Category: State News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – State and federal officials said Friday that Iowa’s third case of bird flu has been identified in a flock of about 919,000 egg-laying chickens in the southwestern part of the state. The latest outbreak in Taylor County is the first case of avian influenza in Iowa this year in an egg-laying facility. The previous Iowa cases were a small outbreak among an outdoor flock of ducks and chickens in western Iowa on March 1 and in a flock of 50,000 turkeys in northwest Iowa on March 6.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – More than 100 students at Central Academy walked out Friday afternoon in protest of the state’s new law banning transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports at the K-12 and college levels. The students marched several blocks up Grand Avenue to the Governor’s Mansion, chanting and holding signs supporting transgender rights.

SPENCER, IA (IRN) – Staff at the Spencer Hospital in Spencer, Iowa, have loaded a van of medical supplies to send to Ukraine, including items for trauma care, surgery, and orthopedic treatment. Employees from the hospital’s supply chain and plant ops teams gathered the supplies and took them to Red Oak. From there, the supplies will be shipped.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Just 4 years after Maddie Poppie won American Idol, another Iowa native is stepping up and competing on the show. Haley Slaton from Cedar Rapids auditioned in front of Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie on the 20th season of the singing competition reality show. Her audition airs Sunday, March 20th. Wish her good luck.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A West Des Moines man is in jail after being charged with two counts of child endangerment. Antoine Scott allegedly locked a child in a bedroom and left him in filthy conditions. Police found used diapers, alcohol bottles, and soiled child’s clothing in the room. Police say the child also suffered injuries to his head, face and mouth. Scott is being held in the Polk County Jail without bond.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A fire started at Lost Island Theme Park in Waterloo last night. The fire is in the new amusement park section that is scheduled to open in May or June of this year.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A state panel responsible for tracking Iowa revenue trends says growth continues at a good pace but that tax changes signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds last week will reverse that trend beginning next year. The Revenue Estimating Conference said Thursday that state revenue will grow 4.3% this year, but will fall 0.2% next year. The revenue decline is due to the estimated loss of $236 million in tax revenue.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa City Community School District is considering a four-day school week all year round.The school board discussed it at a meeting on Tuesday, with the superintendent presenting two draft calendars. They showed a plan where school days would generally run Monday through Thursday. The calendar would include extended breaks throughout the year, including several weeks off in the summer. The superintendent said the new model could address the “summer slide,” and help retain teachers.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – After Monday’s tragic shooting, classes at East High School have been canceled for the week. But many students from schools across the metro are showing their support. Thursday was Scarlet Day. As a sign of solidarity, students and staff from across Des Moines and beyond wore red and black in support of East High School.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds announced her re-election bid last night in Des Moines. Recent polling shows Reynolds leading her Democratic challenger Deidre Dejear by eight percentage points.

STORY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A teenager is facing felony charges for allegedly setting three fires in the town of Maxwell oover the last two months. The suspect is a 17-year-old. The teen was arrested after a school bus was set on fire at Collins-Maxwell High School, and there were two fires set at a Casey’s location in Maxwell last month.

POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The National Weather Service says a technical problem caused severe weather warnings in Iowa on Saturday to be delayed by minutes. They say the backlog was traced to a “damaged fiber optic cable” at a network hub in Texas.

OMAHA, NE (IRN) – Ron Stander, whose fight against unbeaten world heavyweight champion Joe Frazier in 1972 was the highlight of his 13-year career, has died of complications of diabetes at his home near Omaha. He was 77. Stander was known as the “Bluffs Butcher,” a nod to both his hometown of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and his aggressive, brawling style. He was 38-21-3 in a professional career that spanned the years 1969-82.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds is holding a special event tonight. She’s expected to officially announce her reelection campaign for governor. Her office has been saying for months that the decision would come in the spring. The event is at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in the Elwell Family Food Center. Doors open at 5 p.m., and you need to RSVP.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A man who attempted to carjack a vehicle and have a witness killed pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday. 39-year-old Christopher Daniel Taylor admitted that in 2020 he tried to steal a car from another person and displayed a firearm while doing it. He also admitted to attempting to have a witness killed. He faces a minimum of seven years in prison.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The White House has issued a response after a shooting took place outside of East High School in Des Moines. The victim in the shooting was 15-year-old Jose David Lopez. Six juveniles have been charged with murder. President Biden offered condolences to the family and community, praised the first responders involved, and condemned gun violence.

WAYLAND, IA (IRN) – The Cardinal Community School District in Eldon recently approved a 4 day school week for the upcoming year. WACO community school district switched to a 4 day week in 2013. The schools have found that the model is helping them recruit teachers during the teacher shortage.

WINTERSET, IA (IRN) – After days of devastation and heartbreak in Winterset, the first responders who worked through the aftermath of the tornado were able to celebrate as they escorted the boys’ basketball team to the state tournament. Before the community celebrated, they held a moment of silence for those who lost their homes and their loved ones. Winterset advanced in the tournament by beating Marion in overtime.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Six teenagers have been charged, each with one count of first degree murder and two counts of attempted murder, after a fatal, drive-by shooting on Monday outside outside of East High School in Des Moines. Three teenage victims had been hit by the gunfire. A 15-year-old boy died at the hospital from his injuries. The other two victims, a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old girl, remain hospitalized. The boy that died was not a student at East High School, but both of the teen girls are. On Tuesday afternoon, Des Moines police said the victim in the shooting was 15-year-old Jose David Lopez, of Des Moines.

JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – A man who was stabbed Monday night at a Sonic restaurant in Johnston has died from his injuries and a suspect has been charged. 55-year-old Spencer Antowyn Pierce, of Des Moines, was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree burglary with bodily injury. Pierce was convicted of first-degree murder in the past, but his conviction in a 2013 homicide was thrown out by the Iowa Court of Appeals, citing lack of evidence.

WAUCOMA, IA (IRN) – First responders were called to a home in Waucoma in Fayette County last Thursday for a report of carbon monoxide exposure. Three people were transported to a local hospital, and one man died at the scene. They had been running a generator in the basement without proper ventilation.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The National Weather Service has completed a survey of tornado damage in three Iowa counties. A single EF4 tornado touched down in Madison County and brought six deaths and extreme damage to areas near Winterset. The tornado continued into Warren County where several homes were damaged or destroyed near Carlisle. Homes were also damaged in southeastern Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, and Runnells, as the tornado continued past Newton until it weakened.

MADISON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa family is calling their father a hero. Rodney Clark of Madison County saved his wife’s life during Saturday’s tornado outbreak. The EF-4 twister slammed their house, sending the couple airborne for 100 feet before they landed in a pile of rubble. Rodney lay on top of his wife Judy in the bathtub to shield her from the impact. Rodney and Judy had a life full of joy. They loved dancing and riding horses…and were never apart.