WATERLOO, MidAmerican Energy is taking the final steps to flip the switch at the company’s first utility-scale solar energy project, located in Waterloo. In mid-November, MidAmerican will power-up the 3-megawatt Waterloo solar project, comprising nearly 10,000 solar panels. The array has the capacity to serve nearly 650 average Iowa homes.

DESOTO, IA (IRN) – A Fort Dodge man is in the Dallas County jail accused of assaulting his pregnant girlfriend in an attempt to to cause a miscarriage. 31-year-old Michael Canady was arrested on Saturday at the Edgewater Motel in DeSoto after his girlfriend called 911 to report an assault. The victim told police that Canady hit her in the face and head – even biting her face – and hit her multiple times in the abdomen.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A former Linn-Mar high school track and field coach is facing several charges – including kidnapping and sexual abuse. Kameron Marrelle Beets, 29, was arrested Monday in Cedar Rapids. He’s charged with third-degree kidnapping, third-degree sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a minor, sexual exploitation by a school employee, and invasion of privacy. He’s accused of using his position as owner and operator of B.E.A.S.T. Academy, a high school sports photography company, to reach victims.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – There are roughly 284,000 Iowans ages 5-11 that could soon be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could approve the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11 as soon as Nov. 4. About 99,000 doses are expected to arrive in Iowa between Oct. 27 and Nov. 4.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – An Ankeny woman is now the first female enlisted infantry soldier in the Iowa National Guard. Private Taylor Patterson joined the Guard in June 2020. Patterson was not the first female to enlist as an infantryman in the Iowa National Guard, but the 22 other women before her were unable to complete the intense 22-week training at Fort Benning, Georgia.