IOWA (IRN) – A change to Iowa’s election laws in 2021 restricted absentee voting in several ways. Previously, absentee ballots had to be postmarked prior to Election Day. Now the county auditor must receive it prior to 8 p.m. on Election Day. County auditors are telling voters it’s too late to put their ballots in the mail.

MAQUOKETA, IA (IRN) – A Maquoketa man has died after being shot near Fulton on November 2. The victim, identified as 60-year-old Michael Berg, was transported to the Jackson County Regional Health Center, where he later died. Police are investigating.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Another Iowan is pleading guilty to participating in the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol. Chad Heathcote of Adel took a plea deal yesterday. Heathcote admitted to parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building, which is a misdemeanor. In return, the government dropped several other misdemeanor charges against him. Heathcote is the fourth Iowan to plead guilty to the attack. Kyle Young received the harshest sentence – more than seven years for attacking a police officer.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Wind blade manufacturer TPI Composites says it will reopen its Iowa plant that employed as many as 700 people before the Arizona manufacturer closed the facility last year. Officials say they hope to fully restore its 700-employee workforce. TPI, which manufactured wind blades for GE in Iowa from 2008 to 2021, was once Jasper County’s largest private employer.