DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department launched an investigation Thursday evening after a vehicle struck a pedestrian and left the scene of the crash. Police said the 41-year-old man had been crossing Southeast 14th Street when the vehicle hit him and fled the scene. The pedestrian remains hospitalized with “serious injuries.” DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Children in central Iowa are getting sick more often – even with illnesses other than COVID-19. The level of concern is high as children’s hospitals are filling up. BUTLER COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s longest serving U.S. senator, Chuck Grassley, announced on Friday he is running for re-election. Grassley will likely run against former U.S. representative Democrat Abby Finkenauer. Finkenauer previously served Iowa’s first congressional district. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A non-partisan watchdog group says Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne and 6 other members of Congress broke the law by not reporting stock trades. The members accused include four democrats and three republicans, including five members of the House Financial Services committee. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – When the University of Iowa announced its addition of women’s wrestling as a scholarship sport on Thursday, some wrestling advocates started pressing the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union to give its approval next. Supporters think Iowa’s going to start seeing an exponential growth in girls wrestling at the high school level.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa Athletics Department announced this morning that it will be adding a women’s wrestling program. According to American Women’s wrestling, there are more than 40 NCAA programs. Four schools currently offer women’s wrestling at the Division I level. WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – Authorities have made an arrest in the death of a six-month-old baby this spring. On March 2, authorities were called to a location in Iowa Falls. First responders found an unresponsive baby boy. Life-saving measures were performed, but the baby was pronounced dead at the hospital. On Tuesday, police arrested Nicholas Edward Cox, 22, of Waukee, for first-degree murder, and child endangerment causing death. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Titan Tire employee was seriously injured after becoming trapped in a machine early Wednesday in Des Moines. A male employee had to be extricated from the machine. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An Iowa man is one of the first in the U.S. to receive what some hope could be a life-changing treatment for Alzheimer’s patients. The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug Aduhelm in June. It’s not a cure, but believed to be a way to extend quality of life for those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. WRIGHT COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Half a world away from home, Kosovo’s top agriculture official came to Central Iowa Wednesday to bring lessons from Iowa’s ag industry back home. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry & Rural Development Faton Peci joined local officials in Wright County Wednesday, touring a crop sprayer manufacturer in Clarion and a farm outside of Galt.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Dr. Caitlin Pedati, the State’s Medical Director and Epidemiologist, is leaving the Iowa Department of Public Health in late October. She has served in the role since 2018 and was an important part of the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Pedati would speak and answer questions regularly during the early parts of the pandemic when Gov. Kim Reynolds would give daily press briefings. Dr. Pedati “plans to pursue new career opportunities.” CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Mount Mercy University community in Cedar Rapids is mourning a student who passed away due to complications from COVID-19 on Monday. Ashley Hudson was an aspiring kindergarten teacher with dreams of becoming a Mount Mercy graduate. She was 21-years-old. A vigil in Hudson’s honor was held Tuesday evening. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating after a car crashed into the front of a sports bar in Des Moines Tuesday. Police responded to a crash at Woody’s Sports & Karaoke Bar. No injuries were reported, and one arrest was made. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Human Services said Iowa had the capacity to resettle 350 refugees from Afghanistan. But the federal government allocated nearly double that, 695 refugees, to Iowa on Tuesday. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa’s longest-serving senator is in a strong position if he chooses to run for reelection, according to the latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll. The poll shows that Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, at age 88, leads former Democratic Representative Abby Finkenauer among likely voters in the 2022 midterm elections by 55% to 37%.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Ames police are looking for an armed man after a credit union was robbed Tuesday morning. Police were called to the River Valley Credit Union, at 9:30 a.m. on a report of an armed robbery. The suspect is at large. FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A ransomware attack has forced a cooperative of Iowa corn and soy farmers to take their computer systems offline. Fort Dodge based New Cooperative has created workarounds to receive grain and distribute feed. The criminals demanded $5.9 million, and the coop isn’t saying if it paid the ransom. CEDAR COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An Indiana man was killed in a crash involving a semi in Cedar County Sunday afternoon on I-80. The semi ran off the road and went into the ditch. The 65-year-old driver was thrown from the vehicle and killed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Kim Reynolds and 25 of her fellow governors are asking for a meeting with President Biden to discuss the crisis at the southern U.S. border. The group has sent a joint letter to the White House requesting a meeting within 15 days. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The City of Cedar Rapids is continuing construction to mitigate potential future flood damage. Construction began Monday on another floodgate and a flood wall in the Czech Village.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s Attorney General Tom Miller announced Saturday he will be running for reelection in 2022. The announcement came during the Polk County Democrats’ annual steak fry. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is looking for a second term in Congress. During an appearance in Iowa City this weekend, the republican congresswoman stated she had plans to run again for the second district. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ job approval rating has inched up since June. A new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows the governor’s job approval rating has risen to 53% today from 51% this summer. Another 43% disapprove, and 4% are unsure. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The city of Cedar Rapids has a new flag. It was unveiled on Saturday. The primary colors are blue, green and white. The blue represents the Cedar River. The round Green shape depicts Mays Island and represents the various green and grassy areas in the city. The white arch makes a border between the blue and green representing homes, businesses, infrastructure, and flood protection. Lastly, the white, five pointed star represents historic structures on Mays Island while also highlighting the Cedar Rapids motto, “City of Five Seasons.”