WINNESHIEK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A tow truck driver was knocked to the ground while assisting a vehicle Wednesday after his truck was hit by a semi. KIMT-TV reports Bill’s Towing of Decorah was assisting a vehicle that went in the ditch. A semi lost control, slid off the roadway and hit the tow truck. The tow truck driver was knocked to the ground but is OK. ALTOONA (IRN) – A woman was found dead outside an Applebee’s restaurant in Altoona late Friday night. WHO-TV reports a caller said a woman in the parking lot had been shot. The shooter had left before police arrived. Officers found the body and, after an investigation, Des Moines police checked on a person of interest. That person was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. JOHNSON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a body found inside a burning vehicle Friday afternoon. KGAN-TV reports the name of the victim is not being released at this time, and an investigation is underway. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Longtime Iowa play-by-play radio sportscaster Gary Dolphin’s controversial comment likening a black Maryland basketball player to King Kong resulted in him being suspended for the rest of the season. Dolphin says he meant no offense. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo Community School District administrators and staff are scrambling to keep classes going after the roof collapsed on Lowell Elementary Wednesday. Fortunately, the roof collapsed over the course of a snow day, so no students or teachers were in the building at the time. KWWL-TV reports the school administration has identified a location to hold school until the roof is repaired, but is asking the public’s help in providing school supplies.

IOWA (IRN) – Thousands of Iowans are calling for Gov. Kim Reynolds to excuse school days missed during last month’s polar vortex. The Des Moines Register reports an online petition asking Reynolds to pardon students from making up cancellations of three bone-chilling days in late January had nearly 14,000 signatures Thursday afternoon. While the governor doesn’t have that power, Iowa state legislators do. That’s what’s happening in Michigan, where lawmakers are considering a bill to forgive snow days. IOWA (IRN) – Rep. Steve King has confirmed that he will run for a 10th term, despite controversies over his history of caustic remarks, including about race and immigration. The Kiron Republican has been criticized by national and state leaders of his own party, has been stripped of committee assignments in Congress and has drawn three primary challengers. In a Thursday taping of Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” program King said he has nothing to apologize for. MASON CITY, IA (IRN) – A Georgia man is in a northern Iowa jail for fraud. KIMT-TV reports he’s accused of tricking a Mason City woman out of $3,000. According to court documents, he pretended to be an agent from the United Nations diplomatic courier service and promised the woman he would deliver a box in exchange for the money. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Iowa hair stylists are at the forefront of spotting signs of domestic violence. WQAD-TV reports the relationship between stylists and clients offers a comfortable, safe place to talk. In December 2018, the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office sent salons across the state a pamphlet that shows stylists how to approach clients who may be dealing with abuse and how to get help. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – The World Championship Chili Cookoff is coming to Ankeny later this year, according to WHO-TV. Annually the chili championship brings in 10,000 people over the three-day event. It’s filled with chili cookoffs, craft beer, and live music. Ankeny anticipates an economic impact of $1.5 million. The World Championship Chili Cookoff is September 6th- 8th.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – The partial collapse of a roof has forced classes to be canceled at a Waterloo elementary school. Waterloo Community Schools Superintendent Jane Lindaman told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier that no one was injured when the roof section buckled Wednesday morning under the weight of snow at Lowell Elementary. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Bellevue man accused of trying to run over someone in front of a Dubuque church has reached a plea deal. KCRG-TV reports 35-year-old Eric Schmidt pleaded guilty to first degree criminal mischief and going armed with intent. In exchange, prosecutors dropped a charge of attempted murder. Schmidt was trying to run over a man with whom he had an ongoing dispute, but he ended up causing $10,0000 damage to the church instead. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two people were injured in a shooting early Wednesday morning near Grand View University in Des Moines after police said a possible drug deal went awry. KCCI-TV reports two victims, Travis Houston, of Ackworth, and Abby Freel, of Indianola, were shot in the torso and suffered non life-threatening injuries. LEHIGH, IA (IRN) – A Story City man suffered spinal injuries after being thrown from a snowmobile near the Webster County town of Lehigh. KCAU-TV reports Timothy Gerdes, 50, of Story City, was going 60 to 65 mph on the Des Moines River when he hit a three-foot-tall ice heave that was hidden by the snow. The snowmobile went airborne and he was ejected. Ice heaves are caused by freezing, thawing and re-freezing of river waters. IOWA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds hit her highest job approval rating yet in the new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll. Fifty-nine percent of Iowans approve of the job she’s doing. Sen. Joni Ernst’s approval rating has hit its highest point ever. Fifty-seven percent of Iowans say they approve of the job she’s doing — a 10 percentage-point increase since September.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Appeals court judge Christopher McDonald was named today as the first Asian American who will serve on the Iowa Supreme Court. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced she was naming McDonald, 44, of Des Moines, to the seven-member court on Wednesday morning in her formal office in the Iowa Capitol. McDonald, who was born in Thailand during the Vietnam War and whose mother is Vietnamese, will be the first minority to sit on the Iowa Supreme Court. He has an undergraduate degree from Grand View University and a law degree from the University of Iowa. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A shooting was reported in Cedar Rapids yesterday, resulting in one injury. KCRG-TV reports police responded to a report of shots fired, and while on scene, another report of a shooting victim in a parked car at a middle school came in. When officers arrived, they found a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Police are investigating. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds is dismissing criticism of her decision to schedule a special election for a state Senate district in the Cedar Falls area while UNI students are on spring break. KGAN-TV reports when asked if she knew students would be gone when she scheduled the election for March 19, the Republican governor responded, “It doesn’t really matter.” Reynolds says voters have plenty of time to request an absentee ballot. The special election will fill the seat vacated by Democratic Sen. Jeff Danielson, who resigned Thursday. SWISHER, IA (IRN) – People who attended a Johnson County fundraiser became ill Saturday. The Swisher’s Mens Club’s sold out “Wild Game Feed” offered the following food options: deer Stir Fry, Turkey nuts, Hog nuts, Elk Meatloaf, Rabbit, Raccoon, Pheasant Alfredo, two kinds of Turtle, Goose, Smoked Turkey, Fish, and Cheesy Potatoes. Public health officials are investigating. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Drake men’s basketball team is alone atop the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bulldogs beat Bradley 68-77 Tuesday night to improve to 10-5 in conference play.

CONRAD, IA (IRN) – Two University of Northern Iowa students were killed when their car collided with a semi-trailer Sunday. KCCI-TV reports the collision occurred around shortly after noon on Sunday, a few miles north of Conrad on Iowa Highway 14. The car went out of control on the snow- and ice-covered roadway and crossed into the path of the southbound semi. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s fetal heartbeat law that was struck down in court last month will not be appealed by Gov. Kim Reynolds. Judge Michael Huppert ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and the Emma Goldman Clinic, stating that the law violates the Iowa Constitution. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Former Iowa candidate for governor Fred Hubbell has been injured in a bicycle accident in Arizona. KCAU-TV reports Hubbell was struck by a car at an intersection in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he has a home. Hubbell, who is 67, has undergone surgeries for a fractured pelvis but the injuries are not life-threatening. DECORAH, IA (IRN) – Decorah city officials have started what they call “low level” talks about combining the Decorah Police Department and the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office. KCRG-TV reports city manager Chad Bird says the consolidation would allow for possible financial savings and involve combining positions. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Law enforcement officials are giving a friendly reminder to motorists in preparation for more snowfall this week, according to WHO-TV. It’s simple; wipe off all the snow on the car before driving off. The Iowa State Patrol says all windows should be clear of snow, as it could create hazards for not only the person behind the wheel but also for others on the road. If pulled over, drivers could be given a $50 fine for obstruction of vision.