DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Workforce Development said it expects a gap in pandemic-related unemployment benefits as it awaits the signing of Congress’ newly passed COVID-19 relief bill. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation are scheduled to end Dec. 26.

DALLAS COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A homicide investigation is underway after a man with a gunshot wound died at a rural intersection near Adel on Tuesday. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and the Division of Criminal Investigation are investigating the man’s death as a homicide. The identity of the man shot and killed has not been released.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The U.S. Department of Justice said it found reasonable cause that conditions at Glenwood Resource Center violated the 14th Amendment in the U.S. Constitution.
The DOJ released the findings of its investigation into Glenwood on Tuesday, which stated that experiments were conducted on residents without their consent. The report concluded that the disabled shouldn’t be used as “human guinea pigs.”

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids announced a minimum wage increase to $15.25 starting in January. A general two percent wage increase for eligible employees was also approved to start in January. Mercy officials say the changes were prompted by the challenging year that both the pandemic and derecho created for healthcare workers.

THE MIDWEST (IRN) – The coldest air of the season is taking aim at the upper Midwest. A strengthening low pressure system over the Dakotas is moving toward Minnesota and Iowa this morning. This developing system will lead to a triple threat in Iowa, with precipitation, wind, and a powerful Arctic Front in today’s forecast.