State News

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Sunday, October 4, 2020

IOWA (IRN) – Over 1,100 additional cases of the illness caused by the novel coronavirus were reported by state officials in the last 24 hours along with additional deaths. It’s the fourth straight day of over 1,000 newly-reported cases in Iowa. STORY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Story County man has received multiple counts of sexual abuse for incidents between April and August. Authorities have charged Gaige Jeffery Douglas Pickering, 19, with four counts of third-degree sex abuse and contempt of court. Pickering allegedly abused a 13-year-old girl while out on bail. CLAYTON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Clayton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating multiple reports of thefts from mailboxes. AMES, IA (IRN) – Breece Hall scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 8-yard run with 4:06 left and Isheem Young intercepted Spencer Rattler in the end zone on No. 18 Oklahoma’s final drive, giving Iowa State a 37-30 win Saturday night. It was the Cyclones’ first win over OU in Ames since 1960. The Sooners, beaten at home by Kansas State last week, lost back-to-back regular-season games for the first time since 1999.


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Saturday, October 3, 2020

IOWA (IRN) – Another nine people with COVID-19 have died in Iowa and there have been an additional 1,142 confirmed cases, the state reported Friday. At 10 a.m. Friday, the state was reporting 1,367 COVID-19-related deaths, an increase of nine deaths since the state’s tally at 10 a.m. Thursday. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police are looking for the person responsible for an active shooter situation at Cedar River Landing last night. The suspect left the area before officers arrived. There were no reported victims at the scene or any local hospitals. Officers were able to interview witnesses and collect shell casings at the scene. There are no arrests at this time. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – On Friday, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation regarding the reopening of bars in Story and Johnson counties. The proclamation allows bars in Johnson and Story counties to reopen at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 5 through 11:59 p.m. Oct. 18. Breweries, wineries and distilleries can reopen at 5 p.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Oct. 18. The proclamation doesn’t specify what will happen after the Oct. 18 deadline. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Vaudeville Mews, a Des Moines music venue, announced Friday it’s closing its doors. The venue opened in December 2002, and due to the financial impact of COVID-19, it’s closing this fall. AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State will play their second game of the season today against the Oklahoma Sooners. While this is not the first game in the 2020 season that the Cyclones have taken the field at home, it will be the first with fans in the stands. Jack Trice Stadium will be seated at 25% capacity, giving some fans the chance to watch in person.


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Friday, October 2, 2020

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Vice President Mike Pence drew a standing ovation in Des Moines on Thursday as he called for a “dignified” confirmation process of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett. Pence told a crowd of Christian conservatives at an event hosted by the Family Leader, “I’ll tell you, we’re going to fill that seat.” OSKALOOSA, IA (IRN) – The Oskaloosa Police Department has charged two adults and two minors in connection to more than 30 vandalism reports this week. All contained anti-Trump messages. Police estimate the damage to be about $10,000. Nadia Hatfield, 20, of University Park, Patrick Strang, 19, of Knoxville, and a minor from University Park were charged with first-degree criminal mischief and trespassing. A minor from Pella was charged with first-degree criminal mischief and fifth-degree theft. MARION, IA (IRN) – The City of Marion signed an emergency proclamation Thursday advising the use of face coverings in public places throughout Marion, whenever proper social distance cannot be maintained. IOWA (IRN) – Alliant Energy announced Thursday that it is now producing 1,300 megawatts of wind in Iowa. This is from five wind projects across seven counties. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Krause Group wants to partner with the City of Des Moines to redevelop the former DICO property into a soccer stadium. The old DICO site is located south of downtown Des Moines, and is one of the city’s most polluted properties. The Krause Group and the Iowa Soccer Development Foundation want to create a soccer stadium for the planned acquisition of a USL Championship pro soccer franchise. The Krause Group owns over 400 Kum & Go stores across 11 states.


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Thursday, October 1, 2020

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld has informed the Board of Regents of his intention to retire as president. The university said Harreld will remain in his position until the Board can successfully complete a search for the next UI president, and the new president begins. University officials said the hope is to have a new president in place by the start of the fall 2021 semester. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A judge sentenced a man who shot and killed two people and injured two others outside a smoke shop in Cedar Rapids last year to 75 years in prison. Andre Richardson, 27, pleaded guilty in June to two counts of second-degree murder, among other charges. The crime was captured on surveillance video. OSKALOOSA, IA (IRN) – Anti-Trump graffiti has been found across Oskaloosa this week, including the Christian school and a church. The Oskaloosa Police Department is investigating more than 30 reports of vandalism around town. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A baby was surrendered to the Department of Human Services recently under a law meant to discourage abandonment of newborns. A baby girl born on September 13 was left at a hospital or health care facility. This is the 45th child turned over to the agency since the law went into effect in 2001. The law allows parents to leave an infant at such a facility within 30 days of birth. The parent is not prosecuted, and details about the handover of the child are kept private to help keep the identity of the parent a secret. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration announced $574 million in emergency relief funds for 39 states and Puerto Rico. Iowa is slated to get $14.49 million to help repair roads and bridges after the August 10 derecho.


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Wednesday, September 30, 2020

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A new White House report warns Iowa is still in the red zone because of the rapid spread of COVID-19. The report recommends a statewide mask mandate, fewer people inside restaurants and bars, and more inspections at prisons and nursing homes. Iowa’s COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to climb. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A 21-year-old Davenport man charged with killing a woman as she was leaving a civil rights protest will remain in jail. A district court judge on Tuesday denied Parker Belz’s request to be released on bond. He is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Italia Marie Kelly. Kelly had joined a protest on May 31 over the death of George Floyd but was leaving because the gathering was becoming unruly. She was shot in the back. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A woman’s body was found in the ditch along I-380 in Cedar Rapids on Monday. The body was discovered by an Iowa DOT employee. Police are investigating. LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A park in Linn County will be going by a new name, honoring a Native American Woman. The Linn County Conservation Board looked into the name of Squaw Creek Park last year and had a historian do a report on the park’s history. The park will now be named after Jean Adeline Morgan Wanatee, who was born on the Meskwaki Settlement in 1910 and passed away in 1996. She was an advocate for Native American and women’s rights and was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993. The conservation board says the word “squaw” is offensive. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Tuesday that Iowa will receive hundreds of thousands of coronavirus tests from the federal government. The tests are part of a plan announced by President Donald Trump on Monday to distribute more than 100 million rapid tests across the country. The rapid tests, called BinaxNOW tests, allow patients to receive results in about 15 minutes.