Author: Iowa Radio News

IOWA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds announced further openings and lifting COVID-19 related restrictions on Wednesday. She stated this Friday movie theaters, zoos, aquariums, museums, and wedding reception venues will be allowed to reopen with appropriate public health measures including social distancing and increased sanitizing practices. Starting May 28th bars and other establishments that serve alcohol will be permitted to open for indoor or outdoor seating at 50% capacity. And Iowa’s High Schools will be permitted to have softball and baseball compeition this summer.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – A Des Moines woman accused of intentionally hurting two children because of their race in hit-and-run crashes has been determined competent to stand trial. Nicole Poole is charged with attempted murder after police say she intentionally ran over a Hispanic girl and black boy near Des Moines-area schools last December. She is also charged in connection with an outburst at a convenience store in West Des Moines on the same day.

IOWA (IRN) – According to the state’s dashboard as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, there are 12 more COVID-19 deaths along with 237 more cases since 10 a.m. Tuesday. This brings Iowa’s total to 15,533 confirmed cases with a death toll of 381.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A University of Iowa professor with almost four decades of experience studying coronaviruses says people can get out and enjoy the long weekend for Memorial Day – but they need to continue to “respect the virus.” Dr. Stanley Perlman says, “I don’t think anybody would say we have to wait until there’s no more cases for two weeks and then do things.”

CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – Healthcare workers are on the front lines of battling COVID-19 and many people are finding ways to show their appreciation. KCRG-TV reports every night, the residents of Vintage Cooperative in Coralville make their way to the balcony. They bang on pots and pans to show their support for everything health care workers are doing. Residents say they will keep doing it until the pandemic is over.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Public Schools confirmed it will move forward with plans for the multimillion-dollar DMPS Community Stadium at Drake University. The athletic facility will serve as a home field for high school and middle school football teams. The Drake Bulldogs soccer teams would also use the field. The stadium is estimated to cost $19.5 million.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health is now releasing the latest COVID-19 statistics in real time. IDPH reported 341 new positive cases and 12 deaths in the last 24 hours. That brings the statewide total to 15,296 positive cases and 367 deaths.

PELLA, IA (IRN) – The Pella Police Department and the Iowa DCI are investigating the murder of a woman in Pella last night. No charges have been filed.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two Iowa children diagnosed with pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome, or PMIS, are receiving care at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. On Monday, Gov. Kim Reynolds confirmed Iowa’s second case of PMIS. The rare illness in children is linked to COVID-19 and causes inflammation in the blood vessels.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police are investigating a shooting which injured three people on Monday night. KCRG-TV reports police received several calls of shots fired and when officers arrived, they located two victims inside a home with gunshot wounds. While treating the victims on the scene, a third victim arrived at Mercy Medical Center by personal vehicle with gunshot wounds.

IOWA (IRN) – J.C. Penney, which filed for bankruptcy Friday, plans to close over 200 stores nationwide, leaving the fate of 16 Iowa stores uncertain. A Monday filing to the Securities Exchange Commission showed the Texas-based department store plans to close approximately 242 stores over the next two years.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released new statistics on COVID-19 in the state Monday. IDPH reported 304 new positive cases and 4 deaths. That brings the statewide total to 14,955 positive cases and 355 deaths.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Goodwill of Central Iowa has permanently closed four retail stores and its outlet and career center because of “extreme financial hardships” brought on by coronavirus-related closures. The organization announced it is closing the Grinnell, Oskaloosa, Waukee and south Des Moines locations. In addition, the south Des Moines Outlet and Career Connection Center will be closed, with plans to relocate the outlet to its headquarters in Johnston by 2021.

CEDAR RAPID, IA (IRN) – Travel at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids has diminished in the COVID-19 pandemic. Traffic was down 97% in April compared to April 2019. That means just 1,500 people boarded a plane last month.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A California farm animal sanctuary spent thousands of dollars to send two cargo planes to Iowa to rescue 1,000 chickens that were going to be euthanized at a struggling egg farm. WHO-TV reports workers affiliated with the sanctuary Animal Place loaded chickens onto the planes Saturday at the Fort Dodge, Iowa, airport. The group planned to fly the hens in more than 60 crates to California, where they will be taken to the group’s sanctuary northeast of Sacramento.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The 2020 Julien Dubuque International Film Festival will be a virtual event. There will be an extended live festival in April of 2021. All films and programming will be presented online.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released the latest data on COVID-19 in the state Saturday. IDPH reported 279 new positive cases and 10 deaths. That brings the statewide total to 14,328 positive cases and 346 deaths.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – The House passed a $3 trillion bill called the Heroes Act to cushion the economic blow from the coronavirus. It would include more stimulus payments for qualifying taxpayers and adds hazard-pay for frontline workers. The house voted 208-199. (D) Rep. Abby Finkenauer, (D) Cindy Axne and (R) Rep. Steve King voted against it. (D) Rep. Dave Loebsack voted in favor.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – University of Iowa researchers warn that the coronavirus would continue spreading through the state even before Gov. Kim Reynolds reopened restaurants and churches, a move they said would exacerbate the problem, documents released Friday show.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are looking for multiple suspects they say assaulted a black man and made racist comments toward him. The 22-year-old man is expected to recover.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released the latest data on COVID-19 in the state Saturday. IDPH reported 279 new positive cases and 10 deaths. That brings the statewide total to 14,328 positive cases and 346 deaths.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A team of University of Iowa researchers told the Governor more data is reinforcing their initial recommendation against reopening parts of Iowa. The White Paper says, “Evidence shows that COVID-19 will continue to spread in Iowa, likely at an increasing rate.” The new version of the White Paper from a team of public health experts at the University of Iowa is dated May 4th. The Governor’s Office released it Friday, May 15th.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Public Radio said Friday that the state Board of Regents has pulled its funding amid decreased revenues as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The Des Moines Register reported the statewide radio network will lose $875,000 because of the regents’ decision. That represents about 10% of the revenue it expected to receive for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division reported a big increase in liquor sales in the state likely attributed to COVID-19. Liquor sales for the months of March and April were $31.9 million and $28.6 million respectively, state officials said. That was an increase of 26% and 2% over the same months in 2019.