DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reports 381 new positive COVID-19 cases on Friday, and three deaths. That brings the statewide total to 23,166 positive cases and 641 deaths.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The State of Iowa is moving ahead with a $10.3 million purchase to stockpile ventilators for coronavirus patients, even as demand for the breathing machines has dropped. The purchase is in anticipation of new waves of the virus that could overwhelm hospitals in the coming months.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – After Black Lives Matter protesters called for action in daily demonstrations for nearly two weeks, the Iowa House and Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan police reform bill on Thursday, hours after it was introduced. Both chambers passed the historic legislation back-to-back with Black Lives Matter demonstrators watching from above.

CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – A protest against police brutality which started Thursday afternoon on the University of Iowa campus got very tense during a police standoff near Interstate 80 when traffic was blocked. City council members walked with protesters to show support for their movement.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A protester has filed a lawsuit against a Des Moines police officer and the city over the use of pepper spray during protests on May 30th. Essence Welch filed the lawsuit, claiming she was peacefully protesting the death of George Floyd when a police officer, without warning, stepped out from a group of officers and sprayed her in the face with pepper spray. Welch claims she suffered severe pain and says the action deprived her of her constitutional rights.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen has announced a plaque was removed from near the LeBaron building after discovering its namesake’s history of racism. W.T. Hornaday attended Iowa State University from 1872 to 1873 and later became the first director of the Bronx Zoo. Wintersteen learned that Hornaday had created a racist exhibit at the Bronx Zoo involving Ota Benga, a man from the Republic of Congo. Benga eventually committed suicide. Hornaday had been recognized for his work as a conservationist.