DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reported Thursday that Iowa has surpassed 40,000 positive coronavirus cases. As of 10 a.m. Thursday, IDPH reported 716 new positive cases and 7 additional deaths. There have been 815 deaths in Iowa since the pandemic began. FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – The Fort Dodge Police Department has made an arrest in connection to an assault with a flare gun. First responders treated a 52-year-old man who had been shot in the face and upper torso. Police said after firing the flares at the victim, the attacker began assaulting him with an unknown object before fleeing. Authorities arrested William C. Goddard Jr., 31, of Fort Dodge, for attempted murder and going armed with intent. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police in Des Moines are investigating after a man showed up at an Emergency Room early Wednesday morning suffering from a gunshot wound to his knee. The victim isn’t cooperating with the investigation. WAVERLY, IA (IRN) – A northeast Iowa school district has completed an investigation after reports that its fans shouted racial taunts at a Black player on an opposing school’s baseball team. The Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District confirmed that students yelled taunts at Charles City baseball player Jeremiah Chapman. The taunts included “You should have been George Floyd,” “go back to the fields,” and calling him Collin, in reference to former NFL quarterback and activist Colin Kaepernick. The district said that they would be taking “appropriate measures” against those involved. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Republican Ashley Hinson says she has ended a working relationship with a consulting firm she blames for plagiarism uncovered by the New York Times. Hinson is vying to unseat Democratic first-term Congresswomen Abby Finkenauer. The Times found Hinson had plagiarized work from their paper, the Des Moines Register, CNBC, The Hill, and even from Finkenauer’s website. Hinson apologized for the plagiarism.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Department of Public Health data continues to show an increase in coronavirus hospitalizations. As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, IDPH reported 374 new positive cases and 10 additional deaths. There have been 808 deaths in Iowa since the pandemic began. MADISON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a “suspected homicide” Tuesday. A deceased man was found in an intersection. LE MARS, IA (IRN) – A man died after becoming trapped in a grain bin in northwest Iowa. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office says first-responders were called Tuesday morning to a grain bin about five miles east of Le Mars. A 65-year-old man had been loosening stuck corn when he became trapped. Even though there were safety measures in place, he sank into the corn when the crust broke. He had died by the time his body was recovered about an hour after rescuers arrived. POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Polk County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution requiring county employees and all visitors to county buildings to wear face coverings. The resolution also encourages businesses throughout Polk County to explore similar measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Polk County has recorded more than 8,500 coronavirus cases, which is more than any other county in the state. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hy-Vee announced Tuesday that it will distribute more than 3 million free masks to customers without one starting next week. Beginning July 27, Hy-Vee employees stationed outside store doors will hand out masks. The mask giveaway is part of a new initiative called “Mask It Up to Shut COVID Down. It’s Your Choice.”

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City residents will be required to wear masks beginning Tuesday, as many local government officials in Johnson County advocate for consistency to show unified support against COVID-19. The Daily Iowan reports Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague will release a proclamation on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. mandating the use of masks, face shields, and facial coverings for all community members. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A lawsuit filed by a social worker alleges poor treatment for Polk County Jail inmates struggling with mental health issues. Michaela Jens is suing the county and Wellpath — the company she worked for that provides mental health care services at the jail. The lawsuit claims Jens was hired in February and fired in May because she spoke out about conditions in the jail. Jens claims inmates had limited access to showers and personal sanitary materials. She is also concerned with how the jail is handling coronavirus cases among inmates. CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – A member of the Coralville City Council has resigned following backlash received for remarks he made about the Black Lives Matter movement. Tom Gill, who had served on the council for 29 years, notified the city of Coralville of his resignation on Friday. Gill called Black Lives Matter “a bunch of criminals” at a public meeting on July 13. Mayor John Lundell issued a statement condemning Gill’s remarks. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced last week she will override local school districts and require students to spend at least half of their education time in classrooms, despite concerns the move could endanger children and teachers as the number of coronavirus cases increase. Since the governor’s announcement, Iowa educators have been sharing their frustrations online with the governor. They are writing and sharing drafts of their own obituaries. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Symphony announced Monday it is canceling the Yankee Doodle Pops and Water Works Pops concerts scheduled for Labor Day weekend because of COVID-19.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reported Sunday that a significant number of COVID-19 tests were not reported over the weekend due to a backlog in the department’s electronic reporting system. It is unclear today if that backlog has been rectified. As of 10 a.m. Monday, IDPH reported 343 new positive cases and 1 additional death. There have been 793 deaths in Iowa since the pandemic began. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Police have identified the man at the center of an hours-long standoff in Ankeny Friday evening. Police say 60-year-old Jesse Krueger threatened to blow up his apartment building with a bomb. After about a four-hour standoff with police, he was taken into custody without injury and was charged with threat of terrorism. Krueger had just gotten out of jail for allegedly shooting off a handgun on his balcony earlier this week. He was suicidal. CEDAR COUNTY, IA (IRN) A teen died after an early morning stabbing in Cedar County on Sunday, according to KCRG-TV. Police received a 911 call reporting that someone had been stabbed at a rural residence. The stabbing happened after an altercation at around 3 a.m. Chantz Stevens, 19, of Wilton was pronounced dead at the scene. Milton Jermaine Cole Serrano Jr, 21, of Muscatine is charged with first-degree murder, among other charges. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – One person is dead after a vehicle struck a semi in Cedar Falls on Sunday. Witnesses say the SUV didn’t stop at the intersection and hit the side of the semi. The driver of the SUV was rushed to a local hospital where they later died. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health confirmed Sunday that a “significant number” of COVID-19 tests were not reported over the weekend due to a backlog in the department’s electronic reporting system.

HIAWATHA, IA (IRN) – An Iowa man pleaded guilty to taking money from a 15-year-old who was dead at the time. Noah Herring, of Tiffin, went missing in April. Authorities found his body a few days later in the Coralville Reservoir. The medical examiner says Noah died of drowning. Scotty Harmish, 47, of Hiawatha, pleaded guilty on Friday to fifth-degree theft charges for taking money from Noah’s wallet. KCRG reports that three juveniles have been charged in connection to Noah’s death. The investigation was hindered by false information given by defendants who were present when Noah drowned. KCRG reports no one present called 911 for help. IOWA (IRN) – Another 3 people with COVID-19 have died and there are an additional 287 confirmed cases, the state reported Saturday. There have been a total of 785 COVID-19-related deaths in Iowa. BOONE, IA (IRN) – The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced Friday fall sports will begin as scheduled. The announcement comes as COVID-19 cases have consistently climbed in Iowa over the past few weeks. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered that all flags in Iowa be lowered to half-staff in honor of Georgia Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights icon who died Friday.