Author: Iowa Radio News

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.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Iowa this morning. UnityPoint Health in Des Moines has received its first shipments of the vaccine. More hospital systems in central Iowa are expected to receive the vaccine Monday as well. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City said it received its first shipment of about 1,000 doses and will begin vaccinating its health care workers today.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – A man has been charged with murder in connection with a weekend homicide in Urbandale. 35-year-old Dustin Sample is charged with first-degree murder in the death of an unnamed woman. Upon arrival at the scene, police found the woman suffering head trauma. She died at the scene.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Multiple errors caused by the National Democratic Committee, the Iowa Democratic Party, and the company that made the 2020 Iowa Caucus app are being blamed for the problems during the caucuses. A new report released Saturday concludes that the National Democratic Party holds most of the blame.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – One of the nation’s leading pet food manufacturers plans to create more than 270 jobs in Dubuque. Simmons Pet Food, Inc. intends to buy the former Flexsteel Industries facility. The company plans to hire 271 employees within the next three years. The facility will operate 24/7 and starting wages will be approximately $20 an hour.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Fran McCaffery earned his 200th victory as Iowa’s men’s basketball coach. The Hawkeyes are the third ranked team in the nation, and defeated winless Northern Illinois 106-53 on Sunday. All 16 Hawkeyes played; two of them McCaffery’s sons, Connor and Patrick, who combined for 19 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Multiple errors caused by the National Democratic Committee, the Iowa Democratic Party, and the company that made the 2020 Iowa Caucus app are being blamed for the problems during the caucuses. A new report released Saturday by former Attorney General Bonnie Campbell and former U.S. Attorney Nick Klinefeldt said the National Democratic Party holds most of the blame. It did find that the Iowa Democratic Party failed to properly communicate with campaigns and the media.

WASHINGTON DC (IRN) – President-elect Joe Biden has nominated Tom Vilsack to take back his old job at the Agriculture Department, saying his eight years of experience at the department under former President Barack Obama would ensure quicker help to rural and poor areas that are “reeling” from the pandemic and economic downturn.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Doctors say 70% of the population needs to get a COVID-19 vaccine in order for there to be herd immunity against the virus. Iowa law says employers can require employees to get the vaccine.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Spencer Petras threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns to Ihmir Smith-Marsette to lead No. 19 Iowa past No. 25 Wisconsin 28-7.

GRIMES, IA (IRN) – A Grimes child care provider faces charges Friday after admitting to dropping a 3-month-old child in her care out of frustration. Brady Jean Weible, 43, is charged with child endangerment causing serious injury. The child suffered multiple subdural hematomas, or brain bleeds, on Dec. 9 while in Weible’s care.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Fall 2020 enrollment statistics for Iowa’s 327 school districts show a decrease of nearly 6,000 students or 1.21%. According to Iowa Department of Education data released on Friday, the drop was the first time in ten years certified enrollment decreased from the previous year.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s budget panel predicts slow growth for the state for the coming years, but members urged caution as this year’s unprecedented events — the pandemic, shut downs, high unemployment and a derecho — have left the economy with an uncertain future. Holly Lyons, director of the fiscal services division of the Legislative Services Agency says, “I think all of us will be glad to see the year 2020 behind us.”

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Luka Garza surged in the second half and finished the game with 34 points in just 17 minutes, lifting the No. 3 Hawkeye men’s basketball team over Iowa State 105-77 on Friday night.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reports 77 additional COVID-19 deaths since 10 A.M yesterday for a statewide death toll of 3,197. There are 141 COVID-19 outbreaks among long-term care facilities in the state.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two 17-year-olds were shot during a home invasion Thursday on Des Moines’ east side. Police say the suspects forced entry into the home and several shots were fired, wounding two 17-year-old males inside. One was critically injured and the other suffered a serious injury.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids Police arrested a 16-year-old with a handgun early Thursday morning. Officers received a report of suspicious activity where two individuals were using flashlights to look into vehicles. When officers arrived, they found a garage door partially open, as well as a vehicle that was parked in the driveway with a broken window and items missing. Around the same time, officers located a suspect that matched the description of one of the individuals looking into vehicles with a flashlight.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Board of Pharmacy says fraudulent prescriptions are being faxed into pharmacies. These faxes appear to be targeting pharmacies in Central and Southeast Iowa. The faxes are prescriptions for antibiotics and promethazine with codeine.

WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – The Waukee Community School District announced Thursday that the school board has voted to return to school. During a special school board meeting, members voted to return to the hybrid model. Students will be allowed to learn full-time in-person or full-time online.