DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his mother. Christopher Thompson, 33, was convicted after a three-day trial in November of first-degree murder after police say he beat Paula Thompson to death with a crowbar in March and remained in her home with the body for five days before contacting authorities. Paula Thompson had been trying to get Christopher to move out of her home and had confided to friends and on social media that she was frightened of him. FAIRFAX, IA (IRN) – A late night fire in the Linn County town of Fairfax killed a man and displaced several others. Emergency personnel discovered heavy smoke and flames coming from the six apartment building structure. One male was found in an upstairs apartment and pronounced deceased. The American Red Cross has been contacted for those displaced. ARLINGTON, TX (IRN) – The Iowa State Cyclones lost to the Oklahoma Sooners 21-27 in the Big 12 Championship game. It is the Sooners’ sixth conference championship in a row. SIOUX FALLS, SD (IRN) – Jalen Suggs scored 18 of his career-high 27 points in the first half and No. 1 Gonzaga held off a late rally to beat No. 3 Iowa 99-88 on Saturday.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa confirmed Friday that head Hawkeye football coach Kirk Ferentz tested positive for COVID-19. Ferentz is reportedly asymptomatic and will remain in quarantine until Dec. 27. IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health says they were told Iowa’s allocations of COVID-19 vaccines would be cut 30%. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says they’re wrong. There will be 19,500 Pfizer vaccines and 53,800 Moderna vaccines arriving Sunday, Dec. 20. An additional 19,500 Pfizer vaccines and 19,500 Moderna vaccines are expected to arrive on Sunday, Dec. 27. Earlier this week 26,000 Pfizer vaccines arrived and were administered to health care providers. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand sharply criticized Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday for not calling the Legislature into an emergency session to approve spending of at least a portion of the $1 billion the state has accumulated in reserve and emergency funds. Sand, a Democrat, says that restaurants and bars will lose $1.4 billion and roughly 1,000 could close due to the pandemic. He said hospitals in the state have lost $443 million and many are at risk of closure. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – N Linn Street in Iowa City has been closed to traffic since the summer, giving restaurants and customers room to spread out during the pandemic. Now, to adapt for winter, the city is experimenting with holiday lights and warming huts for diners. AMES, IA (IRN) – The awards and accolades continue for the Iowa State Cyclones football team. On Thursday the Cyclones swept the major categories as Big 12 Coaches announced their all-conference teams. Running back Breece Hall was named Offensive Player of the Year, Mike Rose was named Defensive Player of the Year and Matt Campbell was named Coach of the Year. Twenty-two Cyclones were chosen for All-Big 12 teams, including nine on the first team.

WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – A Waukee man is facing assault charges after allegedly attempting to infect a police officer with COVID-19. Mark Bishop, 61, was arrested at his home Tuesday on separate charges for assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. During Bishop’s arrest, he repeatedly coughed in an officer’s face after telling him he was positive for COVID-19. Bishop was charged with assault with intent to inflict serious injury. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds has made adjustments to her emergency health proclamation as Iowa’s COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have declined. Reynolds announced bars and restaurants can resume their normal hours of operations, but patrons must be seated. Spectators at high school, youth or adult recreation events will be expanded to include members of the participant’s household. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health received a notice Wednesday from the federal government saying Iowa will not be receiving as many COVID-19 vaccines as expected. The allocation may be reduced by as much as 30%. STORM LAKE, IA (IRN) – Tyson Foods has fired seven top managers at its largest pork plant after an independent investigation into allegations that they bet on how many workers would test positive for the coronavirus. The company said the investigation revealed troubling behavior that resulted in the firings at the plant in Waterloo. An outbreak centered around the plant infected more than 1,000 employees, at least six of whom died. DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Hospital Association says the financial impact of COVID-19 on Iowa hospitals is projected to be $433 million loss. Half of Iowa hospitals were operating at a financial loss at the end of October.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday said she will make adjustments to her emergency health proclamation as Iowa’s COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have declined. Reynolds announced bars and restaurants can resume their normal hours of operations, but patrons must still be seated. Spectators at high school, youth or adult recreation events will be slightly expanded to include the members of participant’s household. STORM LAKE, IA (IRN) – The family of a man who died from COVID-19 while working at a Tyson pork plant in Storm Lake has filed a lawsuit accusing the company and several plant executives of gross negligence. Michael Everhard, 65, of Fonda, died June 18, three weeks after being diagnosed with the virus. His family contends he caught the virus at the plant, where he worked for 27 years. The lawsuit argues Tyson and its managers required Everhard to continue working in an environment “rife with coronavirus” and didn’t implement safety precautions to protect him and other workers from contracting the virus. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An apartment fire on Des Moines’ north side forced the entire building to evacuate into freezing weather on Tuesday. No one was hurt, and the Red Cross was on the scene to help find shelter for the victims. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign leaders say they’re low on donations and volunteers this holiday season. In Cedar Rapids, the annual campaign funds more than half of the Salvation Army’s budget. With people shopping online more because of the pandemic, the kettles are seeing less foot traffic and, thus, less change. The Cedar Rapids fundraiser is behind by $60,000 compared to where it was last year. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa State and Iowa have moved up in the College Football Playoff positions on Tuesday. According to the Associated Press, the Iowa State Cyclones (8-2) moved up to No. 6 as they face No. 10 Oklahoma this weekend at the Big 12 Championship. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes (6-2) stayed at No. 16. Their game against Michigan this week was canceled over COVID-19 concerns. IOWA (IRN) – Iowans have upped their consumption of liquor during the pandemic. But what are we drinking? Black Velvet Whisky held onto its longtime No. 1 spot as the best selling liquor in Iowa, according to the annual report from the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, Hawkeye Vodka and Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey rounded out the top five this year.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines city officials announced Tuesday that continued spread of COVID-19 has prompted changes to the mayor’s emergency health proclamation. Mayor Frank Cownie amended the emergency proclamation to reduce the size of gatherings and prohibit sports and recreational activities on city property. All events on city property are now limited to 30 people. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Monday that the state will return $21 million in federal CARES Act funding. Reynolds wanted to use the money to modernize the state’s IT infrastructure. In October, State Auditor Rob Sand announced that his office determined the new computer system does not meet the requirements for spending under the CARES Act. The U.S. Treasury inspector general agreed. The spending has to relate to the public health emergency, and the new computer system doesn’t. FRANKLIN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Authorities are investigating a shooting Monday night in Franklin County. The shooting occurred near I-35, north of Dows. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Schools nationally are seeing students perform worse in the classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Iowa City Community School District saw 37% of its high school students have at least one F by the midterm period. In a normal year, around 20% of its high school students have at least one F by the midterm period. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Gonzaga and Baylor rank first and second respectively in the latest Associated Press men’s college basketball poll, even as both have been sidelined by recent coronavirus issues. The Iowa Hawkeyes remain in third place. Gonzaga has had five straight games cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19. The Hawkeyes and Gonzaga are scheduled to play in Sioux Falls South Dakota on Saturday.