CEDAR RAPIDS POLICE AND U.S. MARSHALS ARRESTED A 37-YEAR-OLD WISCONSIN MAN WEDNESDAY MORNING. AUTHORITIES CAUGHT UP WITH CANYON THIXTON AT A HOME IN THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT OF CEDAR RAPIDS. THIXTON IS ACCUSED OF STABBING HIS 28-YEAR-OLD GIRLFRIEND IN THE FACE AND NECK MULTIPLE TIMES DURING A SEPTEMBER INCIDENT IN WISCONSIN. AFTER HIS ARREST YESTERDAY, POLICE SAID THIXTON WAS IN POSSESSION OF A HANDGUN, WHICH BELONGS TO THE VICTIM.
THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 HAVE BEEN FAR-REACHING AND RESPONSES TO THE PANDEMIC HAVE COME FROM MANY DIRECTIONS. U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE NOMINEE TOM VILSACK SPOKE ABOUT WAYS USDA NEEDS TO REACT TO THE CORONAVIRUS. VILSACK’S NOMINATION WAS PASSED OUT OF THE SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA WILL BE LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF THE CORONAVIRUS IN AN UNPLEASANT PLACE. THE SCHOOL SAID YESTERDAY THAT IT WILL TEST WASTEWATER FROM RESIDENCE HALLS. THE VIRUS’ GENETIC SIGNATURE CAN BE IDENTIFIED IN TESTS OF SEWAGE. UNIVERSITY OF IOWA OFFICIALS SAY THAT IF THE STATE HYGIENIC LABS SEES SIGNS OF COVID-19 IN SUCH TESTS, IT CAN SERVE AS AN EARLY WARNING, AND SPUR FURTHER TESTING AND OTHER PRECAUTIONS BEFORE SYMPTOMS BECOME OBVIOUS.
THE IOWA MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAMS BOTH MEET OHIO STATE TONIGHT. THE HAWKEYE WOMEN VISIT THE BUCKEYES IN COLUMBUS BEGINNING AT 5, WHILE THE MEN HOST OHIO STATE AT CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA WITH A 6 P-M TIP.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA, IOWA, AND IOWA STATE HAVE EACH REPORTEDLY LOST A THOUSAND STUDENTS OR MORE FROM THEIR ENROLLMENT TOTAL. BY PERCENTAGE, UNI HAS LOST THE MOST DUE TO A SMALLER ORIGINAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS ON CAMPUS. PRESIDENTS OF ALL THREE INSTITUTIONS REPORTED THE ENROLLMENT PATTERN DURING STATE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON WEDNESDAY. THE DECLINES ARE ATTRIBUTED IN LARGE PART TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, ON TOP OF OTHER LONG-TERM TRENDS. LAWMAKERS ARE WEIGHING A $15 MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE FOR THE REGENTS UNIVERSITIES WHICH WAS OUTLINED IN IOWA GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS’ BUDGET PROPOSAL.
FORMER IOWA GOVERNOR AND USDA CHIEF TOM VILSACK WOULD LIKE ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY FEDERAL POLICIES TO CREATE NEW JOBS AND INDUSTRIES IN RURAL AREAS. VILSACK TALKED ABOUT THAT DURING SENATE COMMITTEE HEARINGS AHEAD OF HIS LIKELY RETURN TO THE CABINET AS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. THE FULL SENATE IS LIKELY TO REVIEW VILSACK’S NOMINATION AS EARLY AS THIS WEEK.
LEGITIMATE CALLS FROM HEALTH AUTHORITIES OR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WILL NEVER ASK FOR FINANCIAL, CREDIT CARD, OR BANK INFORMATION. OFFICIALS IN BLACK HAWK COUNTY WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR, ON THE EXPECTATION THAT SCAMMERS MAY USE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE ROLL OUT OF VACCINES AS A WAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE UNSUSPECTING. MANY HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS ARE CURRENTLY MAKING LEGITIMATE CALLS ABOUT SCHEDULING VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS.
USUALLY CANDIDATES SPEND WEEKS AND MONTHS LOOKING FOR VOTES BEFORE AN ELECTION. BUT THE RACE IN IOWA’S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LAST FALL WAS FAR FROM USUAL. MONTHS AFTER VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS, WINNING CANDIDATE MARIANETTE MILLER-MEEKS IS REPORTEDLY STILL LOOKING FOR VOTES. COUNTY ELECTION OFFICIALS IN THE SECOND DISTRICT HAVE HEARD FROM CAMPAIGN LAWYERS SEEKING TO REVIEW ANY BALLOTS WHICH WERE NOT COUNTED. OPPOSITION CANDIDATE RITA HART HAS CLAIMED 22 UNCOUNTED VOTES SHOULD BE REINSTATED TO FLIP THE RESULT OF THE ELECTION. MILLER-MEEKS WON THE SECOND DISTRICT SEAT BY JUST SIX VOTES.
THE U.S. CONGRESS IS WEIGHING HOW TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO REDUCE THE DISRUPTION CREATED BY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. DURING SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE HEARINGS THIS WEEK, FORMER IOWA GOVERNOR TOM VILSACK TALKED ABOUT THE ROLE HE SEES FOR THE USDA AS PART OF THAT PROCESS. VILSACK IS EXPECTED TO BE CONFIRMED AS THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. IT IS A POSITION HE HELD FOR EIGHT YEARS AS PART OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S ADMINISTRATION. HEAR MORE FROM VILSACK ON THE FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE FROM THE VANTAGE POINT OF AGRICULTURE DURING NEXT HOUR’S KXEL NEWS UPDATE.
NO WRESTLING AT WEST GYM NEXT WEEKEND. THE PANTHERS WERE SCHEDULED TO HOST IOWA STATE ON FEBRUARY 13TH. THAT MEET HAS BEEN SHIFTED TO AMES ON VALENTINE’S DAY. THE CYCLONES WILL NOW HOST THE PANTHERS, AS WELL AS ARIZONA STATE AND NORTHERN COLORADO DURING A FOUR-TEAM GATHERING AT HILTON COLISEUM.
