AMES, IA (IRN) – Six Iowa State University students living in a rented home in Ames have been vaccinated for rabies after officials learned they have collectively killed 23 bats in their home. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports the first bat was found in the basement Aug. 30, and another one the next morning. The bats continued to appear and the students would walk the hallways at night with tennis rackets to combat the animals.
DES MOINES (IRN) – If you can lay concrete or frame a house, chances are an Iowa company wants you. Construction firms in Iowa and nationwide are struggling to find workers and most don’t expect the labor shortage to improve in the next year, according to a survey released Thursday by the Associated General Contractors of America. 92% of Iowa firms surveyed said they were having trouble finding workers.
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) For the second time this week, Cedar Rapids police are investigating a shooting death, according to KCRG-TV. This time, the victim is a 32-year-old man. Police have not yet released the victim’s name, and there have been no arrests. Police believe the shooting was not random and that there is no risk to the general public.
DES MOINES (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating a burglary at a frozen custard store Wednesday. A former employee is suspected. He should be easy to locate, having numerous tattoos including a pot leaf on his left hand, cross on his shoulder, lizard on his left forearm, a clown, a cross, a grim reaper, a biohazard symbol on his neck, the word hate on his left hand finger and love on his left hand finger, and a Tweety bird on his left leg.
DES MOINES (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating after two bodies were found early this morning just north of downtown. WHO-TV reports one body was found in the middle of a street, the other behind a home nearby. Police have not said how the two people died but did say they had been investigating a report of a shooting.
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police have made an arrest in the case of a man found dead outside a church on Saturday morning, according to KWWL-TV. 56-year-old Raymond Ursino was found dead near the First Presbyterian Church. Ursino had no permanent address. 44-year-old Travis Standlee, also with no permanent address, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and willful injury causing serious injury. Ursino died by strangulation.
DES MOINES (IRN) – The Office of the Iowa Attorney General says that some sexual assault test kits have remained unprocessed for decades, according to KCCI-TV. Iowa will receive $2 million in grants as part of the nearly $80 million distributed nationally to help cities and states test reported backlogs of approximately 70,000 rape kits.
DES MOINES (IRN) – Governor Terry Branstad has ordered all U.S. and state flags flying on state owned buildings, grounds and facilities to fly at half-staff today to honor those killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Governor Branstad encourages all individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions to fly their flags at half-staff as a sign of respect.