DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – 64 more people have died from COVID-19 according to state officials. A total of 4,321 Iowans have died since the start of the pandemic. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A basement fire at a home in Cedar Rapids has displaced three people. No one was injured. The fire started in a clothes dryer. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police responded to two drive-by shootings less than an hour apart early Saturday morning. No one was injured. WACO, TX (IRN) – Ashley Joens scored 14 of her 27 points in the fourth quarter and Iowa State beat No. 6 Baylor 75-71 on Saturday night, ending the Lady Bears’ 61-game home court winning streak.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A white military veteran shot and wounded a 15-year-old Black girl during a tense confrontation at a Trump rally in Iowa last month. Michael McKinney is charged with attempted murder in the Dec. 6 shooting in Des Moines. McKinney, who was heavily armed and wearing body armor, told police he fired in self-defense. He has posted on Facebook in support of the far-right Proud Boys. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Someone associated with the Iowa House of Representatives has tested positive for COVID-19. It’s unclear if the person who tested positive is a lawmaker, staff member of someone else. Democrats have criticized lax COVID-19 rules and restrictions put in place by majority Iowa Republicans, many who don’t wear masks. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man armed with a handgun was taken into custody after a standoff with police in Des Moines Friday. Police were called to a domestic dispute, and were able to get a woman to safety. The officers then began negotiating with the man, 55-year-old Miles Degroote, who refused to come out. After about 30 minutes of negotiations, Degroote jumped out a window while armed with a handgun. Degroote was taken into custody without further incident and no one was injured. AMES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State men’s basketball team’s season has been paused indefinitely as a result of COVID-19. Team officials said the pause comes due to COVID-19 protocols within the athletics program.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s COVID-19 positivity rates continue to decline, and fewer Iowa counties report a rate greater than 15% Friday. There have been 4,257 total deaths since the start of the pandemic. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa is sending 250 soldiers and airmen to the U.S. Capitol, after officials called for additional support for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next Wednesday. Iowa had been scheduled to send 15 airmen to Washington, D.C., but because of the pro-Trump attack of the U.S. Capitol last week guard soldiers from all states and territories were asked to send support. OMAHA, NE (IRN) – The FBI Field Office that covers investigations in Iowa and Nebraska is asking the public to report threats of potential violence at any upcoming protests or gatherings leading up to Inauguration Day. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Eleven students from Brazil and Chile have filed a lawsuit accusing a northwest Iowa community college, a recruitment company, a pet food manufacturer and a packaging company of human trafficking and involuntary servitude. The lawsuit says Western Iowa Tech Community College and J&L Staffing, both in Sioux City, lured the students to Iowa under a work and study visa program only to push them into factory jobs that had no educational value. The students were paid less than U.S. employees and some of their money was deducted from their paychecks to fund kickbacks to the college and staffing agency. IOWA (IRN) – The National Weather Service has placed the western half of the state under a blizzard warning until 6 p.m. today. Much of the eastern half of the state is under a winter weather advisory. Strong winds coupled with moderate to heavy snowfall have led to blizzard conditions. Significant travel impacts are expected, especially along I-80 and I-35.

GRINNELL, IA (IRN) – Grinnell College says an Oklahoma congressman relinquished his honorary degree after a petition circulated asking for it to be revoked. Rep. Tom Cole received the honorary degree from Grinnell in 2016. The petition was started after Cole objected to last week’s certification of the electoral vote. Grinnell College President Anne Harris says those who supported a baseless challenge to a free and fair election threatened the electoral process. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Judicial buildings and courthouses in Des Moines are being boarded up at the advice of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. This comes after the U.S. Capitol was stormed last week and President Donald Trump was impeached by Congress on Wednesday. President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn into office on Jan. 20. Armed protests are planned at all 50 state capitols. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen said Wednesday that while the coronavirus pandemic forced the court system to enact two shutdowns of jury trials and institute remote hearings, she is determined to resume in-person trials in February. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Linn County received its first COVID-19 vaccines last month but there aren’t enough to go around, even for those first in line such as healthcare workers. Local health officials urge patience. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The National Weather Service has issued multiple weather advisories for the state today and tomorrow. A high wind warning has been issued for northwest Iowa. A winter weather advisory has been issued for north and northeast Iowa. A wind advisory has been issued for west and southwest Iowa, and a hazardous weather outlook has been issued for east and southeast Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have decreased by 1,000 since a peak in November as the state nears 300,000 total positive cases. There have been 4,232 deaths since the start of the pandemic. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines man seen on video and in photos at the deadly riots inside the U.S. Capitol appeared before a federal judge Tuesday. Federal prosecutors introduced an indictment against 41-year-old Doug Jensen. He’s charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding an officer, knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disrupting the orderly conduct of government business, violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol Building, parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol Building, and obstructing a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder. Jensen asked the court to have a defense attorney appointed for him. WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – A racist video sent to a group chat has some Waukee High School students and parents upset. A video of a Black female being hanged in front of a Confederate flag circulated at the school. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is asking lawmakers to immediately send her a bill to sign into law that would require schools to offer parents the option of having their children in classrooms full time despite continuing high levels of coronavirus. DECORAH, IA (IRN) – Students at Luther College completed the first half of their second-quarter online, but are now required to go back to in-person classes. Over 700 students signed a petition objecting. They want learning to be all-virtual.