Author: Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health on Friday released the latest statistics on COVID-19 in Iowa. IDPH reported 18 deaths and 374 new positive cases. That brings the statewide total to 14,049 cases and 336 deaths.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – NASCAR says it is cancelling its races this year at the Iowa Speedway because of the coronavirus. The Xfinity Series or Gander R-V and Outdoors Truck Series will not happen at the track in Newton this summer. The Iowa Speedway is still scheduled to host an Indycar doubleheader on July 17 and 18.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – At least 47 inmates and six staffers at the Polk County Jail have tested positive for COVID-19, more than double the number reported earlier in the week.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines City Council and the Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission had to end Thursday night’s Zoom meeting due to a cyber attack. KCCI-TV reports a spokesperson for the City’s office said there were “disruptive racist, sexist and pornographic messages” directed toward members of the commission.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Republican representatives are resisting Rep. Steve King’s efforts to be reassigned to congressional committees. In January 2019, King was removed from committees after remarks he made during a New York Times interview. He asked, “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?” Ohio Republican Representative Steve Stivers says, “as long as I am a member of the Steering Committee, I will not allow that type of person or that type of ideology to influence the legislation passed by congress.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health on Thursday released new statistics on COVID-19 in the state. IDPH reported 386 new positive COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths. That brings the statewide total to 13,675 positive cases and 318 deaths.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds is opening up more Iowa businesses. Reynolds’ new order takes effect at 5 a.m. Friday, lifting closures of barbershops, tattoo parlors, massage therapists and salons statewide. It also extends partial reopenings of restaurants, libraries and fitness centers to the entire state. Bars, casinos and theaters must remain closed until May 27.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa lawmakers plan to resume the legislative session June 3 after pausing for more than two months because of the spread of the coronavirus.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – University of Iowa officials say the institution is facing $70 million in losses because of the pandemic, and that the financial crisis could lead to staffing cuts.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released the latest information on COVID-19 in the state Wednesday. IDPH reported 377 new positive cases and 17 deaths. That brings the statewide total to 13,289 total positive cases and 306 deaths.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – On Wednesday morning Governor Kim Reynolds announced she is lifting more of the restrictions she put in place a month ago to stop the spread of COVID-19. Barbershops, salons and massage therapists will be allowed to re-open on Friday, May 15th. The governor is also allowing restaurants in all 99 counties to resume allowing limited dine-in service.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An unreleased report from the White House puts Des Moines on the map as one of the top ten hotbeds for COVID-19 in the country. NBC News reportedly obtained undisclosed data the White House is using to track rates of infection of the coronavirus. The report issued May 7 shows COVID-19 cases increasing by 1,467 from the previous seven days in Des Moines. That is a 94.3% increase. That ranks Des Moines eighth out of ten cities nationwide in increased rate of cases.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A man who owns a gym that is operating beyond the limits outlined in the governor’s public health emergency proclamation has been cited for allegedly violating that decree. Jason Bailey, 49, the owner of Custom Fitness, was issued a citation by Cedar Rapids Police for a department of health violation on Tuesday, May 12. The citation is a simple misdemeanor. Officers said they observed several people working out inside the gym on Tuesday, and that Bailey told them he was ignoring the proclamation from Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Des Moines, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Arts Festival will not return in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday the Des Moines Arts Festival Board announced it would no longer move forward with the festival scheduled for June 26th-28th. Organizers already say they plan to return on June 25th-27th, 2021.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released the latest numbers on the spread of COVID-19 in Iowa Tuesday. IDPH reported 539 new cases and 18 deaths. That brings the statewide total to 12,912 positive cases and 289 deaths.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Monday that she will follow a “modified quarantine” after meeting with Vice President Mike Pence and his staff last week. Reynolds flew to Washington, D.C. Wednesday to meet with Pence and President Donald Trump. On Friday, Pence held events in Iowa with the governor hours after learning that his press secretary tested positive for COVID-19. Pence, Reynolds and other officials chose not to wear masks during Friday’s visit.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids gym owner said he’s not afraid of facing charges or a fine from police by opening his gym back up because he argues Gov. Kim Reynolds’ public health emergency proclamation violates his constitutional rights. KCRG-TV reports Custom Fitness in Cedar Rapids is letting all of its members walk in and work out whenever they want after reopening Friday.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The remainder of the Iowa Wild’s season has been canceled. The American Hockey League announced Monday that the league’s Board of Governors voted to cancel the remainder of the regular season and Calder Cup Playoffs due to COVID-19 health concerns.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police have announced three arrests in a weekend shooting near Drake University. KCCI-TV reports an officer in the area witnessed gunfire from a vehicle and attempted to stop it. Police said the vehicle fled and a short pursuit began. Police said 18-year-old Braden Schaffer was found in the vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to a local hospital and remains hospitalized after undergoing surgery Sunday night.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released the latest statistics on COVID-19 in the state Monday. They reported 414 new cases and 6 deaths. That brings the statewide total to 12,373 positive cases and 271 deaths.

HARLAN, IA (IRN) – A Kansas man who asked a judge to allow him a trial by combat with Japanese swords in a child custody dispute with his Iowa ex-wife is sane, a court-ordered psychological evaluation has concluded. The Des Moines Register reports David Ostrom, of Paola, Kansas, asked the Iowa District Court in Shelby County to allow him to settle his child custody dispute with a duel. He summoned his ex-wife, Bridgette Ostrom, 38, of Harlan, to the battlefield, noting that her attorney could stand in her place if he wished. There, he said, he would “rend their souls from their corporeal bodies.”

DYERSVILLE, IA (IRN) – As more events continue to be postponed or canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, Major League Baseball has not made a decision regarding the future of their scheduled game at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville. The New York Yankees are expected to play the Chicago White Sox on August 13.

BLUE GRASS, IA (IRN) – If you’ve never been to a drive-in movie theater, now’s a really good time. The Blue Grass Drive-in in Blue Grass, Iowa is open again after being closed for over a month due to the coronavirus pandemic. The drive-in was able to open again under CDC guidelines on Saturday, May 9th.