LEWIS, IA (IRN) – The small town community of Lewis, Iowa, just can’t understand who would steal their church bell. Prayers at the United Congregational Methodist Church focus on some certain sinners. 84-year-old church member, Bob Jobe, says “Thou shalt not steal. So why can’t people live by that?” The church is offering a $5,000 reward for the return of the bell. Stamp says, “we want that bell back!” CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Gov. Reynolds announced that the State of Iowa is donating 146 protective helmets and 714 ballistic vests to Ukraine. The donations are excess, expired equipment from the Iowa Department of Public Safety and 18 other police departments across the state. The State is working with the Consulate General of Ukraine in Chicago in order to properly facilitate shipping the items to Ukraine. BUENA VISTA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Bird flu has hit another commercial turkey operation in northwest Iowa, the third outbreak in Buena Vista County and the sixth in the state since the beginning of March. The facility has nearly 54,000 turkeys that are being destroyed to prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease. The virus can wipe out a flock within 48 hours. This comes a day after the state banned bird exhibitions. CHICAGO, IL (IRN) – The Cyclones men’s basketball team is one win away from history. A win tonight against Miami will give them 23 wins on the season, a 21-win improvement from last season. That would tie the NCAA record for biggest year-to-year win improvement. A win would also put Iowa State in the Elite Eight for the first time since 2000. GREENSBORO, N.C. (IRN) – For the first time in more than a decade, the Iowa State women’s basketball team is one of the final 16 teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament. The team will have a chance to extend their season tonight and make it to the Elite 8 with a win against Creighton.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship yesterday announced an order canceling all live bird exhibitions at fairs and other gatherings of birds due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The order also prohibits live birds from being sold or transferred at livestock auction markets, swap meets and exotic sales. The Department’s order begins immediately and is effective for a minimum of 30 days, and until 30 days has passed without a confirmation of a new infection of HPAI in domestic poultry in the state of Iowa. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A jury’s verdict for an Iowa family is the largest in state history for a medical malpractice case. It’s $97.4 million, with the largest portion for future medical costs for the child who is at the center of the lawsuit. That child has brain damage and will need round-the-clock care for the rest of his life. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Statehouse Republicans are getting closer to making changes to Iowa’s unemployment law. Those in support say it would encourage people to go back to work. Those against it say it would only hurt Iowans. Republicans would shorten the unemployment benefits period and lower the wage required to take a job offer. Currently, people can receive unemployment for up to 26 weeks a year. That would be cut down to 16 weeks. WAVERLY, IA (IRN) – Wartburg College students carried on a Waverly tradition of acknowledging the experiences of others who live with limited access to freshwater on Tuesday, which was World Water Day. The students walked to the Cedar River, filled five-gallon cans with water, and brought them back to campus. This is meant to help them experience what many communities in east Africa with water insecurity deal with and help raise awareness. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – For the third time in seven years, the road to the Final Four will go through Des Moines. Wells Fargo Arena will host first and second round games for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in 2023. The arena previously hosted first and second round matchups in both 2016 and 2019.

USA (IRN) – Key members of the Democratic National Committee have begun formally circulating a proposal requiring Iowa to apply to hold its prized first-in-the-nation caucuses as the party seeks to revamp its presidential nominating calendar. Republicans are committed to keeping Iowa’s first in the nation caucuses. FAIRFIELD, IA (IRN) – A judge ruled on Tuesday that the press and public can attend proceedings in a Fairfield murder case. Jeremy Goodale and Willard Miller, both 16, are accused of murdering Spanish teacher Nohema Graber. In court Monday, their lawyers argued that court proceedings should be closed, as it would be hard to find an impartial jury at trial. Prosecutors disagreed, saying the proceedings should be held in open court unless the cases would go back to juvenile court. The teens are currently charged as adults. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Public Works is working to control a wastewater leak into the Des Moines River after a ‘force main’ broke. The main broke near Birdland Park Marina. A pumping station that feeds the main is being shut down, but 3,500 gallons-per-minute of untreated wastewater and storm runoff is dumping into the river. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – An Iowa astronaut is set to exit the International Space Station today. NASA Flight Engineer Raja Chari from Iowa will join Matthias Maurer of Germany and go on a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk. Their main objective is to install thermal system and electronics components on the outside of the space station. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – 15-month-old Cooper Schmidt finally got to make his first trip home to Ankeny after spending his first 456 days on Earth at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Cooper was born with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease and he was placed on dialysis immediately after birth. A living donor came forward and donated one of their kidneys to Cooper.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport man is charged with murder after police say he stabbed and shot a teen. Malachi Isaiah Vanderpool, 19, is charged with first-degree murder, a Class A felony, and felon in possession of a firearm, a Class D felony. Police responded to a report of shots fired Friday where officers found Tylan Sanders, 16, of Davenport, dead. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A domestic violence call in Cedar Rapids on Sunday ended with what police say was a wife’s attempt to kill her husband.Reports indicate that 36-year-old Chiquita Rollins fired a gun at her husband shortly after an argument. Investigators say she missed, and that her husband called the police after running away. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An arrest warrant has been issued for a man charged with killing two motorcyclists and injuring a third in a high-speed crash. Quntonio Herron was scheduled to go to trial Monday on vehicular homicide and other charges, but he hasn’t shown up for any pre-trial hearings. Des Moines police said Herron was speeding when he hit two motorcycles in May. BAXTER, IA (IRN) – Baxter High School’s history teacher and wrestling coach Joe Amadeo is struggling for his life. The 27-year-old was struck by a vehicle March 16th while jogging over spring break in Palm Springs, California. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – There’s a shortage of homes in Iowa. As of last month, just over 7,000 homes were for sale. That’s nearly 14% less than what was available in February of 2021. Those houses are selling faster, and at higher prices. The median sales price has also increased 4.5% from last year. Experts blame supply chain problems, a worker shortage and an historic lack of new construction.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A shooting in the parking lot of Big Earl’s Goldmine early Saturday morning was the third outside the strip club in the last week. No one was injured, but investigators are concerned about a string of recent shootings outside the club. There were also shootings the previous Saturday and Sunday morning. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Former Hawkeye Lauren Jensen sank the go-ahead three with 15 seconds left in the game, leading the 10-seed Creighton women’s basketball team to a stunning 64-62 upset over second-seeded Iowa. AMES, IA (IRN) – Lexi Donarski scored 20 points and the third-seeded Iowa State women’s basketball team raced to its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2010 with a 67-44 win over sixth-seeded Georgia on Sunday night. Emily Ryan had 15 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the Cyclones (28-6), and Ashley Joens added 12 points. MILWAUKEE, WI (IRN) – The Cinderella Cyclones men’s basketball team is headed to the Sweet Sixteen. Iowa State, the 11-seed in the Midwest Region, upset the 3-seed Wisconsin 54-49 Sunday night in Milwaukee. Gabe Kalscheur scored 22 points to lead the way for the Cyclones, who won only two games all last season.