DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health has added antigen testing results to its coronavirus reporting, adding more cases to the overall total. IDPH reported 12 additional deaths and 2,663 more positive cases, partly due to the new reporting of antigen testing. As of 10 a.m. Friday, there have been 1,091 deaths since the pandemic began. IOWA (IRN) – A new COVID-19 disaster proclamation has been signed by Governor Kim Reynolds. Reynolds says the novel coronavirus is being spread by 19-24-year-old young adults often in college areas. In response, the governor has closed bars, breweries, taverns, and nightclubs in six counties – Johnson, Linn, Black Hawk, Dallas, Polk, and Story. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The state has granted permission to the Iowa City Community School District to begin classes online only. The move comes in response to rising positivity rates over the last 14 days. As of early this morning, the positivity rate in Johnson county is 18.7 percent. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Water Works says that water in the Des Moines River has a high level of microcystin, a toxin produced by blue-green algae, that makes the river unsuitable for use as a drinking water source. The Raccoon River’s flow is very low due to ongoing drought conditions and demand for water is very high. Officials aren’t calling for restrictions but would like Polk County residents to be careful with their water use. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Hawkeye basketball coaching legend Lute Olson has passed away. Olson, who was 85, had been in hospice. He took Iowa to five straight NCAA tournaments, including the 1980 Final Four. Carver Hawkeye Arena is dubbed the house that Lute built after the coach pushed for years for a new arena. After nine years he went on to Arizona, guiding the Wildcats to 23 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, four Final Fours and the ’97 national championship.

IOWA (IRN) – A new COVID-19 disaster proclamation has been signed by Governor Kim Reynolds in response to increases in positive cases across the state. Reynolds says the novel coronavirus is being spread greatly by 19-24-year-old young adults often in college areas. In response, the governor has closed bars, breweries, taverns, and nightclubs in six counties – Johnson, Linn, Black Hawk, Dallas, Polk, and Story. The proclamation also calls for restaurants in those six counties to stop serving alcohol at 10 p.m. This will be in effect until September 20th. Reynolds encourages all Iowans over two-years-old to wear masks in public, but she has not issued a mandate to do so. As of Thursday, Iowa’s had 1,080 COVID-19 deaths. KEOKUK, IA (IRN) – A southeast Iowa man is charged in the death of a couple who were struck earlier this month as they waited on their motorcycle in a construction zone. Chad Ray Davis was arrested and charged in the August 4 deaths of Michael and Linda Horn, of Donnellson. The Horns were stopped on their motorcycle at a construction site east of Donnellson when a car driven by Davis hit them. Their motorcycle was pushed into the back of a Mack truck. The Horns were killed instantly. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa can’t track the number of positive, negative or inconclusive tests performed by TestIowa, according to data received through a public records request by KCRG-TV. The data, which KCRG threatened lawsuits to receive, is the first time data from TestIowa was ever released and also shows it took 46 days to meet the state’s goal of testing 3,000 people in a single day. KCRG requested the amount of positive, negative and inconclusive tests performed by the $26 million no-bid contract testing program, but was told the state has no way of knowing if a specific test from any manufacturer is giving a disproportionate number of positives, negatives or inconclusive test results. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie has instituted a public mask mandate, effective immediately. Cownie said masks are required in businesses, including restaurants. Cownie said the mandate is necessary now and he wants to get it in place before Des Moines students are back in classrooms. The ordinance defies Gov. Kim Reynolds’ claim that cities cannot mandate face coverings. There will be no citations for now. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld called out some businesses in Iowa City for not doing their part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by adhering to state issued health and safety guidelines. In an open letter addressed to the Iowa City businesses community, Harreld wrote that he is disappointed in some businesses, blaming them for increasing COVID-19 cases in the city. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s Republican secretary of state has issued instructions that counties cannot set up drop boxes to accept early ballots for this year’s general election. That comes despite not challenging the use of those boxes in more than a third of Iowa’s counties in previous elections.

IOWA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds praised President Donald Trump on Tuesday night for quickly pledging federal support to Iowa as residents recover from the hurricane-level windstorm that devastated the state on Aug. 10. Reynolds, speaking remotely at the second night of the Republican National Convention, said Trump and his administration “had our back” when it comes to rebuilding after the derecho windstorm. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s largest school district took legal action Tuesday after the Iowa Department of Education denied its waiver to start the school district 100% online. Des Moines Public Schools asked for an injunction of the state’s decision and review of its authority to override the school district’s decision making under Iowa law. Ames Community School District also announced plans to take legal action after its “Return to Learn” plan was denied. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City man has been arrested for allegedly driving his vehicle into a group of protesters in Iowa City over the weekend. Michael Stepanek, 45, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and willful injury causing bodily injury. AMES, IA (IRN) – An 18-year-old Iowa State University student has been arrested and charged in connection to vandalism and racist graffiti found in a storage room at an on-campus residence hall. 18-year-old Nathan Page is facing charges in connection with the Aug. 22nd incident. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hy-Vee is offering free COVID-19 testing at some locations. COVID-19 testing is available at five Iowa stores, in West Des Moines, Chariton, Cherokee, Davenport and Iowa City. Those interested in receiving a test must register online to receive a voucher number, testing site and appointment time.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported another 492 new coronavirus cases and 9 additional deaths. As of 10 a.m. Tuesday there have been 1,048 deaths in Iowa since the pandemic began. URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – Urbandale police are looking for a suspect who stabbed a woman but say there is no danger to the public. They have a suspect under investigation. WASHINGTON, D.C. Iowa’s congressional delegation wrote a bipartisan letter toSecretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to ask him to grant assistance to the state’s farmers affected by the derecho on August 10. Governor Kim Reynolds asked the federal agency for relief for farmers in 57 Iowa counties affected by the derecho, which would allow them access to special disaster funds. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Board of Medicine issued a face mask advisory Monday to help slow the spread of coronavirus in the state. According to the advisory, the Iowa Board of Medicine decided to join the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in recommending face mask use. The advisory recommends that Iowans wear masks in public and when around people they don’t live with. AMES, IA (IRN) – The Ames Community School District said Monday it will go forward with a phased-in “Return to Learn” plan despite having its waiver for online learning denied by the Iowa Department of Education. The district’s four-week plan allows 25% of students to attend classes each day by splitting students into numbered groups. Other school days would be done remotely. After four weeks, the district plans to transition into a hybrid learning plan with 50% of students in class.

HARDIN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Patrol has identified three people killed in a crash in Hardin County Sunday. At approximately 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 25-year-old Spencer Bultman was driving a Chevy Avalanche the wrong way on Highway 20 near S27 when he struck a Chevy Equinox. Three people, including a child, in the Chevy Equinox died at the scene. The driver, 44-year-old Cristy Gutierres, a passenger, 38-year-old Mario Zubia and another passenger, 11-year-old Jessie Gutierres died in the crash. Six-year-old Isabel Gutierres was transported via air ambulance to a Des Moines hospital with serious injuries. All four are from Story City. Bultman had minor injuries. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health has confirmed the first child death in Iowa due to COVID-19. Health officials said the child was under the age of 5 and had underlying health conditions. They said the death happened in June. The State Medical Examiner concluded the investigation into the death on Aug. 6. IDPH officials said, “the child’s death was publicly reported this weekend after ensuring the individual’s identity would remain protected and notifying the family.” HARDIN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A wrong-way driver smashed into an SUV Sunday night in Hardin County, killing two adults and a child, according to the Iowa State Patrol. Crews flew a second child to a Des Moines hospital with serious injuries. The wrong-way driver experienced only minor injuries. AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State University police are investigating what they are calling “racist criminal activity.” A staff member reported their residential storage room was burglarized and vandalized with racist slurs. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Joni Ernst will speak during the Republican National Convention. Reynolds will speak Tuesday, and Ernst Wednesday.