Author: Iowa Radio News

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.

GARNAVILLO, IA (IRN) – One person is dead after a tractor/motorcycle collision in northeast Iowa Saturday near Garnavillo. The 50-year old driver, from Oelwein, failed to make it through a curve, crossed the centerline, and hit the tractor head-on. The motorcyclist died.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The state is reporting 308 new COVID-19 cases and four more deaths in Iowa over the last 24 hours. As of this morning, there have been 21,919 confirmed cases and 606 deaths since the pandemic began.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Black Lives Matter group made an additional list of demands Saturday for lawmakers and Gov. Kim Reynolds. The new list includes the decriminalization of cannabis, expunging the records of arrests made from protests this week, an executive order to immediately restore voting rights for felons, and an end to juvenile detention. The group also suggested using funds from the police department and redirecting it to housing, education, health care and more.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Kinnick Stadium at the University of Iowa was vandalized Saturday night after multiple protesters marched through Iowa City. Lonny Pulkrabek, Johnson County Sheriff, posted a picture to Facebook of a group spray painting the statue of Nile Kinnick. He also said they vandalized the University of Iowa Hospital.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Chris Doyle, the Hawkeye strength and conditioning coach who earns over $800,000 a year, was put on leave Saturday after former black players posted on Twitter about racial disparities. On Sunday, Doyle released a statement saying he doesn’t make racist comments.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 8 deaths and 345 new positive cases Saturday. That brings the statewide total to 21,438 positive cases and 597 deaths.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Thousands laid down in front of Des Moines City Hall Saturday for the same 8 minutes and 46 seconds that a Minneapolis police officer held a knee on George Floyd’s neck. Iowa protesters pushed for systemic change in the wake of Floyd’s death and organized a solidarity march in downtown Des Moines from Wells Fargo Arena to City Hall.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A crowd estimated at least 1,000 demonstrators gathered at Cedar Rapids’ Greene Square to protest police brutality following the death of George Floyd more than a week ago in Minneapolis. Police Chief Wayne Jerman were among city leaders speaking during the event. Chief Jerman said the police department has implemented changes following Floyd’s death.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – After a week of mostly peaceful protests throughout the capital city — including one that reached Mayor Frank Cownie’s front lawn — the Des Moines City Council could pass an anti-racial profiling ordinance at its meeting Monday.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – The Black Hawk County Courthouse was evacuated on Friday morning after receiving a bomb threat, according to KGAN-TV. The courthouse was evacuated and the Waterloo Police Department used a bomb-sniffing dog to help sweep the building and surrounding area. The dog found no indication of a bomb and the courthouse was cleared at approximately 12 PM.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health’s website shows the state saw 11 more COVID-19 deaths over the 24-hour period between 10 a.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. Friday. The data shows there have been 589 total deaths from the coronavirus in the state so far. Of those deaths, 294 were residents of long term care facilities.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Hundreds of Iowans gathered downtown Friday night to honor Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was shot to death by police in her own Louisville apartment in March. Illuminating the Pappajohn Sculpture Park with candles, people said they hoped to celebrate Taylor’s life on what would have been her 27th birthday. It was the eighth day of protests, marches and vigils in Des Moines following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody on May 25.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Former Hawkeye football players are coming forward saying that there are too many disparities in the treatment of white and black athletes in the program. Former lineman James Daniels, now with the Chicago Bears, spoke up first by tweeting “There are too many racial disparities in the Iowa football program.” Coach Kirk Ferentz responded with a statement Friday night after dozens of former Hawkeyes spoke up on Twitter and described negative experiences they and other black players had while on the team. He said, “While I wish they had reached out to us directly, I am thankful that these players decided to share their experiences now.”

WINNESHIEK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two kayakers who capsized and were swept away in the Upper Iowa River have been found uninjured. The man made it to shore to get help, and the Decorah Fire Department used a drone to find the woman.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – The family of a woman killed during a protest earlier this week in Davenport wants the violence to end. KCRG-TV reports someone shot and killed Italia Marie Kelly as she demonstrated near a Walmart store Monday night. Italia’s sister Jasmine, says, “I still believe people should protest, but if you’re going to do it, realize that you are not risking just police officers lives, you’re risking protesters lives, you’re risking young people’s lives who have goals, who have dreams.” A Davenport officer who was also shot during that violent protest is now home from the hospital.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Polk County Department of Health is warning residents that COVID-19 is still spreading significantly. This week, Polk County has confirmed 592 new cases. The Polk County Board of Supervisors said the numbers are showing exactly what they feared, a spike in infections after reopening businesses. On Thursday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported 694 new positive COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths. That brings the statewide total to 578 deaths.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A group of Iowa lawmakers gathered on the statehouse steps Thursday to discuss legislation targeted at preventing conflict between law enforcement and residents. The plan includes three “common sense” proposals: banning police chokeholds, making it illegal to rehire police fired for misconduct, and allowing the Iowa Attorney General to investigate police misconduct.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill Thursday that will allow convicted felons to get their voting rights back only after they have paid full restitution to victims. The bill becomes effective if the legislature passes a proposed constitutional amendment automatically restoring voting rights for convicted felons.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Workforce Development has released the latest figures on unemployment claims filed in the state. The numbers released Thursday show weekly claims have decreased by more than half of the previous week’s.