Gazette Daily News Podcast, January 27

We’re firmly back above zero degrees now. According to the National Weather Service, there should be a high temperature near 28 degrees on Thursday. There could be some scattered flurries from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., but, otherwise, it will be partly sunny, with a wind of 5 to 10 mph. On Thursday night it will be partly cloudy, with a low around 0. Wind chill values will drop as low as -10 degrees.

86 long-term care facilities in Iowa reported COVID-19 outbreaks in the past week — more than five times the number of facilities reporting outbreaks six weeks ago.

It’s the most facilities with outbreaks since Jan. 12, 2021, which was less than a month after the first COVID-19 vaccines began arriving in Iowa.

The outbreaks in nursing homes — definedas three or more cases among residents and staff — has been rapidly increasing in recent weeks as the highly contagious omicron variant of the novel coronavirus has spread across the state.

And while the number of new cases and hospitalizations decreased statewide after weeks of increases, 184 COVID-19-related deaths were reported in the past week. This was the highest COVID-19 death toll since 199 deaths were reported Feb. 10 last year.

A former finance director of the defunct GO Cedar Rapids tourism agency pleaded guilty Wednesday for his part in a scheme to defraud a local bank in acquiring loans used to help finance the “newbo evolve” financial debacle in 2018.

Douglas S. Hargrave, 55, now of Puyallup, Wash., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one felony count of bank fraud. He waived his right to have a grand jury indictment and agreed to be charged by criminal information — a complaint.

Hargrave admitted to participating along with Aaron McCreight, 46, former president and chief executive officer of GO Cedar Rapids, to defrauding Bankers Trust. He said the tourism agency didn’t have enough money to pay headline singer Kelly Clarkson, who was to perform during the three-day music and cultural event.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Roberts said Hargrave faces up to 30 years in federal prison, $1 million fine and up to five years of supervised release following any prison term. Restitution in the case also will be ordered at sentencing.

McCreight is also charged with one count of bank fraud. His plea hearing is set for Thursday in federal court.

On the U.S. Supreme Court for over 27 years, liberal Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring, numerous sources said Wednesday, giving Democratic President Joe Biden his first high court opening. Biden has previously pledged to fill a Supreme Court opening with the court's first Black woman.

According to the Associated Press, the 83-year-old Breyer has been a pragmatic force on a court that has grown increasingly conservative, trying to forge majorities with more moderate justices right and left of center. His retirement will give Biden the chance to name and win confirmation of a replacement before next fall's election when Republicans could retake the U.S. Senate and block future nominees.

Support for this podcast provided by New Pioneer Food Co-op. Celebrating 50 years as Eastern Iowa’s source for locally and responsibly sourced groceries with stores in Iowa City, Coralville and Cedar Rapids; and online through Co-op Cart at newpi.coop.