DES MOINES, IA (IR) – The Iowa Department of Public Health and the State Hygienic Lab confirm detection of the first case of the COVID-19 variant, Omicron, in an Iowa resident. The case involves an unvaccinated individual under the age of 18 who resides in Black Hawk County. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A bondsman has been accused of offering female inmates bail in exchange for sex. On Wednesday, the Iowa Insurance Division released details into one of their most recent investigations that included charges against bail bondsman David Ellis. Ellis, who owns Always Affordable Bail Bonds in Des Moines, faces allegations of fraud, theft and prostitution. IOWA FALLS, IA (IRN) – A deadly encounter between police and a man reportedly stalking a woman he used to date led Iowa Falls schools and Ellsworth Community College to cancel classes Wednesday. Officers saw the man run his vehicle into the woman’s car. Police ordered the man to get out of his vehicle. He refused and displayed a shotgun and tried to flee. That’s when police shot and killed him. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police have identified the man who was killed when he and a police officer were struck by a vehicle Monday night. Donald Hill, 31, of Des Moines died Tuesday. Hill allegedly fled on foot from a traffic stop on the city’s south side on Monday. Senior Police Officer Curt Brass gave chase. The two men struggled in the roadway where they were struck by a vehicle. Brass remains hospitalized with serious injuries but is expected to survive. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – 100 nurses and respiratory therapists are being contracted by the state to support hospitals that provide one, two and three trauma level care. Federal funding will help 17 facilities around the state. AMES, IA (IRN) -The Joens sisters, Ashley and Aubrey, each had a double-double for the second game in a row and No. 15 Iowa State edged No. 12 Iowa 77-70 to end a five-game losing streak in the series. The game, a first when both were ranked in the top 15, wasn’t decided until Ashley Joens made three of four free throws in the final 15 seconds.

Knoxville–please don’t read second story–other stations, skip whatever DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Cubs announced early Wednesday that the team has been sold to Diamond Baseball Holdings. DBH is a subsidiary of the global sports and entertainment company Endeavor. The team will remain an MLB affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. KNOXVILLE, IA (IRN) – Two Melcher-Dallas teens were killed in a one vehicle crash southwest of Knoxville last night shortly before 9:00 pm. The victims were 16-year-old Grace DeHeer and 16-year-old Angelina Clark. A 1994 Ford Taurus driven by DeHeer was northbound on 80th Avenue when it crested a hill and rolled, landing on its top. Both were ejected. They were pronounced dead at the scene. Neither teen was wearing a seatbelt. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Jaquez Billy Lamar Pease has pleaded guilty to reckless use of a firearm and assault while using or displaying a dangerous weapon in connection to the shooting that left 18-year-old Robert W. Powell-Moore dead. Police charged both Pease and another teenager with shooting and killing Robert Powell-Moore during a fight in Dubuque in July. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines cleaning company must pay a penalty for falsely advertising long-term protection against COVID-19. Heritage Building Maintenance must pay a $75,000 penalty and refunds to customers after the Attorney General’s Office said that the company falsely claimed its cleaning process would protect against transmission of COVID-19 on surfaces. Heritage sold their cleaning process to about 65 Iowa customers with more than 200 locations or buildings in Des Moines, including schools and medical facilities. IOWA (IRN) – State Auditor Rob Sand announced Tuesday that he will run for re-election in 2022 as State Auditor. The Decorah Democrat had been considered by some as a potential challenger for Governor Kim Reynolds on the 2022 ballot. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is also running for re-election. The Republican was appointed to the position in 2018 after Mike Northey left to serve Donald Trump’s administration. Naig won election in fall of 2022.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A central Iowa nursing home has landed on a list of the nation’s worst care facilities. QHC Fort Dodge Villa was cited in October for a number of federal and state violations. The care center has been fined more than $685,000, but it could be increased if the facility fails to comply with federal regulations. IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health is reporting a dramatic jump in the number of positive COVID-19 tests reported in the state over the last seven days. There have been 12,254 positive tests over the last week. That’s up by 2,548 from the numbers reported on Friday. IOWA (IRN) – Masks will continue to be required in Iowa courtrooms and some proceedings may continue to be held via teleconference under orders issued by the Iowa Supreme Court chief justice. The requirement ordered by Chief Justice Susan Christensen on Monday includes all counties and everyone regardless of vaccination status. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines police officer and a suspect were hit by a car during a foot chase Monday night. Both were hospitalized last night in serious condition. The suspect died this morning. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds on Monday ordered all flags in Iowa to be flown at half-staff in honor of Senator Bob Dole, who died on Sunday at 98. Reynolds’ order is in conjunction with President Joe Biden’s and will be in effect through sunset on Thursday. Dole was a Republican Senator representing Kansas in Congress for 35 years. He was a World War II veteran, where he suffered and overcame serious injuries and was also a three-time presidential candidate.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police say a man is in custody after a string of overnight arson fires. At least seven fire incidents are under investigation. Police said 32-year-old Andrew Anthony, of Des Moines, is charged with one count of second-degree arson and one count of possession of methamphetamine. Additional charges are expected. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department arrested a 17-year-old for attempted murder in a shooting that injured a man at a bar Thursday night. A 46-year-old Des Moines man was shot outside the Maingate Bar and Grill near the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The 17-year-old Des Moines male was involved in an argument with a female in the parking lot of the bar. The 46-year-old man intervened and attempted to defuse the dispute. The 17-year-old shot him. ONAWA, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City man has been sentenced to 54 years in prison for running over his friend and firing shots at the victim’s girlfriend on an Iowa interstate last December. Jayme Powell, 40, ran over Richard Polak, of Omaha, while he rode his motorcycle on Interstate 29 after the two had a fight earlier that night. Prior to hitting Polak, Powell shot at Polak’s girlfriend who was driving with a baby in her vehicle. CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – A former Waterloo man was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after a woman he sold heroin to died of an overdose. Forty-year-old Eric DeAngelo Griggs sold heroin to a Cedar Falls woman in 2018. She was found dead the following morning. An autopsy determined she died of heroin intoxication. ORLANDO, FL (IRN) – Orlando, Florida is about to get a wave of Iowans flooding in for two bowl games. No. 15 Iowa will face No. 22 Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Saturday, Jan. 1. Iowa State University will also be in Orlando earlier in the week. Iowa State will face No. 19 Clemson on Wednesday, Dec. 29 at Camping World Stadium.

ONAWA, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City man has been sentenced to 54 years in prison for running over his friend and firing shots at the victim’s girlfriend on an Iowa interstate last December. Jayme Powell, 40, ran over Richard Polak, of Omaha, while he rode his motorcycle on Interstate 29 after the two had a fight earlier that night in Sioux City. Prior to hitting Polak, Powell shot at Polak’s girlfriend who was driving with a baby in her vehicle. MARION COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Iowa DNR conservation officers responded to a fatal hunting incident on Saturday near Lake Red Rock in Marion County. The incident happened at the Red Rock Wildlife Management Area on the south of Lake Red Rock, north of Knoxville. A hunter was fatally struck during a deer drive by a round believed to be fired from a member of a large hunting party. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Law enforcement officials are investigating an incident involving multiple gunshots being fired on Sunday morning in Iowa City. At around 1:30 a.m., the University of Iowa Department of Public Safety issued a Hawk Alert for a report of multiple shots that were fired near the Old Capitol parking ramp. INDIANAPOLIS, IN (IRN) – No. 2 Michigan grabbed an early 14-0 lead and never looked back, dominating No. 13 Iowa 42-3 Saturday night to win the Big Ten Championship. The win denies the Hawkeyes a spot at the Rose Bowl and ensures the Wolverines one of the four spots in the College Football Playoff.