DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa legislators in the Republican-led Senate have passed a bill that includes a last-minute amendment excluding transition-related medical services for transgender Iowans from taxpayer-funded insurance coverage. The amendment introduced Friday to the Health and Human Services budget bill also prevents Planned Parenthood of the Heartland from applying for certain sexual education grants.

INDEPENDENCE, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo man has been convicted by a Buchanan County jury of kidnapping and trying to kill a woman by intentionally driving his car toward a concrete bridge pylon. KCRG-TV reports the victim called 911 on April 6, 2018. She told the dispatcher she was in a car with Ronald Dean Share and he refused to let her out. During the call, the victim told dispatch Share was threatening to kill her by hitting a pylon at 100 m.p.h.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An adult man was the victim of a fatal pedestrian and train collision in Iowa City yesterday, according to KWWL-TV. The collision was reported by a railroad employee.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Former Vice President Joe Biden, who officially announced his 2020 White House bid Thursday, will make his first visit to Iowa as a presidential candidate next week. Biden’s campaign announced the former vice president and senator from Delaware will hold events in Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and Iowa City.

MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – In July 2018, a tornado ripped through Marshalltown, and nine months later, the town is still recovering. WHO-TV reports more than 600 Habitat for Humanity of Iowa volunteers came together in Marshalltown to work on 40 different houses that were damaged by the tornado. But that’s just a start. Habitat for Humanity plans to repair 100 homes in Marshalltown in 2019.