DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health announced today it has advised that all Iowa vaccine providers pause administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. The IDPH wants to wait until more details are confirmed as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are investigating reports of potentially dangerous blood clots. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man who tried to burn down his home has been sentenced to probation. Kyle Hanson, 25, was charged with arson after he got into a dispute with another resident in his building, a duplex, over the other person placing garbage in a recycling bin. Hanson said his options were to kill the victim, set the house on fire or go for a walk, before pouring gasoline inside the home and igniting it with a lighter. IOWA (IRN) – The Raccoon River is on the list of the nation’s 10 most-endangered waterways according to American Rivers, an environmental group. Runoff from livestock facilities and farm fields poses a “grave threat” to the river. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – State officials said Monday that the U.K variant of the coronavirus is now believed to be the most common COVID-19 strain in Iowa. It’s more transmissible and seems to carry a higher risk of mortality. MARION, IA (IRN) – The Marion Board of Education has now decided not to move forward with choosing Mavericks as the school’s new mascot, after approving it in February. After the first vote, the board learned of a problematic tie to the origin of Mavericks. The name was originally selected due to the definition of an independent thinker, which is directly derived from Samuel Maverick, a Texas rancher who refused to brand his cattle. After learning that Maverick was a slave owner, the board will pursue other options.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – For the third time in the first four months of 2020, a loaded gun was found in a carry-on bag at the Des Moines International Airport. A .45 caliber pistol loaded with five bullets was found by TSA agents on Sunday. The gun was confiscated and the traveler was cited. In February, State Senator Brad Zaun was stopped by TSA agents when a gun was found in a carry-on bag he was attempting to bring on a flight. He says it was an innocent mistake and was not cited. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police found a man dead on Hubbell Ave. on Sunday after receiving a report of a pedestrian being hit by a vehicle just before 5 a.m. Police didn’t identify the driver or announce any charges in connection with the death, but they ruled out driver impairment as a potential contributing factor. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – One person has died after a semi hit a man walking on a street in Davenport Friday. The semi hit the man from behind. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Authorities recovered a man’s body from the Des Moines River on Saturday. A bicyclist spotted the body from a trail in Des Moines. IOWA (IRN) – The proportion of Iowa’s energy coming from wind surged to nearly 60% last year, the most in the nation, as a growing number of turbines came online. Despite the global pandemic and recession, Iowa utilities added about 540 turbines last year, pushing the total close to 5,900.

GRUNDY CENTER, IA (IRN) – Law enforcement agencies have identified the trooper killed during a shootout Friday night, and the suspect has been taken into custody. The trooper is Sgt. Jim Smith. On Friday night officers conducted a traffic stop on Michael Thomas Lang, who attempted to flee. He stopped, got out of the vehicle, and said, “shoot me.” Law enforcement said Lang then assaulted and disarmed an officer, placing the officer into a choke hold. After fleeing, Lang went into a residence, officers entered, and Smith was shot. Lang was hit multiple times by other officers, and is in critical condition. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa’s public universities would see a tuition freeze and no state allocation increase in 2022 under a proposed Republican House education budget. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Drake women’s basketball head coach Jennie Baranczyk has been named the head coach at Oklahoma. While coaching the Bulldogs, Baranczyk created a record of 190-96 and brought the bulldogs to three consecutive NCAA tournaments. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – An Eastern Iowa ice cream shop is looking for more help. Parlor City Ice Cream in Cedar Rapids and Marion is hiring and they’re offering $200 sign-on bonuses for people hired at either location.

GRUNDY CENTER, IA (IRN) – Law enforcement agencies have identified the trooper killed during a shootout Friday night, and the suspect has been taken into custody. The trooper is Sgt. Jim Smith. On Friday night officers conducted a traffic stop on Michael Thomas Lang, who attempted to flee. He stopped, got out of the vehicle, and said, “shoot me.” Law enforcement said Lang then assaulted and disarmed an officer, placing the officer into a choke hold. After fleeing, Lang went into a residence, officers entered, and Smith was shot. Lang was hit multiple times by other officers, and is in critical condition. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Cedar Rapids Police Department responded to a shots fired incident on Friday. Officers were able to locate two homes that were hit by gunfire and found several shell casings. A witness told them a suspect left the scene on foot. That suspect has not been located. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A sergeant with the Des Moines Police Department resigned Friday after allegedly making an “inappropriate” comment about a fellow officer during a union meeting. Sergeant Greg Wessels submitted his resignation Friday following an incident at a Tuesday night police union meeting. Wessels has a history of allegations of using excessive force while on duty. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids hospitals will be lifting some visitor restrictions. Starting on Monday, both UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital and Mercy Medical Center will allow hospitalized and ER patients to have up to two visitors at a time. Visitors will have to follow screening procedures and cannot have any respiratory symptoms or known exposure to COVID-19. They must also wear a mask at all times during their visit. BirthCare patients may have up to two visitors at a time. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Southridge Mall in Des Moines has filled empty stores with an esports gaming center and a virtual reality arena. Malls across the nation are in financial trouble because of online shopping and the pandemic.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa’s public universities would see a tuition freeze and no state allocation increase in 2022 under a proposed Republican House education budget. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday said she has rejected a federal request to accept migrant children into the state, saying the need to find homes for them “is the president’s problem.” WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A man shot by a Waterloo police officer after he threatened sheriff’s deputies with what appeared to be a rifle or shotgun was charged Thursday with two counts of assault on a peace officer. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Animal Rescue League of Iowa rescued 17 cats from a home in Des Moines. The cats are receiving medical and behavioral care. None of the cats were spayed or neutered. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A popular Hawkeye football game day tradition is ending at the University of Iowa and it means many fans will have to change how they get to Kinnick Stadium. On Wednesday, the university announced the end of the Hawkeye Express. Continued social distancing measures as well as increases in the cost of operations for the train were cited as reasons for ending the service.