Gazette Daily News Briefing, Dec. 7

This is John McGlothlen with the Gazette digital news desk and I’m here with your update for Monday, December 7th.

The weather today will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Winds from the north around 5 mph becoming calm this morning. Then tonight, partly cloudy, with a low around 26. 

Days before Gov. Kim Reynolds’ latest emergency health order is set to expire, Iowa’s COVID-19 death rate and new hospitalizations declined Sunday from recent records but still are far higher than at the peak of last summer’s surge. According to state public health data, Iowa confirmed 17 more COVID-19 deaths Sunday morning, bringing the total number of Iowans known to have died from the disease to 2,682 in less than nine months. While that daily toll is far less than the record highs confirmed in recent days, Iowa has added 307 virus deaths in the last seven days alone.

In college football... after falling behind 14-0 Saturday, the Iowa Hawkeyes scored the next 35 points and earned their fifth-straight win this season and seventh consecutive victory over Illinois, 35-21. The Hawkeyes improved to 5-2 while the Illini dropped to 2-4. Iowa got to 14-13 by halftime and took the lead for good on its first drive of the second half, capped by Spencer Petras' 4-yard touchdown pass to Ihmir Smith-Marsette. Petras finished 18 of 28 for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Smith-Marsette added 44 yards rushing and a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Cyclones secured first place in Big 12 Conference football Saturday, with a 42-6 win over the West Virginia Mountaineers. Brock Purdy didn’t throw an off-target pass and was 20 of 23 for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Breece Hall added 153 yards.