DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 385 new positive COVID-19 cases and 9 deaths. That brings the statewide total to 23,551 positive cases and 650 deaths. State data continues to show flat or declining positive cases as testing has increased. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man is in the Polk County Jail after police said he slammed a baby into a crib, causing the baby to break two bones. Cesar Corona Lopez, of West Des Moines, is charged with child endangerment causing serious injury. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A group of about 250 protesters marched to Mayor Bruce Teague’s house in West Iowa City Friday night to say they’re unhappy with the city’s response to their protests so far. Friday was the third protest throughout the area this week, and the ninth this month. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa has decided to stick with its original fall academic calendar, even as other regents schools move up their start dates amid the coronavirus. The Gazette reports that UI officials announced their decision to stay the course in a campus-wide message Friday. Students will return Aug. 24 and finish finals Dec. 18. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque is opening its new “Robot Zoo” summer exhibition after having to postpone it because of COVID-19.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reports 381 new positive COVID-19 cases on Friday, and three deaths. That brings the statewide total to 23,166 positive cases and 641 deaths. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The State of Iowa is moving ahead with a $10.3 million purchase to stockpile ventilators for coronavirus patients, even as demand for the breathing machines has dropped. The purchase is in anticipation of new waves of the virus that could overwhelm hospitals in the coming months. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – After Black Lives Matter protesters called for action in daily demonstrations for nearly two weeks, the Iowa House and Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan police reform bill on Thursday, hours after it was introduced. Both chambers passed the historic legislation back-to-back with Black Lives Matter demonstrators watching from above. CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – A protest against police brutality which started Thursday afternoon on the University of Iowa campus got very tense during a police standoff near Interstate 80 when traffic was blocked. City council members walked with protesters to show support for their movement. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A protester has filed a lawsuit against a Des Moines police officer and the city over the use of pepper spray during protests on May 30th. Essence Welch filed the lawsuit, claiming she was peacefully protesting the death of George Floyd when a police officer, without warning, stepped out from a group of officers and sprayed her in the face with pepper spray. Welch claims she suffered severe pain and says the action deprived her of her constitutional rights. AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen has announced a plaque was removed from near the LeBaron building after discovering its namesake’s history of racism. W.T. Hornaday attended Iowa State University from 1872 to 1873 and later became the first director of the Bronx Zoo. Wintersteen learned that Hornaday had created a racist exhibit at the Bronx Zoo involving Ota Benga, a man from the Republic of Congo. Benga eventually committed suicide. Hornaday had been recognized for his work as a conservationist.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Eight days after Iowa saw record turnout for its primary election, the Republican controlled Senate passed legislation that will prohibit methods that led to its success. Republican Secretary of State Paul Pate sent out absentee ballots to every voter in the state to encourage voters to vote absentee during the pandemic. No longer. Senate Republicans now want voters to have to request a ballot. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Black Lives Matter activists gathered at the Statehouse this morning to once again speak with lawmakers. The group gathered outside Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office while chanting, “Let them vote!” regarding a proposed amendment that would stop the Secretary of State from distributing absentee ballot request forms by mail. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The 2020 Iowa State Fair will be cancelled because of COVID-19. Many grandstand acts had already cancelled their appearances. Des Moines stands to lose $110 million. IOWA (IRN) – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend are calling for a cut in federal payments to unemployed workers as the economy recovers from the COVID-19-caused recession.Townsend said that 79% of Iowans on unemployment since April have received more money each week than they did at their former jobs. Grassley says “that doesn’t seem like a recipe for economic growth.” DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa businesses are preparing to open at full capacity, after Gov. Kim Reynolds announced more coronavirus restrictions are being lifted Wednesday. Her new proclamation allows businesses like restaurants, bars, fitness centers, casinos, senior citizen centers, adult daycare facilities, salons, barbershops, medical spas, theaters and performance venues, race tracks, and malls to reopen without capacity limits.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the easing of further business restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic today. The governor announced the 50% capacity limit for Iowa businesses will be lifted at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 12. Social-distancing requirements of 6 feet for certain businesses like restaurants, bars and theaters, will stay in place. AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State University students will return to campus this fall. The semester will start August 17th, one week early, and wrap up the day before Thanksgiving. University of Northern Iowa officials also released a plan for the fall semester. That includes returning to campus on August 17th, a week earlier than usual, in order to provide flexibility during the winter flu season. Classes will be a mix of face to face, hybrid, and online instruction. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The latest numbers from the Iowa Department of Public Health show the state saw seven more deaths attributed to COVID-19 over the 24-hour period between 10:00 a.m. Tuesday and 10:00 a.m. Wednesday. The data from the IDPH shows there have been 629 total deaths from the coronavirus in the state so far. Of those deaths, 312 were residents of long term care facilities. There are currently 38 outbreaks of the virus at Iowa long term care facilities. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad and other lawmakers shared new demands from Des Moines Black Lives Matter with Gov. Kim Reynolds. Four of the organization’s five demands are directed toward the Iowa Legislature. The fifth is for Gov. Kim Reynolds. Des Moines BLM asks lawmakers to reject HF 2532, which they said legalizes corporal punishment in public schools. They also seek to ban police chokeholds, permit the Iowa Attorney General to investigate police misconduct and prevent the rehiring of police fired for misconduct. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Republican legislators are fast-tracking a bill that offers businesses including meatpacking plants and nursing homes broad immunity from coronavirus lawsuits amid criticism that it would also enable them to ignore workplace safety requirements. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa House Republicans have proposed keeping state spending mostly the same in the coming fiscal year, but they have yet to reach an agreement with their Senate colleagues about where to spend Iowa’s slimmer-than-planned resources. Under the bill, most state departments and agencies would be funded at the same level in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, as they received in the current fiscal year. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Leaders with the Iowa State Fair will meet this afternoon to discuss this summer’s fair. State fairs in other states such as Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin have already canceled due to the coronavirus. The Iowa State Fair Board will meet at 3 p.m. to discuss the status of the 2020 Iowa State Fair.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines city council voted unanimously to delay the final vote on its anti-racial profiling ordinance. Instead, members approved its first reading last night during a virtual meeting.The ordinance requires police to commit itself to the unbiased, equitable treatment of all people. It also mentions racial profiling and traffic stops, prohibiting any stop motivated by how someone looks. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The state of Iowa is reporting 308 new COVID-19 cases and four more deaths over the last 24 hours. There have been 606 deaths since the pandemic began. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa Athletics Department announced its first COVID-19 case Monday. A total of 237 people, including student athletes, coaches and staff members, received coronavirus tests starting May 29. CLERMONT, IA (IRN) – Two women from West Union were tubing on the Turkey River when they went over the Clermont Dam and got caught in the current and died. They were 45 and 64 years old. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Police in Waterloo are investigating after a black man found the initials for the white supremacist group the Ku Klux Klan scrawled on his vehicle. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the initials KKK were written in a waxy substance on the passenger side, apparently while the vehicle was parked at the Baymont Inn in sometime between Thursday night and Friday morning. No arrests have been made.