163 when she too lost control of her SUV, which rolled three times, ejecting her. She was taken by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries. While authorities were en route to the scene of Gordon’s crash, a third vehicle crashed in the same area. Henry Beerbower lost control of his pickup, hitting the median then rolling three times. Beerbower was ejected from his truck. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Officials say it’s too soon to say if the second and third incidents were due to icy conditions…or drivers trying to avoid the earlier accident.