EAGLE GROVE, IA (IRN) – An employee was killed at the Prestage Foods pork production plant in Eagle Grove this morning. Jeffrey Leonardi, 57, was a mechanic and had been with Prestage Foods of Iowa since March of 2019 when the plant opened. He died performing routine maintenance tasks.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A stabbing sent two people to the hospital in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Both victims arrived at the hospital by private vehicle. Police said a 21-year-old man sustained life-threatening injuries to the abdomen and a 17-year-old boy had life-threatening injuries to the chest.

IOWA (IRN) – An Iowa district court judge is considering whether to halt enforcement of a state law that prohibits school boards from imposing mask requirements.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – For Iowa Methodist Medical Center staff members, the latest COVID surge is even more exhausting than the original outbreak. They have the proper protective equipment now, and better treatments. But they lack the energy of the pandemic’s early months when they were leading an all-hands-on-deck struggle against a deadly threat. They say the finish line keeps moving and that it’s frustrating that this latest surge could have been prevented by more people getting vaccinated.

IOWA (IRN) – President Joe Biden is requiring all federal workers and contractors to be vaccinated. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says Biden has overstepped his authority, and says, “I believe and trust in Iowans to make the best health decisions for themselves and their families. It’s time for President Biden to do the same. Enough is enough.”