DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowans broke the record for participation in local elections on Tuesday. In 2019, roughly 358,000 Iowans voted in local elections. On Tuesday, 425,000 cast their ballot, and officials are still waiting on numbers from two counties. This is only the second time city and school elections have been held on the same day. The first time that happened was in 2019, where we saw voter turnout go up 156% in school elections.

IOWA (IRN) – UAW workers have voted down a second proposed contract from John Deere, putting 10,000 workers back on strike. Picketing was halted on Tuesday as union members voted on the new contract.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A former Dubuque private school administrator and principal who stole at least $250,000 over the last ten years pleaded guilty to wire fraud on Monday in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Todd Wessels, 49, served as the Curriculum and Technology Director for the Holy Ghost Catholic School and before 2016, was also the principal. Wessels used district funds to make personal purchases on school credit cards.

​​CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Legalized casino gambling could still come to Linn County after voters decided to extend its approval on Tuesday. While the county has no casinos, roughly 55% of voters voted yes on a referendum that allowed excursion gambling boats or gambling structure activities to continue. Approximately 45% voted no.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Deer across Iowa are contracting coronavirus, and experts have said it’s spreading like wildfire. Experts at Iowa State University said nearly 80% of deer in their sample tested positive for coronavirus. The good news is that it can’t be passed to humans from animals.