Category: State News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s state auditor on Tuesday again called for Gov. Kim Reynolds to return nearly $450,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds that were used to pay for 21 governor’s office staff members for three months in 2020. Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, released a new report that repeated his recommendation from October 2020 and last December that the funds were improperly used and should be returned. Governor Reynolds says the spending was allowed.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – After President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds delivered the Republican response. Reynolds has endeared herself to Iowa’s increasingly GOP-leaning electorate and national Republican leaders by opposing much of the Biden administration’s pandemic policy.

DALLAS COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Five area fire departments battled a blaze at a home in rural Woodward Tuesday morning. The fire broke out around 6:00 a.m. and the home was quickly engulfed in flames. All four family members were able to make it out of the home safely.
The fire was discovered by the father, who had left for work but turned around because he forgot to let out the chickens. He could see the flames as he approached home and woke his family up to evacuate.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Masks will not be required in Iowa City school buildings, on campuses, or on school buses, the district announced Tuesday, given new CDC guidance.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – University of Iowa women’s basketball superstar Caitlin Clark has added the first entry of what should be a long list of postseason honors – Big Ten Conference Player of the Year. The Hawkeye sophomore leads the conference – and the nation – in assists, points and triple-doubles. Clark was also named a unanimous first team member of the all-conference teams from both the coaches and media.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The West Des Moines Police Department used Ring security video to help them track down a suspect after shots were fired into an apartment building. Officers arrested a 16-year-old boy and charged him with one count of attempted murder.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district will resign in June after a decade-long tenure, which included a standoff with Governor Kim Reynolds over coronavirus protections that led to his public reprimand. Thomas Ahart said Monday that he will quit his position leading the 31,000-student district on June 30th. He expressed satisfaction about accomplishments during his 10 years as superintendent but acknowledged the job at times was “frustrating and exhausting.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Midwest Freedom Convoy to Washington, D.C., is going to roll through Iowa. The effort started in January in Canada. Canadian truckers convoyed across the country, blocking roads, and bridges, hoping to push lawmakers to eliminate COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The Midwest Freedom Convoy to D.C. will start in Sioux City on Saturday at 4 a.m., stopping for breakfast in Altoona before heading east on I-80 about 9 a.m.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s women’s basketball team had a huge week and jumped up nine spots to No. 12 in the Associated Press women’s Top 25 basketball poll. The Hawkeyes won a share of the Big Ten regular-season championship by beating then No. 10 Indiana, Rutgers and No. 6 Michigan last week. It’s Iowa’s first regular-season crown since 2008.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division to remove Russian produced alcoholic liquor products from its wholesale purchase list today. Iowa is one of 17 states that controls the wholesale liquor of alcoholic beverages. The Governor’s office called the move a show of “solidarity with the brave people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom against Putin’s tyranny.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man is charged with First Degree Murder after a woman was found dead at an apartment complex Saturday morning. A man at the scene, 33-year-old Clarence Edward Reed, was arrested and is charged with First Degree Murder. The victim was a 35-year-old Des Moines resident.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Ankeny police are on the hunt for two people who exchanged gunfire with officers Saturday night. Police were called to Prairie Point Apartments in reference to a large fight and reports of gunshots being fired. Officers spotted a white car leaving the area with no lights on and initiated a traffic stop. When the car stopped, two people jumped out of the car and began shooting at officers while running away into the woods. Police exchanged gunfire, but were unable to find the suspects. Two passengers who remained in the car were questioned.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – No. 21 Iowa crushed No. 6 Michigan 104-80 in women’s basketball on Sunday to claim a share of the Big Ten regular-season title for the first time since 2008. Iowa will split the title with No. 17 Ohio State. Caitlin Clark put on the performance worthy of a championship with 38 points, 11 assists and six rebounds. It’s her 14th double-double of the season and 23rd of her career.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Granny Basketball League season tipped off on Saturday in Cedar Rapids with a Jamboree featuring teams from all across Iowa. The league was originally founded in 2005 in Lansing, and has quickly spread to 40 teams in 10 states. The league is inspired by 1920s women’s basketball with similar rules and dress requirements such as requiring players to wear bloomers and no running or jumping.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man is charged with First Degree Murder after a woman was found dead at an apartment complex early Saturday morning. A man at the scene, 33-year-old Clarence Edward Reed, was arrested and is charged with First Degree Murder. Police are not releasing the victim’s name at this time but do say she was a 35-year-old Des Moines resident.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Ankeny police are on the hunt for two people who exchanged gunfire with officers Saturday night. Police were called to Prairie Point Apartments in reference to a large fight and reports of gunshots being fired. Officers spotted a white car leaving the area with no lights on and initiated a traffic stop. When the car stopped, two people jumped out of the car and began shooting at officers while running away into the woods. Police exchanged gunfire, but were unable to find the suspects. Two passengers who remained in the car were questioned.

MARSHALLTOWN, IA (IRN) – The Marshalltown Community School District is in need of over 100 staff members. Marshalltown is not alone. According to data from Iowa Workforce Development, the state had nearly 40,000 employees in educational services in February of 2020 before the pandemic hit. The latest numbers show employment dropped to 36,000 this past December.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Granny Basketball League season tipped off on Saturday in Cedar Rapids with a Jamboree featuring teams from all across Iowa. The league was originally founded in 2005 in Lansing, and has quickly spread to 40 teams in 10 states. The league is inspired by 1920s women’s basketball with similar rules and dress requirements such as requiring players to wear bloomers and no running or jumping.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – Investigators in Iowa used genealogical data to link the 1982 fatal stabbing of a woman to an Illinois trucker who was found shot to death in a shallow grave months later. Council Bluffs police believe Thomas O. Freeman killed 32-year-old Lee Rotatori at a local hotel in June of 1982.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo Police are investigating a stabbing that happened near a convenience store Thursday morning. A man was stabbed in the stomach. Police found the knife used in the stabbing in the street.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – The conflict in Ukraine has US officials on high alert for Russian cyberattacks. Pratum, a company headquartered in Ankeny, is helping businesses defend themselves online. Pratum Chief Technology Officer Steve Healey says cyberattacks hit businesses on a daily basis from all around the world. Healy adds cyberattacks hitting Iowa have a low probability, but if they do, they could have devastating consequences.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team will play before a sold out home crowd for the first time since the 80s on Sunday as they look to secure a share of the Big Ten title heading into the conference tournament. The #21 Hawkeyes will welcome the #6 Michigan Wolverines to Carver-Hawkeye on Sunday. It’s the first women’s game to sell out at Carver-Hawkeye since January 31st, 1988.