Category: State News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Dr. Caitlin Pedati, the State’s Medical Director and Epidemiologist, is leaving the Iowa Department of Public Health in late October. She has served in the role since 2018 and was an important part of the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Pedati would speak and answer questions regularly during the early parts of the pandemic when Gov. Kim Reynolds would give daily press briefings. Dr. Pedati “plans to pursue new career opportunities.”

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Mount Mercy University community in Cedar Rapids is mourning a student who passed away due to complications from COVID-19 on Monday. Ashley Hudson was an aspiring kindergarten teacher with dreams of becoming a Mount Mercy graduate. She was 21-years-old. A vigil in Hudson’s honor was held Tuesday evening.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Police are investigating after a car crashed into the front of a sports bar in Des Moines Tuesday. Police responded to a crash at Woody’s Sports & Karaoke Bar. No injuries were reported, and one arrest was made.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Human Services said Iowa had the capacity to resettle 350 refugees from Afghanistan. But the federal government allocated nearly double that, 695 refugees, to Iowa on Tuesday.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa’s longest-serving senator is in a strong position if he chooses to run for reelection, according to the latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll. The poll shows that Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, at age 88, leads former Democratic Representative Abby Finkenauer among likely voters in the 2022 midterm elections by 55% to 37%.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Ames police are looking for an armed man after a credit union was robbed Tuesday morning. Police were called to the River Valley Credit Union, at 9:30 a.m. on a report of an armed robbery. The suspect is at large.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A ransomware attack has forced a cooperative of Iowa corn and soy farmers to take their computer systems offline. Fort Dodge based New Cooperative has created workarounds to receive grain and distribute feed. The criminals demanded $5.9 million, and the coop isn’t saying if it paid the ransom.

CEDAR COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An Indiana man was killed in a crash involving a semi in Cedar County Sunday afternoon on I-80. The semi ran off the road and went into the ditch. The 65-year-old driver was thrown from the vehicle and killed.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Kim Reynolds and 25 of her fellow governors are asking for a meeting with President Biden to discuss the crisis at the southern U.S. border. The group has sent a joint letter to the White House requesting a meeting within 15 days.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The City of Cedar Rapids is continuing construction to mitigate potential future flood damage. Construction began Monday on another floodgate and a flood wall in the Czech Village.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s Attorney General Tom Miller announced Saturday he will be running for reelection in 2022. The announcement came during the Polk County Democrats’ annual steak fry.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is looking for a second term in Congress.
During an appearance in Iowa City this weekend, the republican congresswoman stated she had plans to run again for the second district.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ job approval rating has inched up since June. A new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows the governor’s job approval rating has risen to 53% today from 51% this summer. Another 43% disapprove, and 4% are unsure.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The city of Cedar Rapids has a new flag. It was unveiled on Saturday. The primary colors are blue, green and white. The blue represents the Cedar River. The round Green shape depicts Mays Island and represents the various green and grassy areas in the city. The white arch makes a border between the blue and green representing homes, businesses, infrastructure, and flood protection. Lastly, the white, five pointed star represents historic structures on Mays Island while also highlighting the Cedar Rapids motto, “City of Five Seasons.”

BELLEVUE, IA (IRN) – One person was killed from a fall at a Jackson County-based state park. At around 4:21 a.m. on Saturday, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said that a report came in about a person who had fallen off a bluff at Bellevue State Park. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has joined a coalition of 37 attorneys general to file a lawsuit against Google in California. The lawsuit alleges exclusionary conduct relating to the Google Play Store for Android mobile devices and Google Billing.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s Attorney General Tom Miller announced Saturday he will be running for reelection in 2022. The announcement came during the Polk County Democrats’ annual steak fry.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ job approval rating has inched up since June — a change driven by Iowans who like the way she’s handling the state economy as workers and businesses seek a return to normal amid the continuing coronavirus pandemic. A new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows the governor’s job approval rating has risen to 53% today from 51% this summer. Another 43% disapprove, and 4% are unsure.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Police Department is looking for two people who may have information about a homicide investigation. Police discovered the body of 43-year-old Javier Moncada by the Des Moines River on Aug. 30. Moncada suffered a gunshot wound prior to his death. Police have issued material witness warrants for 18-year-old Jonathan Bautista and his 20-year-old sister, Jasmin Bautista, who are both from Des Moines.

AMES (IRN) – An Ames man convicted of murder in July was sentenced Friday to life in prison for killing his roommate in November 2019. David Sean Hunter, 57, was convicted by a Story County jury in the death of 37-year-old Christopher Swalwell. Hunter stabbed Swalwell multiple times at their Ames apartment. Hunter says it was self defense.

WALFORD, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man surrendered to Linn County Deputies Friday morning in connection to a bank robbery Wednesday in Walford. Jonathan Hefflefinger is charged with second-degree robbery for allegedly robbing the Central State Bank. No weapon was displayed during the robbery and no one was hurt.

ALLEMAN, IA (IRN) – Two juveniles were injured after a crash Friday afternoon at Alleman. The incident occurred near the North Polk schools shortly after school was let out. The driver lost control of the vehicle and it rolled into a ditch. They are expected to recover.