Category: State News

ONAWA, IA (IRN) – An 18-year-old Onawa man faces up to 50 years in prison after being convicted of shooting and killing a teenager last year. A jury found Jay Lee Neubaum guilty of second-degree murder on Thursday in the January 2020 death of 16-year-old Joseph Hopkins.

SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A Sioux City man was arrested on multiple charges after he and an accomplice allegedly entered an Iowa home, poured gas over a couple and ransacked the residence in December. Richard Polak, 41, and an unknown accomplice allegedly went to the Sioux City address, where a man and his girlfriend lived, assaulted the man with a pipe, leaving several injuries to his head. They then bound the couple using zip ties and poured gasoline on them. Polak and the other subject ransacked the house, stealing the male victim’s wallet containing his debit card.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – An administrative law judge says the leader of Iowa’s largest school district violated his duty by not complying with a law intended to ensure students could learn in classrooms during the pandemic. However, the judge didn’t specify Thursday how Des Moines Superintendent Thomas Ahart should be punished.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A jury awarded an Iowa Department of Human Services employee $790,000 in damages Thursday after she sued the department for sexual harassment. Tracy White was awarded $260,000 for past claims and $530,000 for future claims.

URBANDALE (IRN) – An Urbandale woman has been charged with attempted murder in connection with a stabbing. Daliah Chanise Brown, 24, is accused of stabbing a person multiple times at a West Des Moines apartment Monday evening. The alleged weapon was described by multiple witnesses as a “fixed blade.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Republicans have approved strict limits on who can assist voters in delivering ballots in a surprise change to state election law hours before adjourning the legislative session. Legislators approved the restrictions in a party-line vote late Wednesday, just weeks after Iowa became one of the first Republican-run states to extensively rewrite election rules. Republicans said the changes would enhance the security of voting, although have acknowledged that voting fraud is rare in Iowa and the last election had almost no problems.

IOWA (IRN) – The Board of Regents announced on Thursday that it is lifting the State of Emergency at state universities, effective immediately. Starting July 1st, all faculty and staff are required to return to campus in their pre-pandemic responsibilities. Masks and social distancing won’t be required.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa schools are scrambling to react to a law signed early Thursday morning. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a new law overnight that bans local governments and school districts from enforcing stricter mask policies than the state’s own policies.

AMES, IA (IRN) – According to CBS Sports, ISU head football coach Matt Campbell turned down an 8-year, $68.5 million contract to join the Detroit Lions this winter, choosing to remain at ISU.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Reynolds signed new legislation that will allow an adopted adult whose original birth certificate was substituted with a new certificate after an adoption, to apply for and obtain a non-certified copy of the original certificate of birth. Biological parent information will be present on the certificate.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A constitutional amendment denying a woman’s right to an abortion in Iowa is one step closer to reality. The State Senate passed the amendment in a 30 to 18 vote on Wednesday after the House passed it in January. The amendment will still need approval in a separately-elected legislature and a public vote before the constitution changes.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa House and Senate approved a bill Wednesday that would ban mask mandates in schools and cities. Governor Reynolds has signed it into law.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law Wednesday a measure that expands Iowa’s charter school rules, allowing groups to set up such schools by applying directly to the state and bypassing local school boards.

U.S.A. (IRN) – Six major agriculture groups want action and discussion on the state of cattle markets. With a growing spread of packer margins and producer prices, the group of organizations want to improve cattle transparency. The group includes the American Farm Bureau, the National Farmers Union, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa House Democrats have filed ethics complaints against two officials with a national conservative group that claimed credit for writing parts of a recently-passed election law, accusing them of failing to register as lobbyists. The complaints, filed Tuesday with the Iowa House Ethics Committee, accuse the Heritage Action staffers of violating Iowa’s lobbying rules by failing to register as lobbyists and failing to declare on a bill prior to advocating for its passage.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Twelve jurors and three alternatives were seated Tuesday for the murder trial of Cristhian Bahena Rivera. Bahena Rivera is accused of killing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts in Brooklyn in 2018. The selected jurors include eight women and seven men, of which most are white. When asked about Bahena Rivera’s immigration status, no prospective jurors said that they would hold the fact that he was in the country illegally against him.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Lengthy debate has delayed the 2021 legislative session in Iowa, but lawmakers have finally passed a sweeping tax deal. The proposal shifts funding for mental health services from property taxes to the state’s general fund. This is a $90 million change that would take place over two years.

TIFFIN, IA (IRN) – An Iowa man was practicing landing and take off maneuvers before he died in a plane crash near Iowa City earlier this month, federal authorities have determined. Dr. Dale Bieber, 73, a University of Iowa doctor and clinical professor, died when his plane crashed at the Green Castle Airport near Tiffin on May 2.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa High School Athletic Association said Tuesday that attendance limits have been removed at Drake Stadium, allowing for full attendance at the State Track and Field Championships. The co-ed track meet will take place May 20-22.

IOWA (IRN) – Hy-Vee announced on Tuesday it will no longer require fully vaccinated customers and employees to wear face coverings in its stores, except where required by local ordinances. The move is in accordance with the CDC’s updated mask guidance.

IOWA (IRN) – Parents and schools are getting mixed messages on masks. On Friday, the Iowa Department of Public Health said schools should make masks optional for students. Then Sunday, the CDC said keep mandating masks through the school year. Ultimately it’s up to each school district.

U.S.A (IRN) – Farm tractor sales continue high growth. April sales grew over already large 2020 gains. US farm tractors saw double digit growth in the US and Canada as inventories continue to fall. Combine sales also grew 23%.

AMES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Cyclones softball team is going to the NCAA softball tournament for the first time in 33 years. The program last participated in the tournament in 1988. The Cyclones are 31-21 and earned their first top 25 ranking in February. Iowa State’s Sami Williams is the Big 12 all-time leader in career hits, doubles and total bases. Williams also took Iowa State’s career and single-season home run record with 21 in 2021.

MARION, IA (IRN) – Anyone over 55 can now rent electric trikes housed at the new Marion YMCA. The City debuted the program Monday. Seniors use them to commute around town.