DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported five new cases of the U.K. variant of COVID-19 in the state of Iowa. According to the CDC, the variant “may be associated with an increased risk of death compared to other variants.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An amendment saying a woman’s right to an abortion is not protected passed another hurdle in the Iowa Statehouse on Wednesday. House Joint Resolution 5 passed through committee and is now eligible for debate on the full Senate floor. If it passes both chambers this year, the issue would need approval from Iowa voters in 2023 or 2024 in order to become law.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Citing concerns over an imbalance of political beliefs among faculty at Iowa’s public universities, a state lawmaker has introduced a bill requiring the state Board of Regents to survey employees at Iowa’s three public universities about their political affiliations. Republican sponsors fear there are too many Democrats among faculty, and want more balance.

JACKSONVILLE, FL (IRN) – Chris Doyle has found a new job, eight months after he left the University of Iowa following accusations of promoting racial disparities in the football program. On Thursday, the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL announced that Doyle had been hired as “director of sport performance.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines is launching a new initiative along with the Metro Waste Authority to educate Iowans about single-use plastics, the harm they can cause and how to cut them out of your life by “stomping the straw.” 17% of trash in landfills is single use plastic.