DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in December. The rate was down from November’s 3.7% rate and reflected that 5,200 more people found jobs, according to Iowa Workforce Development. The percentage of Iowans in the labor force also increased slightly.vIowa’s rate is ranked 20th nationally. BONDURANT, IA (IRN) – Polk County authorities are calling the death of a woman at an assisted living facility in Bondurant “suspicious.” On Friday, a woman staying at the Courtyard Estates at Hawthorne Crossing, an assisted living facility for people with dementia, was found outside. The low temperature that morning was -9 degrees. Assisted living programs for people with dementia are required to have an operating alarm system on each exit door. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – The FBI continues to make arrests and charge people in connection with last January 6th’s storming of the Capitol by supporters of President Trump, and that now includes a Sioux City man. Agents arrested Kenneth Rader last week on charges of illegally entering a restricted building, disrupting government business, disorderly conduct and picketing in the Capitol. IOWA (IRN) – MidAmerican Energy has announced plans to build a $3.9 billion renewable energy project in Iowa. The project, known as “Wind PRIME,” would provide energy to more than 700,000 customers. It’s the next step of MidAmerican’s goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. 88% of the energy supplied to customers now comes from renewable sources. The Wind PRIME project will move it to 100%. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – For the first time, the Redbull Soapbox Race will be heading to Des Moines. On June 18th, 2022 The Red Bull Soapbox Race will challenge “the most fearless, fun-loving and foolhardy teams to prototype and create the wackiest of rides.” The course will run along East Walnut Street just south of the Iowa Capitol Building.

VINTON, IA (IRN) – Two teens are accused of burglarizing a Vinton convenience store twice in two days. Police say security cameras showed two people taking money from the registers and other merchandise Saturday morning at John’s Qwik Shop. Officers arrested the teens after determining they burglarized the same place Friday. Police found money and merchandise at a home where they arrested the suspects. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Murder charges have been filed months after a Des Moines man died after a fight. Tony Hyde has been charged with willful injury in the death of 62-year-old Timothy Thacker on Sep. 21 of last year. Both were homeless, and the fight was apparently over a homeless camp. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two Des Moines men have been charged with vehicular homicide for allegedly drag racing with a man who crashed and died last October. Brady Clausi, 23, and Michael Crabb, 35, were drag racing with 37-year-old Kyle Houge on Oct. 19, 2021, when Houge crashed his motorcycle. Houge died from his injuries. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – One person was killed in a fire at a Cedar Rapids mobile home park on Sunday. When firefighters arrived, smoke and flames were coming from the roof of the home. Mary Jo Carlson, 63, died at the scene from her injuries. CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – Girls wrestling will officially be a high school sport in Iowa. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union announced Saturday they will sanction the sport starting the 2022-2023 school year. The decision to include the increasingly popular sport was made at the union’s January 12 meeting of its board of directors, making it the 34th state to do so. The announcement was made on Saturday evening, during the fourth girls state wrestling tournament at Xtream Arena.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Murder charges have been filed months after a Des Moines man died. Tony Hyde has been charged with willful injury in the death of 62-year-old Timothy Thacker on Sep. 21 of last year. Both were homeless, and the fight was apparently over a homeless camp. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The popular Immersive Van Gogh experience could be coming to Des Moines! A new website by the group putting on the touring exhibit says it is coming to Des Moines, but has not yet said where in the city or when the exhibit will be held. Projections bring Van Gogh’s artwork to life with music and animated scenes. CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – Girls wrestling will officially be a high school sport in Iowa. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union announced Saturday evening they will sanction the sport starting the 2022-2023 school year. The decision to include the increasingly popular sport was made at the union’s January 12 meeting of its board of directors, making it the 34th state to do so. The announcement was made on Saturday evening, during the fourth girls state wrestling tournament at Xtream Arena. IOWA (IRN) – More rounds of light snow will move over Iowa from this afternoon through Monday afternoon. The combined total of 2 to 3 periods will result in about 1 to 2 inches over the northeast half of the state. Monday morning will be a period of impact for travelers in the north during the Monday morning commute – when the snow will be at its peak. Southern Iowa won’t get much snow.

STORM LAKE, IA (IRN) – A child in Storm Lake was accidentally shot by an unsecured handgun. The 9-year-old child received a gunshot wound to the lower body. Another child living in the home found the handgun and shot it at the victim. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A man from Anthon Iowa who took sexually explicit photographs of a thirteen-year-old victim and distributed the photographs to an undercover officer online, was sentenced on Friday to more than 29 years in federal prison. 40-year-old Joshua Baird received the prison term after a guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A report from the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals said a Marion nursing home hid allegations of abuse and is facing staff issues resulting in food and insulin being delayed for people. The report, which is 112 pages from a visit in December 2021, said Silver Oak Nursing and Rehabilitation Center’s building administrator told a state investigator she was told by the Vice President of Clinical Operation to not report an allegation of abuse to the Department of Inspection and Appeals. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines has a new cancer treatment center. The Deming Cancer Center is now open at MercyOne’s downtown campus. It will offer patient-centered care for Iowans using some of the latest technology. It’s named in honor of Radiation Oncologist Doctor Richard Deming. He says it’s humbling to share this $16 million dollar facility with Central Iowa.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A reserve officer with the Cedar Rapids police department will not face criminal charges for a December incident in which he shot at a suspect who had hit him with a vehicle. Investigators concluded it was reasonable for Reserve Officer Scott Fruehling to use deadly force under Iowa law because he believed it was necessary to avoid injury or risk to his life. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police have identified the man and woman found dead yesterday in a West Des Moines home as Dana Fortungo and Justine Fortungo. Investigators say it appears to be a murder-suicide, but didn’t say who may have killed the other. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A former Cedar Rapids business owner who withheld federal taxes from his employees’ paychecks but didn’t forward the money to the IRS was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in federal prison. 57-year-old Mark Warm admitted that from 2013 through 2019, he was responsible for withholding income taxes from the pay of Warm Trucking employees and was responsible for forwarding those withholdings to the IRS. He pocketed the funds instead. IOWA (IRN) – Congresswoman Ashley Hinson on Wednesday joined a bipartisan announcement welcoming $829 million in funding for a Mississippi River dam and lock project, just months after she voted against the bill that funds the project. Before its passage, Hinson referred to the bill as a “Socialist spending spree.” Now she’s taking credit for it. MINNEAPOLIS, MN (IRN) – Caitlin Clark recorded her second straight triple-double, setting a Big Ten record with her fourth of the season as No. 25 Iowa rolled to a 105-49 victory over the Golden Gophers. Clark had 35 points, 13 rebounds and 14 assists for the first back-to-back triple-doubles in conference history, helping the Hawkeyes record their biggest win ever against a conference opponent. It was the fifth career double-double for the sophomore.