OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – Firefighters responding to a small house fire in Ottumwa found a man dead inside the home on Tuesday. A police officer had gone to the home to perform a welfare check on an elderly man living there. The officer called the fire department after smelling smoke and noticing the windows were black. The firefighters arrived, entered the home and found the man, later identified as 79-year-old Jerry Lee Blomgren, dead inside. NORWALK, IA (IRN) – The Norwalk police and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation have charged Antonio Lewis, 38, with first-degree murder in the death of 31-year-old Karisa Shendelman. On Sept. 15 officers responded to a report of a stabbing. Officers found Lewis in the apartment and Shendelman dead with multiple stab wounds. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Busy Bubbles Laundry at 31st and Ingersoll caught fire in Des Moines on Wednesday night. The fire caused a massive plume of smoke that was visible throughout the city. The building was a total loss. No one was injured. IOWA (IRN) – COVID-19 hospitalizations and new reported cases both dropped again this week in Iowa, according to data released Wednesday by the Iowa Department of Public Health. It’s the seventh straight week that the numbers have dropped in Iowa AMES (IRN) – The Iowa State volleyball team played spoiler in a major way Wednesday night. The Cyclones upended No. 1 and undefeated Texas’ perfect start to the season with a 3-2 victory at Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State (13-7, 5-2 Big 12) had lost 10 straight to Texas. Texas had won its first 14 games of the season and its first six in Big 12 play.

CHEROKEE, IA (IRN) – A school district in Northwest Iowa is allowing some staff members to carry guns on school grounds. The district in Cherokee, Iowa, came to the decision during a board meeting on Monday. The school district’s decision makes it the second in Iowa to allow staff to carry guns. In August, the Spirit Lake School Board voted to allow 10 staff member, designated by the Superintendent, to carry guns in schools. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Officers rescued a passenger from a burning car early Tuesday morning in Des Moines after the driver led them on a chase that ended in a crash. The pursuit began around 1:00 a.m. after an officer tried to pull over a car for traffic violations. The driver, 53-year-old Anthony Formaro, took off and crashed just a short distance away. The car rolled and landed on its top. Formaro ran from the scene but was chased down by an officer. The car caught fire and backup officers noticed a passenger trapped inside and kicked out a window to rescue them. URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – Police confiscated a gun from an Urbandale High School student who was running toward the school Tuesday afternoon. A community member called 911 to report possible gunshots at nearby Lions Park. Two students, aged 14 and 15, face charges. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson has been discharged from the hospital after being treated for a kidney infection. Hinson was admitted to UnityPoint St. Luke’s Hospital on Sunday evening. The hospitalization forced the cancellation of a debate planned for Tuesday night between Hinson and her Democratic challenger Liz Mathis. MINNEAPOLIS MN (IRN) – After a strong preseason with the Minnesota Timberwolves, former Iowa big man Luka Garza has signed a two-way deal. It allows the organization to move Garza up and down from the NBA roster to the G-League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves. This preseason, the 2021 Naismith player of the year for the Hawkeyes averaged seven points per game, shooting 67 percent from three-point range.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – The FBI has gotten involved in the search for Brenda Payer. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women USA said that 36-year-old Brenda Payer, of Sioux City, was last seen dropping off a relative’s vehicle at a McDonald’s. . CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson was hospitalized Sunday night in Cedar Rapids. She was admitted to UnityPoint St. Luke’s Hospital with a kidney infection and is receiving treatment. COLUMBUS JUNCTION, IA (IRN) – A break-in occurred at Columbus High School in Columbus Junction early Monday morning that left extensive vandalism in six classrooms and three other common and office areas. A student is in custody. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Thanks to the University of Iowa Dance Marathon, the university now has $1.5 million to support a professorship in pediatric oncology. The UI Dance Marathon has made big donations towards tools and positions that support its mission several times since its creation in 1994. From funding MRI machines, a research lab, and a child life fellowship position, these all go towards their overall goal to end cancer among children.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Patrol believes a medical issue caused a crash in Newton around 2 p.m. Friday at the Iowa Speedway. Troopers say they found the woman unresponsive after she drove into the lot and crashed into unmarked Department of Public Safety cars. She was taken to the hospital and has since been released. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics employees who say that overtime and other payments were improperly paid will receive $15 million as part of a class-action suit that was filed in 2019. The healthcare system and about 11,000 workers have argued that managers didn’t pay overtime, bonuses or accrued leave as quickly as state and federal laws require. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – A well-known Ankeny activist who protested mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic and even filed a lawsuit against the Ankeny School District over the matter has been arrested on charges she made false claims of abuse to DHS about a former business partner’s family. “Mama Bear” Kimberly Reicks, 39, was booked into the Polk County Jail. IOWA (IRN) – New record-cold temperatures could be set across Iowa tomorrow morning. Cold air is moving into the upper Midwest and gradually causing temperatures to fall below average. Des Moines had a high of 66 degrees Saturday, but a low of just 29 degrees, 14 degrees below average. Temperatures will bottom out around 6 a.m. Tuesday morning when some parts of northern Iowa could see temperatures dip below 20 degrees.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Taboo Nightclub shooting suspect plans to argue he shot and killed one person in self defense. Dimione Walker is accused of shooting and killing Michael Valentine at the club on April 10 in Cedar Rapids. Two others died and nine others were injured. Walker was captured on video surveillance shooting Valentine at point blank range six times. MANCHESTER, IA (IRN) – A Manchester man died in a farm accident Thursday. Randall Wulfenkuhle, 68, was operating a grain bagger and while checking or adjusting the machine, his clothing got caught in the drive shaft. He was dead at the scene when emergency crews arrived. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Patrol is trying to figure out what caused a driver to slam into some parked cars at the Iowa Speedway in Newton on Friday. The patrol says they found a woman unresponsive after she drove into the lot and crashed into some unmarked Department of Public Safety vehicles. She was taken to the hospital. IOWA (IRN) – Experts say drinking habits have changed since the pandemic and as a result, Iowans are buying more alcohol. 97-million gallons of beer were sold last fiscal year. That’s 30.2 gallons of beer for every single person in the state.