NEW YORK, NY – Gov. Kim Reynolds appeared on CBS This Morning today and talked about Iowa’s recent ranking as #1 in U.S. News and World Report’s Best States. The magazine lists Iowa #1 in infrastructure, #3 in health care, #4 in opportunity, #5 in education and #9 in quality of life, giving Iowa the #1 ranking overall. However, the state ranked near the bottom in some categories, including #46 for business environment, #36 in growth of the young population, #38 in venture capital investment and #45 in entrepreneurship.

MONROE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two people are dead following a head on collision involving a stolen vehicle in Southeast Iowa last night. KTVO-TV reports a suspect robbed and assaulted a pizza delivery man, and stole his car. Shortly afterward, a collision occurred on Highway 34. The suspect driver, 28-year-old Nathaniel Wesley Stroud of Centerville, was westbound at a high rate of speed when he struck an oncoming car driven by 34-year-old Summer Leanne Cox of Allerton. Both Stroud and Cox were pronounced dead on scene.

ANAMOSA, IA (IRN) – The Anamosa city council has fired the police chief after media reports showed he sent emails with racist and sexist comments. KCRG-TV reports Chief Bob Simonson offered to retire, but the council unanimously decided to fire him Monday night instead. Simonson must return his gun and gear by noon today.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A motorcycle driver was hospitalized Monday after wrecking his bike in Des Moines. When police arrived on scene the man was under the motorcycle in the middle of the street. Authorities believe alcohol played a role in the crash.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa drivers are the most ticketed in the country when it comes to speeding. According to the online insurance company, Insurify, Iowa drivers get more speeding tickets than anywhere else in the United States. That’s despite having the lowest per-capita number of police officers among the other highest ticketed states. Over 23% of Iowa drivers reported having a speeding violation in the last seven years, the highest percentage in the nation.

BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – The late-winter thawing of an eastern Iowa marina has left a smelly surprise: thousands of tiny dead shad. The Hawk Eye reports fish in Burlington’s Bluff Harbor Marina slowly ran out of oxygen during two months of freezing temperatures and ice build-up. Pelicans, gulls and eagles are taking advantage of the opportunity to feed.