DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a sweeping education bill into law Friday. It contains major changes to how Iowa schools are legally allowed to approach gender identity and sexuality. State democrats and LGBTQ groups have fought against several restrictions included in the new law for months. They argue banning instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in grades K-6 will limit children’s ability to be open with teachers about gender and sexuality issues. They also argue the new law strips LGBTQ representation from books and other curriculum. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds signed SF542 into law Friday, which allows Iowa teenagers to work more hours a day and later at night. It also allows them to work jobs that were previously prohibited under state law. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Former President and 2024 GOP presidential candidate, Donald Trump, will return to Iowa June 1st, according to a Trump campaign official. He plans to speak at a meeting held by the Westside Conservative Club in Urbandale. IOWA CITY, (IRN) – Iowa athletic director Gary Barta is retiring Aug. 1, 2023. Iowa athletics has seen much success with Barta. From the fall of 2020 through 2021, Iowa athletic programs have won the most Big Ten championships in any two-year period in the university’s history, with 11. The university also has won four NCAA wrestling championships during his tenure and added a women’s wrestling program. Barta has faced calls for his resignation after four discrimination lawsuits in the last decade, adding up to more than $11 million in settlements. The latest was a $4 million settlement in a racial discrimination lawsuit against the University of Iowa football program.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Donald Trump will be back in Iowa next week, less than three weeks after canceling an outdoor event in Des Moines due to severe weather. The former president will speak on June 1 at the morning meeting of the Westside Conservative Club at the Machine Shed restaurant in Urbandale. He’ll then participate in a town hall hosted by Sean Hannity with Fox News. That event will be pre-taped in Clive and will air at 8 p.m. that night. POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An accident involving a tanker truck on I-35 in northern Polk County caused a slowdown Thursday morning. The crash involved a tanker truck hauling diesel and a passenger vehicle. The tanker truck ended up rolling into the median. There were only minor injuries and a minor diesel fuel spill. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Some Des Moines residents say they are having a hard time going to sleep because construction on University Avenue sometimes continues past 10 p.m. The work is part of the University Avenue Corridor Improvement project. The current phase of the project spans between 31st and 42nd streets and costs about $3 million. ROCKWELL CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority announced that three $50,000 grants have been awarded to Calhoun County Public Health, Cass County Board of Health, and Van Buren County Hospital to test an innovative program aimed at decreasing emergency response times in rural Iowa. ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – Adventureland tested its newest coaster on Thursday afternoon, bringing it one step closer to opening for the season. Officials say the Flying Viking is one of two new rides built inside of the park; it will travel more than 1,300 ft. with a twisting, turning, and exhilarating track.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A newly announced Republican presidential candidate is planning to kick off his campaign tour in Iowa next week. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis officially joined the race for the White House Wednesday. Thursday morning, his campaign announced his first campaign events for the “Our Great American Comeback Tour” which is slated to begin next Tuesday, May 30th in Des Moines. The kickoff event will be followed by stops in Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Pella, and Cedar Rapids the next day. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Pieper Lewis is seeking a pardon from Governor Kim Reynolds in one final effort before her sentencing hearing at the end of the month. Lewis is facing up to 21 years in prison after violating her probation and running away from the Fresh Start Women’s Facility last year. Lewis was sent to Fresh Start as a part of her deferred judgement for killing the man she claims raped her. MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – Marshalltown police are investigating a shooting that left one person dead and another injured on Wednesday. Police found a 57-year-old woman dead from a gunshot wound. Police also found a 72-year-old man who was shot and had life-threatening injuries. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines could not keep all of its pools open at once last summer due to a lifeguard shortage. The city is not going to have that problem this year. Des Moines’ Parks and Recreation Department announced Wednesday it is now fully staffed with 151 lifeguards, compared to just 97 lifeguards last summer. The increase in lifeguards coincides with an increase in wages approved by city council. The minimum wage for lifeguards rose from $11 per hour last year to $15 per hour this year. PRAIRIE CITY, IA (IRN) – One small town in Iowa is making big bucks off of its four speed cameras. Since Prairie City turned them on in fiscal year 2020, the community has made $2.38 million in revenue from them.

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Following an investigation into two separate home invasions, officials have arrested a 25-year-old from North Liberty. On March 10th, Waterloo Police responded to a residence for a report that an unknown man entered a victim’s apartment and sexually assaulted her. Then, on April 10th, Cedar Falls Patrol Officers were dispatched to a residence for a report of a burglary. Investigators learned that an unknown male had entered the residence and sexually assaulted the lone resident. Following an investigation, police arrested 25-year-old Asante Walker-Garcia Adams. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Former Vice President Mike Pence is back in Iowa as he mulls a run for president. Pence attended a meet and greet hosted by Polk County Republicans Tuesday night. This afternoon, he’ll participate in what’s described as a fireside chat at Des Moines Christian School. Pence’s plans also include attending an event in Ottumwa with the Wapello County Republicans. TAMA, IA (IRN) – After over 100 years in business, the Tama Paper Mill is closing on June 2. The company hosted a job fair yesterday at the Tama Civic Center. About 30 employers with more than 400 jobs to fill were at the fair. The job fair was organized by Graphic Packaging, owner of the mill. ADEL, IA (IRN) – The former football coach of Adel DeSoto Minburn High School is accused of stealing money from a booster club during his time as head coach. The Gridiron Club said they noticed financial irregularities and confronted coach Garrison Carter. Carter has resigned.

PLEASANT HILL, IA (IRN) – Police have arrested a man in connection with the 2021 death of a Pleasant Hill toddler. Jeremy White, 41, is being held in the Polk County Jail on a charge of child endangerment-death. The charge is linked to the death of 18-month-old William Moore. White was dating and living with the child’s mother at the time. The mother left Moore in White’s care while she went to a tanning salon. White called 911 reporting that the child was not breathing or responsive. The child was later pronounced dead. The cause was blunt force trauma. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Timothy Rush was sentenced to up to 30 years in prison Monday for his role in the Taboo Nightclub shooting in Cedar Rapids, but the families of those he killed said it wasn’t enough. The shooting on April 10, 2022 killed three people, and nine more were hurt. CENTRAL IOWA (IRN) – Police say a fake bomb threat forced an evacuation at Hy-Vee stores in Johnston, Ames and Perry Monday. Officers say an anonymous caller made the threat. Police departments from the communities did a sweep of the respective stores and found the threats weren’t credible. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – On Monday, officials in Iowa City announced that there will be no swimming at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area due to the bacteria level. Officials say this advisory is due to the level of E. Coli detected in Sand Lake and will last indefinitely until water quality improves. MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – The city of Marshalltown is turning its two automated speed cameras on beginning Tuesday, but drivers for the first 30-days will get a warning before the fines start going out. Fines will begin at 11 mph over the speed limit and escalate along with the speed you are traveling. Going 30mph or more over the speed limit will get you the maximum fine of $400.