Category: State News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health IDPH reported 18 deaths and 454 new positive COVID-19 cases Friday. That brings the statewide total to 16,408 positive cases and 418 deaths.

IOWA (IRN) – More Iowans are out of work than at any other point in the state’s history.
The state had a record 10.2% unemployment rate in April. Iowa lost 129,200 jobs from March to April — double what the state lost during the Great Recession.

JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced that Test Iowa screenings for COVID-19 will soon be expanded for anyone who thinks that they should be tested. Previously, there were strict qualifications for Iowans to get a test.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has plans in place for Memorial Day weekend. The DNR says campers have a personal responsibility to follow the social distancing rules. The Department will have approximately 400 staff members at parks throughout the state. The staff will monitor campgrounds and break up large gatherings, and also clean public areas like showers and restrooms. Youth camp areas will remain closed because they involve more than 10 people. Shelters, lodges and playgrounds will also not be open.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police say they have made multiple arrests in a series of shootings involving two violent street gangs. Police said the charges are the result of ongoing investigations into at least five different shooting incidents. Police said a total of 12 arrests have been made in the investigation.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 19 deaths and 421 new positive COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours prior to 11:00 a.m. Thursday. That brings the statewide total to 15,954 positive cases and 400 deaths.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics has lost approximately $100 million during the pandemic. Before it started, they were ahead $80 million.

IOWA (IRN) – In announcing Wednesday that Iowa school activities can resume June 1 amid the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Kim Reynolds has green-lit the return of high school baseball and softball across the state. The final decision came down to rulings from the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. Both agreed with the governor’s decision Wednesday. As a result, practices can begin June 1 and games June 15.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowans may go to the zoo or watch a movie at a theater as early as Friday, under a new declaration from Gov. Kim Reynolds Reynolds announced Wednesday she will end more of the state’s coronavirus-related closures before the month ends. Bars, museums, aquariums and wedding reception venues are among the other businesses allowed to open over the coming days.

IOWA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds announced further openings and lifting COVID-19 related restrictions on Wednesday. She stated this Friday movie theaters, zoos, aquariums, museums, and wedding reception venues will be allowed to reopen with appropriate public health measures including social distancing and increased sanitizing practices. Starting May 28th bars and other establishments that serve alcohol will be permitted to open for indoor or outdoor seating at 50% capacity. And Iowa’s High Schools will be permitted to have softball and baseball compeition this summer.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – A Des Moines woman accused of intentionally hurting two children because of their race in hit-and-run crashes has been determined competent to stand trial. Nicole Poole is charged with attempted murder after police say she intentionally ran over a Hispanic girl and black boy near Des Moines-area schools last December. She is also charged in connection with an outburst at a convenience store in West Des Moines on the same day.

IOWA (IRN) – According to the state’s dashboard as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, there are 12 more COVID-19 deaths along with 237 more cases since 10 a.m. Tuesday. This brings Iowa’s total to 15,533 confirmed cases with a death toll of 381.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A University of Iowa professor with almost four decades of experience studying coronaviruses says people can get out and enjoy the long weekend for Memorial Day – but they need to continue to “respect the virus.” Dr. Stanley Perlman says, “I don’t think anybody would say we have to wait until there’s no more cases for two weeks and then do things.”

CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – Healthcare workers are on the front lines of battling COVID-19 and many people are finding ways to show their appreciation. KCRG-TV reports every night, the residents of Vintage Cooperative in Coralville make their way to the balcony. They bang on pots and pans to show their support for everything health care workers are doing. Residents say they will keep doing it until the pandemic is over.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Public Schools confirmed it will move forward with plans for the multimillion-dollar DMPS Community Stadium at Drake University. The athletic facility will serve as a home field for high school and middle school football teams. The Drake Bulldogs soccer teams would also use the field. The stadium is estimated to cost $19.5 million.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health is now releasing the latest COVID-19 statistics in real time. IDPH reported 341 new positive cases and 12 deaths in the last 24 hours. That brings the statewide total to 15,296 positive cases and 367 deaths.

PELLA, IA (IRN) – The Pella Police Department and the Iowa DCI are investigating the murder of a woman in Pella last night. No charges have been filed.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two Iowa children diagnosed with pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome, or PMIS, are receiving care at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. On Monday, Gov. Kim Reynolds confirmed Iowa’s second case of PMIS. The rare illness in children is linked to COVID-19 and causes inflammation in the blood vessels.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police are investigating a shooting which injured three people on Monday night. KCRG-TV reports police received several calls of shots fired and when officers arrived, they located two victims inside a home with gunshot wounds. While treating the victims on the scene, a third victim arrived at Mercy Medical Center by personal vehicle with gunshot wounds.

IOWA (IRN) – J.C. Penney, which filed for bankruptcy Friday, plans to close over 200 stores nationwide, leaving the fate of 16 Iowa stores uncertain. A Monday filing to the Securities Exchange Commission showed the Texas-based department store plans to close approximately 242 stores over the next two years.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released new statistics on COVID-19 in the state Monday. IDPH reported 304 new positive cases and 4 deaths. That brings the statewide total to 14,955 positive cases and 355 deaths.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Goodwill of Central Iowa has permanently closed four retail stores and its outlet and career center because of “extreme financial hardships” brought on by coronavirus-related closures. The organization announced it is closing the Grinnell, Oskaloosa, Waukee and south Des Moines locations. In addition, the south Des Moines Outlet and Career Connection Center will be closed, with plans to relocate the outlet to its headquarters in Johnston by 2021.

CEDAR RAPID, IA (IRN) – Travel at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids has diminished in the COVID-19 pandemic. Traffic was down 97% in April compared to April 2019. That means just 1,500 people boarded a plane last month.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A California farm animal sanctuary spent thousands of dollars to send two cargo planes to Iowa to rescue 1,000 chickens that were going to be euthanized at a struggling egg farm. WHO-TV reports workers affiliated with the sanctuary Animal Place loaded chickens onto the planes Saturday at the Fort Dodge, Iowa, airport. The group planned to fly the hens in more than 60 crates to California, where they will be taken to the group’s sanctuary northeast of Sacramento.

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – The 2020 Julien Dubuque International Film Festival will be a virtual event. There will be an extended live festival in April of 2021. All films and programming will be presented online.