DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – State and federal officials said Friday that Iowa’s third case of bird flu has been identified in a flock of about 919,000 egg-laying chickens in the southwestern part of the state. The latest outbreak in Taylor County is the first case of avian influenza in Iowa this year in an egg-laying facility. The previous Iowa cases were a small outbreak among an outdoor flock of ducks and chickens in western Iowa on March 1 and in a flock of 50,000 turkeys in northwest Iowa on March 6.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – More than 100 students at Central Academy walked out Friday afternoon in protest of the state’s new law banning transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports at the K-12 and college levels. The students marched several blocks up Grand Avenue to the Governor’s Mansion, chanting and holding signs supporting transgender rights.

SPENCER, IA (IRN) – Staff at the Spencer Hospital in Spencer, Iowa, have loaded a van of medical supplies to send to Ukraine, including items for trauma care, surgery, and orthopedic treatment. Employees from the hospital’s supply chain and plant ops teams gathered the supplies and took them to Red Oak. From there, the supplies will be shipped.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Just 4 years after Maddie Poppie won American Idol, another Iowa native is stepping up and competing on the show. Haley Slaton from Cedar Rapids auditioned in front of Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie on the 20th season of the singing competition reality show. Her audition airs Sunday, March 20th. Wish her good luck.