IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Transportation reports there has been an increase in vehicles hitting plows and state patrol vehicles. Between the DOT and the Iowa State Patrol, 63 vehicles have been hit on Iowa roads this year. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Police have arrested an Iowa City landlord, accusing her of breaking into an apartment to forcibly remove a tenant and hitting her with a baseball bat. Police say 67-year-old Suzanne Dashner and three men, all armed with baseball bats and a 2-by-2 board, broke into the apartment as the tenant hid in a bedroom and called 911. Dashner and the men kicked open the woman’s bedroom door and threatened her, hitting her on the leg with a baseball bat. Dashner faces up to 30 years in prison. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A California man faces a murder charge for a case from 2011 in Cedar Rapids. Mykel Roberts, 29, from Modesto, allegedly shot Dexter Meeks in June 2011. Andrew Meeks and his brother Dexter were sitting on the porch of an apartment building when Roberts allegedly stopped in the street and began shooting a handgun at them. Andrew was able to get inside the building, but Dexter was struck in the head by a gunshot and killed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – For the first time since July, Iowa’s hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients are under 200. The Iowa Department of Public Health reports there are 196 hospitalized patients suffering from the coronavirus. IOWA (IRN) – Two young women are making history as the first female Eagle Scouts in Iowa. Angelina Hemphill,16, of Ankeny and Hannah Massey, 15, of Ottumwa join 1,000 young women in the national organization’s inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man faces arson and assault charges in a domestic fight that happened overnight at a motel in Des Moines. When officers arrived at the Hawkeye Motel, they found one of the rooms on fire and a female outside the room with several stab wounds. Both the victim and suspect had reportedly been smoking meth when the suspect began stabbing the victim and choking her. ELK RUN HEIGHTS, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating after a family in the Black Hawk County town of Elk Run Heights woke up to burglars inside their home. A woman told police that she and her three small children were sleeping when three suspects forced their way into the home. The suspects demanded the woman open a safe and left with an unknown number of guns. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – School officials could lose their job if they violate COVID-19 reopening orders. Sen. Amy Sinclair, a Republican from Wayne County, introduced Senate Study 1213, which calls for penalties for superintendents and elected school board members. Superintendents could have their license revoked and school board members could be removed from their position. Penalties will be retroactive, and the bill is directed toward Des Moines School officials who ignored Gov. Reynolds return to school directive. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa House Republicans cast the final vote needed Wednesday to send a bill to the governor that sharply limits early voting in the state. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack was sworn-in virtually Wednesday as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Vilsack was sworn in on the Bible he’s had since he was 16. He served as the agriculture secretary for eight years under former President Barack Obama.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Ames police have released the cause of death for a 21-year-old Iowa State University student who was found dead in a sorority parking lot in January. Officers were called to Delta Delta Delta sorority on January 2 when a caller reported a college-aged female was found unconscious in a parking lot. 21-year-old Olivia Chutich was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy determined the cause of death was accidental and caused by acute alcohol intoxication and hypothermia. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A man shot by a Cedar Rapids police officer died Tuesday, three days after he was spotted running from a motel after a stabbing that left a woman dead. Police identified Arnell States, 39, of Cedar Rapids as a suspect in the early Saturday stabbing of two women. He was shot by an officer as he ran from a Rodeway Inn. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Senate Republicans re-introduced a Religious Freedom Restoration bill that’s been shelved in several previous legislative sessions. Critics say the bill is another piece of legislation that allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Republican led Iowa Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would put restrictions on absentee voting in Iowa. House File 590 would cut Iowa’s mail-in and in-person early voting from 28 to 19 days. The bill would also limit requests for an absentee ballot to 70 days prior to an election and prevent county auditors from sending ballot request forms to voters unless requested. Democrats say it’s voter suppression. County auditors oppose the bill. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – An Iowa State Senator is receiving criticism after reciting a Muslim prayer at the statehouse earlier this month. Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Democrat, said she received derogatory messages on social media after she recited a Muslim prayer written by a Drake University student at the statehouse on Feb. 8. She said she recited the prayer because the Des Moines metro is very diverse religiously.

ANAMOSA, IA (IRN) – An inmate assaulted two staff members at the Anamosa State Penitentiary Monday morning. An inmate punched a correctional officer, and the officer used pepper spray to bring the inmate temporarily under control. While other staff helped restrain the inmate, a responding officer suffered an injury to his hand during the struggle. DAYTON, IA (IRN) – The Webster County attorney is investigating reports of a celebration of life ceremony that packed a bar and grill in Dayton. A celebration of life took place Friday at the Iron Saddle Saloon. Photos from the event show a full bar with no COVID-19 mitigation efforts in place. Dayton Mayor Dave Bills says he attended, and there are no problems because everyone knew each other. He says “we’re smart people” and that “he’s not too concerned about the health risks.” DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowans may pay more in utility costs next month because of the polar vortex. The Iowa Utilities Board said, “While customers will likely see an increase on their bills, we don’t yet know how much or the timing of when they will see the increases.” CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – State wildlife officials said on Monday that the recent extremely cold weather in Iowa may be to blame for the deaths of dozens of geese along the Iowa River in Coralville. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said they believe that reduced food supply due to cold weather is the cause of illness and death among waterfowl. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – High school competition will return to Drake Relays following a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19. Organizers of Drake Relays announced Monday that Iowa high school students will return for competition in 2021. Strict COVID-19 protocols will be enforced, and high school competition will be condensed to one day.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque man is facing multiple charges after police say he used a B.B. gun to steal a car that he later crashed. Senna Miller, 20, faces multiple charges. The victim was driving a 2010 Toyota Prius when they approached Miller walking in the middle of the road. The victim attempted to drive around Miller, but Miller kept walking in their pathway, so the victim pulled over. Miller threatened the driver with a gun before he stole the vehicle. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – One woman died, another woman was injured, and one man was shot by a police officer early Saturday morning in Cedar Rapids. It all happened around 1:46 a.m. at the Rodeway Inn. A Cedar Rapids police officer responded to a 911 call and saw two women with knife wounds inside the motel. The two women directed the officer to a man running away. The officer chased him and fired shots, striking him. The officer was not injured, and the extent of the injuries to the man is unknown. AMES, IA (IRN) – Authorities are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found in a downtown Ames apartment on Saturday. Officers found the woman around 7 p.m. after they were sent to check on her welfare. Officers say the circumstances appear suspicious. IOWA (IRN) – The Iowa State Patrol says its officers responded to 51 accidents during the winter storm on Sunday, eight with injuries and 43 with property damage. The ISP says it also handled 178 motorist assist calls over that time, helping stranded drivers off of the highway. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – There is a new career scoring leader in men’s basketball at the University of Iowa. On Sunday against Penn State, Luka Garza’s second-half layup moved him past the late Roy Marble, who held the previous record of 2,116 points. Garza entered Sunday with an NCAA-best 24.7 ppg for the Hawkeyes. No. 11 Iowa beat Penn State 74-68.