Author: Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An adult and a child were killed in a house fire in Des Moines on Sunday. WHO-TV reports when firefighters arrived they were met with heavy smoke and flames shooting out of the home. It took firefighters about 15 minutes to extinguish the fire. The names and ages of the victims have not been released. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Sunday night she is suggesting schools close for at least four weeks. She also announced four new cases of COVID-19 in Iowa, bringing the total to 22 infected people. Three of the new cases are between the ages 41-60 years old and one is a child between 0-18 years old. Counties affected include Polk, Dallas, Johnson, Allamakee, Carroll, Harrison and Pottawattamie.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Spring sports, music, and speech activities for Iowa high schoolers are being prohibited until classes resume. A statement was issued today on behalf of the Iowa High School Athletic Association, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, Iowa High School Athletic Association, Iowa High School Music Association, and the Iowa High School Speech Association.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Legislature has suspended its session for 30 days in response to COVID-19.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie issued a state of emergency for the city of Des Moines due to concerns over the coronavirus. In this proclamation, he prohibited the gathering of more than 250 people on public property. Any permits given by the city to gather in such crowds are now rescinded.

IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Supreme Court issued an order Saturday postponing most criminal and civil jury trials to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Criminal jury trials will be postponed until April 20 and civil jury trials until May 4, unless the jury already has been sworn in.

JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – A new confirmed case of the coronavirus was found in Dallas County.
Gov. Kim Reynolds made the announcement during a press conference in Johnston Saturday. The newly infected individual is age 61 to 80 and did not travel to an infected area. This brings the total of infected Iowans to 18. It also means we now have community spread coronavirus in the state–not just travel related.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Central Iowa, organizers of Des Moines’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade, have decided to continue the parade as scheduled over the objections of the Mayor. Many other St. Patrick’s Day celebrations have been canceled, such as those in Chicago, Boston, Denver, Philadelphia and Seattle. The parade is scheduled for 8 a.m. Tuesday.

IOWA — Due to the worldwide spread of COVID-19, the Board of Regents has requested that Iowa’s public universities recall faculty, staff and students who are currently outside the United States. This includes faculty, staff and students from Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa. The board is giving each university’s president the flexibility to make exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Supreme Court issued an order Saturday postponing most criminal and civil jury trials to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Criminal jury trials will be postponed until April 20 and civil jury trials until May 4, unless the jury already has been sworn in.

JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – There are now 17 presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Iowa. This is one more than Thursday. The person, from Harrison County, tested positive while in Nebraska. This person was not a part of the Egyptian cruise that impacted 15 of the Iowans infected, but the person did travel recently. They are now recovering in isolation. The counties impacted are now Harrison, Johnson, Carroll and Pottawattamie.

POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Authorities have arrested two suspects in connection with an attempted robbery of an armored vehicle in Waterloo that ended in gunfire and left one suspect dead. On Thursday, Waterloo Police in cooperation with the Des Moines Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, Urbandale Police and the FBI arrested Justina L. Davis, 28, of Urbandale and Kevin Cruz Soliveras, 29, of Evansdale, without incident in the Des Moines Metro Area.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – In a new report, the National Fire Protection Agency says while the number of women in the U.S. fire service is increasing, females still make up less than ten percent of the industry. WHO-TV reports Amy Montgomery, the first female District Chief in Des Moines is encouraging more women to apply.

IOWA (IRN) – By an almost 2-to-1 margin, Iowans say they approve of the state’s introduction of sports betting, according to a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll. Fifty-nine percent of respondents said they are in favor of the law signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds last May that allowed wagers to be taken on a majority of domestic college and professional sporting events, along with select international competitions. Just 30% say they oppose it, with the remaining 11% saying they were unsure.

JOHNSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Marion woman died in a crash early this morning on I-80 in Johnson County. Troopers say a 2004 Chevy Impala was partially stopped in the roadway when it was hit by a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The force sent the Impala into the median and rolled on its side. The Jeep came to rest in a ditch. Jennifer Ferguson, 48, of Marion. She wasn’t wearing her seatbelt. The driver of the Jeep went to the hospital.

IOWA (IRN) – There are now 17 presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Iowa. This is one more than Thursday. The person, from Harrison County, tested positive while in Nebraska. This person was not a part of the Egyptian cruise that impacted 15 of the Iowans infected, but the person did travel recently. They are now recovering in isolation. The counties impacted are now Harrison, Johnson, Carroll and Pottawattamie.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Public Schools, Iowa’s largest school district, will cancel all classes and activities for at least 17 days starting this evening.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa High School Athletic Association will be restricting fans for the 2020 State Basketball Tournament due to the coronavirus. Only team members, game officials, credentialed media members, essential tournament workers, and select school spectators will be allowed inside the arena. Each school will be allowed 100 total entrees, free of charge.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A group of LGBTQ+ students were removed from the Iowa Capitol building yesterday after using the restrooms that matched their gender identity, according to LGBTQ+ advocacy group One Iowa. All members of the group were escorted out of the building by troopers.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – There are now 14 cases of the coronavirus in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Health says the case is an adult between 61 and 80 years old from Johnson County. The new individual was on the same Egyptian cruise as most of the other positive cases. Johnson County now has 13 confirmed cases, and Pottawattamie County has one.

DES MOINES, IOWA (IRN) – Supplies like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and wipes have been flying off the shelves in stores across the state. The Polk County Health Department says this type of hoarding is unnecessary, and there is no need to panic.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The state health infrastructure will have more monetary resources after an infusion of cash from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Iowa will be receiving over $6 million dollars from the CDC to help state and local agencies’ response to the spread of the coronavirus.

USA (IRN) – The Big Ten Conference and Big 12 Conference announced Wednesday they will not be allowing fans to attend games starting today. Only student-athletes, coaches, event staff, essential team and conference staff, TV network partners, credentialed media and immediate family members of the participating teams will be allowed to view competitions. Pep bands, cheerleaders and dance teams are not allowed to go to the games.