Iowa posts over 1,000 new cases

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa reported a jump of 1,086 new coronavirus cases on Friday. the second consecutive day of new cases exceeding 1,000.

Four more people died, pushing the state’s death toll from the virus to 1,303.

Data from state health and education departments indicate the virus is circulating in schools and nursing homes.

State health data shows 6,917 children under age 17 in Iowa have tested positive for the virus, an increase of more than 800 in a week. It also shows 3,372 educators testing positive.

The state also reports 50 nursing homes in Iowa have an outbreak of the virus with more than 1,000 residents testing positive currently.

The 69 people admitted to a hospital in the past 24 hours is the second highest number since virus spread began in Iowa in March and the 330 people in the hospital with COVID-19 is the highest since the end of May.

Former deputy accused

LeMARS, Iowa (AP) — A former sheriff’s deputy in northwestern Iowa is facing several felony charges for burglaries and thefts that occurred while he was working as a deputy.

The Sioux City Journal reports that 41-year-old Aaron John Leusink is accused in a series of crimes that occurred between December 2017 and January of this year. Authorities say the thefts were related to prescription medications.

Leusink was working as a Plymouth County deputy at the time. Sheriff Michael Van Otterloo asked the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to investigate after the allegations against Leusink came to light in April.

Leusink was initially placed on administrative before being fired in April.

Iowa teenager sentenced

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa teenager has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for killing another teenager in 2019.

The Des Moines Register reports that Eliazar Montoya Gama of West Des Moines was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Sakira Bonner.

Dallas County Attorney Charles Sinnard said the judge’s ruling allows Gama to be eligible for parole after serving 30 years in prison.

Gama was 17 at the time of the crime. Had he been an adult, he would have been sentenced to life without parole.