WASHINGTON D.C. (IRN) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is considering another six years in office. On Wednesday, the Republican senator filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. This doesn’t guarantee he will run for an eighth term. At 87, Grassley is currently the second oldest U.S. Senator. He was sworn into the Senate in 1981. CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – 117 students at Northwest Junior High in Coralville are under COVID quarantine. As of 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, 315 students across the entire district were quarantined. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health announced Thursday that more people will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Starting Monday providers can begin administering vaccines to those 64 years old and younger who have medical conditions that put them at risk. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hy-Vee’s is making an interesting addition to some of its grocery stores. The West Des Moines-based company announced it’s partnering with The W Nail Bar to provide in-store nail salons at some of its locations. Hy-Vee plans to open several of the nail bars in its eight-state region by the end of 2021, with the first in Bettendorf in April. IOWA CITY (IRN) – Hawkeye fans will be able to watch the #5 Iowa Hawkeyes for the very first time in person this season during the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament. The conference has had a policy of allowing no fans to sporting events since the pandemic started, outside of a limited number of family and friends of players and coaches. The Big Ten is now allowing a limited capacity of 8,000 fans for games during the tournament.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – In a bipartisan vote Wednesday, an Iowa Senate panel advanced a bill that lessens penalties for first-time, small-scale marijuana possession. The bill would reduce the crime of possessing five grams or less of marijuana from a serious misdemeanor to a simple misdemeanor. People convicted under the current law face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The bill would reduce the maximum jail sentence to 30 days and the maximum fine to $855. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent could lose his license due to the district’s decision to only offer remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners informed Thomas Ahart of its intent to strip his license. The Des Moines School Board responded by defending Ahart, saying “the actions taken by Des Moines Public Schools in the midst of a global pandemic were done so to keep our community healthy and to save lives…this complaint does nothing to benefit the children of our school district and move us past the pandemic.” IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A bill in the Iowa Senate would make injuries to first responders during protests a felony. The bill also grants civil immunity for certain drivers who strike protestors blocking traffic. JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds is endorsing the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine against COVID-19 by rolling up her sleeve. Reynolds on Wednesday became one of the first Iowans to receive the one-shot vaccine. MARION, IA (IRN) – School leaders at Marion Independent School District will start with the work of building and upgrading — after voters easily passed a $31 million bond vote on Tuesday. Projects include a new elementary school, new auditorium at Marion High School, various facilities updates, safety and security upgrades, and a new outdoor sports complex.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A man faces weapons charges after police say he carried a gun to an Ottumwa preschool and pretended to be an officer. Police say Jason Haut told staff members he was a member of law enforcement when he was asked about the gun. Police said the gun was in a holster, and he didn’t make any threats. Haut is charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department on Tuesday announced five arrests in connection with an overnight shooting that sent a 2-year-old boy to the hospital in critical condition. Police say the boy was shot in the head at a Des Moines home late Monday night. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – The Ankeny Police Department confirmed Tuesday that a suspicious device found at the Lakeside Center was a pipe bomb. The discovery of the pipe bomb resulted in the evacuation of the Lakeside Center, which was being used as a polling place for the city’s special election. JESUP, IA (IRN) – A former state court employee is facing criminal charges after an audit found she made nearly $130,000 in personal or unauthorized purchases using a credit card meant to support needy juveniles. Nicole Foelske, 36, of Jesup was charged with first-degree theft, misconduct in office and ongoing criminal conduct. She faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The start of the Iowa Cubs baseball season has been delayed for a month because of the pandemic. The Iowa Cubs will now begin the season on May 4 instead of April 6. It’s hoped most fans and the players will have received a vaccination by then.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – The Lakeside Center, a special election polling location in Ankeny, was evacuated this morning after a suspicious device was found at the scene. The device may be a pipe bomb. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A two year-old is in critical condition this morning after being shot in an apparent drive-by shooting. The incident occurred around 11:00 p.m. last night in Des Moines. Police say they responded to reports of gunfire and a child being shot. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Two parents in Newton were charged after a doctor discovered their 3-month-old had several broken bones. Stormy Agan and Jessica Agan are charged with child endangerment and neglect. Doctors said they found a broken rib and broken leg bone that had already begun healing while examining the child. WINTERSET, IA (IRN) – A Norwalk man faces life in prison after being convicted of shooting his ex-girlfriend to death in Madison County. Jerome Moyer III, 27, was convicted Friday of shooting Roseanna Otto, 23, at her Winterset home in 2019. Otto was the mother of three when she was killed. Moyer was the father of two of her children. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Mobile home owners are asking the Iowa legislature to pass a bill that would better protect them from out-of-state park owners. Supporters are reporting abuses associated with new park owners who come in and increase the rent by 30 to 70%, evict longtime homeowners without a cause, and raise other fees on utilities. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Six central Iowa high schools announced Monday that their athletic teams will leave the Central Iowa Metro League as soon as possible. Des Moines, Ames, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Mason City and Ottumwa are withdrawing. The six schools plan to create a new conference where “students can have a more equitable and successful interscholastic experience.” Non-suburban schools have a winning percentage of just 16.5%. Officials also point to various inequities that exist outside the playing field as a reason for the decision.

EARLHAM, IA (IRN) – A southern Iowa man is accused of purposely ramming his car into a pickup, then stabbing that vehicle and assaulting deputies on Interstate 80 in Earlham. Thirty-year-old Brandon Carroll, of Russell, told authorities he intentionally crashed into a truck because he saw it try to run law enforcement off the road. The Dallas County Deputy who responded says he was the only law enforcement in the area, and that he was 10 miles away. Carroll tried to grab the deputy’s firearm multiple times while he was being arrested, and told the deputy “I am going to kill you.” He faces multiple charges. MARENGO, IA (IRN) -The Pride of Iowa Sandwiches manufacturing facility in Marengo burned to the ground Saturday night. The facility was closed and no injuries were reported. The company makes pre-packaged sandwiches for vending machines, deli cases, schools, prisons and hospitals. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Fair is set to to be back this year after the pandemic caused it to be canceled last year, but a popular program could be on the chopping block. The fair board is looking at axing the Avenue of Breeds exhibit for budgetary reasons. A final decision hasn’t been made. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A store that brought men’s fine fashion and well-crafted suits to Des Moines for decades is closing. Badowers on Ingersoll Avenue is closing its doors after serving the community for more than 70 years. The owners say sales slowed because of the pandemic. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa men’s basketball team has a new all-time assists leader. Sunday afternoon against No. 4 Ohio State, Hawkeye senior Jordan Bohannon collected his third assist of the game, which was the 613th of his career. That moves him past Jeff Horner, who had the previous record with 612. Iowa crushed the Buckeyes 73 to 57.