DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Abby Finkenauer WILL appear on US senate primary election ballot on June 7th per Iowa Supreme Court decision today. The Court cites recent legislation to allow three signatures on her petition that did not include valid dates. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Republican National Committee reaffirmed its rules Thursday, keeping the Iowa Republican Caucuses first. This comes just a day after the Democratic National Committee made a decision Wednesday, requiring all states to apply for the five spots. Iowa Democrats say they plan on doing everything they can to keep the status quo. TAYLOR COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A woman and a 1-year-old boy were found dead inside of a house on Wednesday after it caught fire in the southern Iowa town of Bedford in Taylor County. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health is asking Iowans to make healthy and safe choices when it comes to alcohol. The IDPH says between 2008 and 2019, the number of alcohol-related deaths in the state increased by more than 73%. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – With a shortage of baby formula, Mother’s Milk Bank at the University of Iowa says they are unable to meet the demand that parents need. The solution to the problem is finding more donors. WEST LIBERTY, IA (IRN) – West Liberty could be without a fire department in a matter of weeks. The volunteers who make up the department sent the city a letter this week demanding they change how financial resources are divided up and accusing city leaders of micromanaging, and making it difficult to recruit and retain volunteers. The city says the allegations are unfounded.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa may have much more competition to be first in the Democratic Party’s presidential nominating process. The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted on Wednesday to adopt a plan that requires states to make the case they should be first in the presidential nominating process. The DNC will look at diversity, competitiveness and feasibility when trying to determine which states come first. States must have their applications in by June 3. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The tornado count from Iowa’s Tuesday outbreak is now at eight. New information from the National Weather Service shows the strongest ones were rated at EF2 outside Gilmore City in Pocahontas County and in Humboldt County near Bradgate. In the northeast part of the state, an EF1 hit southwest of Mason City, and an EF0 was briefly on the ground in Hancock County. Three weaker tornadoes were reported in Mitchell and Howard counties. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Multiple charges have been filed against the man who caused a crash after driving the wrong way on I-380 and then fled the scene naked back in January. On January 6th, Cedar Rapids Police received a report of a black SUV traveling the wrong way on I-380 Southbound near Quaker Oats, before creating a multiple motor vehicle crash on I-380. 33-year-old Andrew Robert Cairy faces numerous charges. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Bishop Demetrius Sinegal of the Kingdom Church flew in from Texas and called for a full investigation into the November 15th marriage of Des Moines Bishop Dwight Reed and Jordan Reed of the Christ Apostolic Temple. Dwight is 63 years-old and Jordan is 19.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A candidate for one of Iowa’s Senate seats is fighting to stay on the ballot. A judge ruled some of Abby Finkenauer’s signatures were not valid, removing her from June’s primary ballot. The Iowa Supreme Court is hearing her appeal and is under a time crunch to make a decision. Normally cases wouldn’t move this quickly, but it’s being expedited. The justices are facing a hard deadline. The Secretary of State needs a decision by Friday. GILMORE CITY, IA (IRN) – A day after a strong line of storms brought tornadoes to Iowa Tuesday, damage reports are coming in from several towns. Most of the damage is between Gilmore City and Palmer in Humboldt and Pocahontas counties. A grain silo toppled, and a home lost a large part of its roof and siding. Another building looks like it used to hold farm equipment, but now the roof is crushing what appears to be a tractor. In Palmer, the Faith Community Church is organizing cleanup efforts. There are no reports of serious injuries. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – About two months after a nationwide baby formula recall, stores around the U.S. and here in Iowa are still seeing a shortage. Agape Pregnancy Resource Center in Des Moines said they are struggling to help mothers, as they have not had enough formula these last couple of weeks. POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Fire crews fought a blaze at the Metro East landfill Tuesday night. The Mitchellville and Runnells fire departments were at the landfill around 10 p.m. The landfill is located south of Mitchellville off Highway 163. MENLO (IRN) – President Joe Biden kicked off his visit to the POET ethanol plant in Menlo with kind words for U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne. He said, my name is Joe Biden. I work for Congresswoman Axne, adding that she is, “one hell of a champion for you.” A few minutes later, Biden again praised Axne, the only member of Iowa’s U.S. House delegation to vote for a bipartisan infrastructure law Biden signed last year. Biden was making an announcement that E-15 will be allowed year-round this year, in an effort to lower gas prices.

DES MOINES (IRN) – U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer will appeal a judge’s ruling that says she cannot appear on Iowa’s June 7 Democratic primary ballot — a decision that has upended one of the state’s highest-profile political contests six weeks before early voting is set to begin. The ruling late Sunday night, which reverses a state panel’s decision, is a major setback for Finkenauer, who is competing for the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Police in Cedar Rapids have made an arrest in a weekend mass shooting that killed two people and injured ten others early Sunday morning. Timothy Ladell Rush, 32, is charged with second-degree murder, among other charges. Michael Valentine, 25, and Nicole Owens, 35, were identified as the two people killed in the shooting. The shooting was at the Taboo Nightclub Lounge ADEL, IA (IRN) – An attempted murder investigation is underway after a home caught fire in Adel on Sunday night with two people inside. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office said the fire started from a fight between roommates. One roommate poured gasoline over the house and started the fire. Both roommates were injured and transported to local hospitals. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds on Monday signed a proclamation to lift restrictions on overweight loads of crop inputs during planting season. The proclamation is effective through May 11, and allows vehicles transporting crop inputs to be overweight without a permit, as long as they don’t exceed 90,000 pounds gross weight. MENLO, IA (IRN) – President Biden is heading to Iowa today with a stop in Menlo, which is 45 miles west of Des Moines. The White House said President Biden will discuss his infrastructure plan’s impact on rural America and fuel price hikes after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Menlo is home to the Poet Biofuel plant and plenty of wind turbines.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Polk County district judge has ruled Democrat Abby Finkenauer cannot appear on the Iowa primary election ballot for U.S. Senate because she doesn’t have enough valid signatures. Unless Finkenauer can successfully appeal the decision, voters will choose between Democrats Admiral Michael Franken, and Dr. Glenn Hurst to challenge Republican Sen. Charles Grassley. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two people were killed and 10 others injured in a shooting at a Cedar Rapids, Iowa, nightclub early Sunday morning. The shooting happened just before 1:30 a.m. at the Taboo Nightclub and Lounge. The club was hosting a 90s-themed party, and nearly 150 people were inside the nightclub. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has tested positive for COVID-19. Vilsack is fully vaccinated and boosted. He is only experiencing mild symptoms. AMES, IA (IRN) – Ongoing supply chain issues are impacting the Iowa Department of Transportation. Every spring, the DOT re-paints the lines on the road. Typically the six districts across the state order paint as they need it, but now they have a limited supply. Crews are focusing on critical areas first such as interstates, high-traffic areas, and center lines. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – President Biden will visit Iowa tomorrow. The president is visiting Menlo Tuesday. He’s expected to speak about his economic agenda, focusing on his infrastructure law. The law will bring millions to Iowa for roads, bridges and broadband. This is the president’s first trip to Iowa since before the 2020 election.