Gazette Daily News Podcast, Jan. 2-3

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Hospitalizations from COVID-19 in Iowa are down by half from what they were a month ago.

Iowa reported 575 hospitalizations New Year's Day, compared to 1,172 COVID-19 patients hospitalized Dec. 1. And it's more than a blip, with four of the last seven days having fewer than 600 hospitalizations.

Of people hospitalized Friday, 117 were in intensive care and 63 were on ventilators. Both numbers were down from the previous day.

Iowa reported 2,133 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, totaling 282,439. There were seven new confirmed deaths for 3,898 overall in the state. 

Eastern Iowa's two newly elected congresswomen will be sworn in Sunday as members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Marion Republican Ashley Hinson said she is humbled and honored about being among the 61 freshmen who will be sworn in at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Hinson, a two-term Iowa House member, has known since election night when she defeated Democratic incumbent Abby Finkenauer that she would be in the incoming class of the 117th Congress.

Mariannette Miller-Meeks, an Ottumwa Republican, only learned this week that she would be sworn in. She will be seated provisionally because her six-vote victory in Iowa's 2nd District is being challenged by Democrat Rita Hart. Hart has asked the House to investigate and determine the winner of the seat replacing retired Democratic U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack.

The swearing-in ceremony will be broadcast at 11 a.m. Iowa time on C-SPAN 1.

No. 10 Iowa State will play No. 25 Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Glendale, Ariz. — just outside of Phoenix. It's the Cyclones first time playing in one of the New Year's Six bowl games. It's also the first time playing the Ducks, who won the Pac-12 Championship to reach the Fiesta Bowl. The game begins at 3 p.m. on ESPN. 

The weekend will be mostly calm and cloudy, according to the National Weather Service. There will be some areas of fog Saturday before 2 p.m. Otherwise it will be mostly cloudy with a high near 25 and a low around 12 Saturday night. Sunday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 26, then mostly cloudy Sunday night, with a low around 18.    

This briefing is sponsored in part by Corridor Careers.  Are you looking for a job? CorridorCareers.com is a resource to local job seekers where they can get job tips, sign up for local job alerts, build a resume and more. Check it out at CorridorCareers.com.