USA (IRN) – Key members of the Democratic National Committee have begun formally circulating a proposal requiring Iowa to apply to hold its prized first-in-the-nation caucuses as the party seeks to revamp its presidential nominating calendar. Republicans are committed to keeping Iowa’s first in the nation caucuses.

FAIRFIELD, IA (IRN) – A judge ruled on Tuesday that the press and public can attend proceedings in a Fairfield murder case. Jeremy Goodale and Willard Miller, both 16, are accused of murdering Spanish teacher Nohema Graber. In court Monday, their lawyers argued that court proceedings should be closed, as it would be hard to find an impartial jury at trial. Prosecutors disagreed, saying the proceedings should be held in open court unless the cases would go back to juvenile court. The teens are currently charged as adults.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Public Works is working to control a wastewater leak into the Des Moines River after a ‘force main’ broke. The main broke near Birdland Park Marina. A pumping station that feeds the main is being shut down, but 3,500 gallons-per-minute of untreated wastewater and storm runoff is dumping into the river.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – An Iowa astronaut is set to exit the International Space Station today. NASA Flight Engineer Raja Chari from Iowa will join Matthias Maurer of Germany and go on a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk. Their main objective is to install thermal system and electronics components on the outside of the space station.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – 15-month-old Cooper Schmidt finally got to make his first trip home to Ankeny after spending his first 456 days on Earth at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Cooper was born with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease and he was placed on dialysis immediately after birth. A living donor came forward and donated one of their kidneys to Cooper.