Gazette Daily News Podcast, December 20

If you still want to get out and run errands this week, Tuesday looks like a good day to do it, despite the cold temperatures. According to the National Weather Service, it will be mostly cloudy in the Cedar Rapids area, then gradually become sunny, with a high of 21 degrees.

Then, up to 10 inches of snow and wind gusts as high as 50 mph could come later this week in Eastern Iowa, as forecasters warn that now is the time to prepare for bitter cold and impassable roadways.

All of Iowa was put under a winter storm watch Monday afternoon, although estimates of snowfall between Wednesday and Friday remained uncertain — but with strong winds, forecasters are predicting blizzard conditions are probable even if snowfall is on the lighter side.

“Travel could be very difficult. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning and evening commutes. Strong winds could cause tree damage and potential power outages. The cold wind chills as low as 30 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes,” the Weather Service said.

Cedar Rapids hospitals are reinstating mask mandates amid a spike in COVID-19, RSV and flu cases.

Universal masking resumed Monday for visitors, patient families, volunteers and staff at Mercy Medical Center and MercyCare facilities.

“Mercy has temporarily returned to these precautions for the safety of hospitalized patients and the community,” a Monday news release said. “The changes will remain in place as we continue to monitor local rates of infection.”

From Oct. 4 to this past Sunday, Mercy policy allowed those who were asymptomatic and not exposed to COVID-19 for at least 10 days to be in common areas, clinics and other facilities without masks. Staff continued to wear masks in patient rooms, exam rooms and other areas of direct patient care.

Universal masking resumed Dec. 9 at UnityPoint Health- St. Luke’s Hospital, regardless of vaccination status.

A man was taken into custody last week in Illinois after two knifepoint robberies in Coralville and Iowa City.

Dewayne K. Corely-Jones, 30, will be charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree theft and going armed with intent when he is returned to Iowa, according to a news release from the Iowa City Police Department. Currently, he’s being held in Peoria County, Ill.

Corely-Jones is suspected of being involved in two armed robberies on Dec. 12.

At 10 a.m. on Dec. 12, the Coralville Police Department was called to the parking lot of Trader Joe’s for the first armed robbery, according to a release from the Coralville Police Department.

A man reportedly forced a woman into the passenger seat of her own car at knifepoint and then drove her to a nearby bank to withdraw money. When the victim went inside the bank, the man fled the scene in the car.

After a short vehicle pursuit with police, the suspect abandoned the car near Oakcrest Street and Woodside Drive in Iowa City.

At 12:35 p.m., Iowa City Police were called to the second armed robbery, in the area of West Benton Street and Oaknoll Court.

Another woman reported she had been robbed at knifepoint and her vehicle had been stolen.