DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill Friday that will make handgun carry permits and background checks on unlicensed sales optional in Iowa. As of July 1, people can buy handguns from private non-licensed sources such as websites, gun shows and individuals without a permit or background check. People also will be able to carry a gun into public places such as grocery stores and malls without prior safety training or a permit. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Davenport Police responded to a call of a disturbance just before 2 pm. on Friday at Davenport Memorial Park. Police say several people were treated on-site for minor non-life-threatening injuries. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Some derecho-damaged churches in eastern Iowa have salvaged their sanctuaries just in time for Easter. Many churches suffered roof damage, as well as water damage to everything from carpets to pews. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Hawkeye standout Caitlin Clark has been named the 2021 Dawn Staley Award winner, given to the best all-around guard in women’s basketball. Clark is the first freshman to win the award.

MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – One person is dead and another is wanted for murder following a shooting late Wednesday night in Mason City. An arrest warrant for first-degree murder has been issued for Benjamin Gonzalez, 38, of Mason City. He is considered armed and dangerous. BONDURANT, IA (IRN) – One person died Thursday in a crash between a moving truck and motorcycle in Bondurant. The driver of the motorcycle crashed into the back of a “Two Men and a Truck” vehicle. The 32-year-old man operating the motorcycle died at the scene. The truck driver wasn’t injured. CHARLESTON, WV (IRN) – Attorneys general from 13 states including Iowa sued President Joe Biden’s administration on Wednesday over a rule in the federal stimulus that bars states from using relief money to offset tax cuts. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Linn County Public Health wants the Governor’s Office to give local public health departments more say in how vaccines are allocated, and to make decisions regarding the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Iowa gave 3,200 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine to employees at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids. Linn County Public Health wants those single doses to go to harder to reach populations, like people who are homeless. IOWA (IRN) – Awards season in college basketball continued Thursday with two big ones for Iowa, as all-American center Luka Garza was named the Associated Press national player of the year and winner of the Oscar Robertson Trophy, presented by the United States Basketball Writers Association. He’s the first Hawkeye men’s player to win those honors.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former Bosnian soldier who fled custody while awaiting trial for murder in the 1994 killing of a fellow military officer has been arrested and jailed in Iowa after living in the U.S. for decades. Federal agents arrested 58-year-old Dzevad Pajazetovic in Des Moines on March 1 following an extradition request from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Pajazetovic had been living a quiet life for years in the Des Moines area, most recently in Waukee, where he and his wife purchased a $290,000 new home in 2019. He has adult children, worked at a tire factory, and he became a naturalized U.S. citizen and registered to vote in 2004. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Davenport police confirmed Wednesday that the human remains found last Monday are those of Breasia Terrell. The ten-year-old girl went missing on July 10th, 2020. She was last seen with her half-brothers’ father, Henry Dinkins. He is being held in jail on unrelated charges. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday that all Iowans will be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations starting April 5. Iowans 16 and older can receive a Pfizer vaccine. Iowans 18 and older can get the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Vaccines are also heading to college campuses. IOWA (IRN) – Democrat Rita Hart announced Wednesday that she is ending her challenge to the 2020 election results that saw her lose a seat in Congress by six votes to Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Miller-Meeks was certified as the winner of the race and seated in Congress conditionally by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Drake Relays are back after a one year break due to the coronavirus pandemic, and Wednesday the race announced fans are being allowed to attend the meet. The 111th edition of the relays are taking place April 22 through the 24 at Drake Stadium. Event organizers say strict COVID-19 protocols will be enforced including socially distanced seating and a mask mandate.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A man has been charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of another man Tuesday night in Newton. Police have charged 33-year-old Shane Romine Borrego, of Newton, with first-degree murder in the death of 41-year-old Randall Clark Mikesell Jr. Police said minutes prior to the stabbing, Borrego came to the apartment complex to retrieve some property from Mikesell. At some point during their meeting the stabbing occurred. MANCHESTER, IA (IRN) – The Delaware County Public Health Department is telling residents to go out of the county to get their COVID-19 vaccinations. The county is still only receiving about 200 doses of the Moderna vaccine per week from the Iowa Department of Public Health. IOWA (IRN) – Public school enrollment in Iowa is down for the first time in a decade, with around 6,000 fewer students enrolled statewide this school year compared to last. Districts who are dealing with a decrease in enrollment and are trying to figure out where those students went, but there is no way to account for all of them. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Diocese of Des Moines is relaxing coronavirus rules for all Catholic churches. The changes come as Iowans prepare to attend Easter services at 80 parishes across Iowa. The new rules allow churches to use every pew, use the holy water font and allow for a small choir. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The couple who own a massive Interstate 80 travel center in eastern Iowa have donated $10 million to fund the Iowa football program and other athletics projects. The Will and Renee Moon Excellence Fund will endow the head football coaching position in perpetuity, and Kirk Ferentz and those who follow him will hold the formal title of Moon Family Head Football Coach.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s 7-day COVID-19 positivity rate is back up to 5% as rates have been slowly rising in the state over the last week. The Iowa Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 654 new positive COVID-19 tests and four additional deaths. CRESTON, IA (IRN) – A Creston police officer is on paid administrative leave Monday after being charged with domestic assault. Eric Dennis Shawler, 48, allegedly assaulted a woman by kicking her and slamming her head against a table. Shawler denied the accusations, saying the woman slipped and hit her head on the table. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A garbage truck rear-ended a Toyota Corolla in Cedar Rapids Monday. The driver of the Toyota was hospitalized, and the driver of the garbage truck, Robert Truax, 61, of Marion, was charged with second offence OWI among other charges. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – There has been a positive COVID-19 test on the ‘Senate-side’ of the Iowa legislature. This is the first positive case in the Iowa Senate. There have been six cases in the Iowa House since the start of the legislative session. AMES, IA (IRN) – The Ames school board voted 6-1 to join five other non-suburban school districts in leaving the Central Iowa Metropolitan League. Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Mason City and Ottumwa will leave the conference in the fall of 2022. The non-suburban districts have been unsuccessful athletically, due to socioeconomic disparities and differences in enrollment numbers. The move will leave the CIML composed entirely of suburban teams from the Des Moines metro.