DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The former CEO of Make-A-Wish Iowa has been arrested and charged with first-degree theft and unauthorized use of a credit card. Jennifer Woodley, 40, was booked at the Polk County Jail in Des Moines on Thursday evening and released. The organization announced last summer that it had discovered financial irregularities during a compliance review and that Woodley had been dismissed after serving as CEO for one year. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds announced plans on Thursday to begin vaccinating the second phase of people eligible starting February 1st. This includes first responders, teachers, child care workers and people 65 and older. There are not enough vaccines to go around, so people in these groups may not get a vaccination right away. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Reynolds also announced $40 million dollars in grants to help Iowa bars and restaurants through the pandemic. Businesses that lost sales in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2020, compared to 2019, are eligible to apply. Up to $25,000 dollars per business will be available. IOWA (IRN) – Complaints of fraud, price-gouging and other consumer scams increased 24% over the past year. The Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division attributes much of the increase to the pandemic and the August derecho, noting in particular reports of price gouging as demand for essential products rose. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa High School Athletic Association says the state wrestling tournament will go on. The tournament is scheduled to run from Feb. 17 to Feb. 20, with slight adjustments. They will be implementing social distancing mitigation efforts and limit the capacity of spectators. The tournament typically brings in 75,000 fans, but this year there will be less than 4,000 tickets available for each session. Masks will be required.

SUMNER, IA (IRN) – The owner of a daycare in the Bremer County town of Sumner has been arrested and charged with Child Endangerment after an employee accused her of injuring a 1-year-old child. The employee reported that 54-year-old Crystal Bahe injured the child while disciplining their behavior. Bahe is the owner of Crystal’s Christian Child Care. OMAHA, NE (IRN) – A 25-year-old Iowa man has been sentenced to 2 and a half years in prison for having a Molotov cocktail during racial injustice protests in downtown Omaha last year. Steven Fitch, of Council Bluffs, was arrested by Omaha police after they found a Molotov cocktail in his front pants pocket. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Former Des Moines area sports radio host Marty Tirrell will spend up to 41 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to running a fraudulent ticket scheme and be required to repay more than $1.4 million to victims. Tirrell carried out a Ponzi scheme for more than a decade before it eventually collapsed. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa City Council has approved more than $12 million in tax increment financing for a downtown development designed to revitalize and preserve the character of the Pedestrian Mall. The $54.4 million project involves designating buildings as historic landmarks in order to renovate and preserve them. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – An Iowan participated in the inauguration of President Joe Biden yesterday. Gunnery Sgt. Kara Santos, a flutist in the U.S. Marine Band and a graduate of Iowa City West High and the University of Iowa’s Graduate College, performed several songs throughout the ceremony as Biden was sworn in as the 46th president.

TOLEDO, IA (IRN) – As Iowa prepares for Phase 1B of Iowa’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, Tama County Public Health is asking for residents 75 and older to reach out if they’re interested in being put on a vaccine list. Residents will then be contacted once the vaccine is available. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Davenport Police responded to reports of a body in the road Monday. Police say that person was hit and killed by a car. Then they were dragged and left by a nearby hospital. The vehicle fled the scene after striking the pedestrian. IOWA (IRN) – Republicans on the Iowa House’s rules committee rejected attempts by Democrats to add a mask requirement and other coronavirus-related precautions to the chamber rules Tuesday. In addition to a mask mandate, Democrats’ proposals would have allowed members of the public to speak at House subcommittee meetings virtually and would have allowed legislators to vote remotely during committee meetings. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the Iowa National Guard recommitted their oath as they began to serve outside the U.S. Capitol. A group of about 265 soldiers and airmen traveled to Washington, D.C. over the weekend to help provide security for Inauguration Day. COLLEGE PARK, MD (IRN) – The women’s basketball game between No. 7 Maryland and Iowa, scheduled for tomorrow night, has been postponed because the Hawkeyes don’t want to travel because of security precautions and threats of violence related to the inauguration. The team was scheduled to arrive at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport tonight.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s COVID-19 positivity rates have declined to the lowest levels since September. There have been 4,332 deaths since the start of the pandemic. CHARLES CITY, IA (IRN) – Eight people are now set to stand trial over a significant amount of meth found in Floyd County. Law enforcement searched a home in Charles City in October and discovered 161.1 grams of methamphetamine, in addition to other drugs and drug paraphernalia. The investigation led to the arrest of eight people for conspiracy to deliver meth. All eight have pleaded not guilty and their trials are set to begin on March 2. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – This legislative session the advocacy group Iowa Safe Schools wants lawmakers to focus on issues harmful to Iowa’s LGBTQ youth. Iowa Safe Schools is proposing bills to update the state’s suicide prevention and anti-bullying laws and add gender identity to Iowa’s hate crime law. They also want to ban controversial conversion therapy in the state. IOWA (IRN) – Around 30 different bars were given citations for violating COVID-19 protocols from Gov. Kim Reynold’s emergency proclamation during the pandemic. About 850 complaints were received. The protocols include social distancing, mask-wearing, and limiting groups to eight people. A violation of those rules would result in a $1,000 fine. JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – Dozens of Johnston parents are stepping up to keep classes in-person. When a teacher is quarantined, and there are not enough substitutes, parents are serving as classroom monitors so teachers can teach from quarantine.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A second Iowan was arrested Monday and faces federal charges in connection with the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. FBI agents out of Cedar Rapids arrested Leo Christopher Kelly on a federal warrant Monday. Another Iowan, Doug Jensen, 41, of Des Moines, was arrested by the FBI on Jan. 9 and is also accused of participating in the invasion. He faces six federal charges. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Waukee mother is accused of being intoxicated when she was involved in a Des Moines crash with her two children in the car Sunday. According to court documents, 29-year-old Kristen Danielle Anderson was involved in a crash Sunday night. A witness told police her Chevy Impala went over a curb and through a snowbank. Anderson’s six and 11-year-old daughters were in the backseat. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man is facing charges after he threatened a Black Hawk County Sheriff’s deputy in a video with a gun. Chandrique Day, 20, was seen in a video making threats towards the deputy while brandishing a handgun with a “unique laser system attached.” The following day, Day and the gun were located after a car chase. Day was the driver of the vehicle and was arrested after crashing the vehicle and fleeing the scene. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – As tensions were high across the country, the grounds at the Iowa Statehouse were relatively quiet over the weekend. The grounds were packed with Iowa State Patrol officers Sunday, stationed to protect Iowa’s Capitol in the event of an armed protest, something the FBI warned could happen in all 50 states this week leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. A few armed protestors showed up at noon Sunday but soon left. LINCOLN, NE (IRN) – Nebraska men’s basketball program will pause for at least seven more days after coach Fred Hoiberg and 11 other staffers or players tested positive for COVID-19. The Cornhuskers’ game at Iowa next Sunday has been postponed. IOWA (IRN) – New data show 2020 was the second warmest year on record. Overall, the globe saw temperatures 1.76 degrees above the 20th century average. In Iowa, the story is more complex. The state as a whole was 1.7 degrees above normal, but drought-stricken western Iowa contributed more to the overall statewide warmth.