DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s state auditor on Tuesday again called for Gov. Kim Reynolds to return nearly $450,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds that were used to pay for 21 governor’s office staff members for three months in 2020. Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, released a new report that repeated his recommendation from October 2020 and last December that the funds were improperly used and should be returned. Governor Reynolds says the spending was allowed.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – After President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds delivered the Republican response. Reynolds has endeared herself to Iowa’s increasingly GOP-leaning electorate and national Republican leaders by opposing much of the Biden administration’s pandemic policy.

DALLAS COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Five area fire departments battled a blaze at a home in rural Woodward Tuesday morning. The fire broke out around 6:00 a.m. and the home was quickly engulfed in flames. All four family members were able to make it out of the home safely.
The fire was discovered by the father, who had left for work but turned around because he forgot to let out the chickens. He could see the flames as he approached home and woke his family up to evacuate.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Masks will not be required in Iowa City school buildings, on campuses, or on school buses, the district announced Tuesday, given new CDC guidance.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – University of Iowa women’s basketball superstar Caitlin Clark has added the first entry of what should be a long list of postseason honors – Big Ten Conference Player of the Year. The Hawkeye sophomore leads the conference – and the nation – in assists, points and triple-doubles. Clark was also named a unanimous first team member of the all-conference teams from both the coaches and media.