DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office is opening a new position to help in its response to people experiencing a mental health crisis. The sheriff’s office and two mental health providers in eastern Iowa, Foundation 2 and the East Central Region, will employ a mental health liaison within the department. Dubuque County Sheriff Joe Kennedy said since the pandemic began, more people have been calling saying they feel suicidal, and when someone is in distress, having a mental health professional respond makes sense.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Protesters once again disrupted a Des Moines City Council meeting Monday, resulting in at least one arrest. Police took a demonstrator away in handcuffs.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A disaster proclamation has been issued by Governor Kim Reynolds after severe weather hit three counties this month. Those three counties are Linn, Monroe, and Wapello. Qualifying residents in those counties can now apply for grants up to $5,000 to cover the cost of home or car repairs, replacement of food or clothing, and temporary housing expenses.

EUGENE, OR (IRN) – Former Indian Hills Community College sprinter Kenny Bednarek is headed to Tokyo after his runner-up finish in the 200 meters at the Olympic trials on Sunday. Bednarek, 22, was a two-time NJCAA champion while at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. Bednarek also qualified for the American 4×100 relay team.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) -The Fort Dodge Police Department said a driver learned the hard way not to ignore road signs after their car became stuck in wet concrete. Officers cited a 37-year-old Webster City woman for failure to obey a traffic control device after she drove past barriers construction crews had placed while they were doing concrete patch repair. The woman said she was just following her GPS directions.