POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Polk County hospitals are running at limited capacity because of staffing shortages, increases in COVID-19 and normal summer injuries. The demand for hospital beds in Polk County is greater than the number of beds available. Rising COVID-19 cases and typical summer trauma injuries like motorcycle, bike, ATV and pool injuries are filling up hospitals. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One person is in the hospital after a carbon monoxide incident in Des Moines yesterday. The building was evacuated. There’s no word on the condition of the person hospitalized. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Deer hunters would be able to use semi-automatic rifles during a newly created antlerless season in January under a bill approved by Iowa lawmakers Tuesday. Charles City Democratic Rep. Todd Prichard, a former active-duty U.S. Army soldier and now a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, opposed the bill. He says the AR-15 type rifles allowed for hunting were similar to those he was trained to use in the military and that ammunition authorized in the bill can travel up to 2½ miles. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The Dubuque Police Department said it wants people to report social media posts to police if they believe it could lead to violence. This comes after the Uvalde shooting where 19 children and two teachers were killed when an 18-year-old shooter entered the building. The shooter had posted threats and photos of the weapons and ammunition on social media. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa lawmakers ended their legislative session early Wednesday, about five weeks behind schedule because of a dispute over education spending. The Senate and House adjourned just after midnight without reaching agreement on Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal to divert $55 million from public schools toward taxpayer-funded vouchers for up to 10,000 students to attend private schools.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Valley West Mall in West Des Moines is under foreclosure. U.S. Bank filed the action in Polk County district court last week, alleging the owners of the 47-year-old mall — once the Des Moines metro’s premier shopping destination — have not made loan payments since May 6, 2021. They owe the bank $3.5 million. The bank has requested the court appoint a receiver to take control of the property and manage rent and loan payments, as well as order Valley West Mall to pay the remainder of its original loan, totaling at least $41.2 million, plus liquidation fees, legal expenses and interest. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Cedar Rapids Police Department is investigating after two people were hurt Monday night in a possible road-rage shooting. The driver of the car and a passenger who were shot at reported a white SUV, with an unknown number of passengers, began to pass them and opened fire. The driver told police the shooting started due to a potential road-rage incident. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – According to data from the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, State Senator Roby Smith (R-Davenport) received $23,000 from Elite Casino Resorts political action committee before he introduced an amendment in the statehouse blocking a Cedar Rapids casino for two years. Elite Casino Resorts has a casino in the same district Sen. Smith represents. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Some Ankeny parents are upset about an event held on Monday night at Ankeny High School. Ankeny’s Gay Straight Alliance club hosted a drag event as part of the club’s end-of-the-year meeting. The club brought in some popular drag performers from around the Des Moines metro. The event was not for the whole school, and was not approved by the school administration. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids will host the 2023-2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. The Cedar Rapids Tourism Office says the annual national championship is estimated to bring in nearly $2 million over three years for the Cedar Rapids community.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Iowa Supreme Court decision is holding back the state’s solidly Republican Legislature and governor from banning abortion if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. A court now dominated by Republican appointees is expected to decide in the coming weeks whether to uphold the ruling, decided just four years ago. The Iowa case highlights the inevitable confrontation between new abortion bans being prepared in anticipation of Roe’s reversal and state constitutions. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque man was arrested after causing multiple crashes Sunday, including one that resulted in severe injuries to another man. Traffic camera footage shows 39-year-old Timothy Simon was involved in a three-vehicle crash. Simon then continued driving and caused another crash that forced two vehicles into a building. A 51-year-old man that was inside the building was pinned underneath one of the vehicles. CHEROKEE, IA (IRN) – A northwest Iowa police officer is accused of hitting a 6-year-old girl with his car and then leaving the scene on Friday. Cherokee police say Michael McGee is no longer employed by the department. The Iowa State Patrol says the girl went to the hospital, but will recover. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A new bill that would get rid of sales taxes on menstrual products and diapers is now headed to the governor’s desk after passing unanimously in both the House and Senate. The bill is part of a nationwide movement to get rid of sales tax on the products. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A bill to overhaul the state’s bottle and can redemption program for the first time in more than 40 years is heading to the governor’s desk. The bill will raise the handling fee businesses earn from 1 to 3 cents per container. The measure allows grocery stores to opt out of accepting cans or bottles, but only if they have an agreement with a redemption center or are within 10 miles of one.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Speaker of the House Rep. Pat Grassley says Gov. Kim Reynolds’ plan to use state money to fund scholarships at private schools will not advance this session. The controversial bill was a major sticking point holding up the completion of the 2022 legislative session. The Senate passed the bill, but it doesn’t have the votes to pass the House. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Iowan who served more time than any other as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War died this weekend. He was 82. Larry Spencer grew up in Earlham, and joined the Navy in 1963. During a reconnaissance mission in North Vietnam, Spencer was captured. He spent nearly seven years as a prisoner. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo police are investigating a homicide after a woman was shot and killed Sunday morning. Officers say they responded to a call of shots fired around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday. They located a vehicle with the victim inside. First responders rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she died. WAUKON, IA (IRN) – The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office responded to two attempted house break-ins and a theft of a vehicle before 5 P.M. Friday night. 26-year-old Michael Troendle broke into a home with a knife and confronted the homeowner. He proceeded to steal a vehicle from the premises. Troendle drove the vehicle to another residence on the same block and attempted to break in. After unsuccessfully breaking into the home, Troendle attempted to steal another vehicle, but failed before a Deputy arrived on scene and arrested him. STORY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two former city officials are facing charges in Story County after law enforcement says the pair committed fraud. Former McCallsburg Mayor Chris Erickson and former City Clerk Jennifer Heithoff are charged with felonious misconduct in office. Heithoff allegedly zeroed out Erickson’s water bills, and Erickson allegedly signed off on fraudulent payroll and mileage reimbursement checks for Heithoff. SOUTH DAKOTA (IRN) – Iowan Ethan Evnik landed a 67-pound catfish in the Missouri River during a trip to South Dakota. The fish is 51.5 inches long. It breaks the record for flathead catfish caught in South Dakota.

WAUKON, IA (IRN) – The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office responded to two attempted house break-ins and a theft of a vehicle before 5 P.M. Friday night. 26-year-old Michael Troendle broke into a home with a knife and confronted the homeowner. He proceeded to steal a vehicle from the premises. Troendle drove the vehicle to another residence on the same block and attempted to break in. After unsuccessfully breaking into the home, Troendle attempted to steal another vehicle, but failed before a Deputy arrived on scene and arrested him. STORY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two former city officials are facing charges in Story County after law enforcement says the pair committed fraud. Former McCallsburg Mayor Chris Erickson and former City Clerk Jennifer Heithoff are charged with felonious misconduct in office. Heithoff allegedly zeroed out Erickson’s water bills, and Erickson allegedly signed off on fraudulent payroll and mileage reimbursement checks for Heithoff. MANCHESTER, IA (IRN) – Two children were injured when an ATV they were riding on a farm rolled Saturday. There’s no word on the extent of their injuries. CARROLL, IA (IRN) – The Carroll recreation center had an unusual visitor recently. A security camera captured a doe sliding down the halls. The deer entered and left the building through a window.