Category: State News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released the latest numbers on the spread of COVID-19 in Iowa Tuesday. IDPH reported 539 new cases and 18 deaths. That brings the statewide total to 12,912 positive cases and 289 deaths.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Monday that she will follow a “modified quarantine” after meeting with Vice President Mike Pence and his staff last week. Reynolds flew to Washington, D.C. Wednesday to meet with Pence and President Donald Trump. On Friday, Pence held events in Iowa with the governor hours after learning that his press secretary tested positive for COVID-19. Pence, Reynolds and other officials chose not to wear masks during Friday’s visit.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids gym owner said he’s not afraid of facing charges or a fine from police by opening his gym back up because he argues Gov. Kim Reynolds’ public health emergency proclamation violates his constitutional rights. KCRG-TV reports Custom Fitness in Cedar Rapids is letting all of its members walk in and work out whenever they want after reopening Friday.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The remainder of the Iowa Wild’s season has been canceled. The American Hockey League announced Monday that the league’s Board of Governors voted to cancel the remainder of the regular season and Calder Cup Playoffs due to COVID-19 health concerns.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police have announced three arrests in a weekend shooting near Drake University. KCCI-TV reports an officer in the area witnessed gunfire from a vehicle and attempted to stop it. Police said the vehicle fled and a short pursuit began. Police said 18-year-old Braden Schaffer was found in the vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to a local hospital and remains hospitalized after undergoing surgery Sunday night.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released the latest statistics on COVID-19 in the state Monday. They reported 414 new cases and 6 deaths. That brings the statewide total to 12,373 positive cases and 271 deaths.

HARLAN, IA (IRN) – A Kansas man who asked a judge to allow him a trial by combat with Japanese swords in a child custody dispute with his Iowa ex-wife is sane, a court-ordered psychological evaluation has concluded. The Des Moines Register reports David Ostrom, of Paola, Kansas, asked the Iowa District Court in Shelby County to allow him to settle his child custody dispute with a duel. He summoned his ex-wife, Bridgette Ostrom, 38, of Harlan, to the battlefield, noting that her attorney could stand in her place if he wished. There, he said, he would “rend their souls from their corporeal bodies.”

DYERSVILLE, IA (IRN) – As more events continue to be postponed or canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, Major League Baseball has not made a decision regarding the future of their scheduled game at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville. The New York Yankees are expected to play the Chicago White Sox on August 13.

BLUE GRASS, IA (IRN) – If you’ve never been to a drive-in movie theater, now’s a really good time. The Blue Grass Drive-in in Blue Grass, Iowa is open again after being closed for over a month due to the coronavirus pandemic. The drive-in was able to open again under CDC guidelines on Saturday, May 9th.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – State public health officials reported new deaths and cases of illness from the novel coronavirus on Saturday, with the overall number of new tests reported relatively low. Another nine people were killed by COVID-19 in the last 24-hour reporting period.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A motorcyclist has died after sustaining serious injuries during a crash on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway in Des Moines on Saturday evening. The 52-year-old Des Moines resident was struck by an SUV being driven by a 15-year-old from Des Moines.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – The Fort Dodge Police Department has arrested a man on multiple charges after he forcibly took a woman and a child from a home. KCCI-TV reports Leon C. Drayton, 33, of Fort Dodge, forcefully entered the woman’s residence, where he assaulted her while showing and threatening her with a knife. He then forced the female and child into his vehicle before fleeing the area and being apprehended by police.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all state flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise on Sunday, May 10th to sunset Friday, May 15th in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – The Muscatine Police Department with the help of the FBI was able to find a 14-year-old girl from the area who had been kidnapped by a man from Minnesota. WQAD-TV reports the FBI and the police department of St. Paul, Minnesota arrested 26-year-old Edina, Minnesota resident Luis Alfredo Moreira Bravo on Thursday. They found the missing teen in his company in St. Paul.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Officials say the coronavirus outbreak at a Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Iowa infected more than 1,000 workers, a greater number than the state has acknowledged. KWWL-TV reports Black Hawk County health officials say they have identified 1,031 workers at the Waterloo plant who have tested positive for coronavirus or for antibodies that show they had been infected. That would be about 37 percent of the plant’s 2,800 workers.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Some Des Moines area pastors say even during a pandemic scammers are targeting their congregations. WHO-TV reports Rev. David Sickelka says he’s mad. Recently, someone created a fake email account in his name and started messaging his parishioners at Urbandale United Church of Christ. This has happened at other churches as well.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Vice President Mike Pence visited Des Moines yesterday to meet with faith leaders and food industry executives in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Iowa’s political leaders and Vice President Pence cited the need for faith and God during the pandemic while urging churches and religious institutions to restart in-person services.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – More than 1,000 workers at a Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Waterloo have had COVID-19. According to KWWL, Black Hawk County health officials have said that 1,031 workers at the Waterloo plant tested positive for coronavirus or for antibodies that showed they had been infected.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Vice President Mike Pence’s flight to Iowa Friday was delayed about an hour after a staffer tested positive for coronavirus, according to KCCI-TV. CNN states the flight was delayed about an hour while some people deplaned. Although the person who tested positive was not on the trip, concerns were of others being in contact with the individual. Pence is traveling to Iowa to meet with political, religious, and food supply leaders as COVID-19 restrictions begin to be lifted.

IOWA (IRN) – Another 12 people with COVID-19 have died, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported Thursday, bringing the statewide total to 231. The IDPH also reported that 655 additional people tested positive for COVID-19. Statewide, 11059 people have tested positive.

IOWA (IRN) – A day after Gov. Kim Reynolds was complimented at the White House on her management of the coronavirus pandemic, and as businesses continue to open, Iowa on Thursday reported record numbers of cases and deaths.

DENISON, IA (IRN) – The owner of a longtime community restaurant in Denison is closing the business, according to WHO-TV. Cronks owner Eric Skoog, who owns the cafe with his wife Terri, says he is looking for someone to buy for the restaurant, which has been in operation since 1929.

CORALVILLE, IA (IRN) – The Coral Ridge Mall is reopening on Saturday, May 9. Governor Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday malls and other retail stores would be able to open but must limit capacity to 50% and make sure social distancing measures are implemented and followed by employees and customers.