Articles by Iowa Radio News

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Wednesday, June 3, 2020

IOWA (IRN) – Controversial Iowa U.S. Rep. Steve King has lost his party’s primary election. Randy Feenstra, an Iowa State Senator, defeated King. Democratic candidate Theresa Greenfield will take on Republican incumbent Sen. Joni Ernst in the fall. Republican Ashley Hinson will take on Democrat Abby Finkenauer for the District 1 seat. David Young has earned the Republican nomination to take on Democrat Cindy Axne in the general election. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, state senator for District 41, won the Republican primary election in the race to fill departing incumbent Rep. Dave Loebsack’s U.S. House seat. She will face Democratic candidate Rita Hart. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported six deaths and 60 new cases. That brings the statewide total to 20,012 positive cases and 564 deaths. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Coronavirus tests have revealed that 224 employees of a Tyson beef and pork processing plant in Council Bluffs have tested positive for the virus. The company said 103 workers stayed home the required quarantine time and have returned to work. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds declined to say whether there were circumstances under which she would seek President Donald Trump’s offer of military help to quell protests. Reynolds, a Republican and supporter of Trump, said that she relies on the advice of her public safety commissioner and other officials to ensure they have the ability to respond to protests. Reynolds said the soldiers haven’t been needed but could be quickly deployed.


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Tuesday, June 2, 2020

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 20 deaths and 264 new cases. That brings the statewide total to 19,952 positive cases and 558 deaths. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A 22-year-old woman was killed early Monday in an apparently random shooting as she was leaving a protest against police brutality in Davenport, according to KGAN-TV. Italia Marie Kelly was one of two people fatally shot overnight as civil unrest roiled the city of 100,000 people. Kelly joined a protest over the death of George Floyd after getting off work Sunday night. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Police in Iowa City reported minor damage following a relatively peaceful night of protests through downtown Iowa City Monday night. KCRG-TV reports one demonstrator broke a glass door at City Hall. Vandalism in the form of graffiti was reported on some property and at the Johnson County Courthouse. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Nearly three hours after a Polk County curfew went into effect Monday, law enforcement advanced on a group of nonviolent protesters at the Iowa Capitol, forcing them to disperse with tear gas and flash bangs. On the fourth night of protests in Des Moines, a group of several hundred marched around downtown and the East Village after leaving a peaceful rally held earlier that focused on advocating for black Iowans. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department is investigating after a man was found dead in an apartment Monday evening. They are treating it as a homicide. This is the 12th homicide of the year in the city.


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Monday, June 1, 2020

IOWA (IRN) – On Monday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported 5 deaths and 204 new positive cases of COVID-19. That brings the statewide total to 19,688 positive cases and 538 deaths. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport officer was shot in an ambush while patrolling an area where protests over police killings of black people were being held, and two other shooting deaths occurred in the city during the chaos. The Quad-City Times reports that the officer’s shooting happened around 3 a.m. Monday. The officer was one of three who were ambushed while patrolling. An officer returned fire but authorities didn’t say if anyone was hit by the return fire. The wounded officer is expected to recover. Police said two other people died from shootings as the protests occurred, but it was unclear if those shootings were related to the protests. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Three nights of protests in Des Moines turned violent again last night as Polk County declared a 9:00 pm curfew. Some protesters threw rocks and water bottles at police, and vandalized the Merle Hay Mall. Police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowds. Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri was arrested while reporting for failure to disperse. She was later released. CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – More than two dozen law enforcement vehicles responded to Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville Sunday night as protesters gathered. Several people were handcuffed following altercations with law enforcement. At least one business was vandalized in a nearby strip mall. A few officers were injured after protesters threw rocks and punched them. Police used flashbangs to push groups approaching law enforcement away. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – Dozens of people gathered in downtown Mason City Sunday night to protest the death of George Floyd. KIMT-TV reports the protests remained peaceful. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The total number of positive COVID-19 cases in Iowa neared 19,500 Sunday, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. The site reports 349 additional positive cases of the novel coronavirus and six more deaths. A total of 533 Iowans have died.


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Sunday, May 31, 2020

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Protesters and police clashed for a second straight night in downtown Des Moines on Saturday. The night began when protesters gathered outside the Des Moines police headquarters. From there, hundreds of protesters started marching into downtown. Some protesters began breaking windows at the Polk County Courthouse, until police deployed tear gas. Protesters then headed to the Iowa State Capitol. A long standoff ensued at the Capitol between protesters and law enforcement in riot gear. Law enforcement used tear gas and flash bangs to keep protesters from inching toward the Capitol. Law enforcement eventually dispersed protesters from the Capitol grounds around 11:40 p.m. by using tear gas. After leaving the Iowa State Capitol, a smaller group of protesters collected at the Court Avenue District, where another standoff with police occurred. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Thousands of people in Eastern Iowa held signs, listened to speeches, and walked together to show solidarity against racism and support positive change in policing. A demonstration was held in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids Saturday. The protests remained peaceful. IOWA (IRN) – Another seven people with COVID-19 have died, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. At 10 a.m. Saturday, the state was reporting 527 COVID-19-related deaths, an increase of seven deaths since the state’s tally at 10 a.m. Friday.


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Saturday, May 30, 2020

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Protesters in downtown Des Moines clashed with officers after a planned rally over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Organizers of the event asked protesters to leave peacefully at the conclusion, but many chose not to. Protesters threw bottles at officers, and broke out windows on police vehicles, and damaged businesses. State Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad stood between police and protesters to attempt to diffuse the situation. Organizers condemned the violence, and police spokesperson Paul Parizek attributed the clash to a “small piece of a great group.” IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 290 new positive COVID-19 cases and 20 deaths on Friday. That brings the statewide total to 18,792 positive cases and 520 deaths. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – One person is dead in a collision between a motorcycle and a semi-truck in Cedar Rapids last night. The incident occurred at the interchange of Highway 30 and I-380. EVANSDALE, IA (IRN) – Authorities said Friday that they believe they’ve found the remains of a missing Arizona woman and her stepfather in Iowa inside the stepfather’s car after it was found buried in an undeveloped lot. The Waterloo Courier reports that authorities believe the remains found on a dead-end road in Evansdale, Iowa, are those of 28-year-old Elissa Landry and 45-year-old David Batten, of Chino Valley, Arizona.