DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health on Saturday reported 1,024 new coronavirus cases and 23 additional deaths. There have been 1,160 deaths since the pandemic began. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Polk County judge on Friday denied a request from multiple metro bar owners for an injunction on Gov. Kim Reynolds’ COVID-19 related bar closures. Reynolds issued a proclamation on Aug. 27 closing bars, taverns, wineries, breweries, distilleries and nightclubs in Black Hawk, Dallas, Johnson, Linn, Polk and Story counties. All, except Dallas County, are home to four-year colleges. MANCHESTER, IA (IRN) – On Friday, a judge sentenced a Delaware County man convicted of killing his wife with a corn rake to life in prison without parole. A Dubuque County jury found Todd Mullis guilty last September. The prosecution argued Mullis killed his wife Amy Mullis in 2018 because he believed she was having an affair. Investigators say he tried to pass off her death as a farming accident after one of the couple’s children found the body. Todd Mullis still claims he’s innocent. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – Authorities have made an arrest in the death of Mia Holmes, 17, and her unborn child. The Ankeny Police Department said that on Friday Donault Logan, 18, turned himself into detectives. Mia’s mother believes the shooting was an accident. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police say a man is facing charges after he stole a truck and led officers on a pursuit on Friday. Billy Clark is now charged with second degree theft and traffic charges. Officers say he stole an Aramark truck from Mercy Medical Center and led them on a chase on several streets. The truck got stuck between a pole and a warehouse. AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State University athletic director Jamie Pollard warned of financial challenges ahead due to the coronavirus pandemic and said layoffs and the elimination of some sports are under consideration. Pollard said they are now projecting a $30 million deficit.

PLEASANT HILL, IA (IRN) – A motorcyclist is dead after a high-speed pursuit in Polk County. The Iowa State Patrol said Matthew Harris was trying to get away from authorities Thursday. The 18-year-old crashed a few miles east of Pleasant Hill. State patrol crash reports show Harris was thrown from the motorcycle and died. He was wearing a helmet. It’s unclear what prompted the chase. CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – The Coralville Police Department was involved in a shooting after a welfare check on Thursday. According to officers, they made contact with a reportedly suicidal man, and he continued to threaten himself and others. He then came out of the garage with a rifle pointed at officers. An officer fired two rounds and both struck the man. He was secured and taken to a local hospital’s trauma center for treatment. His condition is unknown. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The U.S. Surgeon General is siding with Gov. Kim Reynolds on the topic of mask mandates. KCCI-TV reports U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams on Thursday said he agrees with the governor’s decision not to require Iowans to wear masks in public. Adams cited his experience running Indiana’s State Department of Health. He said being from the Midwest he doesn’t think a mask mandate would work as well here as it would for coastal states. Adams said it is very difficult to enforce a mandate and that education will be more effective. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Polly Carver-Kimm says reviewing and fulfilling public information requests was an everyday part of her job for more than a dozen years at the Iowa Department of Public Health. But she says that changed when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived and the governor’s office assumed control of the release of information from IDPH. In a lawsuit filed on Thursday, Carver-Kimm says she was systematically silenced and then illegally fired as the pandemic grew worse. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – When the fall semester begins online at the Des Moines Public Schools next week, all in-person athletics and other activities will come to an end. DMPS has not been granted a waiver from the state to hold online-only classes, and have sued the state. Any games or activities scheduled over the weekend will be held.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Drought conditions continue to worsen in Iowa as the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report shows nearly the entire state is dry. A swath of the state from the Nebraska border to the edge of Polk County is in extreme drought, accounting for nearly 15% of Iowa. The U.S. Drought Monitor lists 37% of the state in severe drought, with more than 99% in at least moderate drought conditions. Less than 1% of the state, a portion of Winnebago and Worth counties along the Minnesota border, is excluded from drought conditions. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Republican Sen. Joni Ernst has suggested government statistics on coronavirus infections and deaths have been inflated. Experts disagree, saying new data suggests that the toll is probably significantly higher than the official count, and that Ernst is repeating a discredited conspiracy theory. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart signed an emergency proclamation Wednesday requiring face masks be worn in public as a measure to curb the spread of the coronavirus as Iowa is among the states leading the nation in the number of cases per capita. Cedar Rapids joins five other Iowa cities with mask mandates — Des Moines, Iowa City, Dubuque, Mount Vernon and Muscatine — as municipalities push back on state officials’ stances that local governments lack the legal authority to issue such mandates. BOONE, IA (IRN) – Boone County’s top doctor said he’s worried a massive racing event planned for next week could create a COVID-19 catastrophe in the area. Dr. Brian Mehlhaus is talking about the International Motor Contest Association Super Nationals. The annual racing event starts next week at the Boone Speedway. Last year’s event brought in more than 800 drivers from 26 states, Canada and Australia. He fears it will become a superspreader event. AMES, IA (IRN) – Two days after announcing that 25,000 fans would be allowed into Jack Trice Stadium for the Cyclones home football opener next weekend, ISU now says the game will be played with no fans in attendance. Officials say the decision was overturned because of negative feedback from the community.

RADCLIFFE, IA (IRN) – An Iowa motorcyclist has died after authorities say he crashed into a deer in Hardin County. The crash happened Tuesday morning near Radcliffe. The Iowa State Patrol said Russell Pyle was on State Highway 175 when he hit the animal and lost control. Pyle died at the scene. AMES, IA (IRN) – Two days after announcing that 25,000 fans would be allowed into Jack Trice Stadium for the Cyclones home football opener next weekend, ISU now says the game will be played with no fans in attendance. Officials say the decision was overturned because of negative feedback from the community. AMES, IA (IRN) – The Ames City Council on Tuesday voted 5-1 to approve a citywide mask mandate. Data show Ames to have the highest per capita rate of COVID-19 cases in the nation. WOODWARD, IA (IRN) -The Woodward-Granger Community School District said changes are coming after “unacceptable” behavior from students at the high school’s first football game. Woodward-Granger High School played its first game Friday. Superintendent Matt Adams said students at the game stood too close together and many did not wear masks. Starting this week, mask wearing and social distancing at football games are mandatory. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Valley High School and Dowling Catholic High School will hold the battle for West Des Moines Friday, but few students will attend the game. The Valley-Dowling football game is one of the biggest rivalries in the state, but it will look a lot different. Instead of 11,000 fans, attendance is limited to 1,200 family members sitting in groups of three and separated by 6 feet. The marching band, cheerleaders and dance team will attend, but student fans will not. IOWA (IRN) – The Big Ten Conference, already in court and under pressure from players and parents over its decision to cancel fall football, is now hearing from President Donald Trump. Trump tweeted Tuesday that he wants the games to be played.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines Black Lives Matter organizer has been arrested in Johnson County. University of Iowa police arrested Matthew Bruce late Monday night. Bruce is charged with nine felony counts of assault with intent to injure a peace officer and one count of interfering with official acts. Criminal complaints show during protests, he pointed a laser beam light into the eyes of multiple officers, causing injuries requiring medical treatment. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The White House COVID-19 Task Force recommends that Iowa implement a statewide mask mandate due to high COVID-19 transmission. Iowa remains in the red zone for COVID-19 cases with the highest case rate in the country. AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State Athletics announced Monday that it will host 25,000 fans at Jack Trice Stadium for the Cyclones’ first football game of the 2020-21 season. The decision comes despite reports of Ames as having the worst COVID-19 outbreak in the country per capita. Dr. John Paschen, the Chairman of the Story County Board of Health, says he finds the decision a danger to the community. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa has put a pause on football and all athletic workouts until after Labor Day due to an increase in COVID-19. Testing done between Monday, August 24 and Saturday, August 29 resulted in 93 positive cases out of 815 tests. The Hawkeyes are part of the Big Ten Conference, which announced the postponement of fall sports until spring. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Three weeks after the derecho on August 10, there are still thousands in eastern Iowa without internet. Both Mediacom and Imon said around 15% of their customers are still without internet services.