Author: Iowa Radio News

IOWA (IRN) – On Thursday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported 694 new positive COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths. That brings the statewide total to 20,706 positive cases and 578 deaths.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Three Iowa counties have emerged as coronavirus “areas of concern” for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All three counties are home to meat processing plants. The Iowa counties on the CDC list are Buena Vista, Woodbury and Wright.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Demonstrators and law enforcement got into a confrontation Monday night in Iowa City. Police used flashbangs and tear gas to disperse the crowd. KCRG-TV reports while the march was mostly peaceful, several people vandalized buildings, sidewalks, and signs along the way.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – With the coronavirus still spreading and against a backdrop of daily protests over police treatment of minorities, the Iowa Legislature returned Wednesday. Lawmakers are expected to meet for at least two weeks to complete work on a budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 and address policy measures on which House and Senate leaders reach agreement.

IOWA (IRN) – Tyson Foods is reinstating an attendance policy that punishes workers for missing shifts, even as it reports new COVID-19 outbreaks in its Iowa meatpacking plants. The Des Moines Register reports under the policy, employees are assessed points for missing shifts. Those who accumulate too many can be fired. Despite the policy, a company spokeswoman said,”our top priority is the health and safety of our team members, their families and our communities.

ALTOONA, IA (IRN) – Adventureland Park in Altoona opened its doors for 2020 on Wednesday. The opening was delayed due to COVID-19 concerns. The first two days of the park operation are open only to season ticket holders. On Friday the park will open to the general public with increased cleaning efforts and at 50 percent capacity.

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.

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.

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.

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.