STORY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A vehicle struck a train in Story County this morning. A 39-year-old male from Newton collided with the train at an uncontrolled railroad intersection. The man was not able to stop in time and the passenger side of his car slid into the side of the train. No injuries were reported in the collision. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – After rioters overtook the U.S Capitol yesterday afternoon, Vice President Mike Pence defied President Donald Trump early this morning as he affirmed President-elect Joe Biden’s November victory, putting an end to Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the election. Iowa’s entire congressional delegation voted to affirm President-elect Biden’s electoral win. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Both Iowa’s Democratic and Republican party leaders responded to violence and unrest at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, and denounced acts by pro-Trump supporters. Democratic chairman Mark Smith and Republican chairman Jeff Kaufmann denounced the violence. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Former longtime Iowa Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle has announced he will no longer claim he’s a Republican after expressing disgust over the rioting on Wednesday and the events leading up to the chaos. In a tweet, Nussle wrote “tonight as I am outraged and devastated by the actions of too many elected Republicans (some I know and served with) and supporters. Today a final line was crossed that I will not excuse. The GOP is NO more and left me and others behind.” IOWA (IRN) – When the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 9, thousands of Iowans will find themselves in possession of expired driver’s licenses. That’s because a provision in Gov. Kim Reynold’s disaster emergency proclamation that stated licenses will not be considered expired if the expiration date is between Jan. 16, 2020 and Jan. 8, 2021 ends Saturday. The majority are still within the state’s 60-day grace period. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Fair — set to resume after its first cancellation since World War II — has announced its lineup of Grandstand performances. Topping the schedule is 28-time country music chart-topper Blake Shelton.

WASHINGTON, D. C. (IRN) – Iowa had the fifth-highest rate of positive coronavirus tests in the nation the past week. Meanwhile, Johns Hopkins University reported Iowa administered the lowest number of tests per capita of any state DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 15-year-old girl was injured in a shooting Tuesday night in Des Moines. She was sitting in a parked car when two suspects approached the vehicle. At least one of them fired multiple rounds into the car. The girl was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and two other occupants in the vehicle were not injured. The investigation is ongoing. FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A Fort Dodge man was charged with Arson after allegedly dousing a woman and her home in gasoline in December. Patrick Timothy McGuire is accused of dousing a woman in gasoline, trapping her beneath a mattress and then spreading gasoline through the home and opening a propane tank indoors. The victim escaped. URBANA, IA (IRN) – The Division of Criminal Investigation said Tuesday that the deaths of two people in Urbana were a murder-suicide. On Jan. 1, authorities received a call from Garry Jensen, 59, who said he had shot and killed his wife Margaret Jensen, 54. NORTHWOOD, IA (IRN) – A Northwood Iowa woman who defrauded charities by pretending to have cancer was spared from prison Monday after receiving a suspended sentence. Jennifer Hope Mikesell, 44, was also ordered to pay restitution and continue to seek treatment from a mental health professional. Mikesell was accused of pretending to have cancer and reaching out to local charities and individuals for donations of money, goods and services. She forged doctors’ notes from providers at Mayo Clinic, where she claimed to be receiving care. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced the recipients of the 2021 planning and development grants funded through the state’s Water Quality Initiative. More than $2.6 million in awards will go to support projects that help advance the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and soil health and water quality efforts across the state.

MARION COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Supreme Court will hear an appeal later this month in a civil case from a Marion County man who was found civilly liable for the death of his mother but acquitted in a criminal trial. Oral arguments in the case will be heard by the Supreme Court on Jan. 21. Jason Carter was found civilly liable for the death of his mother during a December 2017 trial and ordered to pay $10 million to her estate. Shirley Carter, 68, died on June 19, 2015, from two gunshot wounds fired by a rifle. After a three-week trial in March 2019, a jury acquitted Jason Carter of a criminal charge of first-degree murder. IOWA (IRN) – Iowa public health officials are no longer receiving reports about the state’s COVID-19 outbreak from the White House coronavirus task force. CNN reported on Dec. 23 that the White House task force would only send the weekly reports if local officials asked for them. Iowa Department of Public Health spokesperson Sarah Ekstrand says, “We are not requesting the report at this time.” She didn’t respond when asked why the state is no longer requesting them. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention says over 53,000 Iowans have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines started for health care workers in Iowa on Monday Dec. 14. Staff and residents in Iowa’s long term care facilities were the next to be vaccinated; that started last week. IOWA – (IRN) – Iowans have set a record for voter registration for the third month in a row. Secretary of State Paul Pate announced Monday that the number of active registered voters is over 2,100,000. More than 90 percent of Iowa’s eligible population is registered to vote. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Drake men’s basketball team, picked to finish seventh in the preseason MVC poll, is turning heads. Monday night the Bulldogs blasted SIU 86-55 to improve to 13-0 and extend the best start to a season in school history. Thirteen wins also leads the NCAA. Drake also is receiving votes this week in the AP Poll.

SHENANDOAH, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Patrol reports a Shenandoah man was injured in a snowmobile crash Sunday afternoon in Page County. According to the patrol, 48-year-old William Stephens was injured when he lost control of his snowmobile and struck a pole. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids Police responded to a call from Mercy Hospital on Sunday for a male shooting victim who arrived in a private vehicle. The victim was pronounced dead shortly after officers arrived. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – A man has been released from the Polk County Jail after authorities arrested him for driving while intoxicated with minors in the vehicle. At about 10 p.m. Saturday, authorities arrested Bradley Stoermer, 43, of Ankeny, for operating while intoxicated and three counts of child endangerment. The children in the vehicle said he had been drinking alcohol and they believed his driving was impaired. WASHINGTON, D. C. (IRN) – Congress convened Sunday for the start of a new session, swearing in lawmakers including Iowa Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who was provisionally seated as a member of the 117th Congress. Pelosi seated Miller-Meeks along with the rest of the members and members-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives, despite Miller-Meeks’ Democratic opponent’s ongoing challenge to her 2nd Congressional District victory in the closest federal race in the nation this year. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Republican Joni Ernst was sworn in to the 117th Congress for her second term as Iowa’s Junior Senator on Sunday.

VINTON, IA (IRN) – The Division of Criminal Investigation is assisting local authorities with a death in Benton County. Local law enforcement responded to reports of a welfare check in a rural part of Vinton. Officers found the body of James Howard Bright, 84. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque man is facing multiple charges after being arrested with over four pounds of marijuana following a traffic stop on Friday night. Yoosuf Kamaal Moment, 42, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, unlawfully carrying certain concealed weapons, unlawful possession of prescription drugs, interference with official acts, failure to affix drug stamp and driving while barred. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines’ first baby of 2021 was given a fitting name. Genesis Urbina-Lopez was born at 1:25 a.m. Friday at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. She was delivered at 6 lbs, 15.3 ounces to parents Erika Lopez and Abram Urbina of Ankeny. Genesis is “the beginning, the origin, the start of everything,” her father said. “A very good start to the year.” GLENDALE, AZ (IRN) – Breece Hall ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns, Brock Purdy accounted for two scores and No. 12 Iowa State grinded out a 34-17 victory over No. 25 Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday.