IOWA (IRN) – There were 901 new, confirmed COVID-19 cases from 10 a.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday, according to the state’s dashboard, which brings the state’s total number of cases to 79,128. The state is reporting six additional deaths, leaving the state’s death toll at 1,264. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll places Democratic candidate for Senate Theresa Greenfield in a slim lead ahead of Sen. Joni Ernst. The latest Iowa Poll, published Saturday, shows Greenfield leading Ernst by three percentage points in what the Des Moines Register calls one of the most competitive races in the country. CHICAGO, IL (IRN) – The Big Ten Conference on Saturday released a fall football schedule after reversing course on a decision to postpone the season in August due to coronavirus concerns.The Iowa Hawkeyes will open their season at Purdue and finish the regular season hosting Wisconsin. So far, there will be no ticket sales to the general public. Only families of players on a school-by-school basis will be allowed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s governor has issued a proclamation to honor the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued the order saying that all state flags should be flown at half-staff until the time of Ginsburg’s internment. The long-serving U.S. Supreme Court justice died on Friday at age 87 after battling pancreatic cancer.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One person was taken to a central Iowa hospital after being shot by a West Des Moines police officer Friday night. No additional details have been released. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The federal government said Friday that it will give farmers an additional $14 billion to compensate them for the difficulties they have experienced selling their crops, milk and meat because of the coronavirus pandemic. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds extended a public health disaster proclamation on Friday that closes bars in Story and Johnson counties and requires COVID-19 mitigation efforts across the state. Bars, taverns, wineries, breweries, distilleries and nightclubs continue to be closed in Johnson and Story counties until 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 27. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Four University of Iowa sororities have been sanctioned for not following the university’s student conduct agreement for COVID-19. Officials say the organizations are Alpha Phi, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, and Pi Beta Phi. The university’s student conduct pledge requires students to wear face coverings in all public areas and on university property. It also asks them to maintain six feet of distance from others when possible. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s unemployment rate was 6% for the month of August, a slight decline from July but still double the rate from the same time last year, according to new numbers released by Iowa Workforce Development Friday. The state’s unemployment numbers fare better than the country’s as a whole: the national unemployment rate was 8.4% for August.

IOWA (IRN) – A high school teacher in Iowa has been placed on leave for assigning students to “pretend you are a black slave.” The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that the assignment for an online freshman class at Liberty High School in Iowa City asked students to write four sentences about what they would do if they were a slave who was freed. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – More than half of Iowa’s COVID-19 deaths are connected with long-term care facilities, and recent federal guidelines are calling for more routine testing to be done at those facilities. Governor Kim Reynolds’ office says Iowa won’t be able to comply due to lack of resources. BENTON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Benton Community School District has lost two students in four days. On Sunday, 13-year-old Mahailah Cruzen was killed in an ATV accident. The driver of the ATV, a 14-year-old, is still in the hospital. On Wednesday, 16-year-old Mackenzie Kvam was killed in a collision with a school bus. Investigators say the van she was riding in dropped off the shoulder and over-corrected, hitting the bus head on. Five students on the bus suffered minor injuries. IOWA (IRN) – There were 51 people killed in crashes on Iowa roads in the month of August, tied for the highest single-month total in the last decade. So far this year there have been 228 traffic fatalities in the state of Iowa. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa says the Big Ten’s move to have a fall football season will not impact its decision to eliminate four sports programs. Athletic Director Gary Barta announced last month the elimination of men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis and men’s gymnastics. He said the cuts were “100% driven by” the coronavirus pandemic, which caused the postponement of football for safety reasons and tens of millions in lost revenue.

BEIJING, CHINA (IRN) – Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad said he will help out Republicans campaigning in his native Iowa after returning home next month. Branstad also told Hong Kong’s Phoenix TV that he considered the phase one trade deal between China and the U.S. as the biggest achievement of his three years in China. Branstad, 73, said he would be working on behalf of President Donald Trump, Senator Joni Ernst and others, but not in any official role. KELLOGG, IA (IRN) – Law enforcement is investigating a homicide Wednesday night in Jasper County. Authorities were called to a fire in a ditch near Kellogg. After it was extinguished, firefighters discovered a body. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Police have arrested a man for allegedly stabbing a 34-year-old woman at a bus stop in Cedar Rapids. Jayce Baskerville, 33, has been arrested and charged with violating a no contact order and assault domestic abuse with a weapon causing injury. Investigators say Baskerville followed the woman to the stop, where the stabbing occurred. She suffered multiple stab wounds to the upper body but is expected to survive. Baskerville tried to flee but was held by witnesses until police arrived. EPWORTH, IA (IRN) – The Epworth Police Department is advising people to be cautious as several vehicles were stolen this past weekend. Police say the thieves take the vehicles, go joyriding, and abandon them when they run out of gas. All vehicles had their keys left in them. WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – A Waukee man is suing the city, its mayor and police chief over the city’s new mask mandate. In the lawsuit, Lynn Hakenson said the mayor’s proclamation “inhibits and injures the ability of Hakenson to freely travel through the city limits of Waukee for personal, business, civic and religious purposes.” Hakenson is asking for an injunction to stop the mandate which is set to begin Friday.

IOWA (IRN) – Big Ten football is reportedly on the verge of returning. According to Yahoo Sports, the Big Ten presidents and chancellors decided Wednesday to reverse course and approve the return of Big Ten football amid the COVID-19 pandemic beginning on Oct. 24. The timetable will allow the Big Ten to participate in the College Football Playoff. The current plan is for Big Ten games to be played on campus without fans other than the families of players in attendance, although that could change. EAGLE GROVE, IA (IRN) – The DCI is investigating a shooting that occurred after a deputy was struck by a squad car in Eagle Grove. The Wright County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop and found that the driver, 31-year-old Sean McMillan, was driving while barred and in possession of a handgun. A deputy placed McMillan in handcuffs and sat him in the passenger seat of a squad car. McMillan then “jumped the console of the squad car,” hit the gas pedal and struck the sheriff’s deputy. The deputy fired one round at McMillan, who was later captured. There were no serious injuries. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Emergency responders in Davenport found an unresponsive man laying in the middle of a street early Saturday morning. He later died at a hospital. Police are investigating. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A Newton bar owner is facing charges for not enforcing social distancing guidelines. On Sept. 4, police found standing room only at the Pour Bastards Pub. Police warned the bar owner Charles King for the second time since August. Officers tried to arrest King when he ripped the report from police. King resisted, but was arrested and faces multiple charges, including drug violations. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation Tuesday to reopen bars in four of the six Iowa counties where shutdowns are underway. Effective today, bars, taverns, wineries, breweries, distilleries and nightclubs in Black Hawk, Dallas, Linn and Polk counties will open once again.