Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have decreased by 1,000 since a peak in November as the state nears 300,000 total positive cases. There have been 4,232 deaths since the start of the pandemic. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines man seen on video and in photos at the deadly riots inside the U.S. Capitol appeared before a federal judge Tuesday. Federal prosecutors introduced an indictment against 41-year-old Doug Jensen. He’s charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding an officer, knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disrupting the orderly conduct of government business, violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol Building, parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol Building, and obstructing a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder. Jensen asked the court to have a defense attorney appointed for him. WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – A racist video sent to a group chat has some Waukee High School students and parents upset. A video of a Black female being hanged in front of a Confederate flag circulated at the school. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is asking lawmakers to immediately send her a bill to sign into law that would require schools to offer parents the option of having their children in classrooms full time despite continuing high levels of coronavirus. DECORAH, IA (IRN) – Students at Luther College completed the first half of their second-quarter online, but are now required to go back to in-person classes. Over 700 students signed a petition objecting. They want learning to be all-virtual.

CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN) – A Clear Lake woman involved in an accident nearly a year ago has died from her injuries. Brandi Pals, 20, was involved in a crash on Feb. 12, 2020, when a bus failed to obey a stop sign and struck her car. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said Monday that even if Donald Trump is not impeached, the outgoing president has tarnished his legacy and has little authority to lead the Republican Party in the future. Republican U.S. Senator Joni Ernst says it’s time for the nation to begin to heal. Ernst says, “let’s move on… let’s get President Biden into place…” and “Let’s get the new administration going and let’s start healing our nation.” DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Lawmakers gaveled in the first session of the 2021 Iowa Legislature Monday. A large but peaceful group of protesters that has concerns about mask mandates and vaccination guidelines gathered inside the Rotunda, and none wore masks. About 200 members of a group called Informed Choice Iowa say Gov. Kim Reynolds has abused the emergency powers act by mandating masks. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague has extended a mask mandate for the city due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The order requires every person in the City of Iowa City to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when in a public place. It lasts until May 31. AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State will not be taking on Kansas State in men’s basketball on Wednesday. The Big 12 Conference says the game has been postponed because Kansas State was unable to meet the conference’s required COVID-19 thresholds on Monday. The schools and the Big 12 say they will work to reschedule the game.

CLIVE, IA (IRN) – Three people have died and two were injured in an overnight pursuit in Clive that ended in a crash. The vehicle was stolen from Urbandale. The driver lost control, the car flipped several times, collided with a light pole, and launched across Walnut Creek, striking the bank and coming to rest at the edge of a parking lot. Officers found multiple occupants ejected from the vehicle, and provided lifesaving measures while awaiting help from medics. Police said five young males were found at the scene. Three died and two were taken to local hospitals. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff until Wednesday. The move is to honor and remember United States Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick and Howard Liebengood, as well as Capitol Police Officers and law enforcement all across Iowa and the U.S. Sicknick died as a result of injuries he sustained defending the Capitol building during Wednesday’s pro-Trump Capitol seige. Liebengood, another Capitol Police officer who defended the against rioters, died in an apparent suicide. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Democratic Party closed its Des Moines headquarters after it received messages threatening the lives of its staff. They received the threat Friday morning. VINCENT, IA (IRN) – The Webster County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what appears to be a murder-suicide Saturday. Investigators believe 69-year-old Allen Will shot and killed 67-year-old Karen Will and then turned the gun on himself. WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – A beloved Waukee youth football coach has died from complications from COVID-19. Kevin Slaybaugh was hospitalized and died on January 6th.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Democratic Party closed its Des Moines headquarters after it received messages threatening the lives of its staff. The IDP said they received the threat on Friday morning. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating a shooting that left one person injured on the south side Saturday night. A man was shot in the leg. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – The Polk County Health Department is worried a new proclamation issued by Gov. Kim Reynolds could lead to a spike in COVID-19 cases. The proclamation lifts restrictions on how many people can gather for recreational and sporting events. Several metro schools are still sticking with the two spectators per player. LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Linn County Deputies pulled a man from the water after he lost control of his car. A truck blew a front tire blew, causing the driver to lose control. The truck went into a ditch and rolled onto its side within a body of water. Fortunately, the truck stopped before going underwater and the driver was able to escape without injury.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Des Moines man seen in the deadly riots at the U.S. Capitol has been booked into the Polk County Jail. Doug Jensen, 41, is one of many people wanted by the FBI in connection to Wednesday’s riot. Forrest & Associate Masonry in Des Moines says Jensen no longer has a job there. Photos show Jensen inside the Capitol Wednesday. He’s shown wearing a stocking cap and a QAnon T-shirt over a hooded sweatshirt. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former Iowa trash collection official has been sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution of more than $1.6 million. Jeffrey Dworek, 56, of Urbandale, had been the director of operations for Metro Waste Authority, which is run by Polk County. Dworek set up a shell company purported to provide services to Metro Waste Authority, then paid out company funds for his own use. He also took kickbacks from various vendors. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The first law enforcement officer in Iowa to die of COVID-19 was a Dickinson County Conservation officer. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says Steve Reighard died Friday. Reighard began having symptoms of coronavirus before Christmas and was in the hospital for several weeks. He started his career as a park ranger in 2005. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Drake University Athletics Department announced Friday evening that the Missouri Valley Conference postponed the next two men’s basketball games because of a positive COVID-19 test result. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – The head of the Henry County Republican Party has resigned over a Facebook post he says has been taken out of context. On the party Facebook page, Trent Hobbs urged Republicans to “stay locked and loaded” and likened the riot at the Capitol to the shot heard around the world, which started the American Revolution. He says he’s a modern day Paul Revere.